Rollbarrrzzz
 

Dear MT.net,

I am looking into purchasing a nice, shiny new rollbar in the next few days. I am leaning towards a Boss Frog Clearview Maxx because I've read some glowing (but older) reviews on it.

Talk me out of it. It's the most expensive rollbar of all of them I looked at when everything is included (padding, cover, etc.), but seems to be the best fit rollbar for a DD considering it's got full mirror and rear visibility.

Big pros: Cheaper. I like cheaper a lot. But I like my rear view for potential DD purposes a lot more than cheaper.

My hard dog double diagonal is easily dd'able. Just in case that was keeping you away. It's been years since I've looked into roll bars, bought mine used, so otherwise I'm no help.

How tall are you, Curly? Foamectomy/other height mods?

5'10. The rear foam is removed, but the bottom is stock. I need a foamectomy for head room though. Obviously the race seat is bolted to the floor.

I'm fuxt with that bar then, I'm a fair bit taller than you and if you need a foamectomy for head room, I'm done. :(

Head room to the hard top, not the roll bar. I said I needed a foamectomy for headroom, aka: not for roll bar visibility. The roll bar should not be above your head.

Ah, no problems with the "Broomstick" then?

(Edit) Hard dog hard core double diagonal is the same price as the clearview :( Well, there goes that option.

I had a Hard Core Hardtop in my NA. I now have a NB, and will order a Clear View Maxx in the near future. I prefer more room between the back of my head and the roll bar this time around.

I'm 6ft, and a long torso, so I will need to lower the seat regardless of the roll bar height.

Thanks Russell, sounds like the Clearview Maxx is in my future.

I like single diagonals and don't understand why people complain about the "rear view".

How tall is that Boss Frog bar? I want to get a taller roll bar, but with a single diagonal if possible.

You're talking about two different issues: rear view visibility and head room.

rear view visibility shouldn't be taken into consideration, they're all fine for daily driving. I have limited experience, so people with different opinions can chime in, but I'm saying double diagonal is fine, and Hustler is saying single diagonal is fine, should be good enough.

The broom stick test on the other hand, is harder to pass. Very few people will pass with the stock seat, much less with a helmet on. At 5'10" I required a racing seat bolted to the floor in order to barely pass with my helmet on.

If there's a taller bar, buy it.

If you're after the tallest rollbar, I think the AutoPower Race is it. http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...t/30-1038.html

Some measurements from floor pan to roll bar might help.

I have an Autopower street(freebie) and I'm 6'2"ish. There's no way I'd fit with a helmet on. Still using a stock seat for now. I've got long legs and arms thanks god. Better seat comming so, no race car yet.

You guys are starting to talk me into just fabricating a rollbar at this point....

I have the Hard Dog M2 Hardcore Sport Double Diagonal. 6'2, 34" inseam. I haven't had issues with tech with the hardtop on; haven't tried any events without the hardtop. My seat has a foamectomy which I recently revisited to remove more foam.

With the hardtop on, rear visibility is impaired somewhat. But you get used to it and work around it without noticing it. With the top down it's not an issue.

Semi thread-jack: Does anyone use the boss frog seat belt adapters? Helpful? Big difference? Seen here:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1330357177

I'm in the market for a rollbar right now as well. Since were on the subject, would anyone mind telling me the definitive roll bar for a tall guy running a hardtop? I don't care if the stock hardtop latches work or not, i just want to know which one is the tallest, will fit a hardtop, and sits far enough back as to not be slamming my head on it on the streets.

That might be too much to ask. For reference i was looking at the HDHCHTDD or something similar.

The reason I'm interested in the Clearview Maxx is because of all the premade bars that have the potential to fit a hardtop, it's supposed to be the best in all of those categories Fire. Although it does block latches and whatnot.

Yeah the latches thing doesn't bother me too much. My hardtop is on 90% of the time - and i don't see an issue with having to undo a few brackets when i want to pull it off.

Although either way I want to eventually go with a racing seat bolted to the floor and harnesses - so i guess it shouldn't matter TOO much. I'm just a pinch over 6' tall, and the car is mostly used on the streets for winding canyons and DD status.

Talk to moti at blackbird fab, he can make you any roll bar you want. I'm waiting for mine right now.

So, nobody likes the double hoop bars?

If you can build your own, do it. I basically copied the specmiatacages.com rear section for $120 in tubing in my old white car, and it saved my life one time.

Maxx doesn't fit with a hard top, the standard does.

http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=47452
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=283170

O rly?

The Maxx does fit. it may rub a bit, but I have heard it actually doesn't rub if you bolt in the hardtop instead of using the latches.

I am using a BF double diagonal. its nice, looks good and i can see clearly. Only issue is if you get racing seats, particularly tall ones, they may lose a lot of travel due to the doming at the top. I don't have problems with it, I fit in my car with the seats just fine. I am about 5'9"

Otherwise, If you want higher you will want to go with something custom...

Blaen and Track, thanks so much. My only reservation about the Maxx was if I eventually got a hardtop, it wouldn't fit. Now I don't have to worry about it. Will order the bar in the next couple of weeks.

For all you guys that drive your miata mainly on the streets, do you feel a roll bar is necessary? Are you ever concerned about getting rear ended and slamming the back of your head on the bar?

padding.

No. I like to sit a bit more upright, and the rollbar is just above and behind the top of my seat. If I get rear ended it's still the seat that will dope slap me in the back of the head.

I've got the padding and the leather cover on it as well .. but having your head slapped into that in an impact would be a bit like being hit in the head by a baseball bat with a little padding and a leather cover. IE - not as bad, but still bad. The SFI rollbar padding is designed with a helmet impact in mind, not a bare skull. It'll still hurt. But definitely better than naked steel.

Besides the rollbar really stiffens up the rear of the car. You've seen all those commercials telling us men how much better our lives will be with a little added stiffness - it's true. Don't deny it. You know you want a stiffer rear.

Thanks for the input Mobius. I figured that padding couldn't really help if your head was slamming into it during a high speed impact. I want it more to stiffen up my car, but now I don't think it's worth the risk.

Just to be clear, my opening "No" was to whether I'm concerned about getting rear-ended and hitting my head on the bar. I'm not worried about that. My car has the taller seats and the rollbar is just above and behind the top of the seat.

In my car, at least, I don't think the rollbar adds any significant risk of injury to my person in the event of an accident on the street. Others disagree. If my vehicle had the shorter seats, I might feel otherwise, since I'm on the tallish side (6'2). But as my seating arrangement sits now I'm comfortable with the presence of the rollbar.

just to be clear, if you are using a soft-top, and are taller than 5' 9" -ish, you can look just slightly to your left and see plenty of metal which you would most certainly come into contact with in a side-impact.

With that said, it would seem to be illogical to dismiss the rollbar as hazard, but not dismiss your soft top.

there ARE many solutions to avoiding or remedying hitting your head on a rollbar.