Vintage Motorcycle Helmets

U-haul Rental Helmet,Bell Moto 4

2011-10-10T00:01:00.000-07:00

I did not know that at one time U-Haul rented helmets, I have never seen

one. I am going to assume they rented ATV's and the helmet rental was a natural extension. I have one...... that is all I need. It is interesting though.

Yellow Bell Moto 3/Moto-X Fox Stickers/Hannah Lightning Bolts

2011-10-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

This vintage Moto 3 has everything I look for in an old helmet. The visor and stickers are period correct. The Hannah style lightning bolts are great.

My Z1R Dirt Bike Helmet~ Landed On My Head!

2011-07-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Being libertarian I have no desire to tell anyone what they should and shouldn't do. Don't like seat belt or helmet laws, nanny state crap. With that said.....................

Two weeks ago I was racing my 1974 Suzuki TM100 in the Marty Tripes 100cc revenge race at Glen Helen. Dicing with my racing buddies,having a good time. Old small motorcycle,couldn't bite too hard, right? Wrong. I made a mistake and unloaded hard on my head. It was second gear and probably no more than 15-18 mph. The track is sandy,no gravel or rocks.

Even though the scratches on the helmet do not look to bad, this hat is toast, it's one useful event has been used up. This crash "rang my bell" hard enough for my eyes not to be able to focus properly for ten minutes or so. I did not lose consciousness. The purpose of this blog is a pictorial account of my helmet collection,not about me .I am not preaching here, choose wisely and be prepared to live with your choice

Captain America Stars And Stripes Vintage Motorcycle Helmet

2011-07-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows the origin of this helmet design. Captain America,Stars and Stripes,Flag helmet. I have heard it called many names but you always think of the movie when you see one. I had one when I was 10 years old and riding my Taco minibike. Seems appropriate to post it on the 4th of July.

Vintage Full Face MX Helmet

2011-07-03T15:43:00.000-07:00

My friend Rich Yelkin was at the Scott Burnworth Socal vintage classic race at Barona a couple of weeks ago. He is doing well and he brought me another helmet, god bless'em! No tags, appears to be early eighties construction. Dark metallic blue with a visor.....Thanks Rich!

Classic 1980's Arai Superbike Helmet

2011-06-25T00:06:00.000-07:00

This is a classic Arai full coverage from the early 80's. This color scheme
was popular with alot of American Superbike racers of the period. This one is in pretty good shape. I am happy to have such a nice example.

1970's Japanese KUNOH Motorcycle Helmet

2011-06-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

This is a plain vanilla helmet. The only thing interesting to me is the brand. It is a Kunoh,it is the only one I have.Japanese made, the shell is polycarbonate and the interior lining is lower quality.

Very Small Vintage Childs Motorcycle Helmet

2011-06-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

This is the smallest functional motorcycle helmet I have ever seen. It is a childs size small, who would make that?
There are no markings other than a z 90.1 tag on the inside.

It looks to me to be early 70's Japanese construction. The shell is fiberglass and the trim is nice wide rubber. It is well made.

I have included an image of the hat along side an adult size large helmet for comparison.

Red Metalflake Arthur Fulmer AF20

2011-06-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

Everybody wants an Arthur Fulmer AF20. This one is rough inside. That doesn't matter to me since it hangs upside down in my garage.

Black Bell Moto 3 With Visor

2011-06-05T16:31:00.000-07:00

A couple of months back I picked up this vintage Bell Moto 3. I was riding one of my vintage bikes at an ARX (good club) event at the Glen Helen REM Track. The announcer said he was selling some items one of which was an old Moto 3 helmet. I bit,$10 later the hat was in my truck. As you can see it has a history (bumps and bruises) but that is alright.

Personalized Metalflake Motorcycle Helmet

2011-04-11T14:58:00.000-07:00

I have been doing other things and have not had the time to post any images of my helmets. Now I have time, this helmet is great. I do not know what the make of this hat is and I don't care, The red metalflake and shooting stars are cool. The custom painted name and Yamaha tuning fork are even better! This is the type of helmet I like adding to my collection,it had a life before ending up in my rafters.

Grant Full Coverage Helmet With Bubble Shield

2011-02-21T13:11:00.000-08:00

This is a full coverage Grant with a bubble flip shield. It is not marked,all the stickers have fallen off or been removed. It is identical to another Grant I have. The shield gives it a space helmet look.

Early Bell Star Motorcycle Helmet Pre 120

2011-02-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

This is an early model Bell Star helmet. The opening is less than 120 degrees.It is a nice example, the amber flip shield really gives it the right look.It is not dated.

1977 Hondaline Stag Motorcycle Helmet

2011-02-10T11:09:00.000-08:00

This is a 1977 Hondaline Stag helmet. As you can see it is really a Shoei. The condition is not very good but I do like the reflective Honda graphics.

Old Romer Motorcycle Helmet 1950's Era

2011-02-09T16:44:00.000-08:00

This is an old Romer helmet that dates back to the 50's. I am sure the paint job is a more recent addition. No idea what the Japanese caricature means.

There is a story behind this hat......I had an original but unrestored Moto One BMX bike. A guy wanted the Moto One but I was not interested in selling, it had been picked up on the cheap! He knew I collected helmets so he scoured the swap meets around Los Angeles until he found this. So for a little bit of cash and this helmet, he is the proud owner of the Moto One. Both of us are pleased.

This is a great hat that any of the current Cafe Racer/Ton Up types would love to have.

Vintage Arai H A 3/4 Motorcycle Helmet

2011-01-30T03:16:00.000-08:00

This is an old Arai,back then they were called H A. Arais have always built quality and that is evident when looking at this hat, 40 years old and has stood the test of time. Arai should do some retro model with the H A logo. The original owner of this helmet was a vodka drinker no doubt. That is not a sticker on the front of the helmet, it is a Smirnoff cloth patch that has been glued on!

The diamond chain stitching on the trim is great. I have a couple of these old H.A's and I admire the commitment to quality every time I handle one.

Vintage Arthur Fulmer AF40 Eagle Motorcycle Helmet

2011-01-29T02:07:00.000-08:00

This is a burgundy colored Fulmer AF40 Eagle. It is not in the best of shape.

Old Childs Motorcycle Helmet

2011-01-28T14:57:00.000-08:00

No makers tag or other identifying marks on this one. Colorful graphics and I got it on the cheap!

Early 70's Vintage Harley Davidson Motorcycle Helmet

2011-01-20T13:44:00.000-08:00

Here is an Early 70's Harley Davidson helmet. The stars and stripes number one is a dead giveaway to the AMF period. The smoke colored shield has warped over the years but that is okay, I don't think this hat is going to see anymore action. As I have said in past posts, I keep the helmets in as found condition, giving them only a cleaning before hanging them.

Vintage Vetter Fiber 200 Motorcycle Helmet

2011-01-19T13:51:00.000-08:00

Vintage Vetter Fiber 200. That reads like a tongue twister and sounds like a cereal for Grandma. This is a nice example of a Vetter helmet, I believe these were made by Bell so that explains the quality. It has a fiberglass shell and the lining is a terry cloth like fabric that is comfortable. The graphics are nice looking, overall a nice moto hat!

Vintage 1960's Japanese Motorcycle Helmet

2011-01-18T12:37:00.000-08:00

This is an older Japanese helmet that has no makers tag on it. I sold one a few years back that was identical to this one,it was a Shoei. As you can see the side and bottom of the helmet are wide. It does have ear/side flaps that would cover you from the elements.

Vintage Electro 1 Pro Series Motorcycle Helmet

2011-01-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

Electro helmets were good quality and popular in the 70's and 80's.
This is a nice example.

Vintage JT ALS-2 Motocross Helmet

2010-12-15T15:11:00.000-08:00

This is a French made JT ALS-2 motocross helmet. They are fairly rare and difficult to come by. This is the only one I have in my collection of almost 200 helmets.

John van de Berk Bieffe Motocross Helmet

2010-12-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

Bieffe made a series of signature replica helmets for both Motocross and Road Racing. This one is a John van de Berk Motocross helmet that has a 91 build date on it. Classic early 90's stuff.

Bieffe 3/4 Dirt Bike Helmet

2010-12-14T15:21:00.000-08:00

This vintage Bieffe dirt bike helmet is dated 92. It is a 3/4 type helmet with a removable face gaurd. Bieffe put nice looking graphics on their hats.

Hustler 200/ Bieffe Motorcycle Helmet

2010-12-12T07:08:00.001-08:00

This helmet has both Hustler and Bieffe markings on it. There is no doubt about the Bieffe origins as that is marked on the shell. Perhaps the Hustler distributor outsourced production to Bieffe towards the end. Sounds about par for the course here in the U.S.A.

Vintage Red Metal Flake SS Champion Motorcycle Helmet

2010-12-12T07:01:00.000-08:00

This is a nice old Champion brand fiberglass helmet. Big thanks to
the original owner for not removing the stickers.

Custom Painted Bell Moto 4 Dirt Bike Helmet

2010-11-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

I like this helmet. It is a Bell Moto 4 that has a Snell 85 rating, probably a late 80's helmet.
The custom paint job is cool in my book. It was done by an amateur but that makes it even better......the owner was not afraid to stand apart and did not feel the need to have a professional help him do so! The checkered theme is good, blue makes it better than standard black and white.

Old Rat Bell R-T Motorcycle Helmet

2010-11-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

Not much to comment on here, just an early Bell R-T that has developed into a rat over the years.

Vintage Full Coverage Simpson Motorcycle Helmet

2010-11-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

Fairly clean example of a full coverage Simpson. These did not have the cool factor of the Bandit model.

Vintage Motorcycle Crash Helmet

2010-11-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yet another late 70's plastic (I like fiberglass) motorcycle helmet. High gloss finish but no interesting features.

Vintage Ampro Motorcycle Helmet With Period Stickers

2010-11-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

This is an Ampro 3/4 helmet...typical lower end hat from the late 70's early 80's. I do like the period stickers. As I have said in earlier posts I go out of my way to preserve the stickers.

Old Blue Motorcycle Crash Helmet

2010-11-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is an older American made fiberglass helmet. The original makers label is long gone. Nothing special about it, been repainted blue. I do like the shield.

Vintage Crown C-1 Sovereign MkIII Metal Flake Motorcycle Helmet

2010-09-28T15:14:00.000-07:00

Crown C-1 Sovereign MkIII...that's a heck of a name for a motorcycle helmet! I really like this one. To start with the shape is right out of the Jetsons, looks space age. Next is the finish, red metal flake is always good. It has a competition stripe and that alone will get me to buy an old helmet. The really cool thing about this helmet is the badges on the sides......with crossed checkered flags no less. All this adds up to a great moto hat out of the past.

Old Full Coverage Vetter Bell Helmet

2010-09-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

Bell Helmets made helmets for the Craig Vetter company. What could be better than a Windjammer fairing on your Honda 750 and a Vetter skid lid on you head. Good times.

Hondaline Hawk Motorcycle Helmet By Shoei

2010-09-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

This is a very clean Hondaline Hawk full coverage helmet. They were made for Honda by Shoei. This helmet is from the late 70's.....great condition for its age. As you can see the original owner personalized it, good stuff.

Rough Condition Bell 500tx

2010-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

The title says it all....... this is a rough condition Bell 500tx. It was hidden way up in the rafters, I'd forgot it was there. A new paint job would bring it back to life.....but I'm afraid it aint gonna happen.

Black LSI Motorcycle Helmet With Competition Stripe

2010-09-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

This is a vintage black LSI motorcycle helmet. I like the competition stripe, it dates the helmet and gives it a bobber /rat bike style.

2 Vintage Metal Flake Motorcycle Helmets

2010-09-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 old metal flake helmets. The blue helmet is a Max brand that was made by LSI in Kansas. The red helmet has had all markings removed. I suspect it is an LSI also because of like construction, the exception being the trim. Common helmets in the late seventies early eighties.

Vintage Italian MPA Full Coverage Motorcycle Helmet

2010-08-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

Try as I might I could not find a build date on this hat. Looks mid to late eighties to me. Polycarbonate shell, made in Italy. It is the only MPA helmet that I have.

Griffin R2 Motorcycle Crash Helmet Vintage Canadian

2010-08-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

This is a Griffin motorcycle helmet. I like the graphics and it was made in Canada so it is interesting to me.

Vintage Mid Eighties Shoei Full Coverage Motorcycle Helmet

2010-08-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is a run of the mill eighties Shoei motorcycle helmet. It is clean but lacking graphics or interesting design.

Vintage Harley Davidson Fastback Motorcycle Crash Helmet

2010-07-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a cool old lid. It's a Harley Davidson motorcycle helmet from the late 60's early 70's. It looks to have been styled to go along with the Boat tail models Harley had at the time. While the style missed then,an original today is a collectors item. The helmet is a Fastback model. The construction is fiberglass, the trim is leather. Now if I ever happen on a Boat tail Sportster,I have the hat to go with it!

Vintage Orange Metalflake Hustler 400 Motorcycle Helmet

2010-07-11T11:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (7/10/10) I was at the CalVMX club vintage motocross race at Borona,California. Rich (coon scratch) Yelkin, a friend and fellow club member walked up and handed me this helmet,WOW! It is a Hustler 400 made by American Sports. The build date is 74 and the period stickers on the visor are great.

A couple of months back Rich had mentioned he had his Fathers original Open Face Bell helmet, probably a 500tx. I told him I would like to take a few images of it to post on the blog, he said he would dig it out when time permitted. Rich must have got to this one first and thought about our earlier helmet discussion. What a generous gift. Thanks Rich, it was good to see you out at the track.

Rich was seriously injured recently. Best wishes and a speedy recovery to you Rich. Thanks again for the great vintage motorcycle crash helmet.

1975 Hondaline Hawk Vintage Full Coverage Motorcycle Helmet

2010-07-07T13:58:00.000-07:00

This helmet is in really nice condition for its age. It is a Hondaline Hawk model full coverage. This helmet has a build date of 1975. The American Sports company produced the Hondaline helmets for Honda.

Vintage Ski-Doo Snow Machine/Motorcycle Helmet

2010-07-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

I like everything about this helmet. The color/graphics look good, it is in decent shape and it is a crossover. It was for snow machines or motorcycles, take your pick! Interesting hat.

Unicorn Paint Job Motorcycle Helmet

2010-07-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Nothing vintage or special about this hat other than someone taking the time to personalize it. It's just an inexpensive modern helmet. I am going to assume it belonged to a woman. I am really begining to appreciate the oddball paint jobs. Unique.

Vintage Full Coverage Motocross Helmet

2010-06-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

I can find no markings on this old FC MX helmet other than the build date of 1981. Looks like a Hondline to me. The visor is a Bell with a really cool Honda/JT Racing visor sticker. Good stuff.

Not So Vintage Simpson Replica Helmet

2010-06-05T18:56:00.000-07:00

This is a replica helmet and I don't care for it much . It is colorful, shaped like a helmet and has the Simpson name on it but......it's not real. I think it is a copy of some Nascar/ Lenox sponsored team helmet but I can not say for sure. I got it cheap (that's the only thing it has going for it! ) and it was hanging in the rafters so it was time to take some images and document it. There is no chin strap, just the solid strap you see in the image. I suppose they did not want someone using it as a real helmet.

Custom Personalized American Sports Chopper Helmet

2010-05-19T16:08:00.000-07:00

When I began collecting vintage motorcycle helmets I wanted perfect Bell 500tx's and Metal flake Arthur Fulmers........ not so now. I want uniqueness and this custom personalized American Sports helmet fits that description. I like the amatuer look of it. Eights and Aces and winged skulls, great stuff.

Old School Two Tone Metalflake Motorcycle Helmet

2010-05-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

Blue and silver metal flake shell still looks good. The interior/liner is in rough shape. It doesn't matter because you can't see the inside when the hat is hanging from the rafters.

Japanese Helmet Blog

2010-05-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here is a blog from another helmet collector.
It is in Japanese but I guess pictures of vintage motorcycle
helmets speak for themselves.
http://blog.roadrunner-kobe.com/?cid=35522

A great helmet collection

2010-05-09T16:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.ronburtonhelmets.com/

Here is a really nice helmet collection.
Looks to be mostly car racing hats.
Take a few minutes and check it out.

Custom Pinstripe Bell R-T Motorcycle Helmet

2010-04-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

Here are some images of a Bell R-T helmet. As you can see the pinstripe job still looks good. Custom paint jobs and metal flake helmets are my favorites. Liner condition doesn't mean much as I do not use any of the old helmets.

Vintage Shoei VT-1 Sport /Simpson Bandit/Bell Star Helmets

2010-04-29T15:58:00.000-07:00

Here is a side by side look at three very different full coverage helmets. On the left is a Bell Star, common stuff. In the middle is a Shoei VT-1 Sports. There is only one word for this model....FUGLY! These had to be their low end off road/ATV FC helmet. No Snell rating, you don't see many of them and that's why I like it. On the right is in my opinion the most interesting helmet style ever, the Simpson Bandit. This one is an early example. It is missing the shield but is the best color....Darth Vader Black.

1981 Black Bell Star Motorcycle Helmet

2010-04-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

This is a clean vintage Bell Star Helmet. The build date stamped on the strap is 11/81. 29 years old!

Vintage Everoak Grand Prix Motorcycle Helmet Ton up!

2010-03-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

Here is one for all the ton up cafe racers. This is an Everoak Grand Prix helmet. They were British made and as you can see were ACU rated so they could be used in racing. These helmets have a different shape to them, kind of flat on top. Nicely made with leather trim. Make sure there is oil in the Triumph, put on the leather jacket and Everoak and DO THE TON!

More Motorcycle Art Work

2010-03-14T15:25:00.000-07:00

From time to time I am going to post some of the motorcycle related art work that I have. This is a watercolor of a bar and grill south of San Francisco. Beer signs in the window, an old pick up and a Harley out front.....looks ok to me.

Personalized Nava Full Coverage Motorcycle Helmet

2010-03-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

This is an ugly ,repainted Nava full coverage helmet. It is not a good example of a Nava helmet but, it has been personalized. It does not matter to me if it is pinstripes, custom paint or a cartoon, I like unique customization.It is worthy of a nail and space in my rafters.

1987 Marushin "Shorty" Half Helmet

2010-03-09T14:47:00.000-08:00

This Marushin half helmet has a 1987 build date tag on it. While I like the color scheme,this is not a helmet I would wear. I have never used a shorty helmet,it's full coverage for me as I occasionally fall off of my motorcycles.

Vintage Orange Yamaha Full Coverage Helmet

2010-02-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

This is a 70's era Yamaha full coverage helmet. As you can see it is in great original condition. The lining and padding are in great shape as is the shield.
Whether you call it strobe or speed block pattern the Yamaha graphics from that time looked good.

Vintage Bell Magnum And Vintage Bell R-T Side by Side

2010-02-23T15:05:00.000-08:00

Here are two vintage Bell helmets from the same period side by side. The silver helmet is an early Magnum. The visor is a Bell 520. The color and the visor give it that Steve McQueen look. The white helmet is an early R-T. If you look closely at the side view you will see the chin strap attachment rivets are positioned differently on each helmet. The lining on the silver helmet is of higher quality, a terrycloth type material. The shape of the shell looks the same to me. A tale of two Bells.

Vintage Bieffe Roger Burnett Replica Helmet

2010-02-08T14:46:00.000-08:00

Bieffes are always colorful and this one is no exception. Making it that much better is that it is a signature replica model of former World Superbike racer Roger Burnett.

Simpson Bandit Motorcycle Helmet "Darth Vadar"

2010-02-08T14:37:00.000-08:00

Here is a Simpson Bandit. These have always been liked because of the menacing look. The black Bandits have the Darth Vadar Star Wars Storm Trooper costume look to them.

Vintage Arai Full Coverage Motorcycle Helmet

2010-02-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

This is an early seventies Arai Full coverage. The owner cut the flip shield and added a visor.

Metalflake Green Arthur Fulmer AF20 Vintage Motorcycle Helmet

2010-01-26T15:42:00.000-08:00

This is an odd color green AF20 Fulmer vintage helmet. It is a bit nicked up so it fits right in with the others. This is the first chance I have had to post a helmet in awhile, been working on my vintage motocross bikes not taking images of the old hats.

Vintage Bell Mag LTD Motorcycle Helmet

2010-01-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

This is a vintage Bell Mag LTD Motorcycle Helmet.I had it on Ebay but the buyer had trouble with his paypal account, oh well, hang it in the garage. It is Silver Gray in color and marked size 7 1/4. The build date is 11/89. It has cool period Paulson clear comp shield which has a crack in the center. The interior cheek padding has deteriorated, which is the case with most helmets of this age. The terry cloth interior is in decent shape. The rubber trim is in great shape, as are the graphics. Nice old Bell Mag LTD helmet.

Vintage Bell R-T Motorcycle Helmet With Custom Pin Stripping

2009-12-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

This is a Bell R-T helmet that has been customized with pin stripping and the original owners name. This is the kind of old motorcycle helmet I really like to get. The half shield/visor combo is a T&C brand. This hat is in nice shape!

A look at it with the visor up. A simple but good looking design, I am sure Bud was happy with it.

Vintage Fury MX / Off Road Motorcycle Helmet

2009-12-30T15:15:00.000-08:00

This is an old Fury Off road motorcycle helmet. The visor is a Paulson. Other than the striping there is not much to look at. With the success of the Bell MotoIII most helmet companies came up with a vented full face off road helmet.

Cruz Pedregon Simpson Mini Helmet

2009-12-27T17:55:00.005-08:00

Here is a goofy little helmet I picked up at a local swap meet. Paid a dollar for it . It is a Cruz Pedregon replica mini helmet. These are apparently put out by Simpson. I would really like to have the real thing but for a buck, what the heck. I am the proud owner of a mini helmet. It has a certificate of authenticity and says it is a collectible. I doubt it. It is a helmet though so now it has a home with its full sized brethren.

How To Clean A Vintage Motorcycle Helmet/ Yellow Buco Enduro

2009-12-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

This post is about how I clean my old vintage helmets. This helmet is a very dirty old Buco Enduro. I use any liquid dish washing soap available, the real work is done by the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pads. This is by far the best stuff I have ever used. Be patient and scrub lightly.
I am not afraid to get the helmet wet, just try not to soak the liner. If your hat has a visor that is not coming off easily use a thin blade screw driver to GENTLY pry the snaps apart where they join. NEVER pry on the helmet.

Once the helmet is clean to my liking I use a light polishing compound. I never spend more than a couple of minutes doing this. My helmets will never be perfect, I just want them clean and presentable. One more note.... I go easy on any stickers or decals. I want them intact as I think they are a time capsule for that particular helmet.

Here is the newly cleaned helmet. A very nice Yellow Buco Enduro with a great checkered stripe down the middle. The visor is a Moto Peak.This is a nice old motorcycle helmet that I am happy to have hanging in my garage.

Side and rear view of the Buco. The stripe is what makes this helmet.

Vintage 1977 Shoei ZG Aromatic Polyamide Fiber Helmet

2009-12-11T15:56:00.000-08:00

This is a Shoei ZG Aromatic Polyamide Fiber Helmet. It has a Snell 1975 rating and a build date of Nov. 1977. The shape of the helmet is unusual. I have never weighed any of the old helmets I have but this one feels like the lightest of all the full coverage types.

Having owned some Shoei helmets in that era it is my guess this model was top of the line. The graphics are good looking and are light reflective. The interior looks like it was comfortable.

Old Kiwi Full Coverage Motorcycle Helmet

2009-12-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

This is an old (has a Snell 1980 rating) Kiwi full coverage helmet. I have no idea what steelglass is but it sounds strong! It has a nice space helmet shape to it and both exterior and interior finish are quality.

With a name like Kiwi you would think it was made in New Zealand.........not so. It is Swiss made, that explains the quality.

Bell Moto 4 Helmet With Quick Strap Goggles

2009-12-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

This is a standard Bell Moto 4 Motocross/Off road helmet. A common choice in the 80's.

The Scott goggles and the ROKO Quick Strap were common stuff . In my opinion the Moto 4 never looked as good as the Moto 3.

Here is an unopened Quick Strap package.

HJC Off Road Truck Racing Helmet

2009-12-08T16:48:00.000-08:00

Although not motorcycle or vintage this HJC/Parker Pumper Off Road Racing Helmet is pretty interesting. It is a HJC model CS12 that is Snell approved. As you can see it has the neck piece that is attached with Velcro that fits down into the racing suit.

From the side you can see the fresh air port that would have a hose attached to it in the truck, it gets dusty at 120 mph out in the desert. The cable connector you see is for communications, the speaker and mic are inside the helmet.

SNORE Battle at Primm sticker.

Here is a complete shot of the neck piece.

Looking inside the helmet the mic is visible, the speaker is tucked inside the padding.

Custom Painted Old Motorcycle Helmet

2009-11-29T11:41:00.000-08:00

This is a great hat. A custom fade paint job and competition stripes, hard to beat.

There are no markings on this helmet other than the Z.90 AMA Group 1 Racing sticker on the inside.

Cool old paint job from "back in the day"

Early Bell Star 120

2009-11-29T11:28:00.000-08:00

Here is an early Bell Helmets Star 120. It was called a 120 because of the degree of peripheral vision it allowed. As you can see there is three button snaps for a visor and no pivot point for a shield.
These were the first full coverage helmets widely adopted by motocrossers. A duck bill visor, a pair of Carreras and a tape job on the helmet and you were ready to go.

Old Orange Arthur Fulmer AF40 Motorcycle Helmet

2009-11-28T11:08:00.000-08:00

Bright orange Arthur Fulmer AF 40 helmet.

When I get these old skid lids I never remove the stickers that are on them. Do you remember these Harley Davidson number one stickers?

Vintage Fiberglass 3/4 Open Face Helmet

2009-11-28T06:16:00.000-08:00

This fiberglass three quarter helmet has no identifying manufacturer markings left on it. I would guess it to be American made from the late 60's to early 70's. The button snaps are marked Dot, the liner and padding are good quality. It is heavy.

The layers of fiberglass cloth are visible under the gel coat. I tried to image that here but it may be hard to see. This is a nicely shaped helmet.

Top notch on the inside. The liner has a coating that has a rough texture . The interior has held up well.

Old Japanese Full Coverage Helmet

2009-11-27T17:08:00.000-08:00

This is an early Japanese full coverage helmet. I am not sure of the make , it is not an Arai and does not look like any Shoei I have seen. The stickers inside are the 1970 Snell rating, the Z 90.1 rating and the size M that has Japan in small letters. Old full coverage helmets didn't allow for good peripheral vision. That changed with the Bell Star 120.

The green stripes on it appear to be factory applied. Offset competition stripes look good and never seem to go out of style.

Gray Metallic Arthur Fulmer Motorcycle Helmet

2009-11-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

This metallic gray Arthur Fulmer is in nice shape. The trim on the Fulmers that I have are chrome like this one.

The graphics that came on these are light reflective.

Nice Fulmer logo on the back.

Like Arai helmets, Fulmers linings are high quality. The logo top pad is a nice touch.

Original Motorcycle Art

2009-11-17T15:36:00.001-08:00

I know this blog is about vintage motorcycle helmets but I couldn't help it. I also gather up motorcycle art. Prints if I can get them but original stuff is what I really like. Motorcycles are not a subject most artist are interested in so that makes it all the more difficult to come by.
The Honda S 90 above is a small drawing done in colored and regular pencil. When I look at this I think that Honda S 90 was either the object of his affection or desire.

This is a Motocross racer done in acrylic. It has a $40 price on the back and a starving artists stamp on it. Hope he got something to eat because I do appreciate having it.

This is a wire art board track racer. It is as close as I will come to owning a boardtracker. Kinda looks like a Harley Pea Shooter.

I don't know what to say about this one. It's done in oil and it looks like an Indian to me. Check out the naked woman on the bed in the back ground.

Classic Blue Buco Enduro Helmet

2009-11-17T14:48:00.000-08:00

This is a well preservered Buco Enduro model helmet. It had an amazing amount of dust on it as it has been hanging for a number of years. The Enduro was a nice looking helmet, I believe it was one of their last helmets before they went out of business.

It has a unique shape. The strap with the snap button on back was used to hold your goggle strap. That's what I have been told, never used one myself.

This neck piece on the back is an interesting feature. I suppose the collar of your jacket would cover this, giving you an added layer of insulation. Or perhaps it kept dust, mud and grime out.

Red Metal Flake Templar Motorcycle Helmet From 1973

2009-11-08T16:40:00.000-08:00

This red metal flake helmet was sold under the name Templar.The sticker on the back is cool, looks like a crest. I suppose this was to make you feel as though you were one of the Knights Templar.

It has a build date of 1973 by T&C Mfg. This is an off brand for sure.

McHal Paulson Vintage Motorcycle Helmet Flip Bubble Shield

2009-11-08T16:27:00.001-08:00

This is an interesting bubble shield with a flip up attachment. It is marked McHal on one side of the bubble and Paulson on the other. As you can see it had suction cups to help attach it to the helmet. The soft plastic band that goes around the helmet is no longer soft so I have not tried to stretch and fasten it. Motorcycle helmets and shields have come a long way since the sixties and seventies.

Motorcycle Art Captain America Pencil & Ink Drawing

2009-11-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

I know this is a motorcycle helmet blog but I thought about occasionally throwing in some art. Being a sucker for original motorcycle art work I picked up this pencil and colored ink Easy Rider at a local swap meet for a couple of bucks. It has Penn Graphics written on it, don't know the who's or what's to that but the price was right. This is the only chopper type work that I have.

Silver Metalflake Buco GT Helmet

2009-11-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

Here is a favorite with the Custom or Bobber type riders. It is a Buco GT in silver metal flake. This and the Captain America helmet are always the first ones guys want to buy when they see all the helmets in the garage. I believe these are being reproduced in Japan. This one is an original.

Tomorrow I will post a red metal flake Arthur Fulmer.

Vintage Wheels Of Man Motorcycle Helmet / Bumble Bee

2009-11-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying posting these old helmets. Gives me a chance to clean up some of them that have years of dust on them. This is a Wheels Of Man Bumble Bee style helmet. I originally had two, sold the lesser of the two and gave this one a space. It has been a number of years since I have seen any Wheels Of Man motorcycle product.

There is the name and style number right on the back. If John Belushis SNL bumble bee skit would have taken to wheels this would be the hat of choice.

It is a nice looking helmet and adds contrast to my accumulation.

This is the construction sticker from inside the helmet. As you can see it is dated 11/27/74. A fairly well preserved 35 year old helmet. The inspector named Petra actually signed her work. Don't see much of that anymore.

Bell Moto III & Simpson MX Vintage Helmet Comparison

2009-11-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

I thought a side by side comparison of vintage full face MX helmets would be something different. The Bell Moto 3 was pretty much the standard for Moto Cross and Off Road riding from the late seventies on into the eighties.

The Simpson is a nice looking helmet but does not evoke images of that period like the Bell does. Who can forget Bob "Hurricane" Hannahs lightning bolt graphics on his MotoIII.

Black AGV Shorty Half Helmet

2009-10-27T17:42:00.000-07:00

Black AGV shorty half helmet. Italian made, I like the logo.

The flip shield visor is interesting but probably uncomfortable at speed.

I'm guessing this would be favored by the Moped and Scooter crowd.

Arai Freddie Spencer Signature/Replica Helmet And Print

2009-10-26T14:48:00.000-07:00

The helmet is an Arai Freddie Spencer Signature /Replica. The print is one of the Cycle World collection Gambaccini prints. It is Fast Freddie at speed on the 1985 Honda NSR 500.The print is 858/1000, Freddie and the NSR were one of a kind!

This is the last of my Road Race signature helmets. The next few posts/helmets are going to be shortys, metalflake and some odd stuff.

Kevin Schwantz Arai Replica/Signature Model

2009-10-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

Kevin was another American who went to Europe and captured a G.P. crown. His signature/replica model Arai was an attractive helmet. As I mentioned earlier, Arai builds quality helmets. There are two or three very early Arai Jet Style (open face) helmets in the garage that I will post images of later.

Bell Eddie Lawson Replica Professional Racing Helmet

2009-10-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

This is a Bell Eddie Lawson signature replica professional racing helmet. Eddie was a world GP road racing champ and like Kenny Roberts, cut his teeth on American dirt tracks. I like the signature helmets because they point to a specific time and accomplishment. As you can see my helmets are far from perfect. More of an accumulation than a collection. I like it like that.

Kenny Roberts AGV Signature Helmet

2009-10-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

This is a rough AGV "endorsed by" Kenny Roberts helmet. It is well documented that King Kenny went to Europe with his American dirt track style and changed road racing. These seem to be in short supply as they don't come up for sale often.

Evel Knievel Bell 500-TX Costume Helmet

2009-10-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

This helmet started life as a Bell 500-TX. Someone decided they needed an Evel Knievel costume.The graphics are felt cutouts that are glued to the helmet, they did a good job! I have had this helmet for years, I am sure there was once a cape that went with the helmet and belt but I didn't get it. While we are talking about Bell 500-TX's here is a link to another blog referring to a 500-TX I sold on e bay last spring.http://nostalgiaonwheels.blogspot.com/2009/06/bell-500-tx-helmet-is-worth-its-weight.html

I assume it is alright for me to do this as that is my image and was my helmet.

This Weeks Catch

2009-10-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

First up is this Arai Challenger. Arai builds quality helmets.

This is a fiberglass jet style. Probably Japanese and from the late sixties.

A red metal flake Grant. Nothing special but I never pass cheap sparkle helmets.

The quilted lining in the jet style is cool.

Next week I will take images of the signature replicas that are hanging. Kenny Roberts ,Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz and Freddie Spencer.

Vintage Motorcycle Helmets

2009-10-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

This blog is about motorcycle helmets. Vintage metal flake, custom painted, off road, unusual and rare and some that are just junk. I collect them and hang them from the rafters in the garage.