Back in the Day: Another Bell helmet

Like everyone else who read the “Back in the Day” Bell Star piece, I greatly enjoyed Gresh’s blog.  I never owned a Star, but I bought one of the modern Bell helmets Joe referenced about 10 years ago from my good buddy Mike over at NoHo Scooters in Hollywood.  It was a lightweight, inexpensive full-face deal with artwork that made it an instant “I want” item.   The Boss was with me and she gave the nod, and Mike gave me a good price, so I bought it.

The helmet had a World War II aviation motif. It’s not politically correct, so if you’re going to get your shorts in a knot over the artwork, my advice is this:  You’re young.  Go to your safe space and take a nap.  You’ll probably get over it.

The military theme worked perfectly, I think, with a CSC motorcycle Steve Seidner (CSC’s CEO) built.  He called it “The Sarge” and it was his personal bike.  I liked both the motorcycle and the helmet so much that as soon as Steve’s bike came together (and he wasn’t around) I raced off to a spot I knew would make for a good photo…

I wore that helmet all the way down to Cabo and back on the CSC 150 Baja run.  It was a nice hat.  I really liked it.  It made me taller, thinner, and faster.  Better looking, too, if I kept the visor down.

They say you are supposed to replace a motorcycle helmet every three years (“they” are the guys who make helmets, of course).  I don’t know if that’s really necessary, but it’s what I do.  After three years the insides of my helmets get pretty funky, and in my case aromatic reasons drive the need for a new lid.

But the three-year rule wasn’t what ended my relationship with the Bell you see here.  It was a different reason:  The outside surface got tacky.  Not in the good taste or politically correct sense (if that’s what you’re thinking), but tacky in an adhesive sense.   It got sticky to the touch, like flypaper.  I think it was because the adhesive bonding the wrap (the thin layer of artwork) to the helmet’s shell seeped through to the outside.  Whatever.  It would stick to my hands when I picked it up and I don’t like a clingy thingy.  A Bell guy told me he knew of the problem and it had been fixed, but they no longer offered the helmet I had come to love.

I sure wish Bell still made that helmet.  I would buy a new one and it’s what I’d be wearing today.