Cheap helmets: £19.99 Open face / £34.99 Full face

[Corranga]

Reckon these are probably idea for those of you who want to do track days, but feel there isn't much need to wear a helmet, but have to. They are legal for UK motorcycle use too, but probably not as safe as others you could buy for a little more.

At your local Lidl from 20th March. Obviously try it on etc to make sure it fits ok.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages ... 11&nf=True

Reckon they'd be fine for Knockhill / Sprints etc in Scotland I reckon, but bigger circuits accross the country may have higher demands for safety I believe?

Chris

[tut]

As far as I know you can wear any helmet for trackdays. I would not use one if I did not have to due to my neck, so I have a light open face one.

However for any competition from Sprints upwards, you will need one with the appropriate BS number for that level.

tut

[tut]

Could someone in the know please check the intercom set at £5 on that page for me, to see if it is suitable for use in the Elise between two helmets.

tut

[ruadh08]

Could someone in the know please check the intercom set at £5 on that page for me, to see if it is suitable for use in the Elise between two helmets.

tut

That would be a great buy if they would be suitable for track days? Are they available in all LIDL stores or just online?

[tut]

Paul

As far as I can see there is no LIDL on line ordering, it is all store based.

tut

[hiscot]

i have one off these
http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages ... arger.ar11

i put a cig adapter on instead off the croc clips as i have a early live cig socket and just plug it in
its auto so wont overcharge its been great for over winter storage

[Andy]

Tut,

As long as the cables are long enough (or easily extendable), no reason why that shouldn't work in an Elise. I have a Peltor stylee intercom I got for the Sierra (never fitted) and will be hooking it up to the Elise for KH days

[Cisco]

If you can't afford a good helmet ..you cant afford to go fast..It's your head.

But you don't get to change your mind on this issue after you made a mistake.

Buy the very best helmet you can afford even if it means a bank loan.

If Carlsberg gave advice then this..is ..the ..Best Advice you will ever get.

If you don't get to use the helmet in anger then that is a big bonus.

Take care,

[tut]

Thanks Andy. With the tinnitus it makes hearing a passenger even more difficult, so worth trying an intercom system.

tut

[Andy]

Tut, if you can't hear them scream you've nothing to worry about

I'm going to give that intercom a go on the bike, worth the gamble

[Corranga]

If you can't afford a good helmet ..you cant afford to go fast..It's your head.
...
Buy the very best helmet you can afford even if it means a bank loan.

I had issues finding a decent helmet, there is so many different standards, and theorys on what is best, maybe you can give some advice.
Talking solely about bikes, I read that the 'race' BS Standard helmets are often really hard, and thus not so good for on road accidents.
What would you recommend?
I'm learning to ride on a little 125 at the moment, and have a cheap Takachi TK-30 helmet for my bike which has ACU gold, is the ACU gold standard worth anything/what standard should I be looking for in future?
This is the helmet that my local CBT centre uses, and also the helmet Knockhill use for their Karting centre, and their Experience days. It is a nice fit, and feels well made to me, but I find the visibility isn't so great in the confines of a car since you can't turn your head so well.

As for in the car on trackdays, I don't really see there being much more risk factor than driving on an actual road, ok you'd be travelling a little quicker, but in a road acciudent you'd have no helmet at all. I was thinking that the increase in visibility from an open face would be a good step towards avoiding an accident.
Am I just being an idiot here?!

[Andy]

You might want to have a read of these:

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/ ... =EPI-97165
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/ ... =EPI-88236

The problem with all helmets on sale today is they meet the same weak BS standard, it's not that hard to pass. The European test (E-marked, usually on the helmet strap) is a bit more thorough. However, helmet fit is the most critical thing, if you're head isn't in perfect contact with lining it could do you more harm than good. I use Roof helmets (http://www.roof.fr) simply as they are the best fit for me, nothing else fits like a Roof It doesn't help that every shop I've been in apart from 1 has mis-advised me simply to get a sale A £500 Arai will not protect your napper if it doesn't fit well.

On a track day your helmet only really needs to protect your head from the sideways impacts so the distance travelled is quite small. On a bike you could be jettisoned a long way by some chump running up your backside

Hope this helps

Back on topic...

[tut]

Will anyone have an intercom system with them tomorrow that I could try?

tut

[ceejam]

I've got an intercom like that I bought from LIDL I think last year, never tried it in a car, but thinking it will be handy in the Elise for longer trips

Shame the offers aren't 'til next week, or there'd be a few folk buying these http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages ... _Suit.ar11

for pax's in Andy's Atom

[Cisco]

Hey Corranga,

First thing..it's got to be a good fit..top of the range Arai that is too loose..you might as well be wearing a brown paper bag for all the good it will do you.

"Good fit" means tight but not painful..you should not be able to rotate the helmet on your head more than about 20-30mm.

Try on lots of helmets before you buy anything and remember that the foam padding will relax a little so if you think its ok but a little loose..go next size down.

Try on some of the lower spec Arai's or Shoei's..these ones are actually better for road use as, although they are a little heavier, they are a lot quieter.

Good luck and

Take care,