Choosing the right vintage motorcycle helmet for your riding style
To match their gear to the style of their classic motorcycles, male and female riders of Café Racers, Scramblers, Bobbers, Choppers, Trackers, or Brat bikes look for vintage motorcycle helmets.
Vintage helmets for motorcycles and scooters come in different models: full-face helmets, open-face and half-face helmets, modular motorcycle helmets, motocross helmets, enduro helmets, supermoto helmets, racing helmets, etc. Therefore, it is preferable to choose a helmet whose technical specifications best match your riding style. An open-face helmet, commonly used in the city, will be less suitable and safe for use outside urban areas at higher speeds. A full-face helmet designed for road use will be a hindrance in off-road use.
Wearing a motorcycle helmet: what does French law say?
Article R431-1 of the Highway Code states that wearing a helmet is mandatory for both the driver and the passenger. Please note that it is clearly specified that the helmet must be properly fastened. This obligation applies to 2 or 3-wheeled motorized vehicles such as motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters, as well as 4-wheeled motorized vehicles (quads).
A vintage helmet or any other helmet must be approved (white ECE label, visibly sewn onto the chinstrap, or green NF label for older helmets). In addition to the importance of having your head protected by a helmet that meets standards, violating the regulations will result in a deduction of three license points, a fine of up to €750 (€135 flat rate). Note that your vehicle may also be impounded and towed.
Why wear a motorcycle helmet?
Because a motorcycle, scooter, or quad does not have a body, even a low-speed fall poses a high risk to the rider and their passenger. In the event of an accident, the head will inevitably hit the ground or any other type of dangerous obstacle (other vehicles, guardrail, trees, etc.). In fact, the main cause of death and severe disabilities among motorcyclists, scooter riders, and quad riders is related to head injuries.
Can you keep your motorcycle helmet for more than 5 years?
Because a good quality vintage helmet can, depending on the brand and model, represent a significant cost, it is not an accessory that one plans to change too often. However, it is strongly recommended to replace your motorcycle helmet if it has been subjected to an impact. Indeed, the structure of the helmet, its internal shell, can be damaged without being perceptible to the eye. The helmet may appear to be in perfect condition, but it may no longer be able to protect you as effectively in the event of a new fall. So, do not hesitate to change your helmet after an accident.
Like many safety-related products, motorcycle helmets benefit from continuously evolving technological advancements, particularly those related to aerospace and racing requirements. Thus, progress in materials such as carbon, fiberglass, polycarbonate, and Kevlar increases the helmets' resistance and shock absorption capabilities. Keeping your helmet for many years means depriving yourself of technical evolutions that improve your comfort and safety.
Motorcycle helmet comparison: what criteria to consider?
Given the wide variety of helmets on the market, finding a helmet can be an arduous task. So, how do you choose the best vintage motorcycle helmet? With thousands of references, it's easy to get lost and end up being tempted by the appearance, color, or simply the price. The Blackpines team has done this work for you in advance, and as with most of our products presented in our online store, we have adopted the same strategy for helmets, which is to offer our customers what we consider to be products that meet our own requirements:
- size: the head must be held firmly without being too tight or "wandering" inside. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions to take your measurement (head circumference from eyebrow level) and select the helmet perfectly adapted to your morphology. (You will find a size guide and special mentions on each product sheet on Blackpines.fr);
- materials: approved vintage motorcycle helmets have shells made from different materials that will have a direct impact on their selling price:
- Injected polycarbonate shells (rigid resins) offer robust helmets with a good lifespan; mid-range, they will deform more than fiber models and have a shorter lifespan;
- Fiber shells (fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon, Dyneema), high-end, provide superior safety with better shock absorption for a lower weight;
- comfort: using a motorcycle helmet every day requires enjoying the best possible comfort. Opt for a liner and cheek pads with antibacterial treatment, which are removable and washable;
- ventilation: a good ventilation system is necessary in summer to protect you from heat and fogging;
- soundproofing: a feature highlighted by Mârkö helmets, which provides real well-being, especially in urban traffic;
- fastening system: two systems are most often offered: the micrometric buckle for its ease of use, it unlocks with one hand (notched tab inserted into a locking mechanism), and the Double D buckle. The latter, used in competition, is more complicated to get used to at first (strap passed through two rings) but resists the helmet being pulled off;
- style: sleek, sober or stylish, original, the choice of vintage motorcycle helmets is wide. Because Blackpines is a specialist in the Café racer universe, you will find vintage full-face helmets and vintage open-face helmets on our site;
- price: what price for a good motorcycle helmet? A helmet that has obtained the necessary approval meets the safety requirements required by road safety. Therefore, prices will vary depending on the brands, equipment, and materials used for the manufacture of the helmet. Mârkö brand helmets, for their part, benefit from an excellent quality/price ratio.
Advantages and disadvantages of different motorcycle helmets
To meet the needs related to the various possible practices in the motorcycle world, several types of helmets are offered by most manufacturers. With their particular specificities, adapted to a precise use, each of these helmet types will bring advantages, but also disadvantages if it is not used for what it was designed for.
The open-face helmet
Lightweight and comfortable, the open-face motorcycle helmet comes in a multitude of finishes. It can be worn with or without a visor, with motorcycle goggles or a motocross mask. With a modern or retro style, the open-face helmet is widely used in urban traffic, especially by scooter riders. It is appreciated for its lightness, its natural ventilation, especially in good weather, and its lower price than a full-face motorcycle helmet. Its main drawback, and not the least, is its lack of safety for the jaw (no chin bar), which is completely exposed in the event of an accident. The open-face motorcycle helmet is therefore best suited for city riding and low speeds.
The full-face helmet
The full-face helmet is the model to buy if you are looking for the one that offers the best safety. As its name suggests, this helmet completely protects the head, unlike the open-face helmet which leaves the lower part of the face without any protection. Full-face helmets are suitable for road bikes as well as sport bikes, mopeds or scooters and of course quads. Its aerodynamics and the protection it provides against cold and rain are highly sought after by motorcyclists. As for the disadvantages, its weight and higher price, its bulkiness and less ventilation when it's hot are the constraints linked to the superior safety offered.
The modular helmet
Are you torn between an open-face and a full-face motorcycle helmet? No matter, the modular helmet is made for you, provided it benefits from P/J approval (P for closed full-face approval, J for open-face approval, P/J open/closed). At high speed, you benefit from the safety of a full-face helmet; at low speed, in town, you lift the chin bar above the helmet and then regain the sensation of an open-face helmet. This versatility, however, comes at a cost in terms of helmet weight, which is heavier due to the necessary presence of the chin bar tilting mechanism.
Discover the French vintage helmet brand: Mârkö Helmets
The French motorcycle helmet brand Mârkö stands out for its quality and retro aesthetic. The helmets are designed with an increased focus on safety, while preserving the vintage style appreciated by motorcycle enthusiasts. The history of Mârkö began over ten years ago with the friendship between three motorcyclists. Their commitment to safety and comfort is reflected in the meticulous design of their helmets. The brand aims to make its products accessible to a wide audience while offering high-quality finishes, a variety of colors, and practical features. Mârkö is a retro motorcycle helmet brand focused on quality, safety, and accessibility. See the interview with Mârkö conducted by " L'homme Tendance " in April 2022:
Why buy your vintage motorcycle helmet at Blackpines.fr?
As specialists in Café Racers, Blackpines works daily to offer our customers the best parts and accessories to maintain and customize their vintage or custom motorcycles. And because a motorcycle is nothing without its rider, it is important that we also offer the necessary and approved equipment to enjoy your motorcycle with confidence and safety.
At Blackpines.fr you will be able to equip yourself with very high quality products, especially premium vintage equipment from the Fuel Motorcycles brand: pants, gloves, boots, jackets, motorcycle glasses and cross masks for open-face or full-face helmets.
A showcase of excellent products, the Blackpines online store presents a rigorous selection of references to help you easily find the best vintage motorcycle helmet. The French brand Mârkö is now a benchmark in terms of quality, reliability, and price. If you are looking for an affordable motorcycle helmet, the quality/price ratio of Mârkö helmets will surprise you. It's hard to find such quality at such an affordable price. Their full-face, open-face, and half-face helmets,Full Moon,Boréal, Héra 2, The Classic,Éléments and Grasse have become references in the world of two-wheelers and retro style.
Men's and women's motorcycle helmets
To meet everyone's expectations, Mârkö brand French motorcycle helmets, available in our Blackpines store, are unisex and suitable for wearing prescription glasses. They are also compatible with Bluetooth intercoms.
You will have a diverse choice of models, original and unique colors, sometimes surprising, such as the original " tattooed helmet " by The Oldserb Tattoo Club of Perpignan. Black, red, blue, cream, pink, carbon, glossy or matte, glittery, silver motorcycle helmets, the possibilities are numerous.
We are at your service, so if you would like a helmet model not offered in our catalog, it is no problem at all. We work with the most important suppliers so we can satisfy your request at the best price.
Finding quality motorcycle helmet accessories
Café Racer enthusiasts customize their motorcycles to personalize them and give them a unique identity. To allow male and female riders to change their helmets, you will find all the necessary accessories at Blackpines: caps, long and short visors, aviator-style visors, Bubble visors, cross or retro masks, screw kits, Pinlock 70. All available in many colors, enough to satisfy everyone's desires.
