S8ight Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 i wore one on the road for years, never got pulled for it. the lack of visibilty thing is a load of b####cks. the overall shell used to be (presume still the same) small for the size when compared to other makes of helmet of the same size. so even though the opening in the front of the helmet is quite small its closer to your face so you dont lose visibility. i remember they werent legal because simpson didnt want to shell out for approval in the uk, costs a fortune. cant remember the test they have in the satates, snell ?, but im certain its a lot tougher than the normal uk tests. Quote
cast iron Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 I thought (so not based on fact as usual ) that the simpson helmets failed because of their exposed ventilation slots, whereas other helmets have covers on the vents. a twig!!!! could catch the open vent and pull you off the bike?? sounds b*****k but a lot of the legislation in this country tends to be based on it Quote
pete g Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 believe early ones were not legal. but think they ok now was going to get one myself. but settled for a fm lol bs A rated for motorsport Quote
Pew Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 Everything you wanted to know about the stig even who is behind the helmet.. Click... Quote
Blatman Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 I have a strong suspicion that the 2006 Daily Express article referred to at the end of the Wiki page may be wrong. I *know for sure* who "white" Stig is/was. I'll try to confirm who the current Stig is when I go to the TG studios in July. If it's who I suspect it is, my brother knows him and we'll be having a chat... Quote
MVS Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 If you guys are paying £400 for a lid that is noisy and the visor doesn't seal, I think you need to try even the cheaper bike helmets. I'm sure if you're that bothered for the simpson looks you can get one of several look-alikes and 2x £2 simpson stickers. P.S. arai venting systems don't make your eyes water But do keep your face cool Add a Fog City to the visor and they never steam up in the cold/wet either Quote
JeffC Posted June 23, 2006 Posted June 23, 2006 jusy done a full trackday today with simpsons helmet on me loaf and gets so bad with wind / dust in yer eyes that I will have to do something about it , got so bad I had to come off track and contemplated taping the gap up with insulating tape. If knew what I know now I wouldnt have had one for nowt Quote
Willow Posted June 24, 2006 Posted June 24, 2006 I have a strong suspicion that the 2006 Daily Express article referred to at the end of the Wiki page may be wrong. I *know for sure* who "white" Stig is/was. I'll try to confirm who the current Stig is when I go to the TG studios in July. If it's who I suspect it is, my brother knows him and we'll be having a chat... Yes please - confirm it as soon as you're sure. It will settle a long running argument between a friend and me about whether it's Damon Hill or not. I don't think it is..... Quote
ChrisG Posted June 25, 2006 Posted June 25, 2006 Simpson lids are still illegal in the UK on the roads if you are using it on a motorcycle. There is a definite grey area as far as wearing lids in a car is concerned though, as the lids isn't being used in response to legislation, but as a choice by the wearer to afford more protection and safety than is otherwise available with a baseball hat and sunglasses. In my honest (but not legally tested) opinion, you'd be *VERY* unlucky to end up in front of the beak for wearing an "illegal" lid in a car, BUT it only needs one copper who isn't sure for him to give you a summons to test that theory. As always, there is a risk of prosecution, even if it's a slim one... I think although unlucky to be prosecuted, it would still be technically illegal in a car. I asked a traffic cop about tinted visors on helmets when used on the road in cars and he said that although you're not compelled to use one in a car, if you do wear one on the road it must comply with the same regulations regardless, as if wearing it on a bike meaning no dark tints either way. Using the same logic would suggest that both the Bandit type Simpson lids and a lot of motorsport only lids (that aren't approved for motorcycle use IIRC?) might get you pulled up. Quote
Guest Posted June 25, 2006 Posted June 25, 2006 so what about my nice oakley x-metals warn whilst driving my tintop ........ darker tint than my black visor coupled to the slight tint on the screen ? i don't think the visor bit would stand up in court , and tbh although i would not want to pay to defend it ,i recon you would have a good case . my argument would rely on the snell 2k test on multiple impact with a cage VS the road bike test on a similar helmet as a reason to be wearing a motorsport helmet as apposed to a road legal bike helmet ......... would be an interesting case. tbh sense would not come into it , the law would and as i understand the law there is not one that says you cannot wear a crash helmet in a motor vehicle on the road ,therefore any judgement would have to follow whats already in law . Quote
MVS Posted June 25, 2006 Posted June 25, 2006 Unless dark visor is tested to allow 50% light transmission and stamped to show this, you will get a ticket for a dark visor, as many bikers have, and do every weekend. As you say dark glasses under a clear visor is perfectly legal. Whay do you think the PC's on bikes always have sunglasses under their flip top lids. The law is an ass, you just have to work around it. Quote
ChrisG Posted June 25, 2006 Posted June 25, 2006 Yep, seems its perfectly legal to wear blackout sunglasses that are impossible to remove quickly in the event of going into a tunnel / under trees etc when its suddenly dark, yet its not legal to have a quickly flipped up dark tint visor even in the sunniest of conditions when a clear / slight tint visor can be verging on dangerous without some kind other tint (ie sunglasses) anyway. I guess the argument is that if you need to lift your dark tint visor to see then your eyes are not protected, but seeing as you can buy open face helmets, is there actually a requirement to wear eye protection at all times? If so then why not allow dark tint visors if worn with clear lens "sun" glasses like often worn for eye protection when mountain biking etc. Quote
Guest Posted June 25, 2006 Posted June 25, 2006 for bikes the law is there .there is no law about helmets in cars ......... for bikes its an ass but its there and therefore a judgement can be made , but for cars its not and therefore i don't belive there is anything specific to convict you of ? Quote
Blatman Posted June 25, 2006 Posted June 25, 2006 I concur with Harv... The visor law for bikes was brought in after either a perceived or actual risk of bikers keeping their dark visors down after dark. I can see the point, but I can also see that a clear visor, and an early summer morning or late summer evening combined with a clear visor can be just as dodgey... Quote
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