FE07 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 As Tom suggested in another post, maybe now is the time to pick up some parts from England with the exchange rate. On that topic- anyone have a half hood?? Looking at Softbits and Thundersports. Biggest question- do they help with wind control with the doors off or is it still bad over 40 mph? Thanks all, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Croc Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Hi Jim, Yes I have a SBFS half hood for the CSR and I previously had one on my earlier yellow SV. Definitely helps with wind control. Works better with the modified perspex wind wings. I liked it for around the streets. No sun on me but felt open and airy. I learned my second time around and got the easy in option. Makes a big difference. Do you want me to put the windscreen on/half hood on and let you try it out to see if you like it? Cheers mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I have the Soft Bits half hood for my Caterham. It and the side curtains were all the protection I had on the GBB and I kept mostly dry during some very heavy rain. My half hood also has the zipper for easy entry and exit, necessary when using the butt extractor. However the first time I parked the car in the rain on the GBB I came back to a very wet seat as the top sags a bit when standing and the rain came through the zipper onto the seat. I had a couple of contractor weight trash bags with me and after that I would lay one over the top and clipped under the windshield wipers to hold it in place. No more wet seats. I had the half hood on for a trip across southern Utah when the temp was 104*. I put the right side side curtain on and left the other in the boot, put the wind wing on the driver side and was pretty comfortable as long as I was moving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcollum Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I tried the full top that came with my Caterham when I bought it last year - once. It made me claustrophobic, being enclosed in the rear quarters. My wife got me the half-hood for Christmas, and I love it! Good sun protection, and overall, good wind protection with either the doors on, or the wind wings on. I've taken to putting the passenger side of my two-piece tonneau on, and if it rains, the driver side goes on pretty quickly. The tonneau protected the interior when it rained overnight at LOG this year. (Yes, I now know to tuck the top of the door under the half-hood!) --Bob Collum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FE07 Posted October 7, 2016 Author Share Posted October 7, 2016 Thanks for the replies guys. Any thoughts on mohair vs. vinyl. Doors and boot cover are vinyl. Mohair fold up smaller as not so thick?? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfonse Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 I just finished a taller roll bar for my Birkin and am planning on making a half-hood for it. The easy in zipper sounds great, but I have never seen a photo of one so I really don't know how or if to do it. Would anyone put up a photo for me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 I just finished a taller roll bar for my Birkin and am planning on making a half-hood for it. The easy in zipper sounds great, but I have never seen a photo of one so I really don't know how or if to do it. Would anyone put up a photo for me? Here's my half hood not mounted on the car as the Brooklands Screens are still on the car. Its a bit wrinkled from being rolled up in the boot. First picture is the out side of the half hood, the front of the car is on the left side, second pictures is the inside of the half hood with the rear of the car on the left side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfonse Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Thank you. I think I understand how it works now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 You're welcome. What isn't obvious is that the cut out goes to within about 2" from the center of the cockpit. They will make you a half hood that has zippers for both driver and passenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blokko Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 I'm a big fan of the Soft Bits kit. My first 7 had a full cage and the half hood worked really well. My second 7 had a traditional rollbar so it wasn't quite so easy to get in and out of the car with the hood in place - in fact I had to fit a QR steering wheel. As others have posted here, the 'easy in' option is good, but the zipper is known to let water through. I've used the Soft-Bits Half Hood in the wind and rain on extended UK tours and it really does do a great job of keeping the elements at bay (though I always had full doors fitted). I had the mesh wind deflector on my second 7. I don't think it made much difference, but the wife swore that it stopped her hair flailing around. The saddle bag and the RE bag are great additions if you are doing any touring. Though the kit is excellent, the company has a a rep for being a bit on the disorganised side when it comes to fulfilling orders. Best to buy out of the main sevening season. It was terrible news to hear that Nick Judd died earlier this year at the age of 34. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Alfonse, I forgot to add that the half hood has a strip of velcro along side the zipper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfonse Posted October 8, 2016 Share Posted October 8, 2016 Is it difficult to get zipped back up once in the car? The velcro looks like it is on the outside from your photos. I assume the velcro is to reduce water intrusion and help reinforce the zipper. It must reduce the possibility of getting into the car silently as well. Thanks!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 It's not that hard to pull the zipper closed. Getting the snap closed at the front can sometimes be problematic. The velcro does make a bit of noise when you open the top. Stealth is not part of a Se7en's character. The velcro secures the flap over the zipper. The two pictures below show the positions of the zipper to the velcro. The pull tab on the zipper quickly failed probably because it gets twisted as you go around the opening. I replaced it with the widest zip tie that would go through the slot. This is a much better way to pull the zipper. Pulling the zipper closed engages the velcro. This is the front of the half hood where it snaps onto the windshield frame. The fuzzy part is the weather seal. This is what the front end of the opening looks like when the zipper is fully closed and the snap is fastened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfonse Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Thank you Skip! You've been awesome. The Softbits tops look really nice. I'm just going for something to keep the sun off and will probably make out of Sunbrella or similar. With my now custom rollbar, etc., it is probably easier to just make it than to communicate the dimensions needed anyway. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now