Author Topic: Correct helmet for this era bike (Read 5765 times)

eigenvector · « **on:** January 21, 2015, 04:22:09 PM »

So what's the correct helmet for a 70's era bike? Stupid question, or perhaps a useless one, but I honestly feel a bit overdressed riding down the road on my 550K wearing riding pants, boots, cordua jacket, and full face helmet.

I'm thinking maybe it's time to ditch the riding pants, stick with the Diamond Gusset Defender jeans, and go with a 3/4 helmet and goggles. Never wore goggles, always wanted to try them.

Yeah alright I'll go do something useful now.

BobbyR · « **Reply #1 on:** January 21, 2015, 04:37:13 PM »

Many of us wear basically what you do. Once of those sport bike outfits might look a bit odd. Why would you risk your face for style. Some people probably wore those old Bell spaceman full face jobs. A lot probably wore no helmet or jacket since the helmet laws were not as common then.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 21, 2015, 07:37:56 PM »

+1, the most likely area of impact that a helmet can protect is your chin. Stick with safe gear. This ain't no fashion show.

eigenvector · « **Reply #3 on:** January 21, 2015, 08:15:41 PM »

You guys ain't no fun.

Tetter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2015, 12:59:12 AM »

When I dragged my '76 Honda CB750 from a barn a few years ago, the owner had his old helmet laying around there.
An AGV full face. With button down visor. I guess it was the newest thing back then.

That is what they used back then, it was vey similar to the Biltwell Gringo, even the same color

http://silodrome.com/retro-full-face-helmet-dot/

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2015, 02:32:13 AM »

Yep, I had an AGV Daytona and a Bell. I hit a wall wearing the Bell and it ended up with a lovely inverted vee mashed into the chinpiece. F*ck fashion.

strynboen · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2015, 04:23:19 AM »

is it possibel to restore old helmets.
.i have a 1978 agv...but the "foam"are pulverised..all other are fine...split it are easy,,just caredull drill the rivets vho hold the "rem"...and the inside shall can be taken in 2 parts aut

..have looked for some car/funiture stuff to put in instead..but not suksesfull faund the "right stuff"...

scrapvalue · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2015, 04:57:44 AM »

Here is an ebay link to vintage helmets. Lots of new vintage style helmets to choose from.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=corbin+klr650&_from=R40&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR10.TRC0.A0.H0.Xvintage+motorcycle+helmet&_nkw=vintage+motorcycle+helmet&_sacat=0

calj737 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2015, 04:58:51 AM »

Quote from: strynboen on January 22, 2015, 04:23:19 AM

is it possibel to restore old helmets.
.i have a 1978 agv...but the "foam"are pulverised..all other are fine...split it are easy,,just caredull drill the rivets vho hold the "rem"...and the inside shall can be taken in 2 parts aut

..have looked for some car/funiture stuff to put in instead..but not suksesfull faund the "right stuff"...

Most helmet manufacturers will specifically date stamp their helmets because they are out of warranty within 5 years and should be replaced. Hit the pavement once, replace. The story behind it is the structural integrity deteriorates after a few years.

Eigen - there's lots of modern retro styled helmets out that may suit your fancy, but most are 3/4 units. I'd only wear a full face, because like said above, it ain't fashionable to scuff up the road with your face... Turns chicks off-

Tetter · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2015, 06:18:31 AM »

Saving cash this moment to buy a Bell Bullitt to match my bike.

Just not sure if the color would be a good match.... perhaps plain black would be a safer option

GV1390 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2015, 07:00:36 AM »

I rock a few different options....

For my daily (Nighthawk) I usually use my Biltwell Gringo with either goggles or a bubble shield, or my full face AGV K3 (full face). For my cafe bike I'll use the Gringo or my Bell Moto 4. Then for my track bike I believe I have an Icon full face, can't remember. For passengers I have various 3/4's.

I used my buddies TT&CO bucket one day as well, also a good option for an odd looking full face.

EuroFag · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2015, 01:11:34 PM »

Lol Barbie"s CB750

Collect all the accessories!

Looks great next to her jeep and the vette in her Mansion.

I wonder what boots she'd wear to be "correct"?

Killer Canary · « **Reply #12 on:** January 22, 2015, 02:06:33 PM »

Killer Canary · « **Reply #13 on:** January 22, 2015, 02:08:05 PM »

Modern full face whatever I'm riding. Style schmile.

ekpent · « **Reply #14 on:** January 22, 2015, 02:10:11 PM »

I wear 3/4 old school style helmets with face shields mostly because I wear glasses and a full face seems like a hassle with them. Will say I broke one once on the side of a celery truck along with a couple of ribs and some other fun stuff.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #15 on:** January 22, 2015, 02:27:07 PM »

You can get flipfront hats now you know. Ride with it open or closed. I got one because I wear specs but it's still a pain. Handy if you want a smoke though.

BobbyR · « **Reply #16 on:** January 22, 2015, 05:34:26 PM »

Quote from: ekpent on January 22, 2015, 02:10:11 PM

I wear 3/4 old school style helmets with face shields mostly because I wear glasses and a full face seems like a hassle with them. Will say I broke one once on the side of a celery truck along with a couple of ribs and some other fun stuff.

I also wear sunglasses glasses when riding and wear a full face. You get used to it. You just slide the glasses in through the front. If you bring the helmet down till it bends down the top of your ears, they really go in early.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #17 on:** January 22, 2015, 06:46:38 PM »

Quote from: BobbyR on January 22, 2015, 05:34:26 PM

Quote from: ekpent on January 22, 2015, 02:10:11 PM
I wear 3/4 old school style helmets with face shields mostly because I wear glasses and a full face seems like a hassle with them. Will say I broke one once on the side of a celery truck along with a couple of ribs and some other fun stuff.

I also wear sunglasses glasses when riding and wear a full face. You get used to it. You just slide the glasses in through the front. If you bring the helmet down till it bends down the top of your ears, they really go in early.

Yep, me too, no inconvenience what so ever.... In answer to the original question, whats your head worth..?

eigenvector · « **Reply #18 on:** January 22, 2015, 07:05:54 PM »

I thought riding with a full face would be a problem since I also have glasses. I find that my lenses fog up at the drop of a hat, but other than that they don't pose a problem.

The real problem that I run into with a full face is that since I wear Transition lenses, the visor on the helmet blocks the UV from the sun and prevents the Transition lenses from darkening. I haven't really found a good balance between a smoke visor and periodically flipping up the visor to let the lenses darken.

But as to the 3/4's and the Bell astronaut helmets - had no idea they were so popular.

BobbyR · « **Reply #19 on:** January 22, 2015, 07:34:16 PM »

Quote from: eigenvector on January 22, 2015, 07:05:54 PM

I thought riding with a full face would be a problem since I also have glasses. I find that my lenses fog up at the drop of a hat, but other than that they don't pose a problem.

The real problem that I run into with a full face is that since I wear Transition lenses, the visor on the helmet blocks the UV from the sun and prevents the Transition lenses from darkening. I haven't really found a good balance between a smoke visor and periodically flipping up the visor to let the lenses darken.

But as to the 3/4's and the Bell astronaut helmets - had no idea they were so popular.

That is true the Transition will not change. I wear regular shades when I ride.

Retro Rocket · « **Reply #20 on:** January 23, 2015, 12:09:50 AM »

Quote from: eigenvector on January 22, 2015, 07:05:54 PM

I thought riding with a full face would be a problem since I also have glasses. I find that my lenses fog up at the drop of a hat, but other than that they don't pose a problem.

The real problem that I run into with a full face is that since I wear Transition lenses, the visor on the helmet blocks the UV from the sun and prevents the Transition lenses from darkening. I haven't really found a good balance between a smoke visor and periodically flipping up the visor to let the lenses darken.

But as to the 3/4's and the Bell astronaut helmets - had no idea they were so popular.

My Arai full face has a clip in mouth and nose shield, stops your breath reaching your glasses, I use an anti fog product on my visors but the vents do the same job... Good helmets get around these simple problems....

I find it interesting that you have a UV resistant visor, most helmets don't have them, you have to buy them as an accessory.....?

dave500 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2015, 12:26:01 AM »

I guess a period correct helmet positioned just so on a static display bike looks good,all the old Honda adds have I think open face?i wear sunnies all the time under my full face,i had to grind the plastic on the ends of the arms a little to stop them creeping up,didnt have to on another helmet same sunnies?

Sgt.Pinback · « **Reply #22 on:** January 23, 2015, 02:09:19 AM »

Quote from: strynboen on January 22, 2015, 04:23:19 AM

is it possibel to restore old helmets.
.i have a 1978 agv...but the "foam"are pulverised..all other are fine...split it are easy,,just caredull drill the rivets vho hold the "rem"...and the inside shall can be taken in 2 parts aut

..have looked for some car/funiture stuff to put in instead..but not suksesfull faund the "right stuff"...

Same with my old SIMPSON RX-1 (?) helmet. Foam is completely gone.

Need an adress who may restore it.

krusty · « **Reply #23 on:** January 23, 2015, 02:50:24 AM »

Even if the foam is replaced the shell will be degraded, especially with polycarbonate (plastic) lids, they become brittle, a little less so with laminates. There could also be corrsion in fittings and fraying of chin straps. Not worth the risk. Get a new lid and replace it every few years.

dave500 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 23, 2015, 03:05:30 AM »

in my work I find a lot of old lids,im a dumster/skip truck driver,ive never kept any but ive destroyed a lot!ive placed them under the stabiliser legs/feet and have had a good crush at them,mostly they lift the truck up on an angle before they show any sign of letting go either with top or side loading,once they do its only by a margin they don't collapse,this aint no proper technical test but they take a lot to break the shell,i think the inside foam ages?and might be less absorbent to impact?i call bull#$%* on the painting or stickers or even drilling of lids makes them weaker!

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Author Topic: Correct helmet for this era bike (Read 5765 times)

scrapvalue