Vintage Racing Custom Helmet Painting

Vintage Racing Custom Helmet Painting

Vintage Racing custom helmet painting a special project for Cyclehutt of Sturgis, who requested a design with a strong retro helmet painting theme, was actually pretty fun. They wanted something that would feel like a bow to the past while maintaining a modern touch, so we aimed to create the perfect throwback custom painted helmet. The result was a stunning piece of art that blended vintage style with current technology, turning a Shoei RF1200 full-face helmet into an old school trophy.

We started with a black base, which set the tone for the entire design to be honest… With helmet airbrushing, we added smoky, realistic flames for a fast moving filler around the main themed elements. This detail gave the helmet an edgy, yet updated look. The flames seamlessly framed the focused murals that became the heart beat of the design—a black-and-white depiction of an old-school flat tracker and a vintage racer. These wimages was inspired by the golden age of motorcycles, when men were f*ckin men, and not doctors and lawyers trailering their big baggage handlers to South Dakota in August. All bringing the spirit of the past to life on a modern helmet.  I thought of Norm Tietz the entire time painting this lid.  One of the hardest Veterans I ever knew.

To enhance the custom painted retro helmet theme, we incorporated offset rally stripes, which added a sense of vintage auto and flat track speed. These stripes paired perfectly with the Vintage Sturgis logos, creating a design that felt both nostalgic and authentic. All the elements, as always, were carefully sized and placed to give the helmet a well laid out custom painted old school helmet vibe while still showcasing the sleek lines of the newer Shoei RF1200 model.

The custom helmet airbrushing process as always, requires attention to detail to achieve the desired finished piece. The realistic flames needed to look dynamic and alive, while the black-and-white mural demanded precision to capture the emotion and movement of vintage racing scenes. Although the camera does no justice, once again, to this paintwork, as the camera flash and lighting throws off the highlights and lowlights of the shading, and you really need to see it in your hands to appreciate, the combination of these elements ensured that the helmet would stand out as a shelf trophy. The result was not just a helmet—it was a tribute to the history of vintage motorcycle racing, and the true men that did what no one else does anymore.

This project demonstrated how custom painted helmets can bring a specific person’s idea and unique vision to life. The design captured the essence of vintage racing, vintage custom painted helmets, and the men who did it, while still on a comfortable modern full-face helmet. This custom painted street bike helmet was a throwback that the city of Sturgis will appreciate behind trophy glass.

Tammy and Justin at Cyclehutt loved the final product, the old-school theme. The helmet embodied everything they had envisioned for a custom vintage racing helmet, making it an ideal addition to their collection. For us, this project was a reminder of how rewarding custom helmet painting can be when painting something special for the men who laid the brick road for all of us young puss flaps.