Retro Scooter Helmets



Retro scooter helmets are now available with classic good looks, in colors, designs, and styles that would make even the 20th century abstract expressionist artist Jackson Pollock blush green with envy. Yet, these stylish noggin protectors are reminiscent of simpler times in the simplistic form they take. Pollock's abstract paintings were flush with random yet deliberate and intelligent splatters of paint, and no one would dare say that the retro helmets are not similar in this respect to design intelligence, with blazing colors and short bill-like tinted visors that extend out to protect the eyes of sunny glare. Stylish? Yes. But while some helmets are DOT certified, some don't conform to helmet safety standards and have not been tested by government agencies for crash protection; this should be an important consideration before making any final purchasing decision.



Retro helmets are especially good for motor scooters that don't travel at fast highway speeds. For cruising around town, they are ideal up to maximum city speed limits with out the shield. But many include the snaps to install a five snap wind visor. A pair of shades can even be worn, providing an excellent windscreen in addition to providing eye protection from glaring sun, avoiding use of the heavier wind shield.

Safety is an important design consideration for many riders and manufacturers. A rugged hard shell comprised of advanced materials like ABS and polycarbonate, or specifically, GE Lexan®, a proprietary form of polycarbonate resin thermoplastic, make good helmets that are extremely tough and durable in event of a collision with a hard object. Polycarbonate is so tough that it is commonly used in the production of fighter aircraft canopies and building windows. While some motorists choose to use the ½ helmet, the ¾ offers much more crash protection, if an accident occurs. Inside, a soft yet firm foam type material consisting of a variable density polystyrene or other polymer helps absorb the energy of a blow in order to minimize harm to the brain upon any unfortunate impact. For the protection that the helmets provide, they are fairly light weight, coming in at around two pounds.