I've been looking for a while. My current helmet is for all intents a snowmobile helmet and its M95 rated. Looking to do a little upgrading. I hate the current one because its closed face, it isnt comfortable and the lining is separable from the shell, which makes it move around and bunch up. Admittedly, its a couple years old and it was my first (and inexpensive) venture into helmet buying.
I've been into OG racing a few times trying them on, I'm in the $300-400 range for helmets, looking at the Bell ones.

I was originally intending to buy an open face because most of my time with it on is in the summer, its hot, I like to breathe, ts a little more comfortable, easier to talk to an instructor etc, although I would agree with most it feels a little less secure than a closed face, even when properly sized. OG seems intent that I need a closed face helmet with a shield on it, "especially for HPDE/Open tracking" because stuff can fly through the window into the car, etc...which has merit.
But on the other side of that, my car is still street legal (i.e. it has an Airbag) which I was under the impression that that airbag were to go off with a closed chin helmet, there could be more issues that benefits to having the airbag go off. That was my biggest arguement for open face, I thought it was safer, they seem to disagree with that, finding that the closed helmet with the airbag is fine. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
Its not a matter of being had for more money, the price difference is marginal.
If I am better off with the closed face/shield helmet, then its worth my money and my noggin to do so. But I also see an aweful lot of people with open face helmets.

If it matters, I do both HPDEs and autocross, but since I spend more time in the car for HPDEs, I'm erring towards that driving the better option.
Thanks

 

100% better off with the closed face. Make sure it fits good, and you will be ready to go.


Also remember that helmets, by and large tend to fallow price. The cheap ones will be heavier, not breath as well, ect. And the more expensive will e lighter breath better, ext.

 

I think a lot of people prefer open-face because they get claustrophobic with closed-face lids. The stuff flying in the window is no joke. I have rubber streaks on my visor from chunks of tire, for instance. Hot, mostly melted rubber in the eye (open-face)? Please no. I do sort of remember the airbag thing being debated, but what was the actual problem with closed vs. open? I can't imagine the closed being that much worse for any reason.

 

I'm pretty much in the same situation, and have been thinking about Bell's S2R model as a happy medium between open and closed face.



Any thoughts on that model, ie, is it still too open to give the necessary protection?

 

No visor there. That's a personal preference thing, and I know lots of people who run closed-face without them, but I wouldn't go out without at least sunglasses to protect my eyes.

 

You could get some Dale Sr. bubble eye lenses to wear with an open face.

 

do not get open faced, please.

 

I certainly don't think the closed face is less safe than an open face helmet, as the OP implies.

FWIW, I use a closed face helmet, and I leave the visor off.

One big factor in buying a helmet is comfort, which is why you need to try on a helmet before buying. And high price doesn't guarantee better comfort. When I was shopping around for a helmet last year, I thought I would get an $800 Arai helmet, because people told me it would fit better and be lighter in weight. When I tried them on at the shop, I found that the Arai didn't fit well at all, and the $300 Bell helmet fit well and was comfortable, and the difference in weight was insignificant, so that's what I bought. Try a bunch on, and get the one that fits you best.

 

I'm not implying it IS less safe, obviously the more coverage you can get, the better off you're likely to be. But the wrinkle thrown in by a deploying airbag seems to have more than one school of thought, where some people think you're better off without the chin strap (guard) and its better to let the airbag hit you, rather than the helmet and push the helmet up and backwards.
Both sides have some merit, so really, its an issue of whether an on-track incident will be something likely to cause an airbag deployment vs. something like a rollover or slamming into something sideways.


Modified by Boilermaker1 at 2:48 PM 1/31/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Boilermaker1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> But the wrinkle thrown in by a deploying airbag seems to have more than one school of thought, where some people think you're better off without the chin strap and its better to let the airbag hit you, rather than the helmet and push the helmet up and backwards.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't buy that, (if the helmet fits correctly). If what you were saying is true then the same would happen with a HANS, or any other of the H&N devices. (instead of push, it would be a pull.

 

I have been racing for a while now and have gone through a couple of helmets. I have tried the Simpson Super Voyager and the Bell M2 but the most comfortable one that I have tried recently is the ZAMP. The ZAMP is lighter and smaller than the Simpson and the padding on the inside is fully removable so you can wash it.

Try on as many helmets that you can before you purchase, a bad fitting helmet can be almost as dangerous as no helmet at all.

 

ZAMP? Who makes that?

 

I bought a new Simpson Voyager (pretty sure) from their sale last year, its a snell 2000, (who cares, will get a new one in 5 years) for 150.

Great helmet, and looks awesome.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by carbnjunkie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I bought a new Simpson Voyager (pretty sure) from their sale last year, its a snell 2000, (who cares, will get a new one in 5 years) for 150.

Great helmet, and looks awesome. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Dude, Simpson Voyager for $150 is an awesome deal... I bought mine (SA2000 as well) for ~$320 a couple years ago.

Amber shields are great to add to your helmet as well, great for contrast day or night and providing a little bit of sun relief. Normally the visor is left slightly open and there is no problem with it fogging. I wouldn't ever consider an open face helmet - it's nice having a shield to deflect gravel and other junk that gets thrown through the open windows at you.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stinkycheezmonky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ZAMP? Who makes that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I found the exact same helmets offered by Zamp being sold by Bell Europe.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stinkycheezmonky &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ZAMP? Who makes that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Zamp does. It's a company in El Dorado Hills (home of Comptech, too), founded by David Zampierin.

http://www.zamp-racing.com/company_info.htm

 

^^^ Thanks. Gonna go check them out soon. Hemlets look nice. Price isn't bad either.

 

Chris,

I saw that Zamp helmets at PRI show in Orlando last December. Looks like pretty good helmet.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EauRouge &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I found the exact same helmets offered by Zamp being sold by Bell Europe.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, they are known as "B2" instead of Zamp in Europe. Really nice helmets. The Zamp RZ-2 reminds me of a Bell Sport 3, but with a better (beefier) shield pivot design.

 

If anyone is interested I have a helmet for sale.
BELL M2
SA2000

Please follow the link for more details
http://www.hondamarketplace.co...81023

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Brett@SoloRacer.com &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yep, they are known as "B2" instead of Zamp in Europe. Really nice helmets. The Zamp RZ-2 reminds me of a Bell Sport 3, but with a better (beefier) shield pivot design.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you about that? Here is what I found on the Bell European site:

http://www.bellracing.info/online/item.cfm?art=122

Same helmet from Zamp:

http://www.zamp-racing.com/rz-3_sport.htm

 

anyone know where i can go to check out these zamp helmets around Los Angeles, CA?

I checked online and found a few online stores that carry them, but i'd really like to try the helmet on at a store, especially since i'm kind of right between their sizing for medium and large.

i checked their site, but there home in el dorado hills is like 4+ hours from me, so i'm not driving there. i tried contacting them about dealers in my area and no one ever answers back.

basically what stores carry auto helmets (meaning what heading shoud i look under in the yellow pages or something like that), so i can start calling around? I know of several places that sell motorcycle helmets, but none that carry auto.

 

Are sizes universal between companies?

 

no

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by strsi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">anyone know where i can go to check out these zamp helmets around Los Angeles, CA?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Extremesupply.com Inc.
951 Newhall St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Phone: (800) 499-5042 - Fax: (949) 722-0885
http://www.extremesupply.com/H....html