I have to say, the factory gun sight shields work great! At 70mph I can wear my hat and it stays on! Get some buffeting at that speed though.
I will usually wear a helmet for extended drives.
I enjoy the car more without the full windshield.
I have to say, the factory gun sight shields work great! At 70mph I can wear my hat and it stays on! Get some buffeting at that speed though.
I will usually wear a helmet for extended drives.
I enjoy the car more without the full windshield.
Always
I did build some headrests. They're molded to the shape of the seat, 2" of foam, and vinyl covers. They're pretty awesome, but the upholstery work wasn't cheap, and I can't sew. I can have more built if there's interest, it'd take a couple weeks for me to put them together. Should be $180 shipped for a pair, but I think if I get a few people interested, I could push the upholstery guy's price down probably $20-40 cheaper per pair.
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Looks good!
I think you raise a valid issue with questioning using a helmet. I purchased dedicated helmets for use with my Atom. They are an open-face m/c design with fold-down visors. I always wear them for the face and eye protection, but also to protect my head in an accident. With the seat and particularly the airbox hoop, I think head protection is advisable.
Admittedly, driving an Atom on the street definitely compromises your safety compared to a normal automobile. My biggest concern is being struck from behind and forced into a vehicle in front, causing the Atom to "submarine" underneath it. I've thought about adding a roll-cage to the existing roll bar, but that's really a path I don't want to go down.
As with any activity, you balance a variety of factors to reach point you're comfortable with.
I can't tell you how much I dread the "how much does it cost" question, literally all unsolicited conversations seem to start that way...
I'm doing anywhere from 15-20K road miles yearly (between the Atom and Nomad) and have worn a helmet once due to 20° weather. All of our cars have windscreens mind you, so it may be a necessity for those who don't. With the windscreen, the car feels like a convertible at speed (no buffeting) and, with the laminated safety glass design, I feel just as secure in it as my regular car.
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