Tuesday 3 May 2011

Bell helmet update.

I've just spent a week in New York and I was amazed at the lack of motorcycles in Manhattan. A couple of tragic cruisers with tassels and stuff was about it. One would have thought that with all the traffic that people would turn to bikes in order not to get stuck in the congestion, but no. Very few bikes. In places like Milan and Rome, where car drivers drive like maniacs, there are bikes absolutely everywhere. Strange.

And of course: with few bikes, there are also very few dealers. I only found one, and that was small and poorly stocked. No sign of any Bell helmets. So I call Bell's support centre and even they couldn't tell me where to find a "Custom 500" in New York. Hm. When I was a kid riding motocross bikes, there were Bell helmets all over the place. Guess the brand must have deteriorated.

Fortunately, Bell has a web shop, and I now have a white Custom 500 on order. Time to order some paint. Marcus of Marcus Moto Design tells me you can get two pack in rattle cans nowadays. Weird, but if he's not pulling my leg, it's apparently true.

5 comments:

  1. It is true! I have the contact info for the shop somehwere. 2K on a rattle can is great for small parts fixing. Welcome home! /Marcus of Marcus Moto Design

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  2. I recall seeing a pic of your flat tracker about a year ago, not too long after I started my vintage sumo build, and I just discovered your blog, great stuff! I can relate to the wheel dramas as I'm still trying to sort mine out!
    Chris of crispycycles.blogspot.com

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  3. Are you coming to Rollerburn? Would love to see the Krook Street Tracker there. Gary

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  4. I really appreciate this post. I can so relate to this on so many Bell helmet , so many things in our lives can come between us and the true purpose of our lives and items which are really important. As you continue to feather your nest, know that the talents and gifts you share on your blog are given to you.

    Regards,
    bell helmet

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  5. RE Manhattan: Lanesplitting/filtering isn't legal in 49 of the 50 US states, so being on a bike wouldn't help the traffic situation too much. Assuming one wants to remain 100% legal, that is.

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