demontweeks has the best prices. I have the AGV / motoquality. Researched for several months. I fricken LOVE it and to top it off no-one else has one.
Bell, Arai, Shoei, Simpson do not fit my head. Bieffe, AGV do. But the real thing to get right is to get a helmet that fits. When you are wearing a properly fitting helmet, you will not be able to shake it off no mater how you shake and toss your head about (even upside down.) Snug, even pressure on all sides of your head. You will have to pull it off using hands (or feet for the truely limber in the crowd).
I have a Simpson Devil Ray Carbon Fiber (http://simpsonraceproducts.com/products/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=10019) and am very happy with it. Extremely light weight and therefore provides better head movement under high-G loads for better visibility and situational awareness. Good ventilation and SA 2005 rated. Slightly less expensive version is the Simpson Sting Ray Carbon Fiber (http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/simpsonauto/simpsonstingraycf), which weighs just a tiny bit more. My suggestion is that you get the very best helmet you can and to not worry quite so much about the expense because IT'S YOUR HEAD. Once you get your helmet, you have to get it painted, of course. I had Mike Charness paint my helmet and it is gorgeous. He's a great artist and really nice guy (http://www.helmet-painting.com/).
my head became soo big when i bought my first Ferrari that i really had a tough time finding---- enough already
I am a fan of OMP's way of construction from Grand Am. It makes installing a radio head set and mic so easy. It was a choice for me between the OMP and the Arai
Bell. I have a Vortex, but buy a helmet that fits your head from one of the top manufacturers. Bell, Arai, OMP, etc. Just make sure if you value your head, buy a helmet to that end. Someone once told me at a track, "If you have a $100 head, buy a $100 helmet" Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Bought another Bell Dominator yesterday. Fits great, looks good and for someone spending 8-12 days a month year round on track, it's worth it! Thanks b-mak!
Always happy to help, Peter! LOL I actually raced with the Dominator for the first time on Labour Day weekend. Love the lightness of it, though it's a bit silly wearing an open wheel helmet in a sedan.
As previously posted by others, the fit varies among manufacturers. IMO the big 3 are Bell. Simpson and Impact (Bill Simpson's present company - direct sales 317-852-3067) I have been using Impact lately, and the SCTA Tech guys seem to think they are the best Manufacturer. Their fit is pretty close to that of Simpson
The whole "if you've got a $100 head wear a $100 helmet" thing is a load of crap Yeah, you don't have a $100 head, just a $500 head. Or perhaps a $1,000 head. I'd like to think my head is worth a helluva lot more than that. . . .
The apparent quality of Impact helmets seems quite high, but their business conduct has me concerned enough that I wouldn't use their products at this point in time. A few months ago, the SFI decertified some of Impact's drag racing driver's gear and, more recently, HANS discovered that Impact was supplying helmets with counterfeit HANS anchors. SFI decertification: http://www.nhra.com/story/2009/7/9/nhra-tech-alert-temporary-product-decertification/ Counterfeit HANS anchors: http://www.scenedaily.com/news/articles/sprintcupseries/HANS_Impact_embroiled_in_safety_dispute_over_helmet_clips.html
Actually, that quote is from a Bell ad from the early 70s, and it went: If you got a $20 head, wear a $20 helmet. At the time the Bells were selling for $50/ and they had just come out with the full faced helmet. Art
There are legions of folks, bikers especially, that say a $XX head = $XX helmet. I do think it's wise to spend more than the minimum on a quality helmet. But I just think the saying is not really all that strong.
