Well, they’re new to me. I always like to keep an eye out for a helmet, that while safe (obviously) suits the retro vibe of riding a classic scooter. I’ve posted a few before, like these from Davida. But what if you want to keep that classic vintage look, and wear a full face helmet? Your options are limited. I spotted the Nexx Garage Purist on the Get Geared site… which fulfils the brief! It’s £189.99 and comes with a free tinted visor. 
Get it here on the Get Geared site
Not sure how good a crash helmet this actually is, from a safety point of view (it is DOT Approved), but it’s a definite head turner! If you’re a fan of Tony Stark and his alter ego its… On eBay here
Ships from the USA.
Didier, or to give him his full appellation “Lord Didier Coquoz” sent me this pic via the blog’s Facebook page. He’s astride his ’66 150 Special, and particularly proud of his original 1960’s helmet, hand painted by himself “when he was a kid, a couple of weeks ago!” You may spot that he is Swiss. That scooter (restored by lambrettista.ch) looks worthy of a few close ups!
I’ve never met Didier, but I already know he enjoys a laugh. If I’m ever in Switzerland, I’d love to share a Toblerone with him!
It’s got to be at least a week since I posted about helmets… so here’s something a bit different from Bell… with a ‘weapons grade’ look about it. More than a open face helmet, the additional “muzzle” is ‘purpose built to guard against the elements’. I know when it comes to helmets it’s not all about looks, but this would look great on the right kind of scooter! Available in military colours; Gunny, Black (Matt & Gloss) and Solid Army Green.
I think the Gloss Black looks particularly impressive… in a slightly scary way!
Find out more here: Bell Helmets
In my last post about helmets, I somehow neglected to mention Davida, as one of my readers, biker chappie and blogger The Ham & Eggs was quick to point out. And although I still think of Davida as a relative newcomer to the helmet market, they have been making quality, stylish helmets in the UK for over 30 years. They also are made to satisfy some of the Worlds strictest safety standards, which is nice. Based in the Wirral, England Davida still hand build their helmets, using the best quality material available. Check out their website here.
Their now iconic Davida Jet isEuropean Standard ECE R22-05 certified, and ACE Gold Approved for racing. It comes in a wide range of styles (below are some of my favourites), and can even be tailored to match the paintwork of your scooter. Custom designs can also be accommodated, and their design team will discuss the appropriateness of your design for a helmet. 
UPDATE: I felt this post was a little short on full face helmets… and the one type I did post was $900. So I put a shout out on the LCGB Forum for recommendations of classic looking, full face helmets. Ktmh5 recommended a classic Bell lid, link here, which is nice, but maybe more of a motorsports drivers helmet.
More to my taste, were these from Biltwell, which I was sent to by vegansydney. Proper old school looks, and a nice range of open and full face lids. Prices are more pocket friendly too… the fullface “Gringo” model (DOT approved), coming in at a pocket friendly $149. I’m particularly fond of the “Gloss Hazard Orange” Gringo. The Gingo is only shown with bubble visors, (which I love on an open face helmet), but am not sure about on a full face. Thoughts? The open face Bonaza helmets look purty too… from class white, to matt black and metalflakes. Something to pretty much match any Lambretta then. Check out the Biltwell site here.
The original post continues below…
I’ve posted about helmets a couple of time before, both Trojan Records and Momo Design helmets.
So what other options are there? Tons. Too many to mention… but here are a few ‘honorable mentions’, that might appeal to us Lambrettisti out there. Before you jump down my throat and get all health and safety on me, this is just about style, and not about safety. The vast majority of the helmets are open face, and riders can have strong opinions about that. That’s fine, let me know in the comments.
Firstly, I’ll kick off with some “official” Lambretta branded helmets from Heritage Helmets (the same people who make the Trojan ones). You’ll have seen these online and in the mages, and I think they actually look pretty good. You can get them for about £150 from the Lambretta Store, amongst other places.
Next, and I’m sorry if you are not in Brasil (I wish I was), are the helmets from COOT, (Which in case you didn’t notice is SCOOT with the S dropped off). Nice helmets, you can choose from “Ska” “Bluebeat” or “Acid Jazz”. The names themselves will give you a feel for the site. Classic looking open face helmets, and they use a very nice SX in their publicity shots, what’s not to like? Find out more here.
Finally, for now, I’ll round off with the “Rolls Royce” of helmets. Les Ateliers Ruby. As far as I can tell this is a boutique Motorcylists shop in Paris (edit: Apparently Atelier means “Workshop” or “Studio” especially one used by a designer. So we’ve both leaned something). And they do sell lovely skid lids. But they ain’t cheap. They start at €550 for an off the peg “Pavilion” (or €880 for a visored “Belvedere”) and from €710 for a “A la Carte” option from their online helmet design feature. For the truly loaded you can design your own helmet from scratch. New to the range is the fantastic full face Castel, which will set you back €930. But it is a thing of beauty. Now, I think a open face lid sets off a Lambretta rather well, (unless you’ve got a really fast one), but these full face helmets are a bit special, and would compliment any classic scoot. If you could afford to ride your pride and joy after shelling out for one!
So, that’s my rather brief and uncomprehensive, not to say unrealistic look at helmets. And really, safety and fit should come before style. But I’m rather unqualified to judge that, just make sure before you buy yours that it meet all the relevant standards, and it fits. So, what do you wear? Have you got a favourite lid you think I should feature? Know any other classic looking full face helmets? Let me know.
You’d need to be a certain kind of person to pull off wearing this; and probably need a nice LD or Series I with period tartan seat covers and wheel covers to go with it. Personally, although a proud scot, I was never sure about the tartan accessories that you could ‘dress’ your scooter with, but it’s a look, and when it’s done well it certainly evokes the era of the scooter.
And I’ve never been convinced about deerstalkers. Unless your Sherlock Holmes, leave well alone. I know some of the original mods wore them (briefly!), and there was a bit of a fad for them in the early ’80’s… very much part of the “casual” movement… worn with belted, burgundy leather jackets, very pale jeans frayed at the bottom and kickers. Or perhaps I’m getting all of that wrong, the casual thing never really grabbed me, I stuck with my charity shop/carnaby street mod revival look. Anyway, if I was going to wear a deerstalker, one in Cameron tartan (which I think this is) would come close to top of the list.
But if you’ve got the cojones to pull it off, here’s the bash hat that will make you stand out in the crowd. Although I certainly wouldn’t reccomend it for everyday wear. Buy it now for £160 on eBay.
I reckon it will go to Japan. They like this sort of thing out there!
Liking the look of this new design, coming soon from Heritage Helmets. Check out there full range of Helmets, specially designed to compliment your classic scooter here.
Towards a catalogue of London’s interdimensional gateways
Musings and books from a grunty overthinker
Specialising in Lambretta restorations, repairs & parts
independent scooter magazine
High quality ads for WordPress
They've done the hard work. Can YOU finish it?
Business & Marketing Consultant
Classic Motorcycle Restoration in Scotland
You’ve earned it. You deserve it. Buy it now.
1979 to 1986
A great WordPress.com site
lambrettista.net 