Race Motorcycle Helmets

At first glance full face and off-road race helmets may appear the same as ordinary full face and dirt bike helmets, but when you know the details of their construction it becomes obvious that race helmets are a significant cut above their street and trail oriented counterparts. Any helmet used for recreation and commuting should provide the rider with protection and be comfortable to wear, but the rigors and speed of competition require that a helmet’s protection and comfort capabilities be taken to another level.

Race helmets typically have advanced impact absorption liners, premium interiors to ensure comfortable fit, ventilation systems that provide superior cooling, and lightweight, aerodynamic, composite shells, as well as other features unique to the needs of those who compete on pavement and in the dirt, and you’ll find race motorcycle helmets with these state-of-the-art features and construction techniques right here on our digital shelves.

A motorcycle helmet has an outer shell designed to spread an impact over a broad area and prevent objects from piercing the helmet, an energy absorbing EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam liner, and interior padding that forms the comfort liner. The outer shells on most street and recreational helmets are made of inexpensive thermoplastics like ABS or polycarbonate. These helmets are strong and perfectly safe, but they must be made heavier with thicker EPS to achieve the proper level of impact protection. Fiberglass is stronger, albeit more costly, and very good at distributing force upon impact and therefore a helmet with a fiberglass shell can be made lighter.

The lightest helmets are made of composite materials. There are fiberglass composite shells and the even stronger and lighter Kevlar and carbon fiber composite shells, and the latter materials are commonly used to construct race helmets. A lighter helmet puts less strain on neck muscles and is less fatiguing. Discomfort and fatigue can create unwanted distractions in a race when absolute concentration is needed, therefore race helmets are made as lightweight as possible.

While most helmet makers have taken some measures to make their street and recreational off-road helmets more aerodynamic, race helmet manufacturers have gone even further, such as designing their full face race helmets for optimal airflow and stability while the rider is in the typical road racer crouch, and incorporating rear spoilers or stabilizers, some that are even adjustable. Final helmet configurations are often arrived at after extensive wind tunnel testing. A race helmet’s ventilation system is also sometimes designed in a wind tunnel, with vents placed in the best position for airflow, but regardless of where the information is gathered, the system on a race helmet is devised to be effective at keeping the rider cool even while at the heightened exertion level typically experienced during competition. When you’re too hot that can be another distraction, and some helmet makers have even incorporated a hydration system into the helmet that allows the rider to draw water from a hydration kit inside his racing suit.

In a crash at racing speed there is the potential for an impact of great force to the helmet. Whereas a regular street or dirt bike helmet typically has a single density EPS liner, race helmets have proprietary dual density or multi-layer energy absorbing liners to minimize head injury in the event of such impacts. Some of our race helmets feature a multi-part MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) liner that reduces rotational force, which can increase the risk of brain injury. A race helmet’s ventilation system, energy absorbing liner and interior are designed together to ensure maximum comfort and plush fit. Moisture wicking interior and cheek pad materials draw sweat away and antimicrobial fabrics keep odors at bay. Race helmet interiors are typically removable, washable, and replaceable, and the cheek pads and other interior components are available in different sizes to customize fit. Many race helmets feature quick release cheek pads so the helmet can be removed from an injured rider by race track aid personnel without causing further injury.

Nothing could be more distracting during a race than an uncomfortable helmet that’s too tight and creating pressure points on your head, or too loose allowing wind buffeting to move the helmet around on your head. Adjustable interiors are for fine tuning fit, but they can’t make up for a helmet that’s wrong for your head. You won’t have fitment problems when you shop our huge race helmet selection because no matter your age, gender, or the size and shape of your noggin, we have the full face or off-road helmet that’s right for you. Our race helmet sizes range from youth small to men’s and women’s 5X-Large, in round oval, intermediate oval, and long oval helmet shapes. All our race helmets are DOT (Department of Transportation) certified and completely legal for use on U.S. highways, and some have ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) certification and/or Snell Memorial Foundation approval.

No part of the helmet has been neglected in the quest to upgrade it for competition and that includes the full face race helmet’s face shield. The face shield can be locked in the closed position on many race helmets so the shield can’t be forced open unexpectedly when you turn your head at speed. Tear-offs are a familiar addition to goggles for use in muddy off-road racing but are generally an uncommon sight on full face helmet face shields. However, flat track racers can have dirt and mud thrown up on their shields from bikes in front and road racers can have their vision obstructed by a buildup of insects, which is why some race helmet face shields come with posts for tear-off fitment. Shield fogging in cold weather can also dangerously impair vision. Some race helmets have face shields that are set-up for an anti-fog Pinlock® shield. The Pinlock attaches to the inside of the shield where it absorbs moisture and forms an insulating layer of air, which prevents fogging. Many helmets also come with breath guards to deflect hot breath away from the shield.

Finally, although functionality is the most important part of a competition helmet’s design and construction, our race helmets also pack plenty of style. The attention to aerodynamics has created many attractive shell shapes, and these are available in many color combinations. While we can offer you basic white and gloss and matte black, if you want to make a visual impact and you’re looking for multicolor and stripe combos in conservative to wild designs, standout graphic displays, and racer replicas, you’ve come to the right place. And if you’ll be using your full face race helmet for street riding as well, you can be entertained and connected with our Bluetooth compatible helmets. Some of our full face race helmet brands have configured their helmets for installation of proprietary communications systems. There are provisions for the installation of the speakers and microphone, and even a recess for the controller. Other brands have taken a more universal approach and provided features like integrated speaker and microphone pockets so you can install your choice of communications device.