Retro or Vintage style full face helmets?

Grendel-The-Cat · Post by **Grendel-The-Cat** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:45 pm

Hello! I'm searching for a vintage looking full face helmet. I have posted, googled, and binged to no avail, I can't believe that with all the scooters and vintage bike lovers out there that there are no non-cyborg looking options for us! Can anyone offer some suggestions?

(DOT approved please!)

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:41 pm

Vintage full-face helmets? Full-face motorcycle helmets for street use are a relatively recent development. During the heyday of "vintage" scooters, helmet use on the street was relatively rare... and those who wore one likely wore a half or 3/4 open-face.

I know of no alternatives to the cyborg look for FF.

jasondavis48108 · Post by **jasondavis48108** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:57 pm

This is the only "retro" FF I'm aware of

http://www.bellracing.info/starclassic.php

personlaly I think thier ugly as hell but somebody has to be buying them.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:12 am

How badly do you want one?

Roof LeMans (not DOT, must be purchased from overseas): about $450+ USD

Bell M5X LeMans (also not DOT, must be purchased from overseas): about $550+ USD

Bell Star: $550

This one is probably closest to the "classic" '60s Bell Star look:
Suomy Vandal: $423

Sparx S-07 Stryder: $120

Scorpion EXO 750 Vintage: $240

HJC IS-MAX (modular): $180

Bell Arrow: $100

You can get vintage NOS Bell and Buco helmets various places online, but they're almost always sold as "collectibles, not for road use." They often have deteriorated linings and padding and, really, weren't intended for use after a few decades of sitting in a warehouse somewhere.

The Bell Star Classic, BTW, is for car racing! Not DOT for motorcycle use.

MOD MIKE · Post by **MOD MIKE** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:30 am

I got mine on ebay, 1000's of them. I found just the ones I wanted at the right price. Vintage is big, everybody wants a "look" to go with their scoot.

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:22 am

Maybe -- as an old guy -- my perspective is a bit different from the rest of you, but none of those look very "vintage" to me. They all look to me like something you'd see on a cyborg.

I doubt if any of them were much worn by scooterists in the '60s, '70s or '80s and would look out of place if you were trying to project an image compatible with a Stella.

My idea of a vintage helmet is something like this:

or this:

Post by **ericalm** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:01 am

Silver Streak wrote:They all look to me like something you'd see on a cyborg.

The Six Million Dollar Man, maybe? Vintage cyborg!

I agree, many of those above aren't very retro; some are just because of the stripes or graphics.

When I think of vintage full face, it's the old, dome-shaped cosmonaut-looking lids like these or the ones below.

I don't think full face helmets were at all popular for casual street riders until the mid-late '70s. Even racers were still wearing 3/4 helmets in the early '70s; Evel Knievel was wearing open-face crash helmets into the '80s. Over time, helmet makers seems to learn that the dome wasn't the best shape for aerodynamics, comfort or protection. This is probably a big reason we don't see many faithful retro FF helmets made for actual use when riding.

1978

1979

1974

Grendel-The-Cat · Post by **Grendel-The-Cat** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 12:39 am

Thanks for the links! I did buy an awesome looking Shoei on ebay a few months back (looked like the Bell, very smooth) I had asked the seller when the helmet was manufactured and he told me 2007. The helmet arrived and the fact that the chin strap was flaking apart was my first clue something was amiss, I looked under the foam and it said '1983'. Needless to say I was not happy that the helmet could legally drink.

I'm really puzzled that there dosent seem to be many simple looking helmets out there, I just want something smooth shaped and safe!

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:44 am

Grendel-The-Cat wrote:I'm really puzzled that there dosent seem to be many simple looking helmets out there, I just want something smooth shaped and safe!

Comfort has kind of trumped this in most cases. Even simple helmets have venting, ratcheted visors and other features that make the helmets less simple. I wonder how many of those helmets from the '70s would pass DOT now?

easy · Post by **easy** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 2:26 am

full face with no vents would suck and just think what would 1 weigh. The lastest Scoot mag has review for a bell drifter helmet that I might get if I can snick it by the boss lady

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:37 pm

easy wrote:full face with no vents would suck and just think what would 1 weigh. The lastest Scoot mag has review for a bell drifter helmet that I might get if I can snick it by the boss lady

I'm glad you mentioined this because the drifter is one of the helmets I've been looking at; do you recall which one(s) were said to be the best? I like the simple look of these half helmets and it will look nice with my Stella when I finally get it.

This looks pretty cool also.

If I get a cream Stella I'm think about getting something like this.

http://heckyesproductions.com/bellsport ... 20pmz.html

craho · Post by **craho** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:25 am

Speaking of Helmets...
I am looking at the Nolan N20 or N30, half helmet, fighter pilot style.

Anyone have any experience with either of these helmets?

thanks.

Post by **ericalm** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 4:37 am

craho wrote:Speaking of Helmets...
I am looking at the Nolan N20 or N30, half helmet, fighter pilot style.

Anyone have any experience with either of these helmets?

thanks.

Yup. Good lids as far as 3/4 helmets go. I used to wear an N40 and my wife has the N30.

Dabears · Post by **Dabears** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:11 am

I have the Nolan N30 as well, it's a very nice helmet. That said, I find myself feeling vulnerable when I wear it. If I'm going more than a couple miles I usually take my N102....

craho · Post by **craho** » Sun Mar 20, 2011 10:00 pm

Ive got a modular HJC that I really like, but I am afraid may be unbearable in the Alabama summer heat. So, the Nolan would be a summer helmet with the flip-up getting winter and long ride with few stoplight duty.

thanks for the $.02

Mulliganal · Post by **Mulliganal** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:27 pm

craho wrote:Ive got a modular HJC that I really like, but I am afraid may be unbearable in the Alabama summer heat. So, the Nolan would be a summer helmet with the flip-up getting winter and long ride with few stoplight duty.

thanks for the $.02

I'll be dealing with the same heat issues here in Atlanta so I finally decided to get the Nolan N30. Competition Accessories had a close out on them so I picked one up there. I wish they had a brighter color though but I'll deal with the black and cream.

craho · Post by **craho** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 2:27 am

Mulliganal wrote:
craho wrote:Ive got a modular HJC that I really like, but I am afraid may be unbearable in the Alabama summer heat. So, the Nolan would be a summer helmet with the flip-up getting winter and long ride with few stoplight duty.

thanks for the $.02
I'll be dealing with the same heat issues here in Atlanta so I finally decided to get the Nolan N30. Competition Accessories had a close out on them so I picked one up there. I wish they had a brighter color though but I'll deal with the black and cream.

Thanks I think I am going to get an n20 from Dennis Kirk online. I dont have a good shop here in Mobile, so, internet is where its at for me. But, they are about $130 right now, which is pretty good for that helmet. There are a bunch of colors too. I am tempted to get a red one, but I think white will win out.

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 2:55 pm

Silver Streak wrote:Vintage full-face helmets? Full-face motorcycle helmets for street use are a relatively recent development.

Au contraire! I was wearing a full-face Bell helmet when I was roadracing in the 70's. Wasn't pretty, and the faceshield snapped on, but there it was...

--Keys

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 3:31 pm

Yep, the older-still Bell Star (early '70s) looked almost cylindrical, felt like it weighed 10 pounds, and made you look like Yuri Gagarin, but it was the best thing on the road back then. All my road/cafe racer friends wore 'em on their Z1s, Norton/Rickmans, etc.

DirtyRAT · Post by **DirtyRAT** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:32 am

I realize I am coming to this thread late, if not 'dead', but I am also weighing helmet styles and such.

I tried on one of these yesterday:

http://www.nexx-usa.com/Scripts/prodVie ... oduct=1732

Very good fit, no vents, and made my head look like an orange on a toothpick, and super stylish in a retro kind of way.

If I were in a hot city all the time, I'd consider this one:

http://www.nexx-usa.com/Scripts/prodVie ... oduct=1715

This one is a nice blend of retro, and modern:

http://www.nexx-usa.com/Scripts/prodVie ... oduct=1722

Post by **ericalm** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 6:04 am

I think it's weird when a company makes something they intend to be vintage-styled but then also name it "Vintage."

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:52 pm

Silver Streak wrote:Vintage full-face helmets? Full-face motorcycle helmets for street use are a relatively recent development. During the heyday of "vintage" scooters, helmet use on the street was relatively rare... and those who wore one likely wore a half or 3/4 open-face.

Actually I wore a Bell full face helmet in the late 60s while riding motorcycles (granted, that I wore a 3/4 when riding a Honda Cub). If you call that era vintage though, the helmet was just plain white. After all, you can still buy full face (or even modular) helmets in white and add whatever retro looking stripes or shapes you like in precut vinyl.

Silver Streak · Post by **Silver Streak** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 5:38 pm

Dooglas wrote:
Silver Streak wrote:Vintage full-face helmets? Full-face motorcycle helmets for street use are a relatively recent development. During the heyday of "vintage" scooters, helmet use on the street was relatively rare... and those who wore one likely wore a half or 3/4 open-face.
Actually I wore a Bell full face helmet in the late 60s while riding motorcycles (granted, that I wore a 3/4 when riding a Honda Cub). If you call that era vintage though, the helmet was just plain white. After all, you can still buy full face (or even modular) helmets in white and add whatever retro looking stripes or shapes you like in precut vinyl.

Based on my recollection of the '60s in Pittsburgh, PA, you would have been very much the exception!

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 6:30 pm

Silver Streak wrote:Based on my recollection of the '60s in Pittsburgh, PA, you would have been very much the exception!

Well, this was Boston in the mid 60s. And it looked pretty good along with a Honda Superhawk, in my humble opinion.

DirtyRAT · Post by **DirtyRAT** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 3:40 am

ericalm wrote:I think it's weird when a company makes something they intend to be vintage-styled but then also name it "Vintage."

Agreed. Nexx force feeding the 'Vintage' logo/styling is tantamount to calling the average buyer a dumbass who cannot discern the stylistic differences in helmet evolution.

More likely, some non-english speaking director at Nexx decided that plastering 'Vintage' on a helmet was as cool, in 'director's opinion' as t-shirt designers selling shirts to Japanese youth that say stuff like, "Rock and Roll!"

jscootin · Post by **jscootin** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:36 pm

Grendel-The-Cat wrote: I'm really puzzled that there dosent seem to be many simple looking helmets out there, I just want something smooth shaped and safe!

Agreed! I don't want one that makes me look like i'm in a crotch rocket race! if only they had some smooth shaped helmets in some better colors. I'll I see is white, black, silver, royal blue, and red. How about some nice teal or tan colored helmets? Just something that looks a little more old school, like the color of my buddy!

SockyTX · Post by **SockyTX** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 6:57 pm

My wife and I rock these HCI 15 helmets. They are 3/4 not full face but have a good look and coverage.
My wife is pretty small and doesn't feel like a bobble-head doll when wearing it.

http://www.electrikgear.com/HCI_15_Open ... 15-600.htm

mr bill · Post by **mr bill** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 4:49 am

You might like these
http://www.helmetshop.de/en/integral-Fu ... EGRAL.html
looks like a neat helmet.

jason · Post by **jason** » Fri Jan 11, 2013 6:45 pm

mr bill wrote:You might like these
http://www.helmetshop.de/en/integral-Fu ... EGRAL.html
looks like a neat helmet.

That's awesome! It looks like a lego space helmet!

[/img]

misterbrackets · Post by **misterbrackets** » Fri Jun 28, 2013 3:30 am

'Gringo' Full Face helmets by Biltwell!
http://www.biltwellinc.com/index.php?l= ... _list&c=84

Modern Buddy

Retro or Vintage style full face helmets?

Retro or Vintage style full face helmets?

Thanks everyone!

Re: Thanks everyone!

Re: Thanks everyone!