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General Category >> The Cafe >> Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
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Message started by Stimpy on 06/21/10 at 12:07:24

Title: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by Stimpy on 06/21/10 at 12:07:24

There is nothing wrong with my helm,
it's just a helm (pictured below), but I
was thinking about maybe sanding it
and painting it to make it more perso-
nalized aka: less boring, besides bike
is britishgreen and helm is bluegray.

Or maybe covering it w/some printfabric
or leather, any ideas/tips welcomed, thx.

http://www.hjc-germany.com/fileadmin/images/helmets/INT_CS12N_Session_MC2F_big.jpg

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by mick on 06/21/10 at 12:35:07

mine was pure black,pudding type helmet old british TT style, I got some inch and a half checkered tape and placed it on for and aft
with two british union jacks eather side,I liked it.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by WD on 06/21/10 at 13:47:09

Go check out the Do the Ton forums. Big threads on refinishing helmets. Mostly for traditional lids, not a whole lot of full face users.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/21/10 at 19:52:50

If I was gonna paint a helmet, Id go with a solid, hi visibility color. Cool lookin is cool, no doubt, but seen by drivers?

Priceless.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by mick on 06/21/10 at 22:29:27

091610170A0D3C0C3C04161A51630 wrote:

If I was gonna paint a helmet, Id go with a solid, hi visibility color. Cool lookin is cool, no doubt, but seen by drivers?

Priceless.

don't paint Justin,you will get hung up on paint fumes.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/21/10 at 23:52:48

When I paint, I do it outside. When I weld, I put a fan blowing across me & I only drag a bead for a minute or so, then walk away & exhale hard & get some fresh air. That stuff will give ya one heck of a headache.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by Jerry Eichenberger on 06/22/10 at 06:05:45

I'll second the thought of making it a vibrant, highly visible color. Mine is candy apple red, and my jacket is bumble bee yellow.

It amazes me every time I see someone riding a black motorcycle, attired in black jeans, black jacket, and black helmet. And then he wonders why some car driver didn't see him.

For the same reason, silver or gray cars have more accidents than any other color - they visually blend right in with the pavement.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 06/22/10 at 06:17:16

Check to see what the shell is made of before you start. Many of the new helmets are made of materials that can't be painted without causing damage.
No point in doing all the work if it ends up sitting on a shelf. 8-)

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by Stimpy on 06/22/10 at 10:32:00

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's safe to paint it as long
as you don't use aggressive industrial stuff; I'm
probably gonna end up hand painting it somehow
and applying last just a clear coat and maybe
some 3M reflecting tape, good idea.

There are so many incredible designs out there,
hard to chose the style but I'll most probably go
with classic vintage racing.

Jerry:
i've always thought it was the other way around,
that gray was the safest and black cars have the
most accidents, look here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1288457/Black-cars-likely-involved-accidents.html

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by Jerry Eichenberger on 06/22/10 at 12:56:41

Stimpy -

That's a debate without end, whether black or gray cars have more accidents. Of course, lots has to do with the type of car, or better put, the driver driving it. Point is still that vibrant colors like red, royal blue, orange (who wants an orange car?), yellow, etc. are far more visible.

Same for your motorcycle attire.

When did you ever see a black or gray fire truck or ambulance? Lots of cop cars are gray (Ohio's Highway Patrol, for example), or black (all Ohio Sheriff's cruisers) because they want to be able to hide in median strips, or sneak up on you from behind.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by mick on 06/22/10 at 13:03:50

202F2329222F24282F382D2F384A0 wrote:

years ago at truck school they said the most visable color is Orange.I know Schnieder National has a complete orange fleet, and at least two other outfits.I hated driving them all other drivers called us pumpkins.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by Jerry Eichenberger on 06/22/10 at 13:21:56

Mick -

First, and most importantly, my sympathies on the loss of your dad. I know how close you were from all of your posts about him over the years. My dad died when I was 16 - you are so fortunate to have had so many years with yours.

You are right about orange - remember in the 1950s and 1960s when the Air Force pilot flight suits were orange? My first one was. Problem is, if you punched out, the bad guys could easily find you. So, they went to sage green so you can hide in the woods from the bad guys and use your "Prick 9", or whatever they call the modern version, to talk the rescue helo into your position.

Wing tips and tails of Air Froce airplanes were orange too then. Then the idiots in the Puzzle Palace (Pentagon) finally realized how inviting a target you were to ground fire. The orange was supposedly to help avoid mid-air collisions while flying formation - bullcrap.

I wonder how Schneider's accident rate is compared to the other nationwide trucking companies. Would be interesting to know if it really saves accidents.

Take care, my Friend.

Title: Re: Speaking of helms, I want to paint mine.
Post by Horatio Hawkshaw on 06/22/10 at 13:22:22

I'm of the opinion that a motorcyclist could put on a Day-Glo yellow chicken suit and still become absolutely invisible to cagers once a leg goes over the saddle...