Custom Helmets
Custom Helmets
CW EVALUATION
EIGHT HELMET-PAINTING SPECIALISTS SQUARE OFF
HELMET PAINTING IS LIKE ANY ART FORM: IT DEMANDS ORIGINALITY, STYLE AND A GIFTED TOUCH. With the right mix, the result is an inspirational blend of color and emotion. For a head-to-head helmet-painting comparison, we sent eight full-face street helmets to eight U.S. painters, along with a computer-generated Team Cycle World design-including a difficult team logo-and instructions to duplicate it. As a final test, the back of each helmet
was to be hand-lettered in a specific type style with an editor’s first name. As specified to each artist, our criteria included accuracy of color and graphics, cost, turnaround time and quality.
We’ve rated each helmet according to the following legend: ★ Poor ★★ Average ★★★ Good ★ ★★★ Excellent ★★★★★ Best
BOB'S KRAZY BRUSH
3393 East 19th St., Long Beach, CA
90804; 310/494-6488
Bob’s Krazy Brush is owned and operated by Bob June. Services include airbrushing, imitation textures and threedimensional effects. Like the other painters in our comparison, June began by hand sanding, followed by the addition of graphics. To this, he applied five coats of clear urethane in preparation for hand color sanding and five more coats of over-reduced clear to eliminate any differences in the paint.
The end result is superb. June reproduced our design perfectly, and his clear coat drew praise for
its deep, glossy shine. Color choices, too, were spot-on. Generally, June’s helmets are pinstriped by hand, but the exactness of our Team Cycle World scheme required tape and spray. The only blemish in an otherwise exemplary piece of work was the lettering, which was a little shaky.
Bob's Krazy Brush would charge $299 ($195 for paint, $104 for the lettering and logo) for this job. Prepayment is required. Average lead time is 4 to 6 weeks. Our AGV Quasar was completed in only 2 weeks.
RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Excellent attention to detail, quick turnaround and a spectacular clear coat.
FAH*Q RACING
FAH*Q
16017 Walnut St., Hesperia, CA 92345; 619/947-5875 Fah*Q Racing’s Jerry Bernardo is the only artist in our comparison who refuses to sign his work. “I think it detracts from the helmet,” he says. “If it’s a professional, clean-looking helmet paint job with no logo or signature, it’s mine.” Bernardo is capable of incredible work-many of his helmets are absolutely stunning-but we were disappointed with his efforts on our BieffeBR15. Specific problems included dark color choices (“I use stock colors—or whatever I can mix with them-because they’re easier to
repair,” he says), orange peel and a second-rate clearcoat. Worst of all, turnaround time exceeded 4 months.
On a positive note, Bernardo, who also hosts ESPN2’s “Moto World 2,” duplicated our graphics exactly, and his hand-painted lettering and Team Cycle World logo were neatly finished.
Bernardo uses only Mouse of Color paints and urethane enamel clear, and would charge $250 to duplicate our design, including name and logo.
RATING: ★ ★ 1/2 Followed design, hut loses points for dark colors, substandard clearcoat and slow turnaround.
GERARD DESIGN
7103 Owensmouth Ave., Suite #B, Canoga Park, CA 91303; 818/703-6589
Gerard Design's Jim Tatone is not a typical motorcycle enthusiast. “Until recently, I’ve always had a sportbike, a motocrosser and a Harley in my garage,” says Tatone. “I enjoy them all, and I tend to reflect that in what I sell.”
His two-wheeled passion aside, Tatone made several mistakes with our ShoeiX-8 Air. The graphics were not consistent with the supplied design, and the Team CW logo background was orange instead of yellow. Also, the specified shadowing was left off, as was Feature Editor Brenda Buttner’s first name. Conversely,
the paint was beautifully applied and the clearcoat glossy. Also, Gerard’s die-eut vinyl Team Cycle World logo looked terrific. “It’s more precise and less expensive than hand painting,” says Tatone. “A hand-painted version would cost $120.”
Gerard Design would charge $280 to duplicate our design ($250 for the graphics and $30 for the die-cut logo). Turnaround time is 4 to 5 weeks. Our helmet was completed in 4 weeks. Gerard Design stocks AGV, Arai, Bell, Bieffe and Shoei helmets. Helmet decal kits are also available.
RATING: ★ ★ ★
Graphics do not flow correctly. Vinyl logo looks great. Good clearcoat.
HAMMERHEAD GRAPHICS
Route 4, Box 695, Yadkinville, NC 27055:910/463-5968
Last year, Hammerhead Graphics painted approximately 100 helmets, some 700 less than Troy Lee Designs, the acknowledged volume leader of the helmet-painting business. “Original designs are my specialty,” says Hammerhead’s Kevin Austin. “Rather than deal in mass, I prefer to paint fewer helmets, doing a top-notch job we can both be proud of.”
Austin deviated a bit from our design by spraying the AraiRX7RR with fluorescent pink, blue and pearl-white rather than the prescribed red, white and blue. Still, attention to detail and quality of workmanship is excellent, as
evidenced by the crisp lettering. Unfortunately, Austin painted the reversible top scoop, locking it permanently open.
According to Austin, Hammerhead Graphics’ prices-$260 for street helmets, S295 for motocross shells-refleet complete graphics, not stripped-down, no-frills designs. Airbrushing, shadowing, fading and splatter paint are standard on most designs. Austin will also incorporate rider name, sponsor logos and numbers. Cartooning costs extra. Turn-around time, says Austin, is normally 8 to 10 weeks. Our helmet took 8 weeks.
RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★
Sharp lettering and logo work. Lengthy turnaround, but beautifully finished.
KOLLER KOLORS
8517 Ablette Rd., Santee, CA 92071;
619/449-4787
Bob Koller divides his time between Jet Skis, ATVs, motorcycles and helmets. “1 paint about 250 helmets per year,” he says. “I only use all-urethane PPG paint; lacquers and enamels don’t hold up.”
Koller followed our Team Cycle World design, but his color choices were a shade dark and his pinstriping wasn’t very tidy. Also, his hand-done lettering, logo work and clearcoat were substandard. To Koller’s credit, our AraiQuantum’s
plastic chin vent and reversible top scoop remain completely functional.
Koller charges $295 to paint street or dirt helmets. Motocross visors cost an additional $25, and cartoons and special effects start at $25. “I do a lot of three-dimensional special effects,” say Koller. “It’s fun and really challenging.” Turnaround time for a Koller Kolors paint job is generally 3 to 4 weeks. Ours took 4 weeks. RATING: ★ ★ 1/2
Compared to the other participants in our'evaluation, Koller’s work was average and lacks attention to detail.
MOTION GRAPHICS
2645 Robert Arthur Rd.,
Westminster, MD 21158; 410/848-0008
Motion Graphics’ Richard Muise is an avid motorcyclist who specializes in airbrush artistry. He has 25 years of experience in graphics and illustration and is best known for his work with remote-control cars, boats and helicopter canopies. Recently, Muise expanded his painting business to include helmets and motorcycles.
Prior to the addition of graphics and the self-adhesive vinyl Team Cycle World logo and pinstriping, Muise sprayed our AGV Quasar with automotive primer and a white acrylic lacquer base. The
final touch was two coats of polyurethane clear. Overall quality and attention to detail are good, although Muise didn’t tape off the forehead vent prior to clearing the helmet. The chin vent remains functional.
Prices for Motion Graphics designs range from $200 to $800, depending on the complexity of the job. Duplicating our design would cost $350, including name and logo. Turnaround time ranges from 4 to 6 weeks, says Muise. Our helmet was completed in one month.
RATING: ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Second most expensive in the comparison. With the exception of the cleared-over forehead vent, Muise ’s work is of good quality.
R.A. DESIGNS
15806 Annico, Unit 8, Lockport, IL 60441:708/301-1189
Illinois-based R.A. Designs caught our eye at the ’93 Chicago International Motorcycle Show with a handful of sharp-looking motocross helmets. In addition to painting 15 to 20 helmets per month, R.A. Design’s Ron Anderson also customizes two or three larger items, like motorcycles and snowmobiles. Anderson uses only House of Color paints and is a dealer for Arai, Bell, Simpson and Shoei helmets.
Anderson's work on our BellM1 was excellent. His graphics and clearcoat were second only to those
of Bob’s Krazy Brush, and his color choices were perfect. On top of this, his logo and lettering were almost flawless. The latter, says Anderson, can be attributed to a Gerber Signmaking Computer.
R.A. Design would charge $275 ($175 for paint work, $40 for name and $60 for logo) to duplicate our Team Cycle World scheme. It can deliver completed helmets in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on backlog. Our helmet took 4 weeks.
RATING: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Impressive reproduction of proposed design. Solid detail work and dust-free clearcoat. Quick turnaround.
TROY LEE DESIGNS
1821 Wild Turkey Circle, Corona, CA
91720; 909/371-5219
With a customer base that includes many of the top Indy car, Superbike and supercross racers, Troy Lee Designs is the most recognized helmet-painting company in our comparison.
Unfortunately, TLD did not adhere to our specified design scheme, creating one of vastly different proportions. “If we receive a drawing that doesn’t look very good, we’ll call the customer and ask what changes we can make,” says Lee. “I may even fax a them a quick sketch. Nine times out of 10 they say that it looks great.”
Besides making significant design
changes, TLD painted the adjustable exhaust vents on our ShoeiX-8 Air shut, and the hand-painted logo and name were nothing like those which we submitted. TLD is also expensive. Cost for this design, including the fishscale, lettering and Cycle World logo, would be $470. Turnaround time is 8 to 14 weeks, depending on work load-ours was back to us in about 6 weeks. Troy Lee Designs also sells various self-designed helmet-sticker kits and motocross visors, as well as a selection of helmet bags and Max Wax Shiny Sauce helmet wax.
RATING: ★ ★ ★
Good looking, but did not duplicate our design. Expensive, too.
