jdistefa

Going to upgrade my bucket.
Who here wears an Arai?
I suspect I'm a large but would appreciate if someone can comment on the size of their noggin and helmet size....
Thx!

993_Pilot

My hat size is 7-3/8 and I used to wear a Large Arai motorcycle helmet. I fit my head better than some other brands due to the shape.

nile13

I would strongly suggest trying them on first. Arai and Shoei, for example seem to be made to fit different types of heads.

race911

GP5W here (for the sports racer, and if I ever go actual racing again). Best fit of the 5-6 helmets I've had in the past ~25 years. I usually wear glasses so I went with the larger eyeport. And I got the attachable aero thingies from the buffetting in the open cockpit; won't matter for your hardtop, but nice to have if you ever wander into a Barber/equivalent school or something.

s2racer

it is best to go somewhere you can try many different models. i currently use a bieffe gp1, and prior to that a bell vortex. but i race an open cockpit car. for the p-car, i would look at the sparco or bieffe helmets that i see rallyists use; still closed face, but wider eye ports and a visor/shade.

race911

Bieffe is no longer in business (or at least importing). I still have a couple of SA2000's in use, and they were supposedly made a bit oblong for those of us egg headed.

nile13

Bieffe made nice helmets, I've had a few. I currently use HJC, good helmets much less expensive than Arai (the first person who tells me that the helmet should cost as much as his head obviously values his head at under $1000).

jdistefa

Thx everyone.
Confirms what I thought = L.
Bieffe is nada, Shoei doesn't make Hans friendly helmets (although I have a very comfy RF-1000), and HJC just doesn't fit my head well.
Arai GP5W is the way to go...

Van1

I currently use an Arai Profile motorcyle helmet (successor to the Signet) in an extra large. I measure in at just under 7-1/2. I have a long oval head which the Profile is geared towards while the Quantum is for a more round head. I had been a Shoei RF user for over 15 years but I discovered that the Arai is the best fitting helmet I have ever had. Like the others have said though, you really need to try them on in person instead of buying them sight unseen. Each helmet brand and model is different.

993_Pilot

LOL, I have heard this one to many times too, and while quality usually isn't cheap, it doesn't have to be crazy expensive either. FWIW, I use a HJC AC-12 Carbon to protect my noggin now, but it took a while to conform to my head, where the Arai fit me fine from the day I bought it.

Full Boost

Nile,

Close - but our saying is:

If you a cheap head - then buy a cheap helmet!

Not all helmets are born the same - similar to why we drive P-cars !

BOL,

SImon.

nile13

For what I do - autocross - all helmets are about the same and are mostly for decoration, as far as I'm concerned. For motorcycles or open racers I imagine that would be different. What I can't quite imagine is how a real helmet that passes both DOT and Snell testing would not be sufficient.

And yes, my head is cheap - I drive on the street without a helmet at all (and not always in a Porsche either) Whiles street is much more dangerous than any of the 250+ autocross courses I've been to

Pete Lech

I agree with Nile 13.

Out here on the Left Coast, lots of folks wear G-Force helmets, but for my noggin, even their double XX did not fit right. I got a XL Zamp, and it is almost too big. Best to try them on first. In a closed car, I prefer an open-face helmet.

race911

Another thing from memory lane with the open face/unshielded helmets. Way back when (mid-80's) I'm out on a private rental day and a guy who bought the old Lobenberg '83 Trans Am Huffaker or Tom Gloy built championship car goes SMOKING by me. He said he was tapped out @ 165ish and I'm at about 100 in my 911. Rock flips up, comes through the driver's window and hits my helmet. Always wore a shield or decent eye protection after that............

jdistefa

Plus, there's always the chance that parts from another vehicle could come through your windshield. Granted, a rare event, but I like my face.