10 Best Cafe Racer Motorcycle Helmets

Article Contents:

• Intro
• Why/How I Chose These Helmets
• Cafe Racer Helmets Under $300
• Cafe Racer Helmets Over $300

Owning a cafe racer motorcycle is as much a lifestyle as it is a riding style. It’s not just the bike, it’s what you wear, how you ride, and who you ride with. While you can make owning a cafe racer whatever you want it to be, one thing’s for sure. You’ll need a good classic or retro style cafe racer motorcycle helmet.

Why/How I Chose These Helmets

Cafe racer motorcycle helmets by design are meant to have a retro, old-school-style—much like the cafe racer motorcycle itself. While you could go out and get a vintage helmet, that’s generally not a smart move. Motorcycle technology has really advanced since cafe racer bikes were at their peak, so you should get a new helmet.

A good cafe racer helmet will blend modern helmet design and features with an older-school-style. This means you’re not going to have tons of sharp creases or spoilers on the helmet. You’re looking at smoother shapes, simpler ventilation systems, and classic eye protection in terms of face shields.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of these types of helmets. I like simple bikes and simple gear. I’ve worn, tested, and reviewed this kind of gear. And I know what’s good and what isn’t. I also work with some of the best moto-journalists in the industry and am intimately plugged into the motorcycle gear scene.

With all that in mind. Here are my picks for the best cafe racer motorcycle helmets at two different price points.

Cafe Racer Helmets Under $300

Biltwell Gringo S

• Price: $199.95
• Review: Ultimate Motorcycling
• Head Shape: Round oval
• Weight: 3.16 pounds

The Biltwell Gringo S is the step up from the standard Gringo. It adds a face shield to the otherwise very simple lid. The helmet is a unique, old-school design with the bare essentials you’ll need to stay safe and comfortable on your bike.

It includes an injection-molded ABS outer shell with a hand-painted finish, an EPS inner shell, a Lycra liner with a diamond-stitched quilted padding, a double D-ring chin strap, and internal BioFoam chin pad. The helmet also comes with DOT approval.

Bell Custom 500

• Price: $119.95
• Review: webBikeWorld
• Head Shape: Intermediate oval
• Weight: 2.41 pounds

If you’re looking for a true classic, then you should check out the Bell Custom 500 open-face helmet. This classic ¾ design is well-known around the world, and the latest iteration of the helmet from Bell only takes things further. The helmet features a fiberglass shell that comes in five different shell sizes and EPS sizes to keep its overall size down.

Forget that bobblehead look. It has a five snap pattern on the outside for adding a face shield, the EPS is a multi-density layer, and the helmet comes with a five-year warranty. The helmet comes with DOT approval.

Bell Moto-3

• Price: $289.95
• Review: Cycle World
• Head Shape: Intermediate oval
• Weight: 3.09 pounds

The Bell Moto-3 helmet harkens back to the original Moto 3 design that came out over 60 years ago. This new version of the helmet takes that old styling that people loved so much and brings it into the modern age.

This helmet gets a lightweight fiberglass composite shell that comes in three different sizes, a layer of EPS that comes in four sizes, an EPS-lined chin bar, a washable anti-microbial terrycloth interior, and a five-snap visor. This helmet comes DOT and ECE approved.

Bell Riot

• Price: $149.95
• Review: RM Rider Exchange
• Head Shape: Intermediate oval
• Weight: 2.84 pounds

If you want something like the Bell Custom 500 but don’t want to have to fuss with a snap-on shield, then you should consider the Bell Riot Helmet. This helmet gives you the best of both worlds, you get the open-face design, but you also get a face shield to keep the bugs out of your teeth.

The helmet offers five different shell sizes, multi-density EPS that also comes in five different sizes, a padded chin strap with double D-ring closure, and a NutraFog anti-fog UV-protected face shield.

Simpson Street Bandit

• Price: $299.99
• Review: Get Lowered Cycles
• Head Shape: Intermediate oval
• Weight: 3.43 pounds

The Simpson Street Bandit is another helmet that harkens back to the past. It looks back to the drag racing helmets that people used in the 1970s. There are other Simpson bandits, but the Street Bandit is the one that looks the most old-school.

The helmet comes with a fiberglass shell, a large eye port for excellent field of vision, vents in the chin bar, and vents at the brow. The helmet comes DOT and Snell M2015 certified.

Cafe Racer Helmets Over $300

Bell Eliminator

• Price: $399.99
• Review: RideApart
• Head Shape: Intermediate oval
• Weight: 3.09 pounds

The Bell Eliminator is another helmet that looks back to the classic auto racers in terms of its looks. However, it’s built like a modern motorcycle helmet. The helmet features a fiberglass composite shell.

The helmet offers three shell sizes, five EPS sizes, a ProVision dual pane anti-fog face shield, and anti-bacterial liner, and contoured cheek pads. There’s also recessed speaker pockets, an optional peak visor, and a Magnefusion strap keeper. The helmet comes DOT and ECE approved.

Bell Bullitt

• Price: $399.95
• Review: webBikeWorld
• Head Shape: Round oval
• Weight: 3.24 pounds

The Bell Bullitt is based on the original Star that came out in the 1960s. It was the full-face helmet that revolutionied the helmet industry. Since then, Bell has modified and redesigned the Star and it’s still one of the best in the industry, the Bullet, however, brings that sense of style back to the old-school design but with new tech.

The helmet features a low-profile carbon-fiber shell that comes in three sizes, multi-density EPS, a removable and washable interior, plenty of venting, a flat face shield, and a five-year warranty. It’s also DOT and ECE approved.

AGV X3000

• Price: $399.95
• Review: Motorbike Writer
• Head Shape: Long oval
• Weight: 3.06 pounds

The AGV X3000 is inspired by the helmet that Giacomo Agostini wore on his way to 15 world Grand Prix motorcycle championships. That helmet design looks back to the 1960s and 1970s and motorcycle racing gear. It will work wonderfully on any cafe racer.

The helmet is an all-new design, though. It features AGV’s advanced composite fiberglass outer shell that comes in three sizes, EPS inside that and a premium interior with genuine leather and suede fabric. The interior is also mostly removable and washable, too.

Nexx XG100 Racer Purist

• Price: $389.95
• Review: webBikeWorld
• Head Shape: Intermediate oval
• Weight: 3.18 pounds

The Nexx XG100 Racer Purist is a helmet that somehow manages to blend a sleek and modern looking design with older-school aesthetics. It has a kind of 1970s style to it. The helmet features multiaxial fiberglass and 3D organic fibers with carbon reinforcements in the shell.

The shell comes in two sizes. Inside the helmet features soft padding, anti-sweat and anti-allergen fabric that’s removable and washable, and a PC Lexan face shield. There’s chin ventilation and the helmet comes with DOT and ECE approval.

Simpson M30 Bandit Helmet

• Price: $349.95
• Review: Get Lowered Cycles
• Head Shape: Round oval
• Weight: 2.87 pounds

Last but not least, we have the Simpson M30 Bandit. This is another helmet design from Simpson that gets its overall design from the 1970s.

The helmet features tons of vents throughout the chin bar. Pair that with a CoolMax fabric liner and you get a helmet that breathes well. It also has a fiberglass composite shell and EPS to keep you safe. The shell comes in two different sizes and the helmet is DOT rated.