Taller folks, what roll bar are you rockin?
 

I'm 6'0 and am looking to order a roll bar. The project miata has the Hard Dog Hard Core rollbar. I'm looking at the hardtop version but it has a note about helmet clearance. I do plan to eventually track the car. Anyone around my height getting away with using the hardtop version? I also plan to eventually get a hardtop for my miata, hence the consideration.

Any input helps. Thanks.

You will most likely need an aftermarket seat to clear that bar, however it is possible.

6'3" with a hard dog hard core hardtop version. I get away with it because I have aluminum race seats (Kirkeys) bolted right to the floor with the rear seat humps amputated. My helmet clears the bar by ~2". If you're "only" 6-nothing then you can probably get away with just a foamectomy for street use, but for track you're going to need aftermarket seats, which you'll want anyway so you can use a proper harness. You might be able to get away with a setup that keeps the rails/sliders, but I couldn't.

I bought a sport bar with a diagonal. My seat is mounted on the floor. The rear humps are still in place. At 6'2 or something with a helmet on I'm seeing 1 inch of clearance.

aluminum seat crew. I mounted mine to the floor and cut the sock humps off to get it lower. Its a good 2" lower than the aluminum seats mounted to the stock mounts on the passenger side.

6'2, Hard Core HardTop bar. I use the stock seats. Driver's seat has had a foamectomy. With a hardtop on the car they're probably not going to check clearance closely, or at all. If you run open top, they'll definitely check clearance.

+1 exactly the same here except I used ultrashield seats.

6'4, but fortunately there's a disproportionate amount of that in my lower body. HDHCDD hardtop version for a NB (used to have glass soft top). Seat bolted to the floor with the stock rear mount knocked out. I have about 1.5" to the top of the bar with my helmet on. I wouldn't fit with my helmet on using the stock seats or even with a lowered (on stock rails) aftermarket seat with either the soft or hard top. Bolting the seat to the floor and knocking out the rear mount was key. I also need an aftermarket steering wheel to even get close to being able to heel-toe.

99 with stock seats. 2" foamectomy. HDHCDD non-hardtop version. Im a little over 6'2 with about equal proportioned upper and lower body portion. My head falls just below the HDHCDD bar the way things are now. My helmet will absolutely hit the rollbar.

If I wanted to track the car i would need to bolt a seat directly to the floor. Most likely an aluminum seat with the rear mounts removed.
I won't be doing that to this car though.

Now that I saw an NB with a HDHC in it, I think you are going to want the hardtop version if you are even thinking about using the stock seats at all. The bar literally sits right on top of the seats when they are all the way back. If I leaned my head back while sitting down, I hit the roll bar.

Edit: Note I am talking about the tall NB2 seats. I think the bar sits at the same height in an NA though

There are 2 problems with tall drivers...
#1: the stock seat is thick as hell.
#2: Rollbars that don't mount to the top of the seatbelt post restrict rearward movement of the stock seat, and drastically reduce rearward movement of aftermarket seats with big shoulders.

The solution is here: https://www.miataturbo.net/general-miata-chat-9/ultimate-diy-drivers-seat-lotsa-pics-17783/

The result is post#30 here: https://www.miataturbo.net/showthread.php?t=17783

The Miata cockpit has A LOT of room... just gotta get rid of the stock seat and replace it with one that will work with your rollbar. My solution was to make one. Given the choice, I'd have just padded the backwall and sat on a boat cushion.

Hard Dog HC for hardtop, 6'0", I don't have clearance for a helmet with stock seats. I am also disproportionate. I have longer legs than torso, so my real restriction is how far back the seat goes. So far, Sparco 330mm flat bottomed steering wheel and a little exacto knife on the seat has made it possible to drive comfortably. I have terrible knees and a bad back, so full race seats are difficult for me to get in and out of. I have been eyeing some older Sparco Roadster seats as a possible replacement, fixed mounts, all the way on the floorboard.

HDHC NB, non-HT in mine, and I'm 6'0".

With stock seats and no helmet, my head was even with the rollbar. With a helmet I was 2 inches above it.

With Recaro pole position seats, custom brackets, bolted to the floor (no sliders) with the OEM mounts cut out, my helmet is now about 1.5" below the bar.

Note that you can use the non-HT bar with a hard top, you just have to take the side latches off.

--Ian

Boss Frog DH MAXX, which has a backwards slant for more head room, but is not hard top compatible. I'm roughly 6' with a slightly taller torso than normal.

either way dont forget to add some foam to the bar :)

I went autocrossing last year. 8 out of 10 cars had exposed roll bars.


"Da chrome gotta shaaine maaan"