Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Protect your dome with one of these cool motorcycle helmets

The coolest motorcycle helmets combine price, safety, and technology with handsome good looks

By
Quin Motorcycle Helmets (lifestyle)
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Motorcycles and motorcycle culture is its own animal, completely alien to most anyone who’s never owned one. From understanding motorcycle-related jargon to figuring out what type of motorcycle is right for you, there are plenty of things to learn before hitting the road on a two-wheeler.

The one thing that’s paramount, however, is knowing how to ride safely. You need the right skills, understanding of riding physics, and, of course, the right gear. That includes finding the best motorcycle helmet — one that balances price, safety, technology, and design. Here are our top picks for 2023.

Recommended Videos

Bell Custom 500 Motorcycle Helmet

Bell Custom 500 Motorcycle Helmet (in black) on a white studio background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bell’s legendary Custom 500 just keeps getting better. The latest generation highlights all the good looks and build quality of the original. Improvements include a new head form for a better fit and a thin profile shell that allows it to sit lower and more comfortably on the head without the dreaded “bobblehead” effect.

Related

Icon Variant Pro Construct Helmet

Icon Variant Pro Construct Helmet (in Black) on a plain white studio background.
After more than a decade on the market, Portland-based Icon rebooted its favorite Variant helmet. The latest Pro Construct edition bares its composite shell structure in a way that’s both functional and way cool. This one adds a long list of other technical features, too, including low-profile vents, a five-piece modular liner, and a quick-change, fog-free shield.

Ruby Full Face Silver Lake Helmet

Ruby Full Face Silver Lake Helmet on a plain white background.
Boutique European outfit Les Ateliers Ruby caters to the “money is no object crowd” with super-premium (and very cool) motorcycle helmets that deftly blend style and function unlike any other. The retro-modern Full Face Silver Lake Helmet features an open port design, a subtle central spine, and chrome-plated steel exhaust vents that add breathability and a badass aesthetic. Just add your own goggles, and you’re ready to ride.

Schuberth C4 Pro Carbon Fusion Helmet

Schuberth C4 Pro Carbon Fusion Helmet isolated on a plain white background.
Like most things German-engineered, Schuberth’s C4 Pro Carbon Fusion combines state-of-the-art tech with streamlined good looks for one of the coolest motorcycle helmets of 2023. It boasts a seamless, washable inner liner and an ultra-tough, carbon fiber outer shell. Additionally, it comes factory wired with a microphone, an internal speaker, and an antenna.

Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Helmet

Scorpion EXO-R1 Air Motorcycle Helmet
For that “track-ready” look on the street, there’s Scorpion’s EXO-R1 Air Helmet. The long list of innovative features includes an antimicrobial lining, an emergency release system, a built-in recess for speakers and sunglasses, and state-of-the-art shell technology that includes fiberglass, poly-resin, and aramid polymers for protecting your dome.

Shark S-DRAK Carbon Helmet

Shark S-Drak Carbon Fiber Motorcycle Helmet
This streamlined, storm trooper-esque moto helmet boasts a full carbon fiber construction for unparalleled protection. Inside is plush, premium suede for maximum comfort.

AGV Pista GP RR Casci de Vale Helmet

AGV Pista GP RR Casci de Vale Helmet on a plain white background.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the world of race helmets, AGV is basically the gold standard. It’s the go-to brand for hotshots with money to burn on the world’s most expensive motorcycles and luxe, ultra-cool helmets to match. This, among the brand’s flagship collection of track helmets, is a near-carbon-copy of the helmet worn by the world’s most elite moto racers. It promises an ultra-low drag coefficient, a hydration-system-ready design, near-perfect ventilation, and a design that’s guaranteed to stand out like no other.

Shoei Neotec II Helmet

Shoei Neotec II motorcycle helmet isolated on a plain white background.
Shoei’s Neotec II is designed to integrate with the Sena SRL Communication System for a clean, low-profile installation. Its 360 Pivot Locking System, Aerodynamic Shell Design, Sun Shield System, and all the other features combine to produce one of this year’s coolest, ultimate long-distance touring helmets.

Quin McQ Nero Helmet

Quin McQ Nero Motorcycle Helmet isolated on a plain white background.
This Steve McQueen-inspired, open-faced helmet offers a handsome, retro-moto design, including contrasting white striping and a quilted redlining. Inside, however, you’ll find the latest in modern helmet technology, including an integrated mic, Bluetooth speakers, and Quin’s patented Intelliquin System that can detect crashes and send out an SOS call in case of an emergency.

For more, we rounded up the best motorcycle helmet deals available today for various types of riders.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Style hack: How to cuff your shirtsleeves like a pro
Follow this guideline to look masculine
Man with sleeves rolled

In the undoubtedly long list of times you have laid in bed or on the couch, mindlessly scrolling TikTok or Instagram, you have likely come across the innumerable posts, reels, or videos where women list out some of the sexiest things a man can do. You would expect some things: chopping wood, standing between them and danger, or being a good father. Some others are interestingly insignificant in the grand scheme of things and something we all do in our everyday lives without even thinking. Putting your hand on the passenger seat to turn around and back up the vehicle. Placing your hand in just the right place to keep them from hitting their heads. And one of the most often uttered is when a man rolls up his sleeves. Of course, this is just one of many style hacks you can use, and learning how to cuff sleeves is vital to your look. Here is how and why to get it right.
Relaxed and manly style

Why roll up your sleeves? Why take a shirt that was made as a long sleeve and turn it into a short-sleeved shirt? You never see us turning a short-sleeved shirt into a long-sleeved sleeve. Well, first of all, if we could do that, we probably would. But the main reason for doing it is to function. You can't control the weather. Sometimes, it will catch you off guard, and you simply aren't expecting the temperature to rise as it sometimes can. Rolling your sleeves is a great way to roll (pun intended) with the weather the way you do when you layer. It just doesn't require as much preparation.

Read more
Your new jacket should be lightweight, versatile, and stylish
A case for lightweight
Man in hat and jacket

When the weather is boiling hot, there is little thought about outerwear. Then, when you are thrust deep into the bitter cold, all you can think about is getting your thickest coat out to protect you from frostbite. But what about those in-between times when it is just cool enough to need something heavier than a sweater but just warm enough that your big winter coat is too much?

That is when you need something for the transition months. You need something lightweight and versatile to help you bridge the gap between the boiling hot and the bitter cold. That is where you need lightweight jackets, something you can wear in warmer moments to guard against the breeze and something you can layer to guard against the unexpected cold. If you are still on the fence, here are some tips to make a case for lightweight jackets.
Weather fluctuations

Read more
PAKA wants to keep your feet warm, and send you to Peru
Buying this gift box could end with you in Peru
PAKA sock boxes

If you have never worn alpaca, you have yet to experience one of the most luxurious fabrics on the market. Sure, you could go with silk or cashmere, but alpaca has one thing those don't: people travel across the world to get something made from alpaca. One of the must-do items on many itineraries of a trip to Peru is picking up an alpaca sweater, or an alpaca blanket, or an alpaca hat. There is a reason for that; you should experience it for yourself. If you are not ready to drop the money on a sweater, PAKA is a company that has a different idea for you. The PAKA sock gift box allows you to experience the alpaca experience for a much more affordable price. While it is meant to be the perfect gift for someone you love, there is a great reason you may want to keep it for yourself.
Wonka-style Peru trip

Remember when you were a kid and saw Charlie open his Wonka bar to find the golden ticket? Then, he was whisked away on a magical trip to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. PAKA wants to do the same thing to you; only don't eat the socks. One of the 4,000 gift boxes will contain two custom patches, each redeemable for one round-trip ticket to Peru. Not only does that mean you should keep this gift box for yourself (we understand the Humbug sentiment, but we love to travel), but it also means you're going to save the money on a plane ticket so you can buy a sweater and a blanket.
PAKA Gift Box

Read more