time for a new lid

[bluemk1]

ok so im looking at getting a new lid to protect what little brains i have left and im considering the custom airbrushed route. i remember there was a guy on here that some members have used by the name of dutcho or dutchy or something along those lines but the search function doesnt seem to work anymore and i cant find his details to even find out if he is willing to do a helmet. from what i remember he mostly does bikes?

anyone help me out with a contact or have any other helmet airbrushing contacts? or do i just get one from the uk or the states already done? i would prefer someone in aus to support local and all that, plus i can sort out the disign much better if i can talk to them in person.

while we are here anyone have any ideas where i can buy a craft rxx3 helmet?
i know it will be overseas as no one here seems to stock them. i have considered simpson helmets but these seem to be better quality after reading some online reviews. or would be willing to consider a bandit helmet if they are of similar quality to the crafts?

[Gix11]

Neo Dutch is a pin stripping and brush expert as far as I know. He is the guy that Choppaweeza recommended and he did his bikes. Try emailing him and see what he says: http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=734

As for custom airbrush work, there's a new guy joined recently (called Helmet Head by coincidence) who has done some excellent work, maybe try him as well: http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/pop_profile.asp?mode=display&id=2636

Here's some of his work:

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt296/Helmet_Head_Design/IMG_6808.jpg

[bluemk1]

yeah i contacted helmet head rrecently though unfortunately he is heading back to canada shortly so is unable to do a helmet for me. ill suss out neo dutch, cheers for that.

[Gix11]

As for Craft RXX3 helmets, they won't be Aus Certified so you won't be able to get them over here I doubt. If you're not worried about the legal issues and insurance then I'd suggesat the UK (weak pound at the moment) or direct to Germany.

I have a Banidt and a Craft and the Bandit fits my head better. Everyone has a different shaped head though!

[bluemk1]

not worried about the legal issues more of a quality and style issue :)
would it be fair to say the bandit and the crafts are of better quality than the simpsons?
as for what fits better, seeing as i cant try any on as no one here sells them ill just bite the bullet and get one and if its a crap fit then sell it on and try the next one.
im a shoe head normally if that means anything to anyone.

[Gix11]

Ok, if money's not too much of an issue and you want top shelf work, these two are for you:

Caleb: http://www.luckycaleb.com/

Airxtreme: http://www.airxtremeart.com/dev/

[Gix11]

Yea, I'm a Shoei head as well. The Craft helmet puts pressure on the top of my forehead (and Jockney Rebel as well - saw him the other day with one on and the same symptoms) whereas the Bandit fits great, BUT the build quality of the Craft helmet is better as is visability. I prefer the looks of the bandit as well but for long rides it could be a pain for vision. As for Simpsons, never actually owned one! Someone will tell you soon enough.....

[bluemk1]

hmm ok so going by the shoe head comments so far i might be better off looking at the bandits before the crafts. cheers for that.

emailed airextremeart this morning, just waiting for a responce. money is always an issue but not worried about paying decent coin for quality work.
just checked out neo dutches website, probably not the style of work im looking at getting done so might give him a miss at this stage.

thanks for the help so far Si, on a side note, any idea whats wrong with the search function?

[Gix11]

Nothing. I'm guessing you're doing too broad a search. Try and narrow it down to a time and a singular forum area. Trying to search 6 years worth of posts (yea, I know, I should archive them but when I do that nobody clicks the "search archive" box and miss them) causes the server to time-out.

By the way, I'd rate Caleb's work over the airxtreme stuff any day. Seen lots of it up close - outstanding!

[sharky]

You could try Bec too...
http://www.myspace.com/becheadridge

[bluemk1]

yep shot caleb off an email with some details, had a gander at his website and it certainly looks the goods. im guessing the work would be in the range of $800+ but you pay that for a top range helmet with fancy paint anyway so not too fussed about that.

[Gix11]

The one I saw up close first and blew me away was his award winning Frankenstein Tank. Seriously some of the best work I've seen.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1268284622.jpg


You may have seen the ZX14 Mummy bike he did as well in Rapid recently.

http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1268345548.jpg


http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1268322897.jpg

[evad]

Headcase Designs in brisbane are also really good at helmets

http://www.headcasedesigns.com.au/

[bluemk1]

one thing i forgot to ask about the bandit and craft helmets, how is the visor mounting system on each one?
is it quick and easy to use? i need to change visors on a daily basis so its a very important issue for me.

[rod185651]

The visor on the Craft helmet is quick release. And is easy to change.


http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1268522177.jpg


http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1268582340.jpg


http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1268542299.jpg

[Slain]

rx33 crafts have different padding to the aus standard lid. i stacked in my rx33 pretty damn hard and it held up awesome. i replaced it with the aus standard version and the padding is different and i sometimes get the forehead thing like si is talking about. also my rx33 was a little bigger sizing so even though i have a small in both, the rx33 was a little loose.

as for legal debate mate i wouldnt risk it, if you have a ctp claim in to recoupe costs aetc and they know your helmet is illegal they can drop your claim, also insurance is void and therefore you can get stabbed paying for your bike. it is only in the extreme case but its something to consider. ask around harley shops as there is a shop in sydney that sells fake adr labels. i just removed one off my old helmet and superglued it over the top of some chrome vinyl so the void letering disappered.

[Fight_fan]

All i kno is that after seein all that airbrushing, im now buyin one for myself! Should b good fun!

[bluemk1]

just a little bit of an update:

ordering a craft over the next few days from the states, dirt cheap over there and the yanky money is good value atm.

got a responce from two of the places mentioned above and with si's recommendation of calebs work and him being the cheaper of the two i dont think i can go wrong really.

now to get a final idea for the design, have a few in mind but ill contact caleb and get his opinion on what he thinks will work well with the style of the helmet.

looking at something like this
http://www.asfphotos.com/upload/1269075613.jpg

just the face mask part not the faggy looking cherubs [V]

[RevHead]

I BOUGHT AN RXT BLANK, MATT BLACK, HELMET AND PAINTTED IT UP TO MY OWN PAINT SCHEME ITS EASY YOUL NEED PLASTIC PRIMER,2 PAK PAINT AND CLEAR BUT DONT USE REDUCER OR THINNERS ON THE HELMET SHELL AS IT AFFECTS THE THING CHEERS