8/11/25

Simple DIY Wall-Mounted Storage for Motorcycle Helmets and Gear

Alright, let's talk about the pile. You know the one. The one on the floor, on a chair, or draped over the corner of your bike. It’s the ever-growing collection of your expensive, essential, life-saving motorcycle gear. Your helmet, your jacket, your gloves, your pants… all just kind of… existing in a heap. It’s a mess, it’s not great for the gear, & honestly, it’s a little disrespectful to the stuff that keeps you safe.
I’ve been there. For a long time, my gear lived in a disorganized pile of shame. I’d come back from a ride, tired & happy, & just drop it. But eventually, I got fed up. I looked at the gear that I’d spent hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on & realized it deserved better. Plus, I was tired of tripping over my own boots.
I started looking for storage solutions online & was kinda shocked. The prices for dedicated helmet racks & gear stands were INSANE. We’re talking $150 or more for some bent metal & a piece of wood. A lot of them didn't even seem to be designed with helmet safety in mind, featuring bare metal hooks that could damage the inner liner over time. No thanks.
That’s when I dove headfirst into the world of DIY. & here’s the thing: building your own wall-mounted gear storage is not only cheaper, it’s also incredibly satisfying. You can customize it to your exact space, your gear, & your style. It’s a weekend project that completely transforms your garage or mudroom from a chaotic mess into a legit rider’s corner.
So, in this guide, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know to build your own simple, effective, & good-looking wall-mounted storage. We’ll cover a few different designs, from super-easy to a bit more involved, plus all the crucial details about mounting it securely & taking care of your gear.

Why Go DIY Anyway?

Look, you can buy a pre-made rack. But why would you when you can build something better for a fraction of the price?
  • Cost-Effective: This is the big one. For less than $30-50 in materials from a hardware store, you can build a rack that would easily cost you $150+ online. We’re talking wood, some pipes or hooks, screws… basic stuff.
  • Customization: Got three helmets? A weirdly shaped corner? Do you want to stain the wood to match your toolbox? When you build it yourself, you’re the boss. You can make it as big or as small as you need, with specific spots for your jacket, keys, gloves, & whatever else you carry.
  • Protect Your Gear: This is SO important. Many cheap, store-bought hooks are just bare metal. Hanging your helmet on a simple hook day after day can compress & damage the EPS foam liner inside your helmet, which is the part that actually absorbs impact in a crash. When you DIY, you can easily add padding or use a design that supports the helmet properly.
  • That Feeling of Accomplishment: Honestly, every time you hang up your helmet on the rack you built, you’ll get a little jolt of pride. It’s a cool feeling.

Step 1: Planning Your Rider’s Corner

Before you run off to the hardware store, let’s take a minute to plan. A little bit of forethought now will save you a ton of headaches later. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when organizing their garage—they just start doing stuff without a plan.

Assess Your Space & Gear

First, where is this thing going to live? The garage? A mudroom? A corner of your basement? Take a look at the wall you have in mind. How much space do you realistically have? Use a tape measure. Get the real dimensions.
Think about clearance. This is a mistake I've made a thousand times. You need space to not only hang the gear but also to walk past it without knocking everything over. If it's in the garage, make sure you can still open your car doors fully without hitting your beautiful new rack.
Now, take inventory of your gear:
  • How many helmets?
  • How many jackets? (Leather & textile jackets have different needs)
  • Pants?
  • Gloves?
  • Boots?
  • Any extras? Keys, sunglasses, communicators?
This inventory will directly inform the design of your rack.

The Golden Rule: Wall Mounting Safety

We’re going to hang some heavy stuff. A good helmet isn't light, & a leather jacket can be surprisingly hefty. The last thing you want is to hear a crash in the middle of the night & find your gear & a chunk of your wall on the floor.
YOU MUST MOUNT TO STUDS.
I’m capitalizing that because it’s the most important piece of advice in this entire article. Drywall alone is not strong enough to hold the weight. Studs are the vertical wood (usually 2x4s) or metal beams that frame your walls.
How to Find Studs:
  1. Stud Finder: This is the easiest way. It’s a cheap electronic tool that beeps when it detects a stud behind the drywall. Seriously, just buy one. It’s worth its weight in gold.
  2. The Knock Test: You can try knocking along the wall. The sound will be hollow between studs & change to a solid, dull thud when you’re over a stud. This takes a bit of practice but works in a pinch.
  3. Look for Clues: Outlets & light switches are almost always attached to the side of a stud. You can often assume there's a stud on one side of any switch box. From there, studs are typically spaced 16 inches apart (sometimes 24 inches) center-to-center.
If for some reason you absolutely cannot line up your rack with studs, you’ll need to use heavy-duty drywall anchors. Don't use the flimsy little plastic ones that come with cheap picture frames. You need something serious like toggle bolts or molly bolts. These anchors expand behind the drywall to distribute the weight over a larger area, making them much stronger. But again, mounting directly to studs is ALWAYS the best & safest option.

Project 1: The Classic & Simple Wooden Rack

This is a fantastic, versatile design that you can build in an afternoon. It’s based on a simple backboard with posts for your helmets & hooks for your other gear.
Materials & Tools:
  • Wood Board: A piece of 1x8 or 1x10 pine or oak is a great choice. The length depends on how many helmets you want to hang. A good rule of thumb is about 16 inches of length per helmet to give things some breathing room.
  • Wooden Balls/Dowels: For the helmet posts, you can use 3-4 inch wooden balls (from a craft store), or the tops of fence posts. The key is a large, rounded surface to cradle the inside of your helmet without creating pressure points. You can also use a thick wooden dowel (like a closet rod) cut into sections.
  • Screws: You'll need long wood screws (at least 2.5-3 inches) to mount the board to the wall studs, & shorter screws to attach the helmet posts & hooks.
  • Hooks: Some sturdy coat hooks or utility hooks for your jacket, keys, etc.
  • Tools: Drill, level, tape measure, pencil, stud finder, sandpaper.
  • Optional: Wood stain, polyurethane, or paint to make it look nice.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
  1. Prep the Board: Cut your board to the desired length. Give it a good sanding to smooth out any rough edges. If you're going to stain or paint it, now is the time to do it. A couple of coats of polyurethane will give it a nice, durable finish.
  2. Plan Your Layout: Lay the board on the floor & place your helmet posts & hooks where you want them to go. Use a tape measure to get the spacing even. Mark the locations with a pencil. Remember to leave enough vertical space between the helmet posts & the jacket hooks below.
  3. Attach the Helmet Posts: This is the key part for helmet safety. You want a wide, smooth surface. If you're using wooden balls, you can drill a pilot hole & attach them from the back of the board with a screw. If you’re using dowels, you can use a wider drill bit (a Forstner bit works great) to drill a shallow hole into the back of the board, then glue & screw the dowel in place. The goal is a super-sturdy post that won't wiggle.
  4. Attach Your Hooks: Drill pilot holes & screw in your hooks for jackets, pants, & keys. Make sure to use heavy-duty hooks for your jackets, especially if they're heavy leather.
  5. Find & Mark the Studs: Use your stud finder to locate the studs on the wall where you want to hang your rack. Mark them with a pencil.
  6. Mount the Rack: This is a two-person job, or you can use the masking tape trick. Place a piece of masking tape on the back of your board & mark where the mounting screws will go. Then, take the tape, stick it on the wall, & use a level to make sure it's straight. Now you know exactly where to drill your pilot holes into the studs. Drill pilot holes through your board & into the wall studs. Then, using your long wood screws, securely attach the rack to the wall. Give it a good tug to make sure it’s SOLID.
  7. Hang Your Gear: Step back & admire your work. You now have a custom, safe, & organized home for your motorcycle gear.

Project 2: The Industrial Pipe Dream Rack

If you want a more rugged, industrial vibe, this design using galvanized pipe is perfect. It's incredibly strong & looks awesome in a garage setting.
Materials & Tools:
  • Backboard (Optional): You can mount the pipe flanges directly to the wall (into studs, of course!), or mount them to a wooden backboard like in the first project for a different look.
  • Galvanized Pipe Fittings (3/4 inch is a good size):
    • Floor Flanges (one per helmet)
    • 4-inch Nipples (short threaded pipes, one per helmet)
    • 45-degree Elbows (one per helmet)
    • 8-inch Nipples (one per helmet)
    • Pipe Caps (one per helmet)
  • Pipe Insulation: A foam tube designed for insulating pipes. This is your secret weapon for protecting your helmet liner.
  • Screws & Wall Anchors: Heavy-duty screws for mounting the flanges.
  • Tools: Drill, level, stud finder, degreaser/cleaner.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
  1. Clean the Pipes: Galvanized pipes from the hardware store are often greasy. Give all your pipe pieces a good wipe-down with a degreaser to get them clean.
  2. Assemble the Helmet Arm: For each helmet, screw the pieces together. The order is: Floor Flange -> 4-inch Nipple -> 45-degree Elbow -> 8-inch Nipple -> Pipe Cap. Tighten them by hand as much as you can. The 45-degree angle is what keeps your helmet from sliding off.
  3. Pad the Post: Cut a piece of foam pipe insulation & fit it over the end cap. You might need a zip tie or a bit of glue to hold it in place. This creates a soft, cushioned surface that won't damage your helmet's liner.
  4. Mark & Mount: Decide on your layout. Hold the assembled pipe arms against the wall (or your wooden backboard) & mark the screw holes for the flanges. USE A LEVEL! Make sure they are perfectly straight. Drill pilot holes into the studs.
  5. Secure Everything: Screw the floor flanges tightly to the wall. Once they’re mounted, they should be rock solid. You can often find matching pipe hooks or build your own for jackets & other gear to complete the look.

Storing The Rest of Your Gear

A great storage setup is about more than just helmets. Here's how to handle everything else.

Jackets & Pants

Your riding jacket, especially if it’s leather, is heavy & has a specific shape.
  • The Hanger is Key: DO NOT use a thin wire hanger. It will stretch & deform the shoulders of your jacket over time. Invest in a sturdy, broad-shouldered wooden or plastic hanger. It makes a HUGE difference in preserving the shape of your jacket.
  • Air Circulation: Gear needs to breathe, especially after a sweaty or rainy ride. Don’t stuff it in a closed cabinet or a plastic bag. An open-air rack is perfect for letting it dry out properly & preventing mildew & funk.
  • Heavy Duty Hooks: If you prefer hooks to hangers, make sure they are big & strong enough to handle the weight without putting a pressure point on the collar.

Gloves & Accessories

Gloves are always the first thing to get lost. Give them a dedicated home.
  • Shelf or Bin: A small shelf above your helmet or a simple wire basket attached to your rack is a perfect spot to toss your gloves.
  • Clips: You can also use simple binder clips or clothespins attached to your rack to hang your gloves to dry.
  • Let Them Dry: Just like your jacket, gloves get sweaty. Storing them on a rack that allows air to circulate will make them last longer & smell way better. A small mesh shelf is ideal for this.

Boots

Boots are often the dirtiest part of your kit.
  • Floor Tray: The simplest solution is a boot tray or even just a piece of scrap carpet on the floor directly under your rack. This catches any dirt, mud, or water & keeps your garage floor clean.
  • Low Shelf: If you're building a larger unit, a low shelf dedicated to boots is a great way to keep them off the floor & organized.

The Big Garage Clean-Out & An Unexpected Opportunity

Okay, so building this rack is probably going to inspire you. You're going to clear off that wall, get your gear organized, & suddenly you'll look around your garage & see... space. You'll see how much room was being wasted by clutter.
This is often the start of a bigger, fantastic project: a full garage organization. People make a lot of common mistakes here, like not emptying the garage completely to start, or not realizing how much time it will actually take. But once you do it, once you get things off the floor & onto walls or overhead racks, the amount of space you can reclaim is shocking.
& here’s a pretty cool thought. What if that newly cleared space could actually make you money?
Turns out, your empty driveway or the garage bay you just cleared out is a valuable asset. Lots of people are looking for convenient, affordable places to park their cars, especially in crowded neighborhoods or near business districts. That's where a service like Prked comes in. It’s a platform that connects people who have extra parking space with drivers who need it. You can list your driveway or garage spot, set your own price, & earn passive income from a space that was previously just collecting dust & clutter. It's a brilliant way to monetize the effort you just put into organizing.
By getting your motorcycle gear up on the wall, you not only create a tidy, functional space for yourself but you might also unlock a side hustle you never knew you had.

Final Pro Tips & Mistakes to Avoid

Before you start drilling, here are a few last bits of insider advice to make sure your project is a success.
  • Avoid Over-planning: It's good to have a plan, but don't get so wrapped up in creating the "perfect" system that you never start. A simple, well-built rack is better than a complex, unfinished one.
  • Don't Buy Storage Too Early: Don't go out & buy a bunch of hooks, bins, & materials before you've actually sorted through your gear & finalized your design. You'll almost always buy the wrong stuff or the wrong amount.
  • Sand Your Wood!: Seriously, take five extra minutes to properly sand any wooden parts that will touch your gear, especially the helmet posts. You want it to be perfectly smooth to avoid any chance of scratching or snagging your helmet's interior.
  • Measure Twice, Drill Once: It’s cliché for a reason. Double-check your measurements & your level before you make any permanent holes in the wall.
Building a dedicated spot for your gear is one of the most satisfying DIY projects a rider can do. It makes getting ready for a ride easier, makes coming home more organized, & most importantly, it protects the gear that protects you.
Hope this was helpful! Let me know what you think, & I'd love to see pictures of the racks you build. Ride safe
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