80's & 90's Custom painted helmets of the stars

DDMX18
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AU
Edited Date/Time 3/16/2016 8:22pm
G'day all, been a long time lurker and generally don't post much, I just enjoy reading along. I know many of you are of the "vintage" where you remember the 80's and 90's MX/SX. In the 90's it seemed like all the stars had custom painted helmets, Bradshaw, Stanton, Cooper, Glover, Lechien, Johnson, Mxkeid, Wardy, JMB etc etc.

Back then i tried my hand at painting helmets (as we all probably did) and complied a bit of an album of pro's helmets that i cut out of mx magazines.. I though it had been lost forever, but turned up recently in a box.

I've seen a few topics on custom painted helmets, but they seem recent and not from that time so hopefully i'm not duplicating an old topic.

Whilst the quality of the pictures isn't that good, hopefully you will enjoy some of them and reminisce about the 80's & 90's. Some of the helmets are obvious whose they are, others i have no idea who the artist or owner is.

There's a few pictures so ill put them in a couple of posts.










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The Shop

1/27/2016 9:07am Edited Date/Time 1/27/2016 9:09am
VERY cool! Thanks for taking the time to upload these!

Amazing to look back at what was considered "cool" from a design standpoint
MT MX
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Great Falls, MT US
1/27/2016 9:33am
I was always a fan of Micky Dymond's and Damon Bradshaw's helmet. The Keith Bowen/TUF Moto 4 always caught my interest as well.
Back in the early 1990's, I tried my luck and airbrushing helmets and had so-so luck with it. I think the biggest hurdle was my lack of knowledge regarding automotive paints. I kind of wish I would've stuck with it, but college (and girls) became more important.
Thanks for posting all these photo's!
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ACBraap
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1/27/2016 9:42am
Loved those helmets. Really too bad there isn't more custom and less monster claws on today's helmets.

I still have a moto 5 painted by Screwy Designs, and a moto 4 and Answer helmet painted by KO Concepts on my shelf.
1
mxb2
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1/27/2016 11:24am
ACBraap wrote:
Loved those helmets. Really too bad there isn't more custom and less monster claws on today's helmets. I still have a moto 5 painted by Screwy...
Loved those helmets. Really too bad there isn't more custom and less monster claws on today's helmets.

I still have a moto 5 painted by Screwy Designs, and a moto 4 and Answer helmet painted by KO Concepts on my shelf.
Pay for a $600 paint job, or get paid to be a sponsored rider with free helmets?, simple choice
starchild
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1/27/2016 7:04pm
Nothing better than late 80's early 90's custom painted helmets! I've been obsessed with pro helmets ever since I was a kid and they are true pieces of art. I am fortunate to own many pro helmets painted by Troy lee, artco, Gerard designs, koeller kolors and more. They are true works or art!
lumpy790
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York, SC US
1/27/2016 7:20pm
Back when you were not fast unless you had a custom lid.

Any of Marylands SND or Pro Art Works?
NESC838
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Wells, ME US
1/28/2016 5:14pm
starchild wrote:
Nothing better than late 80's early 90's custom painted helmets! I've been obsessed with pro helmets ever since I was a kid and they are true...
Nothing better than late 80's early 90's custom painted helmets! I've been obsessed with pro helmets ever since I was a kid and they are true pieces of art. I am fortunate to own many pro helmets painted by Troy lee, artco, Gerard designs, koeller kolors and more. They are true works or art!
Would you be willing to share some photos of your helmet collection?

I have a bit of an obsession myself, and always love to see other collections. The large majority of my helmet collection are production replicas, but I do have a couple "newer" pro helmets by Troy Lee and Flyin' Kolors from the early/mid 2000's.
starchild
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1/28/2016 7:55pm
starchild wrote:
Nothing better than late 80's early 90's custom painted helmets! I've been obsessed with pro helmets ever since I was a kid and they are true...
Nothing better than late 80's early 90's custom painted helmets! I've been obsessed with pro helmets ever since I was a kid and they are true pieces of art. I am fortunate to own many pro helmets painted by Troy lee, artco, Gerard designs, koeller kolors and more. They are true works or art!
NESC838 wrote:
Would you be willing to share some photos of your helmet collection? I have a bit of an obsession myself, and always love to see other...
Would you be willing to share some photos of your helmet collection?

I have a bit of an obsession myself, and always love to see other collections. The large majority of my helmet collection are production replicas, but I do have a couple "newer" pro helmets by Troy Lee and Flyin' Kolors from the early/mid 2000's.
I haven't posted on the site for quite some time but this topic definitely caught my eye and peeked my interest. I'm absolutely a helmet freak like yourself! I've got many pro race worn helmets including RC, matiasevich, dowd, vuillimen, ray sommo, just recently sold my bayle and guy cooper helmets to a good friend. I have several replica helmets like yourself including the chicken vfx in your avatar lol! That's an awesome helmet! And I love JT ALS helmets and have several if those too. I've actually had quite a few of my pro helmets on here before probably about 3 years or so ago with other items from my pro gear.
I'll try to get some more recent pics of just the pro painted helmets and post them up in this thread.
NESC838
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2/4/2016 4:25pm
Various photos I've found online and saved to my computer. Unfortunately, none of these are mine.

Guy Cooper



Jimmy Gaddis


Jeff Matiasevich


starchild, this may be one of yours?



Damon Bradshaw





Small sample of Troy Lee's work
1
hvaughn88
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Conway, AR US
2/4/2016 5:01pm
Guy cooper has so much style. Even his ugly ass arai helmet looks cool because of the paint
bish153
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Frisco, TX US
2/4/2016 6:04pm
Reynard had a bad ass helmet one year...it had some chrome in it....anyone got a pic?
NESC838
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2/4/2016 6:20pm
bish153 wrote:
Reynard had a bad ass helmet one year...it had some chrome in it....anyone got a pic?
Lower left. Is that the one you're thinking of?


1
NESC838
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Wells, ME US
2/4/2016 6:36pm
Meister... wow! These all look to be brand new, never worn?! I see many that I would love to add to my collection.

But this is what's really grabbing my attention. Is this Carmichael's helmet from his 1996 pro debut at Steel City?!


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bish153
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2/4/2016 6:47pm
bish153 wrote:
Reynard had a bad ass helmet one year...it had some chrome in it....anyone got a pic?
NESC838 wrote:
Lower left. Is that the one you're thinking of? [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/02/04/122646/s1200_6190101815_2fc92df726_o.jpg[/img]
Lower left. Is that the one you're thinking of?


I think it was a year or two before this one...
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Meister
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Canton, OH US
2/5/2016 2:39am
I'm not sure of the exact year but that is an rc 167 lid. Above it is an rc kx80 chrome front fender. Most are new, but some are worn by actual riders.

This is not my personal collection, but rather a close friends. There are more gems floating his office and home as well. He also has an extensive bike and gear collection.
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Slosh 112
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Mackay QLD AU
3/15/2016 3:13am Edited Date/Time 3/15/2016 3:18am
I see a familiar design in Damon Brandshaws Moto 5...




I have Wanted this Fox helmet since it came out, now I see that its an old Bradshaw design. Seems strange that the original was a Bell painted by Troy Lee for Damon Bradshaw then Fox bring out a helmet with the exact same paint job but with no reference to being Bradshaw replica, but call it the Atlanta Image? Unless Bradshaw was dominant at the Atlanta rounds during his career? I wouldn't know, his career was before my time.

Is Bradshaw tied up with Fox now or something?
1
starchild
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3/15/2016 8:43am
NESC838 wrote:
Various photos I've found online and saved to my computer. Unfortunately, none of these are mine. Guy Cooper [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/02/04/122613/s1200_Guy_Cooper_1990_Arai_3.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/02/04/122614/s1200_Guy_Cooper_1990_Arai_1.jpg[/img] Jimmy Gaddis [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/02/04/122615/s1200_gaddis.jpg[/img] Jeff Matiasevich [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/02/04/122617/s1200_Matiasevich.jpg[/img]...
Various photos I've found online and saved to my computer. Unfortunately, none of these are mine.

Guy Cooper



Jimmy Gaddis


Jeff Matiasevich


starchild, this may be one of yours?



Damon Bradshaw





Small sample of Troy Lee's work
Yes.... That #20 matiasevich helmet is mine. Still in my collection today. Oddly enough the #4 cooper helmet from 1990 was mine also. I recently sold that one to a good friend and fellow collector in Hawaii. I have recently been trying to rebuild my pro helmet collection and have acquired several race used john dowd helmets from his earliest Shoei that he won his first national in and one of his factory Yamaha arai helmets. And I've got another very special one coming to me very soon!
1
NESC838
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3/16/2016 6:54pm
starchild wrote:
Yes.... That #20 matiasevich helmet is mine. Still in my collection today. Oddly enough the #4 cooper helmet from 1990 was mine also. I recently sold...
Yes.... That #20 matiasevich helmet is mine. Still in my collection today. Oddly enough the #4 cooper helmet from 1990 was mine also. I recently sold that one to a good friend and fellow collector in Hawaii. I have recently been trying to rebuild my pro helmet collection and have acquired several race used john dowd helmets from his earliest Shoei that he won his first national in and one of his factory Yamaha arai helmets. And I've got another very special one coming to me very soon!
Having grown up in New England racing NESC, I'm a big Dowdy fan.

Please share your collection when you get the chance, I'd really enjoy seeing your helmets.
1
starchild
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3/16/2016 8:22pm
i'm a huge dowdy fan. i actually got to meet him a few weeks ago through a mutual friend and he signed my factory yamaha helmet for me and took a great picture with me and the helmet too. i will say he is an absolute genuine guy and couldn't be a more regular and nicer guy. i'll try to post some pics from my phone on here but i haven't had any luck with that so next time i'm near a computer i'll try to download some to post. if you want shoot me a PM with your email or text# and i'll send you some pics anytime. but i'll try to get some more recent pics of my helmet collection on here
1
SmoothMF9
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Van, WA US
4/11/2023 9:01pm

20230318 145945

 Here's mine... missing a screw but still mostly there... 

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deanwhite51
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4/11/2023 9:36pm

Looking back... Imagine how dull the industry would be without Troy Lee involved. 

1
1
4/12/2023 7:47am Edited Date/Time 4/12/2023 8:57am
Slosh 112 wrote:
I see a familiar design in Damon Brandshaws Moto 5... [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/15/128079/s1200_Bradshaw_Moto_5.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/03/15/128080/s1200_Fox_image_atalanta.jpg[/img] I have Wanted this Fox helmet since it came out, now I see that...
I see a familiar design in Damon Brandshaws Moto 5...




I have Wanted this Fox helmet since it came out, now I see that its an old Bradshaw design. Seems strange that the original was a Bell painted by Troy Lee for Damon Bradshaw then Fox bring out a helmet with the exact same paint job but with no reference to being Bradshaw replica, but call it the Atlanta Image? Unless Bradshaw was dominant at the Atlanta rounds during his career? I wouldn't know, his career was before my time.

Is Bradshaw tied up with Fox now or something?

The gear is a reboot of Bradshaw's Fox gear from 1990 (even showing a picture of Bradshaw in the ad), but Bradshaw is now with Fly, so no replica name.

It was Fox's special edition for the Atlanta 2015 SX, which was a retro-theme race. All Fox riders were wearing the Bradshaw throwbacks there.

 

2015-fox-360-racewear-le

 bradshaw-idaho-cox-2009-014

93516 dungey-atlanta2sx2015 3039d.jpg?VersionId=4TONCkF.q39O7ok

 Roczen-15SX-Atlanta2-Turn.jpg?VersionId=R3Qm9Wlphj62soe2.Chh O9QY6zIo

 

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