Sunday 30 January 2011

Captain Sweden.

I normally use a full face helmet. But after seeing the wonderful "Riding September" video, I now want an open face one. And being too cheap to buy one from Ateliers Ruby, I've decided to go for a "Bell 500 Custom" which are on sale for about $100 in the US, despite being made from proper fibre glass.

I've always liked the "Captain America" scheme featured in the movie "Easy Rider" – even if it is a little overexploited by now. So I thought I'd try my hand at making a colour scheme of my own and throw in some Swedish influences as well.

The plan is to get a white one and then paint it myself like my Photoshop-sketch above. I'm planning to use rattle can paints and not be too fussy with the masking and painting in order to achieve a little bit of a "retro" feel – as if the helmet had been painted in the seventies by some hippie and then lost for decades, before being rediscovered by me. That way I get a nice looking lid and still get modern levels of protection. That's the plan anyway... If anyone uses a Bell 500 please get in contact with me – I need some help with choosing the correct size.

4 comments:

  1. David
    maybe try the Davida 'Speedster' it's based on a 60's Buco shape & is not egg-head like their other lids And its got Scandinavian safety approval, so it's actually legal for you in your fair land too - which the Bell may not be & the other 'novelty' helmets certainly arent.
    BP

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  2. True. True. But the Davida doesn't look as good IMO. On the other hand, a certified lid would be a good thing if I had a big off and the insurance company decided to have a closer look...

    /D

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  3. the speedster is much better looking (lower profile) than the Bell lid. I tried on the Bell is huge! Makes you look like Marvin the martian.

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  4. Are you sure? I thought the whole idea was that it had a low profile... I'm going to New York in April. I think I'll wait 'til then before ordering. I hate big bulky open faced helmets.

    /D

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