Can You Wrap a Motorcycle Helmet?

Vinyl helmet wraps have become mainstream among motorcyclists and racers as they get to turn their helmets into their signature masterpiece. While the helmet performs its core function, that is, protection, the printing vinyl will make it carry your personality as well.

Before and after comparison of a helmet once wrapping is done

So, make your helmet a piece of artistic work instead of being a boring gear, so that you stand out on the road.

Safety Concerns

You may wonder whether vinyl wrapping a helmet can reduce its protective capabilities. So, the good news is that helmet wraps will not compromise safety; instead, they enhance safety in two ways.

First, a vinyl helmet wrap becomes armor for the helmet and protects it from scratches, rock chips, and abrasions. Second, in the event of an impact, the vinyl helps maintain the structural integrity and prevents the shell from breaking apart.

A rider having a helmet wrap matching o the outfit

Ideal Wrapping Conditions

Before adding pizzazz to your lifeless, mundane helmet, you must know if it is even eligible for wrapping or not. A helmet that has worn out and has prominent cracks and scratches on its shell will not give an eye-catching and attractive look upon wrapping.

In fact, among vinyl and painting, even repainting will not work if the helmet is cracked.

The helmet on left has cracks while on right one is smooth.

Your helmet must have a smooth and undamaged surface for the wrap to adhere properly, so that you gain a smooth look; otherwise, the purpose of wrapping will be defeated. That being said, you must also know that the minor scratches and cracking can be concealed with the helmet wrap.

Helmets for Wrapping

Although vinyl wraps can be applied to almost any helmet material, some materials inherently deliver far better wrapping results than others. Therefore, we have listed for you the best helmets that are ideal for wrapping.

Comparison between polycrbonate, fiberglass, and carbon fiber helmets.
  • Polycarbonate Helmets: Since polycarbonate is a thermo-stable material, it does not expand or contract significantly with temperature fluctuations. As a result, the vinyl adhesive remains stable and intact as well.

  • Fiberglass Helmets: Fiberglass helmets are highly durable and feature a surface made of woven fibers and resin. Hence, these helmets provide a perfect, non-porous surface for adhesion of helmet wraps.
  • Carbon Fiber Shell Helmets: These helmets fall under the premium category as they are exceptionally resilient due to a tightly bonded crystalline carbon-filament structure. Hence, these helmets feature a smooth surface that provides an ideal base for strong adhesion.
Carbon Fiber Shell Helmets

Why Should a Helmet Be Wrapped?

You might question the rationale behind wrapping a helmet when painting appears more conventional and familiar. Such scepticism is natural if you are unaware of the pros of wrapping and the lifespan it offers compared to traditional painting.

In the wrapping vs. painting debate, the following factors establish wrapping as the superior choice.

Protection

While paint only works as a layer of color, a vinyl helmet wrap provides a sacrificial layer that protects the helmet against chips, scratches, and UV fading. Hence, a wrap also maintains the helmet’s integrity and provides protection.

Vinyl wrapped helmet is not getting damaged by flyng stones

Cost-Efficiency

The cost of wrapping a helmet is just a fraction of a full-fledged repaint; even if you are commissioning a custom design, the cost still undercuts traditional painting.

  • Full Repaint: The cost of painting ranges somewhere between 500$ to 1000$, depending upon the quality of paint as well as the complexity of design.

  • Vinyl Wrap: The cost of wrapping can top out at around 300$, that too for a professional installation, while the DIY wrap costs much less.
Cost calculation of wrapping a helmet

Removability

Unlike painting, which cannot be undone once done, vinyl helmet wraps can be easily removed with proper tools from the surface by pulling them off. Moreover, the wraps don’t damage the original paint underneath upon peeling.

in a vinyl wrapped helmet, vinyl is beig removed easily

Professional Finish

The final finish of the vinyl wrap is far more appealing to the eyes and put together than that of the paint. Therefore, achieving a superior finish at a lower cost makes vinyl vehicle wraps an undeniably win-win choice for helmets.

Options for Helmet Wrap Customization

When it comes to custom helmet wraps, the choices are multitudinous, and you can choose any of the option that matches your style. In this section, we have put together different customization ideas so that you don’t have to waste time on brainstorming.

Full Helmet Wraps

If you want a complete change in your helmet’s look, then a full wrap is the best option for you. You can further diversify by choosing from different colors and finishes to match your helmet with your racing outfit or bike.

A helmet with  a full wrao with stripes and desing

Partial Wraps & Accent Panels

For adding a subtle flair to your helmet’s look that is not too overwhelming, but also adds an accent to the appearance, the partial wrapping is the right choice. You can opt for racing stripes for that aggressive, sporty look that matches your bike style.

Otherwise, there are also custom printing vinyl available for making a special helmet wrap. You can also use more than one decal, like accessories.

A purple helmet with racing stripes

Custom Graphics & Logo Prints

The best option is designing your own custom graphics for your helmet wrap. It is ideal for racing sponsorships, especially when you have to represent a brand temporarily.

Moreover, custom helmet wrap graphics also come into use for motorcycle clubs that want to build and maintain a distinct identity.

a helmet with customized Carlike Logo

Popular Themed Helmets

Apart from basic color changes or customizing with graphics, you can hop on different trends and accessorize your helmet with a wrap design that is the talk of the town. The following are some of the inspirations that you may take for your helmet revamp project;

Anime Helmet Wraps

Anime fans express their passion for it by weaving their favourite characters into everyday life, and the examples are anime car wraps and anime helmets. An anime helmet wrap brings a cool look with colorful visuals and delivers a funky appearance that makes everyone do a double-take.

Helmets having anime themed wraps are displayed

Carbon Fiber Style

If you want to add a stealthy edge to your biker look, then wrapping your helmet with a carbon fiber vehicle wrap will give off that high-performance vibe. You can even match your helmet and bike by also wrapping the bike with a carbon fiber wrap.

a motocyclist carrying carbon fiber wrapped helmet

Chrome Mirror

Another trendy helmet wrap among the biker community is a chrome mirror wrap, as it feels straight out of a sci-fi or futuristic movie. For bikers who want to look futuristic, while they zoom across the streets on their bikes, chrome wraps are the ideal choice.

A biker wearing chrome mirror helmet wrap

Camouflage Helmet Wraps

For the bikers who want a rough and off-road look, camouflage wraps will deliver exactly the look they are aiming for. These wraps give a military grade impression that looks combat-ready on the racing tracks.

Camouflage Helmet Wrap

Best Vinyl Finishes for Helmet Wraps

In the market, there are a number of finishes available for you to choose from so that you get to bring your customization vision to life. In this section, we’ve penned down a spectrum of finishes and the sort of appearance they provide on custom helmet wraps.

The comparison between different vinyl finishes and their appearance
  • Gloss Wrap: Gloss wrap gives a complete paint-like finish with a shiny appearance, which is an ideal choice for premium helmets, as well as those who like a factory-paint look.

  • Matte and Satin Wrap: The matte and satin wraps offer subdued aesthetics that don’t look too prominent, yet appear eye-catching and attractive.

  • Chrome Wrap: The wraps of chrome finish fall under the premium category and provide a luxurious, show-stopping finish that is high reflectivity.

Branding & Advertising: Using Helmet Wraps for Commercial Use

Since helmet wraps provide full potential for customization, their benefits are far more than just cosmetic enhancement and aesthetics. A number of businesses have been installing commercial design helmet wraps for the purpose of advertisement as well as uniformity in fleets.

A helmet wrapped in an advertisement vinyl wrap

Mobile Billboard: Cooperatives that operate rider fleets, such as ride-hailing services and food-delivery services, wrap the helmets of their riders in company-matching designs.

These custom helmet wraps turn each rider into a moving advertisement for the brand, bringing benefits for branding and identity. The big names in this niche are Uber, FoodPanda, and others.

Motorsports Sponsorship: Different companies that sponsor motorsports also demand that their sponsorship be advertised. So, the bike riders promote their sponsorships through customized vinyl helmet wraps.

Team Coordination: Companies also create uniform helmet wraps so their riders appear instantly recognizable on the road and maintain a clear sense of fleet uniformity.

Conclusion

Helmets wraps are an affordable way to add a wow factor to a rather boring helmet otherwise. However, apart from styling, vinyl helmet wraps serve as a perfect medium for effective advertisement.

Since these wraps can be removed or replaced with ease once a campaign ends or when the design no longer appeals to you, they demand no permanent commitment like paintwork.

Scale Your Vinyl Film Business with CarLike®

CarLike®‘s vinyl films are designed for professional buyers, low MOQs to reduce risk, strict quality control for consistent results, and flexible OEM & ODM services to build your brand. With fast production, reliable global shipping, and responsive 24/7 support, we help you win more projects.

Contact us today for a competitive quote.

FAQs

Q1: Can I wrap any helmet with wraps?

Yes, you can wrap any helmet with vinyl films. In fact, vinyl helmet films are high conformity and can fit on any surface. You have to find the right installer for a premium finish.

Q2: How long does a vinyl wrapping last?

The lifespan of a vinyl film depends on various factors, such as using habits, quality, installation, and much more. However, an average lifespan, if all factors are fulfilled, is around 7 – 8 years.

Q3: What is your MOQ for printing vinyl?

Our standard MOQ is ten rows, but we can accommodate smaller orders to help new customers evaluate our products.

Q4: Do you offer custom sizes and colors?

Yes, we offer various sizes and colors to meet your specific needs. Our team will ensure the printing vinyl matches your requirements.