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Mar 20, 2009 17:50:05 GMT
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I'm looking to dip my toe in the water of track days and have been pondering getting my own head gear. I don't want to spend crazy money because I'll only be doing a few to start with but I also don't want to buy any of the cheap & unsafe eBay tat from Taiwan/Hong Kong. I saw this advertised on my weekly 'Aldi special buys' circular that I get emailed every week. Please let me know your thoughts? Steer well clear or 'OK' for a starter helmet?? www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2867_9213.htm?WT.mc_id=2009-03-20-14-46If I get more into it (which I am sure I will) then I will be in a better position to invest in something better. Thanks for any advice, Bruce. P.S. HW - you're to blame for all this! I should never have popped around on Sunday
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Mar 20, 2009 18:21:13 GMT
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IMO as long as it meets relevant BS/EU standards, you cant go too far wrong. One thing to consider though is that I personally find a full-face helmet to be too restrictive to my vision in a car, so always used an open faced helmet when I did trackdays. I miss my old track car
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Mar 20, 2009 18:30:28 GMT
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should be fine
acu approved would be good too
car specific lids are £££££
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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brawr
Part of things
Posts: 650
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Mar 20, 2009 19:14:04 GMT
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I bought one of these. and am very happy with it for trackday use. Bit more wonga than the aldi special, but I agree with dave in the open face vs full face debate (unless you're going topless, open top cars require full face helmets ) Really comfortable too! ^ caught my good side?
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Last Edit: Mar 20, 2009 19:14:34 GMT by brawr
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jamesp
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,828
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Mar 20, 2009 19:41:35 GMT
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i dunno if track days ever have rules on helmet construction but i have to use a fiberglass helmet to race oval (bangers ,rods etc) you can pick thease up from about £70 if not go for the aldi one its not like ull be crashing much hopfully
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Mar 20, 2009 20:05:29 GMT
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Most important thing is the size. You want a nice tight fit so your head doesn't start bangin' around in there when you fall off the track. A white Simpson Bandit like the Stig's would be cool, maybe?
The aldi one looks weird with the long chin. It's like a motocross helmet with a visor. Vents probably don't matter if you're in a tin-top car. The visor looks like a Shoei style mechanism which is a good thing. If you want a dark visor for it they might not be available? Don't know? Can't argue with the price and it's got the euro approval too. Probably okay
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Last Edit: Mar 20, 2009 20:11:59 GMT by alfazer
1976 Suzuki GT550 Celica RA28...Gone
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stueyt
Posted a lot
Saving cars from the scrapyard.
Posts: 1,682
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Mar 20, 2009 21:38:19 GMT
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Simpson helmets look good, but are loads of money. They have very poor visability as the visor is very small, I would recommend a Suomi helmet they do an open face and comfortable. (coming from a biker aswell) When you buy, make sure it is tight on your cheeks and on the forehead (but not too tight), i suggest wearing around the house for a couple of days first so it beds in before using in the car. Alway look for the class A and/or the gold approved sticker on the back. Remember, it's not always the expensive helmets that are the most comfortable, it's what ever suits your head shape.
Cheers,
Stu.
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Always looking for the next project!
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Carter
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,535
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Mar 20, 2009 21:58:52 GMT
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Another cheap helmet buying avenue is army/government surplus stores, they often have decent 'used' ones and usually in plain ole white. Got mine from army surplus down the road from me and its been fine for in-car track use- cost 20 quid.
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'77 Chevy G20
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Mar 20, 2009 22:08:55 GMT
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suomi's lids are great, but expensive, mine was £400 and that aint doable for beginner. i would stay away from that though, looks curse word. if you go full face, go for nitro or gmac, same company, and the £60 ones (cheaper than that on ebay) use the same fibreglass composite shells as there £200 lids. but for a car, i would say open face, you should find something for£70. don't forget that cheap curse word lids mist up easier, and you don't need that. if you go for nitro etc. you can buy pinlock visors prob, aswell as iridium or tinted visors, which are nice to have.
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Mar 20, 2009 22:29:15 GMT
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As above, think more about fit than cost, 'cos you can get cheap easily enough, but need to find one that's a good fit. Same size lids from different mfrs fit and feel different on different heads. Snug fit when new is good, the foam tends to ease up over time, and you don't want it loose when worn in. That lid is indeed cheap and from Taiwan or China, and possibly tat, but there's a chance it's made well and fits well....
Personally I wouldn't have a cheapo lid or an s/h one. Is it really worth the risk for a few tenners? But each to his own.
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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Mar 20, 2009 23:17:54 GMT
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My helmet came off Fleabay for £25 and has seen use all over the show, when we did RAF Marham, Marinanut Jr had an 'Aldi Special' and we bought the bike intercom for £6.... pretty cool chatting away at 100mph down the main runway.....
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Rover Metro - The TARDIS - brake problems.....Stored Rover 75 - Barge MGZTT Cdti 160+ - Winter Hack and Audi botherer... MGF - The Golden Shot...Stored Project Minion........ Can you see the theme?
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Someone once said to me 'if youve got a ten dollar head then buy a ten dollar helmet' ;D
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J1MMY
Part of things
Posts: 953
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Mar 21, 2009 10:08:07 GMT
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Someone once said to me 'if youve got a ten dollar head then buy a ten dollar helmet' ;D Agreed. I wouldn't buy a 2nd hand or a cheap sh*t helmet ever. You get what you pay for and what is your head worth to you? That said, I ride a bike as much as I drive a car so my perspective will most likely differ.
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Your opinion is invalid, I've seen your wife.
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chevazon
Posted a lot
1939 Chevrolet 2 door coupe, `67 `Zon estate, `87 Ragtop Cavalier, 4 x 800 Drifters,(!) 1500 Drifter
Posts: 2,259
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Mar 21, 2009 15:20:15 GMT
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'if youve got a ten dollar head then buy a ten dollar helmet'
I like that saying and agree with j1mmy. If you buy a second hand lid how do you know how good it is ? Remember if you drop a lid the integrity of the shell has already been compromised and will not give the same protection so even if you drop it you should replace it. If you value your health then spend the dosh.
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Mar 21, 2009 17:12:44 GMT
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Agree with above, pays to buy the best you can afford. I also think a full face might be a bit much in a closed car.
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ezpez
Part of things
Posts: 183
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Mar 21, 2009 17:27:40 GMT
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if you where gonna use that on a bike id call you crazy, but in a car i think a lid like that would be fine tbh, ive got a relativly cheep (£80) helmet for my 125 and that stood up to all 15st of me riding along on my head @ 60 mph just fine. just cause a helmet is more expencive dosent mean its gonna have better protection, they released a 5 star system for helmets last year and the Arai (£350+) helmets used in BSB where classed @ 3 stars when a helmet of the same construction as mine got 5
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Mar 21, 2009 23:48:29 GMT
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I definately wouldn't recommend a second hand lid for the reasons stated above, but as long as you buy a new one thats approved it should be fine. Just cos its cheap doesn't necessarily mean its curse word. With expensive lids i think you are paying for the badge and also additional features, vents, anti fog, removable/washable innards and such like
The fit is more important than the brand IMO!
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Current cars:-
2001 P38 Range Rover 4.0 V8 (economical family run about) 1980 Mini Clubman estate (very much in a state!)rolling shell project 1976 Reliant Robin saloon 1998 kawasaki zzr 600 (the commuter)
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Many thanks for the replies guys - very helpful.
I'm not sure where the 2nd hand thing came about? I was certainly never considering getting a used one and never mentioned anything about them!
It might look at the OMP one as mentioned by Brawr for the time being. As long as I can get one that fits well (need to try them on), that looks like the best option for me.
Thanks again for all your input everybody.
Bruce.
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