When You’re Riding Vintage, Look the Part!
As far as vintage collectibles go, vintage helmets seem to be the favorites, and why not. These old gems look incredibly cool and can sometimes be worth a lot of money. Due to the recent rage of collecting vintage helmets, it is becoming increasingly harder to find a vintage motorcycle helmet that complements a classic motorcycle like the Triumph Bonneville.
If you want to go old school, there are a number of companies out there that make new helmets that look like they came right out of the fifties or sixties, but have modern features that can save you some brain damage. But for many people, that doesn’t quite cut it. Many people look for the real thing when getting classic motorcycle helmets, which brings one question to mind: what makes a vintage motorcycle helmet ‘vintage,’ is it age or style?
Classic Motorcycle Helmets: Style vs. Age
Vintage motorcycle helmets are well-known and are those that were manufactured during the World War II era. They are also in great demand by motorcycle helmet collectors with many of them vying to win one of these classic helmets.
For those who don’t put emphasis on the popularity of the helmets themselves and treat it as a hobby, a classic motorcycle helmet transcends far above the style and age debate. The fact is that the helmets were made in different eras and this makes every vintage helmet unique in its own right.
Getting a Classic/Vintage Motorcycle Helmet:
There are many ways motorcycle enthusiasts and collectors can get their hands on a vintage motorcycle helmet. The following are some of the places where you can get a vintage motorcycle helmet.
Make a Decision: Which Helmet Do You Like?
First of all, you are going to have to decide what type of vintage helmet interests you. Make a search for a classic motorcycle helmet you want to buy. Write down your options and how much you are willing to pay for the vintage motorcycle helmet.
When making a list of the vintage motorcycle helmets you are interested in, make sure not to be too specific of the different styles. Remember, a vintage motorcycle helmet is a ‘vintage’ no matter what style it’s made in. It would also be a good idea to write down the names of two or more vintage helmets, in case you don’t find the one you are looking for.
Going online can open a world of classic motorcycle helmets and other motorcycle accessories you never knew existed. By searching on popular online shops, you can purchase a vintage motorcycle helmet at an affordable price, or can write the information down for future reference, I would start with a reputable brand, like RockHard American Classic Motorcycle Helmets.
Top Vintage Motorcycle Helmets
Woljay Leather Vintage Half Helmet (Brown with Drop Down Inner Lens)
The Woljay leather motorcycle half helmet is perfect for those who are into vintage motorcycles; the helmet itself is made from artificial leather with ABS shell designed to absorb most impacts and hard collisions.
It is engineered to provide you with the safety you need and at the same time, helps to limit the drag and wind resistance thereby further increasing your performance.
One of the neat features of this helmet is the drop down sun visor which complements this vintage helmet to perfection. The Sun lens is designed to specifically protect your eyes from UV radiation and other elements, and should enable you to protect your eyes from sudden glares when out on the open road.
When it came to vintage motorcycle helmets one of the irritating bits was the fact that it was often hard to remove or to secure the helmet into place. Well, that’s not the case with the Woljay leather half helmet, for it comes with a convenient chin strap with one touch button which should make it easy for you to deploy the helmet with ease, even when wearing gloves.
Conclusion: The helmet is good as far as vintage helmets go and ranks well on both safety and performance.
Check Availability and Price here..
Nexx XG100 Helmet
The Nexx XG100 helmet manages to combine the best of vintage looks with modern features and does an enviable mash up, with the end result being the Nexx XG100 helmet.
This helmet with its face shield is designed to provide you with all the protection you need from sudden impacts and collisions, right from its hard outer shell to the fact that the inner lining is heavily padded with impact absorbing foam.
It has that classic vintage look and offers you a snug fit with cheek guards which can be removed if required. The face shield can also be adjusted or customized further, depending on your preference. But the helmet comes with a complete face shield, one that is designed to protect your face and eyes from all elements including harmful UV radiation.
When it comes to full face helmets, the ventilation part is often the main concern, but the Nexx XG100 comes with a single vertical core of ventilation which serves to effectively keep you well ventilated at all times.
Conclusion: The helmet ranks quite well on both safety and performance and is a great buy.
Woljay Leather Vintage Touring Helmet
This vintage helmet from Woljay certainly looks the part, but its performance puts it on par with most of the advanced motorcycle helmets out there. While the overall design is simplistic, and frankly, all vintage helmets tend to be minimalistic where the overall design is concerned, it certainly makes up for it in terms of both safety and its durability.
The Woljay leather half helmet comes with an ABS shell that is engineered specifically to withstand most impacts while the padded inner lining cushions you further by absorbing sudden shocks. The helmet comes with a soft inner lining and offers you a snug fit.
While the Woljay half helmet does come in various sizes from small to XXL, it is always a good idea to measure the widest part of your head and purchase the right size. Just check out the various sizes available and opt for the one that is in your size range. The helmet comes with a drop down visor that affords your eyes with protection from harmful elements such as UV radiation.
Furthermore, the helmet comes with a quick release button, making it easy for you to strap on and to release the helmet later.
Conclusion: A tad simplistic but ranks quite well on both performance and safety.
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Nexx SX60 Vintage Open Face Helmet
The SX60 is well designed with a simplistic but yet eye-catching design, it is quite lightweight and weighs only 2.3 lbs; so you should be able to use the same without any additional stress to your shoulders and neck area.
The SX 60 is crafted to provide you with all the safety you need for the outer hard resin shell is designed to withstand hard collisions and extreme pressure.
Moreover, this helmet comes with two visors, the inner sun visor which protects your eyes from sudden glares, UV radiation and the clear visor, which affords you a clear vision of the road ahead.
The PC lexan outer visor does a remarkable job of protecting your face while at the same time providing you with a clear and unimpeded line of sight. Both the visors can be easily deployed and retracted, thereby making this helmet rank high on ease of use.
The SX 60 also comes with an anti-sweat, anti-allergic inner lining that is designed to soak up all moisture and keep you dry at all times. It comes in two shades, tan and brown.
Conclusion: This helmet ranks high on ease of use, performance and safety; a good buy.
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Veldt Motorcycle Helmets
Veldt makes some very clean and classic styled vintage helmets. There are several “Builders Editions” available, along side the Build-your-own helmet tool.
The chin guard is customizable and removable, and there are a bunch of shell configurations to choose from as well.
Veldt’s retro-styled helmets are similar to the ones from Ruby, with elegance taking center stage. The outer shell is plain but the minimalistic design works since it is a retro helmet.
The helmet comes with a chin guard and no aeration grooves; the arrow pattern marks it as a distinct clutch helmet. The overall design is simplistic, along elegant lines and is aerodynamically designed to reduce drag and wind resistance. It also comes with a black visor, which you can detach or reattach later on as per your preference.
The helmet sure stands out for all the right reasons and the interior lining certainly provides you with an extra degree of comfort.
Check Price & Availability Here
HCI Open Face Green and Gold Motorcycle Helmet
The HCI open face shield helmet comes with a fibreglass outer shell and one that can withstand both extreme pressure and stress. Furthermore, the fibre glass outer shell makes this a compact, durable helmet that weighs very little.
The helmet itself is designed is designed to provide you with additional safety features including impact absorbing inner lining. Apart from this, it also comes with a face shield that’s easily removable, all that you would need is a small screwdriver and you should be able to remove the face shield completely or reattach the same with ease.
The HCI open face helmet comes in both green and gold shades, with high-quality paint job on the outer shell. It can be easily secured to your head with a quick release button and can be taken off in seconds, even when wearing gloves.
Overall, the compact helmet stands out for all the right reasons from its look to its safety features.
Conclusion: A good buy given its safety features and performance.
Check Price & Availability Here
Wrapping it up
Taking your search for vintage motorcycle helmets online will also broaden your search to several online stores which deal specifically in them. This will allow you to read their reviews so you don’t have any second thoughts on the type of classic motorcycle helmet you are buying. Online searches will also give you a chance to compare the prices on different websites, to make sure you get the best deal possible. There are many stores that offer free shipping deals for their merchandise, and reading those reviews will give you a great idea of what is good and what is not-so-good.
Making a trip to the local flea market is also a good idea when looking for something vintage like a motorcycle helmet. At the market, you can find certain stores that deal only in helmets and apparel, and this will allow you to check on the prices. When buying anything, there is nothing like trying it on and feeling the product to see if it’s genuine or a reproduction. Making an effort and going to the store will allow you to make a more informed decision. The best part of going to the flea market is you will be able to try it on to see if you really like it -or just choose another one.
Combing through the yellow pages, whether on copy or online, will provide you with information on someone who deals in vintage motorcycle helmets in your neighborhood. If you do find someone, you can pay them a visit and check out their collection of vintage motorcycle helmets. Meeting somebody who is a collector themselves can provide you with useful pointers about what to check and where you can get good deals when buying a classic motorcycle helmet.
Although, the increased demand for 3D computer designed helmets means they are gaining in popularity, that has not eliminated the market for the classic motorcycle helmet. The truth is, a classic/vintage motorcycle helmet harkens back to the days when there were real racers burning rubber on the cold tar.
And when it comes down to the real motorcycle aficionados, actual vintage helmets provide more than just an all important style statement or adequate protection for your brainpan. It fulfills their craving that lets the whole world know that they are the real old-school traditionalists when it comes to the thing they love most (their motorcycles).
Leather Motorcycle Helmets also provide a little more protection than not wearing one at all – and have a vintage vibe to them. And German Motorcycle Helmets are a close cousin to the style and era of the vintage.
Choose wise, ride safe, and may your next ride be Badass!