Ask anyone who rides a motorcycle, and they’ll tell you that they love the feeling of freedom that comes with the lifestyle. Part of that freedom comes from being able to flaunt your individuality and show the world who you are.
It’s easy to customize your bike and even your riding outfit in several different ways, but what about your motorcycle helmet? Are you forever stuck with the design and color that came with it off-the-shelf, or can you paint a motorcycle helmet?
Can you paint a motorcycle helmet?
In most countries you are allowed to paint your motorcycle helmet, but there are a few legal and safety concerns that you’ll have to keep in mind.
That’s fantastic news for riders everywhere since it opens up a whole world of possibilities. Just think of all the many different ways that you could customise your helmet to stand out among the rest!
Still, painting your helmet is not a straightforward process. As said, the odds are that you’ll have legal and safety concerns about painting your helmet. Plus, you’re probably wondering what paint works well on a motorcycle helmet.
Don’t worry. You’ll teach you everything you need to know right here. In this article. We’ll look at:
- Is it safe to paint a motorcycle helmet?
- Is it legal to paint a motorcycle helmet?
- What paints are suitable to use on a motorcycle helmet.
Is it safe to paint a motorcycle helmet?
That’s an excellent question. The answer, however, isn’t so straightforward. Painting your helmet can simultaneously increase and decrease your safety on the road. But how?
Firstly, if you paint your motorcycle helmet a more noticeable color and pattern, you’ll increase your visibility on the road. Other drivers will notice you quickly, and they’ll be able to maneuver around you safely. Of course, the opposite can also be true. You might make it more challenging for other drivers to see you if you choose a darker color instead.
Still, it’s not all about the visual aspects of painting your helmet. Depending on the paint that you use, you may end up weakening the helmet’s structural integrity. That happens because the solvents or other chemicals in the paint might make your helmet unsafe for the road.
That is incredibly risky. In the case of a collision, that helmet might not protect your head the way it should.
So, how can you work around it? Well, firstly, choose a color scheme and pattern that’s conspicuous and allows for excellent contrast. An all-black motorcycle helmet might look cool in the daytime, but at night it’s almost impossible to see. The same goes for camouflage patterns that are nice to look at, but also decrease your safety on the road.
When it comes to protecting the helmet’s structural integrity, don’t be afraid to contact the manufacturer or speak to the seller. Ask them what kinds of paint or materials will work well on the helmet without damaging it. The odds are that you’re not the first person to ask them this. So, they should be able to provide you with the right answers.
Is it legal to paint a motorcycle helmet?
It seems that the painting of motorcycle helmets is a legal grey area in many parts of the world. Painting the helmet itself might not be illegal. Yet, as mentioned before, painting helmets might undermine its ability to protect your head in a collision. That’s what causes the legal dilemma because an unsafe motorcycle helmet is undoubtedly illegal in most places.
Some places also require that helmets display safety standard stickers issued by local governments. Examples of these are DOT stickers in the United States, ECE stickers in Europe, or the local helmet standards in your country. In most cases, removing these stickers or painting over them is not allowed.
There are also countries where it’s mandatory to stick reflecting stickers on your helmet, so make sure to check if this applies to your country or state.
With these factors in mind, be sure to check your local laws regarding the painting of motorcycle helmets. Your country may have country-wide regulations on the matter, or regional states may have separate sets of rules for these issues.
What type of paint is suitable to paint a motorcycle helmet?
Now comes the fun part. So, you’ve decided to paint your motorcycle helmet. You may even have a few designs prepared already. All you have to do is figure out what kind of paint and other tools to use to get the job done.
The two best paints to use on your motorcycle helmet are spray paints and acrylic paints. Spray paints are great for achieving a more graffiti or urban look on your motorcycle helmet. Plus, they’re very affordable, and you can find whatever color you want at most hardware stores. Spray paints are great for covering large areas of the helmet at one go. Yet, they make it difficult for you to paint intricate designs.
Acrylic paints, on the other hand, are the opposite. With a brush and some acrylic paint, you’ll be able to paint detailed designs and even wordings onto your helmet. But you’re going to need a big brush if you’d like to paint large portions of the helmet.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know everything there is to know about painting a motorcycle helmet go wild with it! Show the world and your fellow riders what you’re all about by treating your motorcycle helmet as a canvas. Still, always keep your safety in mind. Do your research, and always make sure that you’re staying on the right side of the law!
