Roll bar questions
 

I am going to be purchasing a roll bar for my MSM in the next few months, and was wondering a few things.
1) Anything I should stay away from?
2) Anything I can't do without?
3) Installation will have to be done at a local shop/experienced guy's garage, for lack of tools or facilities to do it myself.

I was thinking of getting the Hard Dog Hard Core, and have it covered in balck leather w/ red stitching to match the stock seats.

Oh, and the car will see some track time, although not much.
This is mainly a safety issue for me, nothing more.

^ what he said

Yep lots of threads there

common guys, give the noob a break, lets break him in the traditional way

You might want to consider the Boss Frog Clearview rollbar for multiple reasons: Better rear mirror vision (hence the name), fits with NB glass tops, fits with HT (even if you don't have one now, you never know), and now comes with seatbelt adaptors included. Here's a good chart of some differences: http://www.teammiata.com/Rollbar-faqs.htm

Oh, and for installation, sometimes good food/drink can tempt the locals to come out and help you with the install as it's really not too bad. In fact, I think one of the MD miata clubs does tech days occasionally.

Finally, save yourself a lot of time from reading all the arguements, just ignore the eventual "you shouldn't have a rollbar on a street car" thread as you will always find some peeps who have hit their head on the bar and some who have had their lives saved b/c of a bar on a street car.

lol, i have seen someone hit the side of their head really hard on a rollbar, only it was while replacing a soft top/frame, funniest part about it is that he is bald so you could see the knot on the side of his head come out, it was so funny...anyways, back on subject, whatever you get make sure its hard dog, really good quality stuff

Hard Dog or Boss Frog. I like my hard dog m2 sport bar, fits my glass top and it was fairly simple to install, just takes a while. See if the locals have a tech day...it might be worth the membership fee to get some extra help.

I hit my head really hard once on a backroad, and blacked out. Luckily the passenger stopped the car with the hand brake and steering wheel. That was a bad day; blood was fucking everywhere.. I ordered a seat the next day and bolted it to the floor...lol.

single diagonal > double ------ shit.

you fukken serious, damn!!!!!!
good thing you had a passanger man

you guys should stop trying to big pimp it driving with the seat all the way back and learn how to drive with knees and elbows bent like a real driver. I didn't hit my head on my roll bar when i went straight back into a pole....If i did it would have hurt like shit, cause the impact itself gave me a headache for two days.

hehe... i have one sitting in the middle of a living room waiting to be installed :)

not all rollbars are solo certified. might want to keep that in mind if you plan on racing.

I will help.
http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...Roll-Bars.html
Here is a link to compare every single rollbar to consider for a Miata. Boss Frog, Autopower, and Hard Dog. You won't go wrong with any of the 4pt bars. Some bars are/are not compatible with glass windows. Not all bars are SCCA legal. Some bars are more difficult than others to mount racing belts... etc. Check them out, decide which one you like the looks of the best and fits your needs.

Stay away from anything that mentions the word "style bar".
Do not buy anything on eBay.
Chrome=Gay.

Install shouldn't be a big deal for a competent shop. The bars come with instructions. There is some cutting to be done to the package shelf behind the seats, but everything really just bolts right in.

Thanks for all the help. And the links.
I know about miata.net and mazda-speed.com, and have read through all I could find at both sites.
I know about the differences in style bars and roll bars. Undecided about single or double diagonal. Definately will be padded with leather covering.
Since it will be a few months until I install it, I will ask the local club if they do have a "tech day" to help with the install.
Again, thanks for all the help!

Bryan

forget the leather wrap, you drive a miata, thats gay enough

yes whaamx5...

The install really isn't as complicated as you think. It can be done in a few hours with some basic tools. I would really consider how the diagonals block the rear view mirror. Its something i didn't think about when I bought the DD and I can just barely see through the two diagonals. The single diagonal black alot more

zip-tied FIA padding > leather ------ wrap shit.

I was in the top of 4th gear, went over a bump, heard the noise, felt something cool but never felt the impact. I didn't immediately black out, but I was incoherent. I got out of the car, lied down, and almost took a nap. that was a bad day.

I look like a little kid driving the car now. Highschool kids like to fuck with me, and are a little surprised when I get out of the car...or just shoot at them.