Ariel.Club Forum

Excellent choices - don't think you'll go far wrong with those.

As Luckky above says though.. a tinted visor is highly recommended - They help concentration, are priceless in the summer (especially low sun mornings and evenings) and look absolutely badass, let's be honest.

My personal preference is blue iridium ;)

Oh, and for winter, a clear visor with the pink Arai anti-fog insert is bloody magical too

Thanks for all the advice. Went to Branshatch circuit and bought helmet and gloves.

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Helmet, massive personal preference. I have an Arai GP-6S. Great if you want to add a HANS device for track synchronous as the Schroth Super Sport. Motorsport helmets usually need a different lens as most come clear. I would recommend a tinted one for summer driving.

Gloves, I have two pairs, a summer pair, light weight but still grippy so hands don’t sweat too much but great grip plus no oils and sweat on the steering wheel so keeps it looking fresh. I go for Alpinestars Motorcross for summer and Alpinestars Tech1 V4 for winter.


Hope that helps

[quote=mazza post_id=312197 time=1707152722 user_id=7201]
Thanks for the tip re Gerbing, thought I’d try these out to see if they’re worth it… just had delivery today, got the jacket and the gloves, very impressed, just need to spend a little time making the cables neat!


[quote=Fastlane post_id=312159 time=1706207348 user_id=5508]
Make sure you get the helmet fitted, whichever one you go for. I have a Roof Boxxer, because that's what the factory used to use, but they are quite noisy. Speaking of which, buy some ear protection too, or some noise cancelling ear buds - wind noise is a killer at speed.

In terms of gloves, I'd recommend buying heated gloves, jacket and trousers too - Gerbing for example: https://gerbing.co.uk/collections/motorcycle-heated-gloves

Don't underestimate how much colder you feel even on a Summer's evening driving an Atom. It took me 3 years to buy my Gerbing gear, it really is transformative, especially in the Spring and Autumn, wish I'd bought it sooner.

Buying stuff for an Atom is all part of the (expensive) experience, enjoy!
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No problem. I initially bought the jacket and gloves and after a few weeks, decided to add the trousers as they make all the difference. BTW, I forgot to mention that you will need a temperature controller too, otherwise everything will run at max temperature. It does mention this on the Gerbing website, so hopefully you already have one.

Wiring-wise, just make sure that the connection to the car is able to cope with the current draw. My Atom came with the factory-fitted cigarette accessory connector (my car is 16 years old) which comes out between the seats, and so initially I used the cigarette adaptor cable from Gerbing to connect the jacket and gloves to the car. Unfortunately, once I added the trousers, the total draw exceeded the Atom's connector's amps rating and so I had to splice and solder in the Gerbing standard connector instead.

Finally, remember to unplug yourself before getting out, otherwise you can pull the wire out of the lining of the jacket (ask me how I know!) :doh:

Thanks for the tip re Gerbing, thought I’d try these out to see if they’re worth it… just had delivery today, got the jacket and the gloves, very impressed, just need to spend a little time making the cables neat!


[quote=Fastlane post_id=312159 time=1706207348 user_id=5508]
Make sure you get the helmet fitted, whichever one you go for. I have a Roof Boxxer, because that's what the factory used to use, but they are quite noisy. Speaking of which, buy some ear protection too, or some noise cancelling ear buds - wind noise is a killer at speed.

In terms of gloves, I'd recommend buying heated gloves, jacket and trousers too - Gerbing for example: https://gerbing.co.uk/collections/motorcycle-heated-gloves

Don't underestimate how much colder you feel even on a Summer's evening driving an Atom. It took me 3 years to buy my Gerbing gear, it really is transformative, especially in the Spring and Autumn, wish I'd bought it sooner.

Buying stuff for an Atom is all part of the (expensive) experience, enjoy!
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I don't wear a helmet but do wear a pair of WileyX goggles, very strongly recommended if you wish to go au naturel. I suggest not spending lots of money on gloves until you've driven the car. I don't remember ever wearing gloves driving the car and for be they'd be a waste of money. I know some people have real circulation problems with their hands and if that's the case I'm sure you'll find some good ones.
Enjoy the car! A

Thanks for all the advice.

Not only am I an Atom owner, but also a Biker since passing my Motorbike Test in 1965, which although 8 years before the wearing of Helmets became Law, I've always worn one, so wouldn't ride or drive my Atom without one, and already having Helmets to ride my Motorbike, I just use the same Helmets in the Atom.

I've known other owners who have driven without a Helmet, and they told me that being hit in the face by a Bee at speed was very painful, so imagine what it would do if it hit you in the eye, or something more substantial hit you.

The advantages of Motorcycle Helmets over Car Helmets, are that they have better peripheral vision, and are more aerodynamic due to being designed mainly for use in the open air without a windscreen.

As for gloves, I wear a pair of "OMP Race Gloves".

As for my wife, who's only ever a passenger, she chose her helmet by "Colour".

Here I am in my Atom wearing my "Roof R05 Boxer V" with Blue Iridium Visor, and as you can see, I sit pretty low, so no chance of wind lift anyway.

Hello! Helmet...Depending on what you want to use it for...for "normal" road use a lot of helmets will do the job. But ofcourse, if you have some spare cash it's always wise to buy a premium quality helmet...and with all due respect...driving an Atom without a helmet is a NO GO for me personally as I only have one set of eyes and I need to do it with one skull...ofcourse all goes well...untill something goes wrong. If you want to drive your Atom on track, weight of the helmet makes quite a big difference. I've had many autosport helmets throughout the last 3 decades...Bell, Shoei, Arai, Stand 21, Simpson, Schuberth... Currently I use a Simpson Speedway Shark and a Schuberth SP1. The Simpson is awesome looking and is super steady and has no buffeting at all, negative is that's it's quite heavy, and you will feel that on a trackday for sure. Also the build quality of a Simpson is not like Arai and certainly not like a Schuberth. Past season I exclusively used my Schuberth SP1, super light and great fit, superb visor too...no buffeting either...quite an expensive helmet, but worth every penny. Most important it to go out and try them on...a lot of difference in fitting. Arai also very good value for money, but the GP6 and GP7 just don not fit comfortably for me personally. Good luck with your quest... Oh...and last but not least...do NOT go out on track without using a HANS device, worth looking some YouTube video's of the benefit of such HANS system...can save your life as well.

[quote=CarlosMaximus1974 post_id=312170 time=1706300001 user_id=6875]
I would suggest getting a helmet with a duck bill on the chin as it helps stop the helmet from lifting when going at speed when the air tries to get under your helmet and forces your head back.
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YES, if you don't have a wind[shield|screen] you need either a duck bill on the front, or a spoiler on the top. In my case, the wind always tried to suck the helmet off my head. The faster I went, the harder the suck.

I would suggest getting a helmet with a duck bill on the chin as it helps stop the helmet from lifting when going at speed when the air tries to get under your helmet and forces your head back.

Like this below,

https://merchandising.demon-tweeks.com/images/tr:h-560,w-560,q-80,c-at_max/media/catalog/product/b/e/bel1417022_d4_may21_15.jpg

Well, it all depends on what you think the function of a helmet is? If it's to keep your head warm, quiet and dry while keeping the wind and bugs off your face, then a cheap helmet will do the job every time. Even the cheap ones have to meet the main safety standards. For an Atom, it's definately arguable that's really all its purpose is anyway.

But, I come from a motorcycle riding background where the ethos always is.. buy the best you can afford as it's protecting the most valuable part of your body. Weigh, quality, strength, features - all play a part in why the expensive ones are so expensive. Personally I have a GP-7 but a GP-6 is a very good option too. Only you can decide if your brain is worth it ;)

Having had a car windscreen destroyed by a house brick falling off a skip lorry in the past, there's also a chance I'm much more paranoid than most!

The Arai is £500 more. What makes it so much more expensive than the cheaper helmet and is it worth paying the extra?

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/arai-gp-6s-helmet-240776/

[img]https://merchandising.demon-tweeks.com/images/tr:h-560,w-560,q-80,c-at_max/media/catalog/product/a/r/ara_gp-6_s_helmet_6.jpg[/img]

Something like this?

[img]https://files.ekmcdn.com/445de4/images/hedtec-gem-full-face-motorsport-helmet-fia-8859--15108-p.jpg?w=570&h=9999&v=410602CC-48BE-4F28-A3DB-994FE7819DC8[/img]

https://www.track-dynamics.co.uk/hedtec-gem-full-face-motorsport-helmet-fia-8859-15108-p.asp

Echo most of the above - helmets are very personal, due to fit and cost. Personally I’ve always fit Arai so I tend to just buy the best one I can afford.

Worth noting that Bike Helmets tend to be a bit warmer, a bit quieter, bit more adjustable cooling and bit better in the pissing rain. But.. I’ve moved to an open top car Arai because it’s the right tool for the job.

Gloves: Nothing in the summer, mountain bike gloves in the spring and autumn, and heated gloves and under-vest in winter.

Good luck!