Unique Motorcycle Helmets have a story to tell. What's yours?

Motorcycle enthusiasts are a breed apart and we love to let everyone know it. Some people make a statement about who they are by the car they drive. We snub cars for the purpose of transportation. We call cars "cages" and the pitiful people who have to drive them "cagers".

For some riders, the ultimate expression of freedom is riding without a helmet. Most of us live where the law requires a motorcycle helmet or we just value the security and comfort of wearing a helmet. Being customizers by nature, we don't like it when our helmet looks the same as every other rider's. Wearing unique motorcycle helmets is a great way to express our individuality.

We get it honest. It's built in. Here are some of my favorite quotes about individuality:

"Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

"To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform."
-Theodore H White

"To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive."
-Robert Louis Stevenson

And last but not least:

"Cherish forever what makes you unique, ‘cuz you're really a yawn if it goes."
-Bette Midler

Ok, enough about this built in desire to be unique. Let's get to the practical application of unique motorcycle helmets.

Here is a list of ideas for finding unique motorcycle helmets or making your motorcycle helmet unique.

Motorcycle Helmet Stickers

This is the easy way to make unique motorcycle helmets. Most dealers or biker shops have motorcycle helmet stickers.

Stickers are a great way to make your helmet tell it's own story. Collect stickers at biker rallies, or special places. I used to have a sticker I bought up at Deal's Gap. It said "I survived the dragon. 318 curves in 11 miles". So everybody I saw knew that I had ridden one of the most fun stretches of road on the planet.

Does your helmet have a story to tell? Click here or scroll down below and share the story with other readers of this page. Be sure to include a picture of your helmet as well.

As always there's the disclaimer that you should follow your helmet manufacturer's advice about using stickers as the adhesive could have an adverse affect on the shell.

Aftermarket Shields

I interchange the words shield and visor a lot. This one is mainly for full face helmets, but some open face helmets have shields available as well. Try a mirror or iridium shield to set your helmet apart from (most of) the rest. See my article on KBC Helmet Visors too. I recommend using shields from the helmet manufacturer only.

Attached accessories (mohawks and pony tails)

I wouldn't suggest this for a touring motorcycle helmet, but helmet mohawks and helmet pony tails are definitely unique and worth a mention. The pictures say more than I ever could with words. These examples are from IronHorse Motorcycle Helmets .

Paint (airbrush)

You can either buy already painted unique motorcycle helmets, or start with a helmet that you like and have it painted. There are quite a few shops that specialize in helmet painting. These are usually artisans and proud of their craft, but the quality can vary widely. A good place to find these unique motorcycle helmets is at swap meets and biker rallies. This example is from Iron Horse Helmets.

Buy a one-off custom or luxury helmet

Got plenty of money? Just buy your way into a unique helmet. Look for manufacturers that make limited runs. Check these out .

Unique Motorcycle Helmets tell a story

The cool thing is that just being worn for miles and miles in the wind can also make a helmet unique. There are those bug remains that just won't come off, or maybe you got scuff marks at an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. All these little things add character. Or maybe your helmet saved your life in an accident.

I know how bikers love to swap stories, so I've set up a form below to let you share stories about unique motorcycle helmets and the places they've been. Each story will become a page on this site. Include a photo of your helmet to go along with the story if you have one. As others read your story they will have a chance to rate it and you can also rate others' stories. Have fun with it!