I need to purchase a new helmet, since my old one was an SA95. I’ve been debating between the Bell Sport 3 and the M3. My question relates to the benefits of a lighter helmet. The M3 is about a ½ lb lighter than the Sport 3 (3.2lbs vs. 3.7lbs for my size).

What benefit will a lighter helmet provide in the event of an accident without the use of the Hans Device? Does the use of the Hans devise negate any benefit of the reduced weight?

And the bigger question is “Is ½ lb enough of a weight savings to really make a difference in the event of a crash?” Or should I be looking for an even lighter helmet?

I’m all for safety and don’t mind spending money to increases my chances of being safe, but I was curious about the physics behind the notion of a lighter helmet.

Thanks,

Noel

 

Weight is very important. Trust me, your neck will be glad you bought a lighter helmet.

You should take into consideration the actual shell size. Many less costly helmets are very big, and interfere with the headrest on a stock seat

 

You will notice the difference every time you drive with it, not just every time you crash with it.

 

Also not to be overlooked .. lighter is safer. Think about forward momentum ..

 

My old Bell Sport II is obsolete and I just ran my first event w/ my new Bell M4Pro. I don't know the difference in weight between the two, but I noticed I had a lot less neck stress in every corner, something a HANS or similar won't help with during a long day at the track.

 

Hey;

1/2 pound indeed doesn't seem like much. Cost/benefit? What is the extra price difference? Is that important? 1/2lb=20lbs in a 40G crash. Still doesn't seem like much, but it could be the difference. If you have an H&N, it probably won't matter. If you don't, it might.

Bottom line - when talking safety, default to safer.

 

Thanks guys. THe M3 is $439 and the Sport 3 is $299. So there is about a $140 difference, which I would gladly pay if it is THAT much safer/comfortable.

Noel

 

Or you could try a G-Force. All of their SA helmets are Kevlar and their equivilent helmet is the price of the Sport III. To top it off, my G-Force is much higher quality than any of the Bell's I've owned, including the one that saved my life.

 

Hey G;

Is the G-Force really that nice? I just assumed they were cheap like other non-big-name helmets. I might look into them.

 

IMHO absolutely!

I had been looking at the forced air helmet in ads for some time, but like you I figured they were just another cheap helmet - right up until I got my hands on one. I've had 3 different Bell helmets (actually 4 if you count the XFM-1 I never raced in) and 1 Simpson and I'd take the G-Force any day of the week and twice on Sunday over the Bells or Simpson. Much better quality and Kevlar to boot.

Do yourself a favor and next race you're at where there are vendors with helmets, seek out the G-Force helmets, look them over, and try them on. I'm very much sold on them.

 

I looked at a G-Force helmet because I had heard good things about them. The model I liked and tried on fit well and was light, but I couldn't get over how the chin portion of it seemed so flimsy. I could push it in with my hand. Since I was going to attach my Issac to my new helmet, I couldn't in good faith buy it. Maybe it was just the model I was looking at? I got a Bell helmet instead.

 

I was also looking for a light helmet. I found the same thing as George. I kept trying to spend more on a "better" helmet but, between fitment problems and lack of availability of SA2005's in most of the helmets that I wanted I gave up. I thought that I was "settling" when I bought a "cheap" Pro Force 1 but I am very pleasantly surprised. It is light, fits great and has a nice venting system. In my experience spending more only buys a little less weight, (a $1200 Stand 21 weighs about .2 less than the Pro Force) hans pre-drilling and maybe some extra venting. Considering that all of the SA2005's meet the same standard a G-Force is hard to beat if it fits.

 

I've got a GForce as well, and have been perfectly happy with it. I had a used Bell prior to that, so I *have* had something else to compare it with.

 

Robert,
Youir opinion has to be discounted for 3 reasons:
1) You drive an SRF.
2) You like JimBob (are you some sort of bubba?)
3) You drive an SRF.

Did I mention he drives an SRF (damn fast too).

 

Discount racecar, discount helmet?