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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.

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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100% Simpson style but without the price tag: Simpson Speed Bandit Review.

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

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

Nexx X.G100R Racer: Retro cool full face helmet; now with added face shield. First, Nexx introduced...
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The Nexx XG200: a quality composite fiber retro motocross helmet.

Review of the Nexx X.G200 retro dirtbike crash helmet. Portuguese helmet makers, Nexx, are starting to...
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Practical, badass modular helmet: Simpson Mod Bandit

Simpson Mod Bandit modular helmet review. Now you can have that fantastic genuine Simpson 'streetfighter' helmet...

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.

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

Nexx X.G100R Racer: Retro cool full face helmet; now with added face shield. First, Nexx introduced...
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Simpson Ghost Bandit: whatever next, a mean and practical streetfighter helmet?!

Simpson Ghost Bandit motorcycle helmet review. OK, bit of background to avoid confusion. The Simpson Ghost...

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet. Because Bell helmets began making automobile racing helmets,...

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...
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Biltwell Lane Splitter: a retro-cool but basic polycarb helmet

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, awful shields, 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 shields secured with studs and no vents, but most brands know that modern buyers want performance and functionality with their retro styling. And of course all modern retro helmets must comply with modern DOT 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 Marlboro (maybe yours still do!). But 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.

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet. Because Bell helmets began making automobile racing helmets,...
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100% Simpson style but without the price tag: Simpson Speed Bandit Review.

Simpson Speed Bandit review: Simpson's entry level polycarb motorcycle helmet. You want a Simpson helmet but...
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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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Biltwell Lane Splitter: a retro-cool but basic polycarb helmet

Biltwell Lane Splitter retro motorcycle helmet review. California-based Biltwell make just two full face helmets: the...
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Practical, badass modular helmet: Simpson Mod Bandit

Simpson Mod Bandit modular helmet review. Now you can have that fantastic genuine Simpson 'streetfighter' helmet...

Cheapest Retro Helmets

Retro helmets tend to prioritize 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.
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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 Nexx...

Full Face Retro Helmets

I guess waaay back in the day you were limited to half helmets or no helmets. OK there are one or two open face retro lids around, but if you're thinking retro helmet, chances are these days you're thinking of a full face. All the helmets in this section have that retro look but offer decent full face helmet protection.
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Biltwell Lane Splitter: a retro-cool but basic polycarb helmet

Biltwell Lane Splitter retro motorcycle helmet review. California-based Biltwell make just two full face helmets: the...
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Simpson Outlaw Bandit: comfortable, safe… and mean as ****!

Simpson Outlaw Bandit motorcycle helmet review. It seems like Texas based Simpson has been making helmets...

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

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

Review of the Nexx XG100 retro full face motorcycle helmet

The Nexx X.G100: a composite fiber retro full face helmet The Nexx X.G100 is a proudly...

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet. Because Bell helmets began making automobile racing helmets,...

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.
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Practical, badass modular helmet: Simpson Mod Bandit

Simpson Mod Bandit modular helmet review. Now you can have that fantastic genuine Simpson 'streetfighter' helmet...
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Simpson Ghost Bandit: whatever next, a mean and practical streetfighter helmet?!

Simpson Ghost Bandit motorcycle helmet review. OK, bit of background to avoid confusion. The Simpson Ghost...

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.

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

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

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 Ghost Bandit: whatever next, a mean and practical streetfighter helmet?!

Simpson Ghost Bandit motorcycle helmet review. OK, bit of background to avoid confusion. The Simpson Ghost...

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet

Review of the Bell Eliminator retro motorcycle helmet. Because Bell helmets began making automobile racing helmets,...
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Simpson Outlaw Bandit: comfortable, safe… and mean as ****!

Simpson Outlaw Bandit motorcycle helmet review. It seems like Texas based Simpson has been making helmets...

Click to find Motorcycle Helmets by Feature...