Hell Mutts Helmets!

It is quite possible that I have found the Motherload of Crazy A$$ Helmets!

I give you Hell Mutts Helmets!

http://hellmutts.webs.com/apps/photos/?&pagesize=36&page=2

mmmm...I iz in luv.

Now people are talking issues. They say that the liners would make you sweat. They say that these helmets belong on a shelf, not on your head.

So I emailed the company and asked them - I know vintage helmets are not DOT approved. But if they did this to a new helmet, (DOT approved) would the process compromise the safety quality of the helmet.

We will see if I get an answer. Because I would LOVE to have one of these liners in my NEW Arai helmet that is currently in at the painters!

Okay here is a respose from Billy of Hell Mutts Helmets:

Hi Martha,

Thanks for the compliments and for linking our site! The person with the sweat comment is 100% wrong! We have sold and relined literally 100's of helmets and have only satisfied customers. I personally use my helmets all year round. The crushed panne fabric we use breathes very well and in fact is similar to what some helmet manufacturers use.

Legally, vintage helmets are not considered to be dot approved and all helmets should be replaced after 5 years according to the dot. We do not alter the safety features of a helmet when we reline them. However, again for legal reasons we consider any helmet that has been altered in any way (including custom paint) is not considered dot legal. We have made custom liners for new dot approved helmets. Our customers are either looking for something completely custom, or are into vintage motorcycles and helmets. Some people just don't "get" what we do, and that is ok with us. :)

Billy
www.hellmuttliners.com

Okay - so I am sold and I will be sending them my new, repainted Arai helmet for re-lining! I will keep you guys updated with photos and information. What else can a gal get into when scooter season is over in Chicago....let me see...hmmmmm

Arai Classic M Helmet Part Deux!!!

Oh Arai Open Face Helmet, little do you know what I have in store for you...

As you know, I got this semi-awesome Arai Classic M helmet from my sister & her husband. It is "semi-awesome" because the whole "open face thing" was not too appealing to me and the snap-on visor seemed flimsy and was very drafty.

However, upon reflection I have decided to keep the helmet and use it for my Patriot Guard rides and parades!

I love this idea because not only do I get to keep this very nice helmet from my sister, but I get to have it CUSTOM PAINTED!!!!!!

I have a few ideas regarding what I want.

1. Stars and Stripes, Patriotic with a quote regarding, "freedom" on it.

2. Pink with metallic flakes, with stars and stripes that says, "Free to Twinkle".

So I have a bit of noodling to do. I will use my usual painter, Marc Daniels of Psychoticair.com in Batavia Illinois. He is the one who custom painted my blue dragon scooter.

I am now in search of good quotes about "Freedom" They have to be short, because they have to fit on the back or around the entire helmet. This is what I have found so far:

1. “The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.”

2. "I know but one freedom and that is the freedom of the mind." Antoine de Saint-Exupery

3. "Free to Twinkle". (I am involved in a freedom ride protesting the loss of the minority rights belonging to the few remaining earthbound stars. All we demanded was our right to twinkle. -Marilyn Monroe.)

I like the "Free to Twinkle" idea the best. What do you think?

Arai Classic M OPEN FACE HELMET!

Oh Crazy Ass Open Face Helmet that lets the entire world blow up my nose, how I don't know what to do with you...

When we went out to Colorado for my sister's BIG 50th BIRTHDAY EXTRAVAGANZA and were touring "THE PALACE" we managed a glimpse into the "MOTORCYCLE GEAR ROOM". (Well, actually, it was a closet in the room in which we were staying.)

Anyway, my sister's husband, Jim, pulled out these helmets and commented "We never use these... Do you want them?"

Well, I knew these are very expensive helmets, plus they are open face. Also my sister has a HUGE MELON with BIG HAIR in which secrets a GIANT BRAIN, apparently created only to MAKE MONEY. So I really doubted that it would fit. I hemmed and hawed...

"YES! SEND US THE HELMETS! shouts my BF, who apparently loves the helmets.

And what is not to love. They are sharp looking, well constructed, fits well, is light and is obviously FARRRRR more expensive than our "Fleabay" helmets.

So Jim ships the helmets to us, and after battling the flu for a week or so, we go out for a ride wearing the "NEW ARAI HELMETS" cue angels singing....... ah.....Ah..... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! oh crap

They kinda, uh, suck.

Look, I am not the best looking gal out there, but the idea of getting in an accident or taking a spill in this thing makes ones sphincter shrivel. Can you say, "Facial Reconstruction"? and you know this ain't no Lifetime movie here, I would come out looking WORSE!

For all the great fit, looks, and material, it just comes down to a helmet with this flimsy, snap-on visor, which seems like it will pop off in the first big Chic-cahgy wind gust.

The visor seems to block the bugs well enough, but it is the wind, the entire world blowing up my nose that is also an issue. You definitely need glasses or goggles on under these. My BF said he could hardly see there was so much wind blowing in gaps along the side of the visor.

It seems like a poor design on Arai's part. There is also a snap down the jaw that we cannot for the life of us, figure out what it does. Does anyone out there know?

They also have a HUGE A$$ microphone for a very expensive sound system. It is not SUBTLE, this large black foam SAUSAGE, and so I enjoyed making some very mischievous faces with it at stop lights, much to my BF's consternation.

Tho how the sound system can work, with the wind blowing in there is also a feat of electrical engineering that is beyond my limited comprehension.

The upside is you get to look like the Great Gazoo, a welder, or a reject from Forbidden Planet.

So I guess we are keeping these helmets. But I am actually afraid to wear it. Too many lethal pebbles have ka-bonked off my full face helmet for me to ever give it up, (Oh cheap pink whure of a helmet, I guess you are still the only one for me, DAMN YOU!).

Just that one bug that hit me in the lip that one time was like being shot by a bee-bee gun. Sooo, it looks like the Arai will have a long and luxurious life in my own Motorcycle Gear Room, okay, motorcycle closet shelf.