Motorbike helmet for car track days?

[ryanthescot]

Possibly a stupid question but since it's safety related I thought I'd ask.

Looking to get my mate a helmet as an xmas present and I've seen one which he'll like on Amazon (he's Italian) however it's a motorcycle helmet. I can't imagine there's much difference between that and a track day helmet like mine ( which is this one). Can anyone tell me whether the motorcycle one will be suitable?

Thanks

[DMN]

Opinions vary. Bike helmets are designed for the type of impact the are likely to take, which are different from the ones car helmets are designed for.

One TDO I've used in the past before I had my own car helmet, hires out bike helmets for people to use.

Or to put it another, a bike helmet is better than nothing, a proper car helmet is better yet.

Edited by DMN on Wednesday 18th November 10:13

[upsidedownmark]

Maybe.

Personally I'm a little bit sceptical that there's any difference; they are largely a shell with a bunch of polystyrene in it. There's little especially clever going on, no differentiated thickness etc. I believe the main differnce is that 'approved' car helmets have fire resistant linings, bike ones don't (you're highly unlikely to finish up near the burning bits).

[Wh00sher]

upsidedownmark said:

Maybe.

Personally I'm a little bit sceptical that there's any difference; they are largely a shell with a bunch of polystyrene in it. There's little especially clever going on, no differentiated thickness etc. I believe the main differnce is that 'approved' car helmets have fire resistant linings, bike ones don't (you're highly unlikely to finish up near the burning bits).

That was my understanding too.

[mph1977]

upsidedownmark said:

Maybe.

Personally I'm a little bit sceptical that there's any difference; they are largely a shell with a bunch of polystyrene in it. There's little especially clever going on, no differentiated thickness etc. I believe the main differnce is that 'approved' car helmets have fire resistant linings, bike ones don't (you're highly unlikely to finish up near the burning bits).

that seems to be the main difference and the fact there's a form of 'pre approval' for bike helmets by the ACU ...

be interested if anyone can substantiate a difference in shell construction between 'car' and 'motorcycle' helmets beyond differing requirements for FR materials in construction

if it is the case then there is little point in arguing the toss with regard to track day use where cars have interiors and clothing standards either are there or aren't enforced.

[4.7]

It will be accepted by the TDO's no problem. No experience of that make of lid though and couldn't find any ACU type approval.

[AndrewO]

I used a full face bike one to start with but main issue was it's too hot. Open face is much cooler plus better visibility for when a radical pops up the inside.

[E-bmw]

There is principally almost no difference, yes, they have different testing procedures, but ultimately they are to protect the same thing (a head) from the same thing (an impact) where some others vary is when they are MSA (I think) approved & that means they have a fire retardent lining.

TDOs don't generally specify that they have to have the fire retardent lining, so bike helmets are the norm for most people.

[mauricegb]

Bike helmets can make sense for trackdays as you don't pay 20% Vat like car helmets (luxury items), and the market is a lot more competitive. Cheaper Chinese made car helmets sub £200 whilst having a fire retardent lining are sold near 30 dollars a piece on alibaba.com, which is a little off putting.

[GC8]

mph1977 said:

upsidedownmark said:

Maybe.

Personally I'm a little bit sceptical that there's any difference; they are largely a shell with a bunch of polystyrene in it. There's little especially clever going on, no differentiated thickness etc. I believe the main differnce is that 'approved' car helmets have fire resistant linings, bike ones don't (you're highly unlikely to finish up near the burning bits).

that seems to be the main difference and the fact there's a form of 'pre approval' for bike helmets by the ACU ...

be interested if anyone can substantiate a difference in shell construction between 'car' and 'motorcycle' helmets beyond differing requirements for FR materials in construction

if it is the case then there is little point in arguing the toss with regard to track day use where cars have interiors and clothing standards either are there or aren't enforced.

They cant. Its almost exclusively forum-wally talk. They kid themselves that track heroes require greater protection than motorcyclists. I saw one clown argue that he could repeatedly hit his head on a roll cage whereas 'bikers' just slide down the road.

He needed his head repeatedly striking against a roll bar spar, but that's another matter.