How to Choose Motorcycle Helmet Color?
The helmet probably needs to be the most carefully considered among all the things you need to buy for your motorcycle. It is easy to choose some of the other items on a whim, maybe without researching, but selecting a helmet is different.
After all, it will be sitting on your head the entire time you are riding. If you want to ride safely, why not choose the one you like so that you feel good about wearing it?
Motorcycle helmet color selection can be tricky, especially when you’re just starting. There are many factors to consider, including safety, fashion, and visibility. How to choose motorcycle helmet color? Should it match your motorcycle?
In this guide, we will look at the different color options available on the market so you can choose the right one for your next ride.
Does Motorcycle Helmet Color Matter?
Many people believe that the lighter the color of your helmet, the better. The reason is that they think a light-colored helmet will increase your visibility on the road. However, there are safety advocates who say that this is a myth. The real answer may surprise you.
The truth is, motorcycle helmet color doesn’t really matter as much as most people think. In fact, many different factors make a motorcycle helmet safe or unsafe. The color is just one of them.
You can still stay safe on the road and increase your visibility in bad weather without changing your helmet’s color. Here are a few tips:
Wear bright clothing and reflective gear over a dark dress at night. Dark clothing makes you less visible to other drivers, especially at night, when it’s harder to see you.
Rather than wearing all black or gray clothing, choose a few brightly colored items that will make you more visible day or night.
Don’t forget to add reflective tape to your gear if it doesn’t have any. Having reflective tape on your equipment makes it more noticeable.
What are the Different Colors for Motorcycle Helmets?
Helmets come in various colors and designs, but there are three primary color schemes for motorcycle helmets: solid, metallic, and custom.
Solid Colors
Solid colors are the most common color scheme for motorcycle helmets. Solid color motorcycle helmets usually come in black, white, or shades of gray.
Metallic Colors
Metallic colors are also common in motorcycle helmet color schemes. These colors include silver, champagne, bronze, and gold. Generally speaking, they are more expensive than solid color motorcycle helmets since they use special paint to produce a “metallic” look.
Custom Colors
Custom colors refer to paint jobs on helmets that produce unique and individualized designs. Custom-painted motorcycle helmets can feature flame designs or depictions of skulls or other symbols.
How to Choose Motorcycle Helmet Color?
Motorcycle helmets come in a wide range of colors and designs; some are outrageous, some are very plain.
Much of the time, when selecting a helmet color, you have to decide whether you want to make a statement or not. Some people like to stand out, while others prefer more subtlety.
For example, if you want your motorcycle helmet to match your outfit or other parts of your motorcycle, you can choose black, white, or silver.
However, if you want the helmet to protect you in case of an accident, choose brighter colors such as yellow or orange that make you easy to spot from afar.
There is no right or wrong answer; it is entirely up to you. Nevertheless, there are some factors to consider before choosing a color that suits your preferences and style.
1. Safety
The most important factor when choosing a motorcycle helmet color is safety. It is best to choose a helmet with reflective properties if you plan on riding at night. It will help other drivers to see you better.
The general rule is to choose a helmet with a light-colored panel or graphics. Orange, yellow, and white helmets are safer since they are more visible from a distance than a matte black helmet that matches your bike perfectly.
2. Visibility
A rider’s visibility to other traffic is another factor to consider. If your motorcycle helmet is all black, you may blend in with other vehicles on the road and not be easily seen by others.
Opt for lighter-colored moto gear and helmets if you’ll be riding at night or twilight hours. Research shows that wearing a brightly colored helmet can be an effective way to increase the chance of being seen by other drivers and can help reduce the chances of accidents.
3. Type of Rider
Who are you? What type of person are you? The shy style that blends in, the flashy type that wants everyone to notice you, or the extreme type that needs helmets in all the colors of the rainbow (or at least neon)? Your personality and riding style should guide your choice of helmet color.
4. Heat Absorption
You may want to go for a motorcycle ride during the hot summer months, but you don’t want to be uncomfortable in the heat. Some helmet colors absorb more heat than others.
The lighter the color, the cooler it will be. When you ride your bike during the day, you should wear a light-colored helmet. It will reflect most heat and keep your head cooler even on hot days.
Helmets with darker colors absorb more heat and can make your head very hot if you’re riding in the sun.
5. Other Riding Gear
You should consider your riding gear before choosing a color scheme for your helmet.
If you wear a leather riding jacket and leather pants, choose a black helmet to match your jacket and pants. When wearing other colors, such as a red or blue jacket and pants, choose a white or silver helmet that matches your gear.
6. Color of Your Motorcycle
One more factor to consider when choosing your helmet color is the color of your motorcycle. Adding a matching helmet to your motorcycle will enhance its beauty, whether black, red, or other bright colors.
On the other hand, if you have a white motorcycle, then a black or silver-colored helmet will look good on it. If nothing else works for you, choose a white helmet to match the bike’s paintwork.
Best Selling Motorcycle Helmets
Most Visible Motorcycle Helmet Color
Orange, white, and yellow helmets are the most visible, but they’re not the best choice for everyone.
White is the most visible color in low light conditions because it reflects light from other vehicles and natural light from the moon, streetlights, and headlights. Despite this, white helmets tend to pick up dirt and scuffs easily, looking grimy after just a few rides.
Matte black helmets have the opposite effect, absorbing light rather than reflecting it. As a result, they are less visible at night. Additionally, black is an elegant color that looks more stylish than bright colors such as orange or yellow.
Blue is another good choice for visibility while still being aesthetically pleasing. Whether you prefer a lighter or darker shade of blue for your motorcycle helmet, either will increase your visibility on the road and make you look stylish while riding.
Red motorcycle helmets perfectly combine style and safety. Although red isn’t the brightest color, it isn’t as dull either. It also attracts attention, but not too much.
Safest Motorcycle Helmet Color
White is the safest color for motorcycle helmets. White helmets are the easiest to see on the road and against most backgrounds, making them the best choice for your visibility.
However, a white helmet can be soiled easily. Bright yellow or fluorescent orange is nearly as visible, but it may be harder to see in some conditions.
Make sure the helmet always has a mirror-smooth finish, and avoid using stickers or anything else that might make it harder to recognize.
A light-colored helmet is recommended by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which suggests that the safest motorcycle helmet color is one that contrasts with the background environment and any other vehicles on the road.
In addition to being seen from farther away, safety experts claim that wearing a white or brightly colored helmet can help improve visibility for other reasons as well.
For example, if you’re riding on a cloudy day and have a light-colored helmet on, it diffuses sunlight to help illuminate your surroundings better than if you were wearing a darker-colored helmet.
White or light-colored helmets can also reduce the glare from the headlights of following vehicles at night. It allows you and drivers behind you to see more clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Should Helmet Color Match Motorcycle?
In most cases, the color of your motorcycle helmet should coordinate with the paint scheme of your motorcycle. It’s a matter of personal preference, but having a helmet that matches or coordinates with the paint scheme on your bike is considered “cool.”
However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. First, if your bike is black, you might want to consider wearing a white helmet. As a result, the outline of the helmet will stand out more so that other drivers can see you in their peripheral vision.
Secondly, wearing a matching helmet may clash with your paint scheme if you have a custom-painted bike.
Third, if you’re an experienced rider who wants to be noticed on the road and isn’t bothered about being viewed as arrogant by some people, you may not care about matching colors and instead choose wild colors like red, yellow, or orange.
It helps other drivers notice you on the road, especially when changing lanes and traffic. But many people will assume that you’re compensating for something.
Ultimately, it’s up to you whether or not to match your motorcycle helmet to the color scheme of your motorcycle.
Q. What color helmet should I get?
The short answer is that you can pick any color you like because the most important thing is to wear one.
But the most important thing is to choose a color that reflects your personality. You do not have to stick with the primary colors. You can choose something that fits better with your personality. There are countless color combinations and hues available.
Q. Are black or white motorcycle helmets hotter?
It’s important to choose your clothing carefully when it’s blazing hot outside. Dark colors absorb more heat than lighter ones. It is because dark colors absorb more sunlight.
In hot weather, wearing a black t-shirt will make the shirt very hot, much hotter than a white shirt. In terms of motorcycle helmets, all things being equal, black helmets are hotter than white ones.
Q. Is white the best helmet color?
A white helmet is a great idea. It’s the best color for a motorcycle helmet because it reflects the sun rather than absorbing its heat. Helmets can get very hot in the summer, and that heat can cause severe damage to the brain. A white helmet, however, will help to keep you cool.
Additionally, white helmets are better for visibility. White helps you stand out during the day and shows up better when hit by headlights at night. The white helmet doesn’t look as intimidating as a black or dark-colored helmet, either.
Although white motorcycle helmets come with all of these advantages, there are some drawbacks that you should consider.
The biggest problem is that white helmets tend to show dirt and wear more quickly than other colors. You’ll need to take good care of your helmet, wash it regularly, and keep it clean.
Many people have a hard time keeping their gear clean while traveling. If this is the case for you, you may want to choose a darker shade that won’t show as much wear.
Q. Do white motorcycle helmets get dirty?
Yes, white motorcycle helmets do get dirty. Dirt, grime, and bugs will easily appear on a white motorcycle helmet. The good news is that it is much easier to clean than a black motorcycle helmet.
With just a little soap and water, you can get your white motorcycle helmet looking brand new. If your white motorcycle helmet has horrible stains, you may need harsh chemicals.
