Helmet Experiences
Discussion
No, not those sort! This sort >
For reasons that should be obvious i.e. going Hans, several are thinking about getting a new helmet with Hans posts.
I was looking to getting a bit of feedback on which helmets people have found to be good in a Radical i.e. an open top car with (the joy of as far as I am concerned) one's bonce fully exposed to the wind. We use intercomed Peltors at the moment and have found them excellent; my only criticism is that one does get a bit of head buffeting at very high speed, like final 1/3rd of Revett, final 1/2 of Hangar. For all I know, that small % may be excellent/ as good as it gets in a Radical, but some helmets do seem to be more bluff/aerodynamic shaped than others, but of course this could be styling rather than actually achieving anything.
So in terms of minimising buffeting, your own experiences?
For reasons that should be obvious i.e. going Hans, several are thinking about getting a new helmet with Hans posts.
I was looking to getting a bit of feedback on which helmets people have found to be good in a Radical i.e. an open top car with (the joy of as far as I am concerned) one's bonce fully exposed to the wind. We use intercomed Peltors at the moment and have found them excellent; my only criticism is that one does get a bit of head buffeting at very high speed, like final 1/3rd of Revett, final 1/2 of Hangar. For all I know, that small % may be excellent/ as good as it gets in a Radical, but some helmets do seem to be more bluff/aerodynamic shaped than others, but of course this could be styling rather than actually achieving anything.
So in terms of minimising buffeting, your own experiences?
Never had buffeting problems, but some sensible alternatives:
1) Get down nice and low in the car. Appreciate this is difficult if you're very tall, but I've seen folks the same height as me poking right out of the car...
2) A small lip (5mm) around the top edge of the cowling to spoil the cockpit airflow works wonders.
3) Nicely fitting earplugs.
1) Get down nice and low in the car. Appreciate this is difficult if you're very tall, but I've seen folks the same height as me poking right out of the car...
2) A small lip (5mm) around the top edge of the cowling to spoil the cockpit airflow works wonders.
3) Nicely fitting earplugs.
superlight7 said:
I find my latest Bell RS3 to be far more stable than previous helmets.
Yes noticed that the RS3 and several other Bells have that duck-bill. That said their Vortex with "Vortex Generators To Reduce Buffeting And Lift" doesn't have a duck bill. Strange.Given you have good experience of both Revett and Senna, do you get any buffering at all at either with the RS3?
mabbott said:
Never had buffeting problems, but some sensible alternatives:
1) Get down nice and low in the car. Appreciate this is difficult if you're very tall, but I've seen folks the same height as me poking right out of the car...
2) A small lip (5mm) around the top edge of the cowling to spoil the cockpit airflow works wonders.
3) Nicely fitting earplugs.
Cheers Mark1) Get down nice and low in the car. Appreciate this is difficult if you're very tall, but I've seen folks the same height as me poking right out of the car...
2) A small lip (5mm) around the top edge of the cowling to spoil the cockpit airflow works wonders.
3) Nicely fitting earplugs.
On 1) Given the PR6's totally central driving position, I've often wondered whether those who sit low (and 'let the dog see the rabbit') get a couple more gee gees at maximum velocity.
On 2), how do you mean? Just the totally flat part of the top of the engine air intake cowl just behind the roll bar, which is pretty wide on a PR6, but virtually non-existent on an SR3?
On 3) I've never thought of earplugs as part of car/bonce aero ........... Pardon?
splitpin said:
superlight7 said:
I find my latest Bell RS3 to be far more stable than previous helmets.
Given you have good experience of both Revett and Senna, do you get any buffering at all at either with the RS3? In fact last time I took SWMBO out for a few laps I wore my old Bell Sport (it has intercom fitted) and I certainly noticed a significantly backwards step to my RS3.
Trev - I mean the cowling on the front of the cockpit ie the bit just above the steering wheel.
Yes I'm sure ones head sticking into the intake flow has an effect but cocking your head over won't make much difference because it would need to be well out if the way which I don't think is possible. also depends if you think any ram effect exists or indeed works...
Yes I'm sure ones head sticking into the intake flow has an effect but cocking your head over won't make much difference because it would need to be well out if the way which I don't think is possible. also depends if you think any ram effect exists or indeed works...
On a similar subject and/but trying to be helpful.....
Often overlooked is the Arai GP5W.This is portayed as an enclosed car type helmet and certainly in Demon Tweeks is show without a visor. The benefits of this model are....
wider aperture ( for spec wearers like me )
more ventilation holes ( for farters like me )
The one problem that I did have was that the helmet strap was too short. After much head scratching ( pun intended ) I contacted the distributor who promptly put on a longer strap free of charge ( even GPR and DT did not know this was available )
Buffeting - Yes have suffered from this but as Mark said the lower you squiggle ( technical term )down the better.
Cheers
D D
Often overlooked is the Arai GP5W.This is portayed as an enclosed car type helmet and certainly in Demon Tweeks is show without a visor. The benefits of this model are....
wider aperture ( for spec wearers like me )
more ventilation holes ( for farters like me )
The one problem that I did have was that the helmet strap was too short. After much head scratching ( pun intended ) I contacted the distributor who promptly put on a longer strap free of charge ( even GPR and DT did not know this was available )
Buffeting - Yes have suffered from this but as Mark said the lower you squiggle ( technical term )down the better.
Cheers
D D
, but whilst I can try it on in the showroom to see if it feels comfortable for my head (everyone's being different), what's it like in terms of resisting buffeting?I have been extremely pleased with the Bell HP3 carbon jobbie I went for, stable at speed, excellent double glazed visors & so light it makes life a lot easier for your neck over a test & race weekend.
Yes its expensive, but when you look at the total cost of going racing & spread the purchase cost out over 5 years, its not too bad & hopefully pretty much as good as it gets in the event of the worst happening.......
Yes its expensive, but when you look at the total cost of going racing & spread the purchase cost out over 5 years, its not too bad & hopefully pretty much as good as it gets in the event of the worst happening.......
dsl2 said:
I have been extremely pleased with the Bell HP3 carbon jobbie I went for, stable at speed, excellent double glazed visors & so light it makes life a lot easier for your neck over a test & race weekend.
That's a totally beautiful helmet ........... nice to hear 'stable at speed' ........... it seems to embody the same 'duck-bill' design principles as other lesser Bells like the RS3, so I guess that'll hold good for those, albeit more weight to load up one's neck?Gassing Station | Radical | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff