Helmets (yes, I searched)
#21
Fitment is far and away the most critical thing to nail down. All helmet brands fit differently, and the size number is only a very general guideline. You have to spend the time and try on a bunch of helmets to find the one that fits.
If a helmet doesn't fit your melon correctly, find one that does. Everything else is details.
If a helmet doesn't fit your melon correctly, find one that does. Everything else is details.
#22
Right; I should have added that caveat. I'm still trying to find some place relatively local that carries a decent selection of SA helmets. Several people recommended Wine Country Motorsports, but that's about a 6-7 hour round trip shopping experience.
#23
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,799
Total Cats: 179
Not sure if you have gotten a helmet or not yet, but Wine Country Motorsports usually comes out to most of the Chin Motorsports events at Sebring. There is a Chin event coming up in October as well. I would head over to that event and check out the selection of helmets. Might be closer than going to their main retail location.
I found a local place that seems to stock the Pyrotect Airflow so I will head there and hope it fits well. If it does, I'm buying that and won't let perfect be the enemy of good.
#24
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,799
Total Cats: 179
So, one of the guys I was hanging out with at the ChumpCar race had the Pyrotect Pro Airflow SA2010 (with duckbill) and I got to try it on and it fit well. That worked out well because Wine Country Motorsports was phasing out their Pyrotect line-up due to overlap with Bell so they didn't have any in stock.
I did try on a couple of different helmets at WCM, but I ended up walking away thinking the Pyrotect was the best combination of weight, comfort and price. Now I just have to figure out which size he had.
I did try on a couple of different helmets at WCM, but I ended up walking away thinking the Pyrotect was the best combination of weight, comfort and price. Now I just have to figure out which size he had.
#26
The problem with the Pyrotect helmet was its build quality. The crappy foam weather-strip like liner around the opening, which is supposed to seal the shield to the helmet when closed, lifted and flew off after just a few uses. The metal screens in the air flow ports became loose and the ones at the mouth opening always seemed to find a way to expose a sharp edge to nick my hand and/or chin. The non-removeable part of the liner became loose, and would flop around, making it kind of a PITA to put the helmet on without that pad moving.
Honestly for the $250 I spent on it years ago, it has served me very well and it fits my noggin well. However, that said, it is a humongous POS compared to the nicer helmets out there. I'm getting a new Impact helmet for BAJA, hoping it fits me well enough to retire the ole Pyrotec.
Cliff notes: You get what you pay for, but if you're looking for the cheapest SA2010 helmet you can get, I think the pyrotec is a decent option.
#27
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,799
Total Cats: 179
I have a SA05 Pyrotec that looks exactly like the one you're considering, and I had the same experience as above. Crappy foam failed in a few uses, metal screens had problems later, etc. etc.
[...]
Cliff notes: You get what you pay for, but if you're looking for the cheapest SA2010 helmet you can get, I think the pyrotec is a decent option.
[...]
Cliff notes: You get what you pay for, but if you're looking for the cheapest SA2010 helmet you can get, I think the pyrotec is a decent option.
As for longevity, I think the ChumpCar driver I know has already put more track hours on his helmet than I am likely to ever put on mine so I am optimistic it is "good enough" for a guy that might do 3 or 4 HPDEs per year.
#28
Then it served me well through three years of club racing, including multiple 12+ hour enduros. Added HANS posts and radio stuff, etc. etc.
In the end I think I had more money in radio and HANS stuff on the helmet than the helmet cost up front...
Like I said, the older version of this helmet has served me very, very well and I do like the way it fits my noggin. It has always looked like a big POS sitting next to all my teamate's $1000 helmets though.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JesseTheNoob
DIY Turbo Discussion
15
09-30-2015 02:44 PM