07-02-2015, 08:00 PM | #1 |
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Bell Helmet - Fit Question
I'm signed up for my first HPDE in August, so I just bought a Bell M4 helmet in large. The top half fits my head perfectly and snugly, and it passes all of the fit tests that Bell reccommends. The salesperson even checked it out and said it was my best bet. However, I find that the sides around my neck and ears aren't super snug like the top. Theres enough of a gap that I can fit my fingers in on both sides and touch my ears. Is this something I should be concerned about? The guy helping me said it's the way most Bells fit. One size down (med) had the same issue, so I don't think it's a size thing. The medium was tight beyond comfortable on my forehead.
The best fitting helmet that I tried on was the Simpson Carbon Devil Ray... I just wasn't prepared to drop $800 for my first helmet! |
07-02-2015, 08:38 PM | #2 |
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This will be my first also. Where did you go for the helmet?
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07-02-2015, 08:49 PM | #3 |
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I wish there was a place to go in the South Bay, but there's not. I went to LPI Racing in Livermore, and they had 5 helmets on the shelf, none of which were my size. I ended up at IO Port Racing in Lafayette, which is run out of a guy's house. He was super helpful but I'm just not 100% certain the fit is right. My third stop would've been Wine Country Motorsports in Sonoma, but I wasn't willing to drive out there today. I bought an HJC AR-10 II on Amazon last week and quickly realized this shouldn't be an online purchase, haha.
Which event are you going to? I'll be at Laguna Seca on August 24th with Hooked on Driving. |
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07-02-2015, 08:52 PM | #4 |
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I am going to thunder hill on August 1st with bmw ccagc. I am finding out that for a 600 dollar weekend it will wind up costing me 1500 which is the same as a Bmw driving school.
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07-26-2015, 11:47 PM | #5 |
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So... I tried on an Arai GP-5W today and loved it, so I bought one. So much for getting a cheap first helmet.
The Bell M-4 is for sale if anyone is interested, please PM me! Large, matte black, brand new. Can't return it because I peeled off the damn visor plastic. |
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07-27-2015, 12:41 PM | #6 |
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Aren't Snell 2015 helmets going to start showing up this fall? I guess a 2010 will still be good for another 5 years, but I would consider waiting if I was dropping cash on a really fancy helmet. But that's just me...
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07-28-2015, 10:25 PM | #7 |
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Yep. I got about $260 off the Arai for that exact reason, so I figured it's worth it for 5+ years of use!
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07-31-2015, 06:00 PM | #8 |
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IMO, the first thing about how a helmet fits is whether or not there's play side to side and up and down. If your head is still, and there's significant play for the helmet to rotate on the Y axis and the X axis, then it's too loose. If it doesn't rotate in either axis, but is uncomfortable, it's too tight.
Other than that, what you described is perfectly normal for an automotive helmet.
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