Retro & Vintage Motorcycle Helmets: Classic Style, DOT Protection

Retro and vintage-style motorcycle helmets bring back the shapes of the 1960s and 70s: rounded shells, snap-on visors, bubble shields and simple finishes. Done right, you get the classic look with modern protection. Done wrong, you end up with a novelty helmet that only looks the part. This guide helps you choose a retro motorcycle helmet that's both.

The two main retro styles

Retro full face

A rounded full face shell with a smaller eye port, often with a flip-up or snap-on shield. It's the safest vintage choice, because the chin bar protects your face and jaw, and it's quieter and warmer at highway speed.

Vintage 3/4 open face

The classic "jet" style that covers the top, back and sides of your head with your face open. It gives you the widest view and the most airflow, and you can add a snap-on visor, a bubble shield or goggles. Compare the trade-offs in open face vs full face helmets.

Matching the helmet to your bike

• Cafe racers: a retro full face or a 3/4 helmet with a bubble shield.
• Bobbers and choppers: a matte black 3/4 open face helmet with goggles or a short visor.
• Scramblers: a retro full face for dirt and gravel, or a 3/4 helmet with goggles.
• Classic cruisers: a 3/4 open face helmet for town, a retro full face for the highway.
• Scooters and Vespas: a 3/4 open face helmet with a visor or shield.

Vintage look, modern protection

Some "vintage" helmets are novelty helmets: thin shells with no real impact liner. A real retro helmet should be DOT certified to FMVSS 218, with the full DOT label on the back of the shell and a thick foam impact liner inside. See how to spot a fake DOT helmet.

Customizing your vintage look

• Snap-on visors: a short peak that clips onto 3-snap helmets for sun and style, like the GDM vintage 3-snap sun visor.
• Bubble shields: the rounded shield that defines the cafe racer look, available clear or tinted.
• Goggles: the classic choice with an open face helmet.
• Finish: matte black is the most popular retro finish and hides scuffs well.

Browse shields and visors to finish the look.

Retro helmets with Bluetooth

A vintage look doesn't mean giving up calls, music and GPS. Both GDM retro styles are available with Bluetooth:

• REBEL with Bluetooth headset: comes with the GDM SuperSonic headset, with up to 12 hours of music and talk time and a waterproof design.
• RENEGADE Bluetooth: a 3/4 helmet with Bluetooth built in and a flip-up removable bubble shield.

GDM retro and vintage helmets

• GDM REBEL: a vintage-style full face helmet with an injection-molded ABS shell, an EPS impact liner, contrasting diamond-stitched quilted padding and a double D-ring chin strap, in matte black.
• GDM RENEGADE: a vintage 3/4 open face helmet in matte black with a removable, washable liner, available with no shield or a clear, tinted or chrome shield.

All are DOT certified. Shop all retro and vintage motorcycle helmets.

FAQ

Are vintage motorcycle helmets safe?

They are when they're DOT certified. Avoid novelty helmets that copy the look without meeting the standard.

Retro full face or 3/4 helmet?

Choose a retro full face for the most protection and highway comfort, and a 3/4 helmet for airflow, a wider view and the classic open face look.

What is a cafe racer helmet?

Usually a retro full face helmet or a 3/4 helmet with a bubble shield, matching the stripped-down, classic style of cafe racer bikes.

How should a retro helmet fit?

Like any helmet: snug all around with no pressure points. Measure your head and check our helmet size chart, and see choosing a helmet for your head shape.