Fr, De, It & Es readers: Translations from English are automated so might not be 100%. Hopefully they’re useful enough to help you choose your next helmet!

Latest Retro Helmet Reviews

Click on any of these retro helmets below to read their full review. Or click 'load more' to see more and more retro lids, listed in date order.
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Thinking of buying a Shoei Glamster retro motorcycle helmet?

Fantastic looking and safe retro helmet using proven modern tech: Shoei Glamster review. The Shoei Glamster...
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Biltwell Lane Splitter Review: SHARP 5 Star Retro Helmet. Cool, Safe, Basic.

Biltwell Lane Splitter retro motorcycle helmet review. California-based Biltwell make just two full face helmets: the...
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100% Simpson style but without the price tag: Simpson Speed Bandit Review.

Simpson Speed review: Simpson's entry level polycarb motorcycle helmet. You want a Simpson helmet but you...

AGV X101 1970s retro Dakar inspired motorcycle helmet review

Review of AGV's basic but cool Dakar inspired Retro MX helmet: the AGV X101. As you...
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What owners think: Shoei Ex-Zero Retro Helmet review.

Shoei Ex-Zero Retro helmet review. A practical Retro? Shoei's design department are starting to let their...

Highest Rated Retro Helmets

All these retro helmets have been scored in terms of safety, noise, features, value and comfort then listed in highest-lowest order below. So, if you're after a retro helmet but don't want to compromise in how easy it is to live with and how well it performs, you probably ought to grab yourself one of these.
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Simpson Venom: whatever next, a mean and practical streetfighter helmet?!

Simpson Venom (Ghost Bandit - US) motorcycle helmet review. OK, so if you're reading this and...
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Bell Eliminator: car racing inspired retro full face helmet

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet. Because Bell helmets began making car racing helmets,...
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Arai’s take on an a retro 1980’s helmet: the Arai Rapide/Concept-X.

Arai Rapide/Concept-X classic retro full face motorbike helmet review. Note: it was originally launched as the...

Nexx X.G100R Racer review: a retro full face motorcycle helmet with visor.

Nexx X.G100R Racer: Retro cool full face helmet; now with added visor. First, Nexx introduced the...
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Biltwell Lane Splitter Review: SHARP 5 Star Retro Helmet. Cool, Safe, Basic.

Biltwell Lane Splitter retro motorcycle helmet review. California-based Biltwell make just two full face helmets: the...

Common Retro Helmet Questions

1. Are retro helmets any good?

2. Any disadvantages of retro helmets?

Retro helmets are a relatively recent entrant to the helmet market and take inspiration from the design and style of helmets anywhere from the late 1960 onwards. Back then, helmets had limited ventilation, rubbish visors, dubious safety records and the aero properties of house bricks. And while modern retro helmets might have similar looks (and in some cases, aero!) in most respects they're a drastic improvement.

OK some take it a step too far by keeping visors secured with studs and no vents, but most brands know that modern punters want performance and functionality with their retro styling. And of course all modern retro helmets must comply with modern ECE safety standards. There are disadvantages with some retros compared to their modernday counterparts, but many are great performing lids as well as really looking the part.

Retro Helmets for a Bluetooth Headset

Back in the day, rider to rider comms consisted of bellowing at each other while trying not to drop your Woodbine. These days, it's handier to install a bluetooth headset - as long as your helmet has the speaker pockets and space to fit one. All these retro helmets are either designed to let you fit a bluetooth communicator or owners have said they'll take one, no problem.
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Biltwell Lane Splitter Review: SHARP 5 Star Retro Helmet. Cool, Safe, Basic.

Biltwell Lane Splitter retro motorcycle helmet review. California-based Biltwell make just two full face helmets: the...
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Bell Eliminator: car racing inspired retro full face helmet

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet. Because Bell helmets began making car racing helmets,...
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The Original Retro: Bell’s Moto 3 motocross helmet is back

Bell Moto-3 Retro Motocross Helmet Review. Bell launched the original Moto 3 back in the early...
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100% Simpson style but without the price tag: Simpson Speed Bandit Review.

Simpson Speed review: Simpson's entry level polycarb motorcycle helmet. You want a Simpson helmet but you...
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Arai’s take on an a retro 1980’s helmet: the Arai Rapide/Concept-X.

Arai Rapide/Concept-X classic retro full face motorbike helmet review. Note: it was originally launched as the...

Cheapest Retro Helmets

Retro helmets tend to prioritise style, design and quality - and that generally means a higher price tag. Which is not to say you can't have some retro chic to match your retro bike (and no, a CX500 still doesn't count!) and not pay through the nose. Here's some lower priced retro helmets.

Review of the Biltwell Gringo and Gringo-S Motorcycle Crash Helmet

Biltwell Gringo and Gringo-S Review: two Full Face Retro Helmets Like the Bell Bullet and the...

Full Face Retro Helmets only

I guess back in the day you were limited to full face helmets or piss pots - and there aren't many of us wanting to ride around in a papier mache shopping helmet from the '60s! OK there are one or two open face retro lids around, but if you're thinking retro helmet, chances are you're thinking of a full face. All the helmets in this section have that retro look but offer decent full face helmet protection.
arai-rapide-concept-x-featured

Arai’s take on an a retro 1980’s helmet: the Arai Rapide/Concept-X.

Arai Rapide/Concept-X classic retro full face motorbike helmet review. Note: it was originally launched as the...

AGV X101 1970s retro Dakar inspired motorcycle helmet review

Review of AGV's basic but cool Dakar inspired Retro MX helmet: the AGV X101. As you...

Nexx X.G100R Racer review: a retro full face motorcycle helmet with visor.

Nexx X.G100R Racer: Retro cool full face helmet; now with added visor. First, Nexx introduced the...

Review of the Biltwell Gringo and Gringo-S Motorcycle Crash Helmet

Biltwell Gringo and Gringo-S Review: two Full Face Retro Helmets Like the Bell Bullet and the...
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A look over the AGV X3000 retro full face motorcycle crash helmet

Retro helmet, great quality, Ago heritage. The AGV X3000. The AGV X3000 is AGV's recreation of...

Retro Helmets with Sun Visors

OK, they're not very authentic for the retro vibe, but pull down sun visors can be hyper useful. There aren't many of 'em around but if you're after a retro helmet with a sun visor, you should check out one of these lids.

Simpson Darksome modular helmet review

Practical, badass modular helmet: Simpson Darksome. Now you can have that fantastic genuine Simpson 'streetfighter' helmet...
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Simpson Venom: whatever next, a mean and practical streetfighter helmet?!

Simpson Venom (Ghost Bandit - US) motorcycle helmet review. OK, so if you're reading this and...

Quietest Retro Helmets

Goes without saying that stuff like noise suppression probably plays second fiddle to cool looks when designing a retro helmet. But we've still gotta wear the things and even retro bikes can break the speed limit in the blink of an eye, so having a retro helmet that cuts down the wind noise would be proper useful. OK, it's always subjective, but where owners reckon their retro lids are quieter than the norm, you'll find them in this section.
arai-rapide-concept-x-featured

Arai’s take on an a retro 1980’s helmet: the Arai Rapide/Concept-X.

Arai Rapide/Concept-X classic retro full face motorbike helmet review. Note: it was originally launched as the...

Nexx X.G100R Racer review: a retro full face motorcycle helmet with visor.

Nexx X.G100R Racer: Retro cool full face helmet; now with added visor. First, Nexx introduced the...

Best Retro Helmets for Glasses Wearers

If you're into retro lids you're probably either a codger or a hipster. Either way, you're gonna want to shove on some shades or bifocals and that means you need a helmet with some glasses grooves in there. All these retro helmets either have glasses grooves or we've had feedback from owners that they work well with glasses.
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Simpson Outlaw Bandit: comfortable, safe… and mean as ****!

Simpson Outlaw motorcycle helmet review. It seems like Texas based Simpson has been making helmets forever...
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Simpson Venom: whatever next, a mean and practical streetfighter helmet?!

Simpson Venom (Ghost Bandit - US) motorcycle helmet review. OK, so if you're reading this and...
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Bell Eliminator: car racing inspired retro full face helmet

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet. Because Bell helmets began making car racing helmets,...
Shoei-glamster-featured

Thinking of buying a Shoei Glamster retro motorcycle helmet?

Fantastic looking and safe retro helmet using proven modern tech: Shoei Glamster review. The Shoei Glamster...

Click to find Motorcycle Helmets by Feature...