HELMETS: What, where and how much?

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:25 pm

I've got the $199 house special from Revolution Racegear. It's AS1698 for cars. It feels fine. Much better ventilation and comfort than the $1,000 Bell I had been using.

It's not Nomex. I was told my perpetual stubble would fray through Nomex pretty quickly. I just wear a fireproof balaclava instead - saves me and saves the helmet.

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:28 pm

Boags'MX5 wrote:I haven't got anything to add, just wanted to say well done for searching and not posting a new thread!

Boags

The good thing is that it was still on the first page of the Motor Sport sub forum. The other good thing was that I was forum trawling a while back and came across the thread (still on the first page), which made life convenient in knowing where to look for it.

Slugoid wrote:The measurement should be the diameter around the forehead just above the ears. However, when I went helmet shopping, sizes from brands tend to differ so it would be best if you actually go to the shop and test the helmets physically.

Yeah, my main concern is with stuff marked with the generic sizes aka S, M, L etc. I've tried on a few smalls, but they really don't fit in the slightest, but my head size is apparently about 55cm, so I would've thought that's a small? I suppose it really will be "try til it fits".

manga_blue wrote:I've got the $199 house special from Revolution Racegear. It's AS1698 for cars. It feels fine. Much better ventilation and comfort than the $1,000 Bell I had been using.

It's not Nomex. I was told my perpetual stubble would fray through Nomex pretty quickly. I just wear a fireproof balaclava instead - saves me and saves the helmet.

Which make/model is it?
As for the AS1698 standard, I wasn't aware there was a standard for cars? Doesn't having this standard invalidate it for track use? Or is that only if it doesn't have a relatively recent Snell rating?

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:01 pm

Yeah, you're right, just checked and AS 1698 is a generic standard for all helmets.

Anyway, mine's an M2R (made2race.com) Model RPM100801. Style MR10. It's pretty much the same as the MR11 on their site but with more venturi vents across the top which are OK on a car but a bit suss for a bike helmet (Bike helmets are best smooth, fins and vents can catch when sliding over things).

Size is large, which is a bit surprising seeing my hat size is 58-59 which should be about medium I thought.

KIJIMA · Postby **KIJIMA** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:23 am

manga_blue wrote:I've got the $199 house special from Revolution Racegear. It's AS1698 for cars. It feels fine.

A mate of mine just picked up one of these, not a bad helmet. Its their own RPM branded stuff. Looks the buisness, and its nice and light. Much more comfortable than the motorbike helmet I've used in the past.

Rob E · Postby **Rob E** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:01 pm

Odd question perhaps but any ideas on which helmet type is \"shortest\" for want of a better term......ie. will help me get under hardtop in conjunction with seat change i am doing.

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 1:52 am

Get in the car first, then put the helmet on?

Anyone had any experience with the ERG helmets? They had them at speedzone. The guy there reckoned they were basically a bell, but without the brand name. He was also super friendly and seemed to know what he was on about with them.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:04 am

Rob E wrote:Odd question perhaps but any ideas on which helmet type is "shortest" for want of a better term...

Not an odd question really. They vary. My Bell was half an inch lower than my current one and the difference is fairly noticeable in the car if you're obliged to run with the top up.

If you're close to the roof then I reckon it's essential to try the helmets on in the car to make sure you can sit up straight.

marcusus · Postby **marcusus** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:26 pm

Sweet action. Picked up a Bell helmet today. Fits pretty nice and comfy, so can't go wrong with that.

Now to try it out on the track

Mr Starlet · Postby **Mr Starlet** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:41 am

Hi all, I'm looking at getting a helmet for the up coming trackday, I'm fairly set on an open face M2R 280, but wonder if I ever get into the odd hill climb and maybe classic rallies etc would I still be ok to enter with an open face helmet? What are the events that REQUIRE full face helmet? What other approvals are required apart from ADR?

http://www.teammoto.com.au/xcart/produc ... 429&page=1

Cheers
Minh

fattima · Postby **fattima** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:08 pm

Open face is fine, tarmac rallys now require a balaclava but it is the same for open or closed face helmets. You do not require ADR for motorsports, check the CAMS manual online at http://www.camsmanual.com.au/general.asp under apparel to see what is and is not accepted.

I think the most important thing is to try on some helmets and see what you find comfortable. In an event like a rally you will be wearing the helmet all day so comfort is important. I have found that spending the extra on a lighter weight helmet made a big difference when wearing it for extended periods. If you do plan to do a rally look at how easy it will be to fit an intercom as well. For myself I ended up with a Bell open face, I just prefer an open face helmet.

Mr Starlet · Postby **Mr Starlet** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:04 am

Thanks fattima, that info is really helpful.

Cheers
Minh

fattima wrote:Open face is fine, tarmac rallys now require a balaclava but it is the same for open or closed face helmets. You do not require ADR for motorsports, check the CAMS manual online at http://www.camsmanual.com.au/general.asp under apparel to see what is and is not accepted.

I think the most important thing is to try on some helmets and see what you find comfortable. In an event like a rally you will be wearing the helmet all day so comfort is important. I have found that spending the extra on a lighter weight helmet made a big difference when wearing it for extended periods. If you do plan to do a rally look at how easy it will be to fit an intercom as well. For myself I ended up with a Bell open face, I just prefer an open face helmet.

Curly · Postby **Curly** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:24 pm

I picked up a fullface M2R 18 months ago, and I'm really happy with it. Comfortable, reasonably light, and a much better fit than the basic RPM model I tried on.

It also has a fairly long plastic exhaust vent on top of the helmet, which has come in handy for protecting the actual shell of the helmet from scratches from the roof of our khanacross car.

manga_blue · Postby **manga_blue** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 4:35 pm

The last two meetings I've done in Vic have specified that full-face helmets and gloves must be used if driving with the roof down.

fattima · Postby **fattima** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:02 pm

I understand why they want a full face helmet with the roof down, but gloves? Maybe they think if it is a convertible you should be wearing string back driving gloves :lol: