Vintage motorcycle helmets can be purchased for use with riding motorcycles. You should be aware that not all are legal for road use. Some are really just for show and can only be seen as novelty helmets. Not really sure where you might use such a helmet if it is illegal to use on the road. Remember too that motorbikes were not as fast back in the day either.
Where to Buy Vintage Motorcycle Helmets
You can go the route of buying a new vintage style helmet, either DOT certified or not or you go for the real vintage motorcycle helmets for sale on place like Ebay, second hand markets or maybe car boot sales. If you buy second hand, the problem is that you don’t really know what you are buying. There will be nothing to tell you the age of the helmet. You might sometimes find a sticker which could give you a clue. Unless you know your old helmets then you should take care.
The other concern with old helmets is that you don’t know what has been done with them. Seeing as they are safety items, wouldn’t you like to know if they have been kicked down the stairs a few times. An old helmet could have been on a shelf for many years storing nuts and bolts, or worse. Smell the helmet you might get a clue if it has had some dodgy usage. Don’t forget that those materials degrade with time, making them even more unsafe for use.
Reasons For Getting Vintage Style Motorcycle Helmets
The three main reasons will be for the desire to be of a certain style that suits the lifestyle you want to project. You are part of a club and when you go on certain outings or on a run you wear a club helmet. The bike is a vintage motorcycle and you want to match the era. Having a modern full face helmet will maybe look odd if you are riding a BSA Goldstar from the 1960’s.
Vintage Leather Motorcycle Helmets
Leather has always been a part of riding motorcycles with the jackets and trousers. In days gone by the outside of helmets used to have a leather finish. This would be when the inside of the helmet would be fabricated from cork. The straps used to hold the helmet on would be made from leather also and work in a similar fashion to a belt. The buckle would usually be to one side and behind a flap so that it was not directly next to your face.
Not all doom and gloom
If you look carefully you will find the style of Vintage motorcycle helmets that you are looking for and still be able to use out on the road. Have a look at Davida Helmets based in Liverpool in the UK or Tachibana of Japan. They craft stylish reproductions of vintage motorcycle helmets for riders of custom and classic motorbikes. Certainly there are other manufacturers that you can easily search for on the internet. You can also buy custom Harley rings to go with your custom Harley motorcycles.