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MG MGF Technical - MGF Roll bar/hoops

For safety, I'd like to fit a roll bar. For instance Mike Satur has a roll bar (hoops). that looks good.

but

Are they really as good as popper roll bars? You race guys, what do you fit?

cheers
Oskar
O Sander


Nope. Never as good as a proper roll cage.
If they were, then they'd use them in racing!! :-)

Persoanlly, I believe that they'll offer minimal real safety over the standard setup. Of course, many will diagree. :-)

P.
Paul Nothard

This should give you an idea as to how good Mike Satur's hoops are...

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/satur/saveslife.html

Hope this helps.

Daryl.

Daryl

Yes, but this is just one case, which don't really say anyting, part from that in some case thay are better than nothing.

Anyone experienced here that did take a look at Satur's construction? Anyone who would recomend any other, or modifications that should/could be done to Mike Satur's hoops?

I think there should be a minimum distance between bar and head, and also a minimum margin between the top of the hoop and top of the drivers head...
O Sander

>> You race guys, what do you fit? <<

Safety Devices full roll cage Oskar.

I'd agree with Paul's comments - all the roll bars on the market at present are for aesthetic purposes only - not safety. Only the MG X-Power hoops have been load tested (see other threads archived on the General board about this). Mike Satur's hoops have been 'real life tested' - and the owners have survived to tell the tale...
Rob Bell

I can only speak as per the construction and fitting, as I've fitted them to my car, height above drivers head, how tall is the driver !!!!, but I would say ample, any higher would stopo soft/hard top being fitted !!.
Construction, solid...., lateral impact survivability, better than nothing, and in a simple flip / roll situation IMO would be adequate.
If you want total protection then they need an additional support from the rear, but in an every day car would not allow for hood/hardtop fitment.
Regards Mike N.
M2 VJN,Trophy 160 SE
Mike (London Office)

I have fitted these too.., and I'd say that with a hard-top as well, you're chances are a lot better than without the hoops.
Not because the hard-top is strong, but because it will save you filing 6 inches of the top of you head as you skim down the motorway.

Without the hard-top, I can't imagine that they'll help too much other than to give you that bit more room to move about in. With a standard seat-belt you'll drop onto the tarmac pretty easily.

When you do fit them, you will realise they are blimmin' strong and well built, and I can't fail to see how they won't support the car.

In reverse, anyone got a picture of the hoops folded over?

Neil H

Having seen how the X-power hoops are fitted and seen their quality, and seen the MS hoops, I would be astonished if the X-power are better. MS are solid construction and fitted to a solid part of the car. Now performing ISO standard or similar testing is prohibitively expensive for a small business so MS wont do it. Therefore he can not make any claim for safety. But having seen both, I am glad I have the MS hoops (both aesthetically and practically).
David Mills

>> MS are solid construction and fitted to a solid part of the car. <<

In fairness to the X-Power hoops, the same could be said about these too. However, when it comes to Aesthetics, there is clearly no contest: Mike's hoops are significantly better. :o) They are a good deal more practical too - being compatible with Mike's own windstops. It's a cracking package.
Rob Bell

Yes agree Rob, I was trying to point out that whilst no specific claims for safety can be made for the MS hoops, they are not simply pretty hoops glued to the T-Bar. And in comparison to the X-Power seem at least equally as strong.

For me the order is
1) MS Boxer Mk1
2) MS Boxer Mk2
3) Nothing
4) MS FX ali 'fake' hoops windstop (Sorry SF)
5) two McDonalds straws formed into hoops
6) X-Power hoops

and even then I think they are bit high on the list LOL. Before anybody gets offended, this is purely IMHO.
David Mills

What about the MS Boxer Mk3? I think it is the same as the 2 but the windstop is now mounted on the hoop and not the tbar. Works very well and looks great.

Sorry to add to your list.

;-)
AndrewMc

http://www.csmgf.co.uk/darkside/windstops/ms_mark3.jpg
David Clelland

Dave, these look good. Is the windstop glass or plastic and is it a permanent feature or can it be easily removed from the hoops (or fold flat)?

Cheers,
Carl
Carl L

Carl,

The windstop is glass and can be folded flat. If you want to remove it, it's just a matter of undoing two screws - two minute job. I tend to remove the windstop when I've got my hardtop fitted during the winter.
David Clelland

This thread was discussed between 20/06/2004 and 23/06/2004

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