Skull Motorcycle Helmets: Choosing the Perfect Piece of Badassery

To me, riding a motorcycle is cheating death.

So is there a more badass way to ride than with the symbol of death: a skull helmet? Unfortunately, our favorite helmet manufacturers don’t agree. They like to ship helmets in two colors: Matte and Gloss Black. Wow, so fun!

Thankfully, you still have options if you want to ride looking like the undead. There are 1,229 graphic motorcycle helmets on Revzilla* as I sit down to write this for you. I went through every single one to make the below list of skull helmets, saving you hours and hours of searching.

* Revzilla is the top motorcycle gear shop in North America, in case you didn’t know.

Later in this article, I’ll go through how to make a skull motorcycle helmet (for the perfect look) and the best DOT approved low profile skull cap helmets. With a few bonuses at the end.

I also put a lid from Etsy down below that looks about as close to an actual human skull as you’ll find in a helmet. Makes me wonder how many real skulls the creator has touched.

Let’s get in to it.

The Best Skull Motorcycle Helmets

It all depends what you’re looking for, so I suggest you still check out all the options below. These are my favorites:

LS2 Rapid Happy Dream Glow In The Dark Helmet

• Price: $119
• Manufacturer: LS2
• Weight: 3.86 lbs

Has to be my favorite lid on the list… this one is perfect for frightening your rivals on the road, especially at night. Like other LS2 Rapid helmets (like the Rapid Crypt) you get 3 shell sizes for a snugger fit and a decent weight for a full face. The chin-strap is quick release ratchet strap style – either love them or hate them.

But that It clown graphic… you have to love that. And it glows in the dark, which is even better for visibility on the road. Imagine that: high visibility AND decent-looking. You rarely get that combination!

The best part is the price on this puppy. It’s so reasonable you might even want to pick up two.

LS2 Rapid Crypt Helmet

• Price: $109
• Manufacturer: LS2
• Weight: 3.86 lbs

Mysterious and alluring like a forbidden crypt, this helmet is the perfect accessory for a night ride. The multi-density EPS is a cut above most helmets, especially at this price range. Three shell sizes also means a snug fit no matter your size. Its aerodynamic shell, coupled with dynamic flow-through vents, ensures efficient performance and a cool ride.

The face shield resists scratches and UV rays, and can be effortlessly swapped without tools. Inside, laser-cut 3D foam offers unmatched comfort without those bothersome hot spots. Hypoallergenic padding keeps things fresh, and is easily removable and washable.

For a secure fit, trust in the quick-release chinstrap. Additional features like the chin curtain and breath deflector elevate your experience. Rest assured, this helmet is DOT approved.

GMAX HH65 Tormentor Naked Helmet

• Price: $89.95
• Manufacturer: GMax
• Weight: 1.65 lbs

Introducing the GMax HH65 Tormentor Naked Helmet: a fusion of style, safety, and functionality. The HH65 Tormentor boasts dual-density EPS technology, a standout feature ensuring optimal protection in a slimmer design. DOT certified, of course. Seamless polycarbonate shell with refined rivet hardware, suitable for any ride.

Equipped with a retractable UV400 tinted visor, you’ll combat sun glare effortlessly. Need a clear view? Swap to the included clear visor without fuss. Both offer UV protection and shield from wind. Unique EPS channels optimize ventilation, ensuring a comfortable ride. For added convenience, the Coolmax Core Technology liner not only manages heat but also wicks away sweat, all while being easily removable and washable.

Cold weather? No problem. Add or remove the snap-in neck curtain, which also hosts speaker pockets for smooth Bluetooth integration.

HJC i20 Scraw Helmet

• Price: $239.99
• Manufacturer: HJC (a good one!)
• Weight: 3.25 lbs

Discover the HJC i20 Scraw Helmet: a fresh take on the open face design, boasting a street fighter inspired removable chin bar and a clear, anti-fog visor for unobstructed views. Crafted with an Advanced Polycarbonate Composite Shell, it ensures a lightweight fit across a range of sizes with 3 shell sizes for the right fit. Plus, it’s primed for modern connectivity, compatible with SMART HJC Bluetooth systems.

Scorpion Exo C90 Kalavera Helmet

• Price: $119
• Manufacturer: SCORPION EXO
• Weight: 2.9 lbs

Spice up your ride with the Scorpion EXO-C90 Kalavera Helmet, a Day-of-the-dead looking skull themed half helmet with a nice kick out lip on the back edge. You get a basic polycarbonate shell that makes for an aerodynamic profile that will cut through the wind. The game-changer? This half helmet has a built-in SpeedView sun shield that tucks away when you don’t need it, offering clarity and wind protection. Plus, the removable cold weather ear flaps, custom-fitted for Bluetooth speakers, extend your riding season effortlessly. DOT approved and backed by a robust 5-year warranty, it’s a perfect choice if you want an unhinged, back from the grave look.

Scorpion EXO R320 Skull E Helmet

• Price: $119
• Manufacturer: SCORPION EXO
• Weight: 3 lbs

The Scorpion EXO-R320 Skull-E Helmet nails both safety and style. Crafted from advanced LG polycarbonate and dual-density EPS, it offers unmatched protection and durability. What sets it apart? The Pinlock-ready face shield, eyeglass-friendly interior, and communication system speaker pockets, ensuring clear vision, comfort, and easy integration of a bluetooth comms unit. DOT approved of course. Personally I dig the wild skull graphics as well. 

Icon Airform Hippy Dippy Helmet

• Price: $225
• Manufacturer: Icon
• Weight: 3.7 lbs

Picture yourself in the Icon Airform Hippy Dippy Helmet—despite the name, this helmet will have motorists thinking they’re being visited by a ghost. Born from injection molded polycarbonate, it’s not just a helmet; it’s a statement. Feel the tailored embrace of the sculpted neck roll, relish the unbroken flow of air via the continuous venting system, and experience crystal clear vision through the fog-free face shield. This helmet isn’t mere gear; it’s your unique mark, where unmatched durability meets unmatched style, transforming every ride into a trip back out from hell. It’s also DOT and ECE rated for safety.

Icon Airflite Mips Omnicrux Helmet

• Price: $330
• Manufacturer: Icon
• Weight: 3.77 lbs

Another personal favorite of mine on this list. The Airflite is an iconic look: more fighter pilot than road racer, the large shield makes it appear like an open face while it conceals a large eyeport and robust chin bar.

But the killer feature (no pun intended) of this Airflite is that it includes Mips. What is Mips? Mips is a thin liner between your head and the helmet which enables some rotation of the helmet on your head without pulling your head along for the ride. This means reduced rotational force on your head in a crash, also known as safer for you. Without adding any bulk, and with only 1 oz extra weight over the regular Airflite without Mips.

Give it a try from Revzilla. Icon has done a lot of work on this Airflite form factor, so if this is your style of riding like the undead, get it now.

Shoei RF 1400 Faust Helmet

• Price: Varies, ~$500
• Manufacturer: Shoei
• Weight: 3.68 lbs

The Shoei RF-1400 Faust combines frightening look with trusted safety; exactly what you’re looking for a skull helmet. The meticulously crafted shell is a fusion of fiberglass and lightweight organic fibers, offering unmatched strength and impact absorption far beyond what polycarbonate can do. Feel the rush of air channeled through its revamped ventilation system (improved over the RF-1200), ensuring comfort and coolness on every ride. The shield and shell design were perfected in a wind tunnel to ensure a perfect seal – meaning lower wind noise and no water getting in. It’s also Snell M2020 certified in addition to DOT for safety. This isn’t just a cool looking helmet; it’s a symphony of design, aerodynamics, and safety, tailored to redefine your ride.

Arai Contour-X Hayes Jolly Roger Helmet

• Price: $183
• Manufacturer: SCORPION EXO
• Weight: 3.34 lbs

Okay, yes, it’s expensive. But you know what’s also expensive? Brain surgery!! And Arai is one of the BEST at making sure riders avoid the scalpel. You are definitely getting your money’s worth here, and riding like a pirate to boot.

Arai helmets are handmade in Japan with absolutely insane levels of quality control. The outer shell is made with the mouthful that is Peripherally Belted e-Complex Laminate Construction which I can only guess is engineer-speak for “light and strong”. From Arai’s description, I’m guessing this is similar to fiberglass in how it absorbs and disperses impact forces across the helmet, so as little as possible makes it to your skull.

Arai pulled out all the stop with this lid: 13 vents (more than 3x most other helmets), Pinlock visor included, filtered chin air vent, Emergency Release System and both DOT and Snell approved.

For the best of the best.

Scorpion EXO Covert FX El Malo Helmet

• Price: $289
• Manufacturer: SCORPION EXO
• Weight: 2.95 lbs

The Scorpion EXO FX El Malo Covert Helmet is a masterstroke in helmet engineering and a unique lid beyond the wild Mexican and Voodoo inspired graphics. While the shell is a basic polycarbonate, this helmet is actually three in one. Transform it into a 3/4 helmet with a rear sleeve, then into a full face look with the removable front mask which shields your face from the elements. In half helmet mode you still get great ventilation as well as a drop down sun visor, both rare in half helmets. The Kwikwick liner throughout is removable for easy cleaning of the whole thing. Versatile, protective, and sleek, it’s not just a helmet; it’s your ultimate riding companion, designed for the twists and turns of the open road.

LS2 Rebellion Bones Helmet

• Price: $129
• Manufacturer: LS2
• Weight: 2.09

The LS2 Rebellion Bones Helmet keeps the skulls subtle within its retro look. While retaining your skull inside. With a shell born from Kinetic Polymer Alloy (better than polycarbonate, that’s for sure), it’ll take a lot more impact than most half helmets. You also get vents, a welcome reprieve that’s missing on most half helmets. The Twin Shield System is also unique – allowing you to lock the shield just halfway down to give you a bit of shade without sitting in front of your eyes. This lid is as distinctive as you and your ride. 

Scorpion Covert X Marauder Helmet

• Price: $319
• Manufacturer: SCORPION EXO
• Weight: 3.31 lbs

The Scorpion Covert X Marauder Helmet is the best skull helmet on this list (in my humble opinion) because it makes you look like the skull. This lid is an upgraded version of the Scorpion Covert El Malo, featuring the same 3-in-1 helmet that flexes from full face to half helmet in a few seconds. However, the Covert X improves on the original version with state-of-the-art Ultra-TCT fiberglass shell that absorbs impact much better than polycarbonate. It also has improved ventilation that builds on the already great vents in the original Covert. Scorpion tossed in speaker pockets as well for Bluetooth units. This helmet goes beyond skulls to give you a versatile, comfortable, and safe lid for any ride. 

Now for that Etsy lid. Check this out.

This helmet looks like a skull, not just from the paint but the contours as well. Each lid is custom made to order by the maker. The price is affordable (almost TOO good) given a custom painted skull helmet will cost you at least twice as much, if not more.

Now I cannot vouch for the safety of this helmet. The maker, XBowHelmets, doesn’t mention how the underlying helmet is made. So I’d be careful with it.

Have a helmet you already like that you simply want to repaint and redesign in to a skull motorcycle helmet? Next section is for you.

Making Your Own Skull Motorcycle Helmet

If you’re feeling creative and want to take your skull helmet to the next level, you can even have it painted to look like a skull. There are several companies that specialize in helmet painting services, and they can help you create the perfect skull design to suit your style.

When choosing a helmet painting service, you’ll want to look for one that already has skull designs on offer. Commissioning a custom design blows up the price and timeline. Thankfully, many custom painters already have great skull designs to choose from.

The Best Professional Helmet Painters for Skull Helmets

Two of my favorite companies for helmet painting are Airgraffix and Blaze Artworks. Both have a wide range of skull designs available (Airgraffix Skulls, Blaze Skulls), and their pricing is in line with the industry. Expect to pay anywhere between $400 and $500 for a custom skull design on your helmet.

Before you fall out of your chair at that figure, look at the work these two artists do:

This art is done over top-notch helmets of your choosing. Airgraffix lets you choose a base helmet like the HJC i90 modular or Shoei GT Air II, and includes that lid in the price when you order.

Blaze Artworks uses their own Matrix fiberglass helmets as a base. They also offer 10% off if you send them a video with your custom helmet. That’s a fat $50 bill back in your pocket.

For a show-stopping helmet, Airgraffix and Blaze are your go-to.

Making a Skull Motorcycle Helmet by Yourself

Some of you might be like me: cheap. I already spent $500 on a new exhaust, so where’s the cash for a custom helmet paint job??

If you’re feeling especially creative and want to try your hand at making your own skull motorcycle helmet, know that it is possible. With a few basic materials and a bit of know-how, you can easily paint a helmet to look like a skull. Here’s a good tutorial.

To get started, you’ll need the following materials: your desired color of spray paint, clear coat spray paint, sandpaper, and stencils. With these materials in hand, you can follow the step-by-step instructions below to create your own skull motorcycle helmet:

1. Prepare your helmet by cleaning it, removing the visor, and lightly sanding the entire surface you’ll paint.
2. Use masking tape and newspaper to close off the visor area, vents, and bottom of your helmet. Only the surfaces you want to paint should be exposed.
3. Make or buy a skull face stencil with teeth and exposed bones – especially around the jaw area and forehead.
4. Lay your stencil down over your helmet and start spraying layers of paint. Your spray paint should be the opposite color of your helmet. Try using white spraypaint over a black helmet.
5. Finish the helmet with clear coat spraypaint to lock in the color and give it a glossy sheen.

Pop the visor in and you’re ready to hit the road. You may find that a black tinted visor looks even better when your design is complete. It likely won’t look as good as a professionally done skull helmet, but you’ll spend $20 instead of $500. Not a bad trade.

Skull Cap Motorcycle Helmets: Low Profile, DOT Approved

Maybe you’re not here for skulls as much as you are a skull cap.

Ditch the mushroom head look. Let your hair in to the wind and open up your field of view with a low profile skull cap motorcycle helmet.

However, you need a DOT approved helmet. Thankfully, there are many slim DOT approved helmets.

MicroDOT makes some of the smallest and lightest DOT approved helmets on the market. You’ll feel like you’re wearing a baseball cap at most, but the cops can get lost if they try to fine you for wearing one of these.

Another option is the GMax HH65, which also features skull graphics on the side. This one comes with an integrated sun visor and dual-density EPS foam for better impact absorption in a crash.

I’m not done yet… here are a few more badass motorcycle helmets and looks for you.

Badass Motorcycle Helmets and Skull Looks

When it comes to badass motorcycle helmets, two of the top options are the Bell Rogue and the Scorpion EXO Covert X. These helmets are known for their unique and bold designs, as well as their high-quality construction and advanced safety features.

Bell Rogue

The Bell Rogue is a full face helmet with a distinctive lipped top lid and modular design. The face mask protects you from bugs and road debris while adding a Bane look.

Pop that face mask off for a half helmet style. The ‘muzzle’ connects via magnets, making it easy to put on and take off.

Scorpion EXO Covert X

The Scorpion EXO Covert X is a low profile skull cap helmet that transforms into an open face or full face. Perfect for hot summer days or cold winter nights, the Covert X works for any kind of ride.

Scorpion steps up their game with a multi-layered Ultra-TCT fiberglass shell, much better than the polycarbonate you typically get on a half helmet. The internal sun visor is anti-fog coated and retractable.

Best part? You can switch out the masks on this lid. Scorpion sells multiple designs, including a skull mask.

Customize any Helmet with a Skull Mask

Painting a skull helmet is either super expensive or super difficult.

Why not just screw all that and wear a skull mask instead? You can buy any on Amazon, either in fabric mask form or even ones with integrated goggles like this. If you get a plastic mask, just make sure it’s padded on the inside so it doesn’t slap your face at speed.