This is the repository for SA 20XX helmets for AutoX and Road course use.
Company:

Model #:

Description:

Type of event used in:

Specs (opt):

Experience with:

price:

 

Company: Impact Racing

Model #: Charger

Description: Basic closed face helmet with SA05 rating.

Type of event used in: SCCA/NASA road racing

Specs (opt): HANS anchors inserted by dealer. XL fits driver with 7 3/4" hat size.

Experience with: BELL

price: $459

 

dkmura,

Thanks for your entry. Can you give us some personal opinions on the helmet?

 

Certainly- this is the first Impact Racing helmet I've owned after years of being a loyal Bell helmet endorser. The Charger is a step up from a entry level full face helmet. The eyeport is bigger than my last helmet, the Bell M3, and offers better peripheral vision (important for a HANS wearer). The polycarbonate shield has indents for any one of three positions and can be opened with one hand. There's two vents on the crown of the helmet and they seem to help on a hot day. It's relatively light, yet durable after four full racing seasons. The general sizing is snug, yet comfortable for my melon and you can fit different cheek pads to customize. The helmet liner is made from Impact Racing's "grey matter" impact-absorbing bead material and I hope to never test it. The black fire retardant interior (I hope not to test THAT ever as well) has held up and the Kevlar chinstrap uses the familiar D-ring to cinch down. No aero devices, except for a extended chinbar to guide air around the helmet. A good value for the money and well suited to closed cockpit racers.

 

Before i pull the trigger I wanted to know if anyone had ever used or owned a Bell K-1.

 

Company: Bell

Model #: M2

Description: Entry level with wide eyeport (chose this because i wear glasses)

Type of event used in: HPDE

Specs (opt):

Experience with: Been using for several years now, comfortable, does its job, its sa2005 so got another 5 years left on it, will be looking for something with hans compatibility next.

price: $300

 

Model #: Bell Full Face Sport



A good picture can do wonders in marketing.

Description: Entry level Snell 2005 SA rated designed for the sportsman driver looking for an affordable price.

Type of event used in: HPDE

Specs (opt): The Sport helmet offers the following,

• Full face protection
• Large eye port.
• Removable interior
• Lightweight fiberglass shell


Experience with:

As a helmet, it functions as expected but the quality of the helmet is definitely subpar for the brand. Bell makes $100 motorcycle helmets of better quality (albeit not SA rated). On the plus side, I found the sizing to be spot on and the comfort to be great, however there were some expectations I thought were lacking. The issues I found in comparison to other helmets I've owned start with the aforementioned "Lightweight Fiberglass Shell". I think it may be a little too thin, but of course this is subjective and the obvious trade-off is weight. The shell tends to deflect very easily but should be sufficent for the purpose it serves. Also, the visor looked to be an afterthought in the design process, almost looking as though it wasn't meant to be on the helmet. But once again functionality is fine and it serves the purpose (However the large eye port seems to offer less visiblity than smaller ports from the helmets I'm accustomed to).

I'm accustomed to an Italian make, Suomy, with my past helmets and didn't realize the gap in quality was this large. I would imagine the Racer class of Bell helmets are produced to a higher quality but I will definitely have to see, touch, and feel my next Bell helmet before purchasing.

Price: $259

Would I recommend this product?: Hard to say, for the price point there's not a lot out there that's better all around. I would definitely recommend perspective buyers see one in person before purchasing. Rest assured it's not a bad helmet, I just expected more from the manufacturer.