New Bell karting helmets K98?

Mike Goebel · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 6:04 pm Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

What's up with the new Bell helmets? They are rated K98. Pretty nice looking and not a bad price either. If you want to see one go to:
Helmet City

Mike G.

Bryan Mappe · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2001 4:10 am Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

Would some knowledgeable person care to give a short lesson on the diffence in the helmet ratings. I have been using the Snell SA rating for years racing cars but am new to karting. What about Snell M 2000, Snell K 98, & DOT approved? Is there a minimum required by most karting organizations and what is it, etc.... Thanks!

[ August 23, 2001: Message edited by: Bryan Mappe ]

Mike Brinkworth · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2001 4:42 am Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

These helmets, ie. the Bell Kart Sport and Kart Pro, have been available in Europe for about two years, can't understand why we should have got them before you lot. Over here they are Snell 2000 approved so i don't know why they should be K98 certified in the US. For more information on the different standards check out Snell's website - www.smf.org

[ August 23, 2001: Message edited by: Mike Brinkworth ]

Tim Blaney · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1127

quote:
Originally posted by Bryan Mappe:
Would some knowledgeable person care to give a short lesson on the diffence in the helmet ratings. I have been using the Snell SA rating for years racing cars but am new to karting. What about Snell M 2000, Snell K 98, & DOT approved? Is there a minimum required by most karting organizations and what is it, etc.... Thanks!

[ August 23, 2001: Message edited by: Bryan Mappe ]

Bryan, at some point, Tim Doll will probably jump in here he has an excellent answer to this but I will do my best. Snell added the "K" (karting) standard in 1998, it is for all intents and purposes the same standard as the SA rating but the helmets do not have a fire sistant liner.

Right now, most karting organization will require Snell 95 or higher. So, the K98 will meet those standards. The various organizations do raise this standard from time to time to make sure everyone is using a newer helmet.

Mike Goebel · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2001 6:45 am Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

Does that mean that a K 2000 is equivalent to a SA 2000 without the fire resistant stuff. Because I know my club will be requiring SA 2000 soon.

Mike G.

Tim Doll · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2001 8:45 am Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

quote:
Originally posted by Tim Blaney:
Bryan, at some point, Tim Doll will probably jump in here he has an excellent answer to this.

I must be getting a little predictable

.

Anyway, here goes my canned response:

Helmet ratings are very commonly misunderstood. The Snell M-95 and M-2000 ratings are for 'motorcycles', Snell SA-95 and SA-2000 are "special applications", specifically motorsports. However, the standards are not that much different.

The primary differences between the Snell 95 and Snell 2000 standards have to do with how the helmet tests are conducted, not in the pass/fail criteria. Further, the Snell M-95/M-2000 and SA-95/SA-2000 standards are nearly identical, but with the following exceptions:
SA-95/SA-2000 has a fire-resistant requirement, M-95/M-2000 makes no reference to fire resistance.
SA-95/SA-2000 has a roll bar impact requirement that is not included in M-95/M-2000. All other impact and penetration
requirements are IDENTICAL between SA-95/SA-2000 and M-95/M-2000, including the number of impacts.
SA-95/SA-2000 allow a slightly more restricted view area (~10%) than M-95/M-2000, but both allow exceptions to the view area requirement provided appropriate warning labels are used indicating the helmet may be unsuitable for some applications. Incidentally, while a narrower eye port may make a helmet unsuitable for street use, at least around here there are no laws that it would violate.
SA-95/SA-2000 require a positive face shield retention that is not part of M-95/M-2000. SA-95/SA-2000 and M-95/M-2000 require the same test for face shield penetration, however the pass/fail criteria are more restrictive for SA-95/SA-2000. M-95/M-2000 say the projectile can not penetrate, SA-95/SA-2000 say it can make an indentation no more than so deep in the shield. In practice, a 0.050" face shield will pass M-95/M-2000, 0.125" will pass SA-95/SA-2000.

The KA-98 standard is identical to the SA-95 but with the flammability requirements deleted.

OK, now that you know the difference, what's the significance?

In my opinion, for karting the one significant difference M-95/M-2000 vs. SA-95/SA-2000 is the (thicker) face shield and positive retention. In 20 years of road race karting (top speeds well over 100 mph), I've never seen or heard of anything making it through a face shield. However I've seen several occasions where a thin (.050") motorcycle type face shield was ripped completely off in an accident, and on at least two occasions significant facial injuries resulted.

As far as getting a Snell 2000 helmet, they are just now becoming readily available. Protection wise, there is no reason
to get a Snell 2000, the changes between the Snell 95 and Snell 2000 requirements are very minor. However helmets deteriorate with time, and several years from now the sanctioning bodies will likely start to require Snell 2000 helmets just to make sure people are not using excessively old helmets. So, if you get a Snell 2000 helmet (either M or SA), it
will not become obsolete as soon.

But most important of all, make sure you get a helmet that fits! The fit of the helmet is critical - far more important than the small differences between an M and SA helmet. For this reason, I would not buy a helmet mail order unless you have had an opportunity to try on the same model/size to check the fit. If you are having trouble finding a good fit with one brand of helmet, try a different brand. The 'shape' of the helmet definitely changes between brands - for example Simpson helmets simply do not fit my head, but my Bell fits like a glove.

For more information on helmets and the Snell standards, check out the Snell foundation web site - www.smf.org.

Tim

Brian Robson · Joined: 24 Jul 2001 Posts: 145

I do have some knowledge on this subject. SA Rated helmets are "special application" and require nomex (or any other flame resistant)lined interiors. M rated helmets require the same crush and energy absorbing requirements as the SA helmet, but only require a nylon or cloth lining. The K rated helmet is very similar to the M. Simpson produced the Kart Shark in 2000. It is from the same mold as the Super Shark, but is made of fiberglass shell construction and has nylon lined interior. It made the K98 rating for the US.

Darren Swisher · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2001 9:24 am Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

Brian, How are you. It's been awhile. Great info from the Master.

E-mail me now

Darren

Gary Kozuma1 · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 386

Great info everyone. Now that we know the details, where does that leave us? Does anyone know what the main bodies are going to require for next year?

Gary K.

Larry Ferguson · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2001 4:59 pm Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

quote:
Originally posted by Gary Kozuma, Vista CA:
Great info everyone. Now that we know the details, where does that leave us? Does anyone know what the main bodies are going to require for next year?

Gary K.

Expect to have your helmet with a Snell 2000 sticker in 2002!

Tony Gaylord · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2001 7:43 pm Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

Expect to have your helmet with a Snell 2000 sticker in 2002![/QB][/QUOTE]

Say what? I remember (and just looked in my helemt) that my Bell KartSport had a 98 rating. Its 4 months old, bought brand new. So next year it wont be any good?

Please help me on this.
*TG*

Tom Stephens · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2001 10:39 pm Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

Tim, your canned response is always appreciated!! (No, I'm not being sarcastic)

Tom Stephens

Doug Welch · Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2001 7:29 am Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

From what I have seen, a helmet rating is good for many years. For example, last year was the first year that most sactioning bodies required the use of a 1995 rated helmet, a full 5 years after the spec was put out. Before that, a 1990 was good. following that logic, the K98 specification should be updated in 2003. Your K98 helemt would then be unacceptable for use after 2008, a full 10 years after the spec was issued.

As many have pointed out, the delay is due to the fact that helemts are usually not available to given spec for at least a 1-1/2 to 2 years after the spec is issued. Which is why we are just now seeing 2000 rated helemts. To my very limited knowledge, the Simpson Kart shark and the two new ones from Bell are the only K98 rated helmets currently available. As a side note, the older boy has the Simpson Kart Shark and he really likes it. So the purchase of one of these helemts should be acceptable with most sactioning bodies for at least 5 to 6 years.

Doug

Gary Kozuma2 · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 446

quote:
Originally posted by Larry Ferguson:

Expect to have your helmet with a Snell 2000 sticker in 2002!

Hey Larry,

I asked the SDKA guys over the weekend, they said that they will not be requiring the S2000 next year, looks like the following year. Since they use IKF insurance that should be good across the board.

Gary K.

Ed Llorca · Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2001 1:39 pm Post subject: New Bell karting helmets K98?

Tim,
I could be wrong but it is my impression after reading the snell specs a year ago that the SA rated helemts are tested with one more mandrel than M as you mentioned but also have to survive more impacts than the M rating on any given test I beleive it was 4 hits for SA and 3 for M.

ed