Helmets have come a long way. They have tons of options and features now. Just when I think I have enough helmets a new one pops up that I have to haveThe kid in me really digs the matte black Monster Energy helmets. Not sure if I'd go with the offroad, onroad, or hybrid style. Some of the ones above are very intriguing. I haven't been helmet shopping for some time, and haven't seen how well they have evolved.
I didn't even think about that!Plus, you can ride it in the HOV lane.![]()
In most respects, auto racing helmets are not dissimilar to motorcycle helmets in construction, since they have similar requirements of protecting against extremely high-speed collisions. Modern racing helmets have an outer shell of carbon fiber, an inner shell of thick polystyrene and padding which must be in contact with the wearer’s head.
There are, however, several major differences that make the two types of helmets non-interchangeable:
The fire-proof material used in racing helmets occurs in the inner lining and is known as Nomex, having been first introduced to racing helmets in 1967. In the 1960s and 1970s as crash fireproofing developed, concern became raised that in ordinary use racing helmets offered very little ventilation because they have more complete head coverage than any other type of helmet. Practical solutions to this problem were not developed until the 1980s when thermoelectric cooling was developed; however, most customers and governing bodies have preferred alternative less sophisticated means of improving ventilation over the past thirty years.
- Motorcycle helmets do not need fire protection because at high speed the rider will fly far from a burning motorcycle. In contrast, auto racing helmets must have fire protection since a driver is not likely to be able to escape if a car catches fire.
- Auto racing helmets can have a narrower field of view for greater head protection than is possible in a motorcycle helmet, especially when the driver is following a clearly defined track. For this reason, many auto racing helmets are illegal to use on a motorcycle over public roads.
- Auto racing helmets must be tested for sharp collisions with a roll bar which a motorcyclist is not likely to encounter.
I was thinking more on the practicallity side. For example, I have heard some motorcycle helmets are designed for better vision in the tucked position which wouldn't be applicable for a car.Some interesting info, quoted from Wikipedia: