Badass graphic helmets have been around almost since the first person put an engine on a bicycle and started the two-wheeled revolution. While the earliest “helmets” were not much more than repurposed military gear or leather caps, many would soon personalize them with art, initials, or intricate designs to make their helmet theirs.
If you are going to be wearing something on your head to protect your skull and the squishy bits inside of it, it kind of makes sense to have a skull motif on the outside of the helmet. While a truly personal helmet is still something you need to see a professional artist for, these 10 helmets that come with skull graphics can save you some money and make you look badass at the same time.
1: Scorpion EXO Covert X with Optional Skull Faceplate
- Price: $299.95 + $39.95
- Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Weight: 3.31 lbs
- Buy: RevZilla Helmet / RevZilla Mask
- Read the review: Scorpion Covert X
A bit of extra money will be needed to get this skull-themed helmet assembled, but it’s worth it as it is one of the more striking helmets on this list. It sits between a half helmet and a three-quarter helmet, with a solid face mask, ear guards, and a drop-down sun visor. It also ventilates fairly well through the mask if you do wear it, and there is a comfort vent on the crown of the head as well.
The Scorpion EXO Covert X is DOT certified.
2: Ruroc Atlas 3.0 Reaper
- Price: $495.00
- Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
- Buy: Ruroc
- Read the review: Ruroc Atlas 3.0
A relative newcomer to the helmet market, Ruroc has been iterating their Atlas helmet for just over three years now, and the Atlas 3.0 is their latest effort. Our reviewer, Jim, gave the helmet a decent score, and with a variety of graphic options available, you really can choose one that fits your personality. The Reaper version is the closest Ruroc has to a pure skull design, so it’s the one we recommend if you want to be scaring people on your bike this coming Halloween.
The Ruroc Atlas 3.0 is DOT and ECE 22.05 certified.
3: ICON Airflite Skull18
- Price: $310.00
- Head Shape: Long Oval
- Weight: 3.79 lbs
- Buy: RevZilla
Love it or hate it, the ICON Airflite helmet shook up the riding world when it was introduced a few years ago. The full-length front visor and non-adjustable chin vent are the most contentious points, but everyone can agree that ICON does not hold back when it comes to helmets with kickass graphics. This one tosses a pair of skulls over your ears, and the red barbed wire with a contrasting grey and black base color makes this a helmet that is hard to miss.
The ICON Airflite Skull18 is DOT and ECE 22.05 certified.
4: Icon Airform Trick or Street
- Price: $225.00
- Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Weight: 3.7 lbs
- Buy: RevZilla
As we just said, ICON doesn’t hold back when it comes to helmet graphics. This one is a bit of a stretch to match the skull theme, but we think it’s justified as Jack-o-Lanterns are carved to resemble spooky skulls.
This one, we think, might have had a bit too much evil to eat, however, as that green flame inside looks like it might cause indigestion. Definitely a Halloween helmet, but still pretty badass all year ’round.
The ICON Airform Trick or Street helmet is DOT and ECE 22.05 certified.
5: Scorpion EXO-R420 Illuminati 2
- Price: $159.95
- Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Weight: 3.2 lbs
- Buy: RevZilla / ScorpionUSA
- Read the review: Scorpion EXO-R420
The Scorpion EXO-R420 is an extremely popular helmet, and it seems that every year a new graphic design (or four) is plastered to it to keep the helmet fresh.
The Illuminati 2 version of the helmet has George Washington on one side, Abraham Lincoln on the other, and the shadowed parts of their faces show some nice zombie effects. It qualifies because you can see bits of the skulls!
The reason that the R420 is so popular? It’s one of the most affordable track-certified helmets you can buy. Riders with bikes for the track, rejoice!
The Scorpion EXO-R420 Illuminati 2 helmet is DOT and SNELL M2020 certified.
6: HJC RPHA 11 Pro Punisher
- Price: $599.99
- Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Weight: 3.12 lbs
- Buy: HJC USA
- Read the review: RPHA 11 Pro
HJC scored a huge deal when they secured the licensing rights to Marvel Comics characters for their helmet designs. They then put those Marvel designs on their superb RPHA 11 Pro, and the result is a top-tier helmet with the Punisher’s skull as the sole decoration.
Honestly, the Punisher logo is badass enough on its own—it doesn’t need any other emphasis or extra graphics. This is definitely the skull helmet for you if you want a proven, effective, and comfortable helmet that will keep your own skull safe.
The HJC RPHA 11 Pro Punisher is DOT and ECE 22.05 certified.
7: LS2 Rebellion Bones
- Price: $129.98
- Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Buy: RevZilla
A half helmet with a built-in sun shield and minor sun peak, with ventilation, padded ear flaps, and a basilar extension over the back of the head? That could only be the LS2 Rebellion helmet—and if you want to roll down the highway on your cruiser looking particularly badass, the Bones graphic design is there to turn things up.
We’re not entirely sure what creatures the skulls are from, but the best answer we were able to come up with was “pissed off vampires,” which we agree looks about right!
The LS2 Rebellion Bones helmet is DOT certified.
8: LS2 Spitfire Pink Muerte
- Price: $119.98
- Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Weight: 3.1 lbs
- Buy: RevZilla
Ladies, we haven’t forgotten you in the pursuit of badassery! The LS2 Spitfire Pink Muerte, or Pink Death, is a helmet that suits an entire range of riding styles—fitting right in with gear for cruisers, tourers, scooters, and even ADVs.
A built-in drop-down sun shield protects the eyes, while the extremely comfortable liner and padding under the lightweight polycarbonate shell and dual-density EPS keep your own skull in one piece.
The LS2 Spitfire Pink Muerte is DOT certified.
9: Nexx SX100 Big Shot
- Price: $259.95
- Head Shape: Intermediate Oval
- Weight: 3.55 lbs
- Buy: RevZilla
The graphics on this helmet really describe it better than anything we could write up, with the words “Riding like a big shot” emblazoned on the side. However, what we can say about the Nexx SX100 Big Shot is that you get a very good helmet at a very good price.
It includes a thermoplastic shell adorned with the teeth of a skull, a huge viewport, a drop-down sun shield, tons of air vents, and, oh, an EU SHARP 3 star rating from all impact angles. All for $259.95.
The Nexx SX100 Big Shot is DOT and ECE 22.05 certified.
10: GMax HH65 Ritual Naked
- Price: $89.95
- Head Shape: Long Oval
- Weight: 2.11 lbs
- Buy: RevZilla
Sometimes, when you’re cruising along, you want an effective half helmet that has no frills, no gimmicks, just plenty of value and good quality. Adding in the graphic of a flying skull in an airbrushed style, the GMax HH65 Ritual Naked pretty much bears it all in the name.
You get a detachable neck curtain, a hard-coated, polycarbonate sun shield, hidden EPS vents to flow air around your head, and a solid, no-nonsense thermoplastic shell with dual-density EPS foam impact protection. If you want to rock a skull design in an understated, gentlemanly way, this is the helmet for you.
The GMax HH65 Ritual Naked is DOT certified.