Anyone have any experience with the Bell, G-Force, Arai or Sparco helmets? Which one "sits" the lowest on your head as to provide the most clearance for the roof. I have an FC and have a bucket race seat mounted to the floor, headroom is still tight, and there's no where local to try these on at. WELP! Looking to keep it under $500

 

Under $500? Scratch Sparco and Arai off the list then. Arai's cheapest SA helmet is $700 and a Sparco is $600 at the cheapest.

I like Bell helmets, they fit rather well. Haven't tried G-force though. Anyways, if $500 is your budget, try the Bell M3. Its pretty light and built well. But I would buy the helmet that fits you best, then worry about pricing, features, and looks later.

 

The fit and how low it sits will be totally dependent on your head. There is no substitute for trying on various helmets to find one that you like. Just because everyone and their brother says Brand A is comfortable doesn't mean you'll like it. Either find a race shop in your area that has different brands in stock or get a guarantee when you buy from a mail-order house that you can return it for a full refund if you don't like the feel.

As far as the head room, in an RX-7 of any generation, you're SOL. There won't be a huge difference in any of the helmets.

 

This is proving tricky as most mail order placing want to charge a re-stocking fee of 15%

 

Try the Impact line......I just picked up their new full face at $319....Small profile. Nice helmet, SA05...... Check their website and buy direct.

 

Try my friends at Pyrotect(www.pyrotect.com) they make there own line of Pyrotect helmets and they did make the Bell helmets(they sold the Bell company recently). They will help with fitment and will return helmets for the right size. All those brands mentioned and some that were not will all perform very well, but buy one that fits and is comfortable to wear. We all have budgets but buy one that fits well.

 

Pyrotects fit very well (I am currently using the full face SA2005), but has large-ish exterior dimensions. The Simpson Voyager and Bandit have smaller exterior dimensions and lighter weight, and have CarbonX liners vs Nomex, but cost more than the Pyrotects and fit bigger for the SA05 than ever before, and come with removable cheek pads in 25mm/30mm/35mm thicknesses for custom fitting. The Sparco SN2000-model helmet (SA2000, '05's are not available in the US yet) is very lightweight and has good compact exterior dimensions, and excellent fit similar to the older Bieffe and Arai helmets. The "new" Bieffe (now out of business) as of '04 got smaller and heavier (8oz more)...I just picked up an XL Bieffe Predator, and it is TINY!! Too bad they're gone, great helmets....my first was a Jet Auto open face, good fit.

I usually keep all of the major Bell, Pyrotect, Simpson, Sparco, Motorquality, Suomy, G-Force, Arai (special order) and some Zamp helmets in-stock and on the shelf. If anyone needs EXACT dimensions and weights in each size, let me know. I won't try to sell you one, but good information is hard to find. All manufacturers have the SA2005 rated helmets out now except for Sparco, MQ, Suomy, and OMP....most of the European helmets haven't passed the new Snell requirements yet. I know for a fact Sparco started production of the '05 first week of April. Stand 21 is already out in SA2005.

Any other questions, post for all to read....PM makes it tough to answer the same question 5x. hehe

-JW

 

I currently have the simpson super bandit, Don't really have any issues with the FC with head room.. I'm sitll using the stock seat, and I have to recline it a tad.. but not enough to make it unconfortable.. I'm sure with a bucket seat mounted to floor it would be a bit better. I'm 6'0" and its not an issue driving with the helmet.
And the simpson superbandit it cheap, light, SA05 and damn sexy.