Tag Archives: safety

Safe & Secure

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A bit of a round up of ‘bits & pieces’ that have caught my eye…

ICE – In Case of Emergency

Firstly is the ICE patch… a simple, but clever idea, and one of those things you hope you’ll never need. It’s a set of stickers you can apply to your crash helmet that give the Emergency Services access to your vital info by scanning a Quick Response code.nineteen_seventy_six_poster

ICE Patch QR Codes to make it easier and faster for the emergency services to access your vital information. There’s no need to search your person for a medic alert bracelet. Your health and contact information is at their fingertips. It’s inexpensive and impossible to leave at home. The emergency services can immediately establish who you are, who to call and access any medical information that could help to save your life. They know it’s accurate and current, because you gave it to them.  Some Police Motorcycle Units are now wearing ICE Patches themselves. For instance, the Essex Police motorcyclists seen on Channel 5’s Emergency Bikers are seen to sport ICE Patch QR codes on their helmets. A set of four identical ICE Patches costs £10 plus applicable sales tax and postage. 10% of all of our revenues are donated to road safety and rescue charities and initiatives. Only available here.ice_patch_product

Educate Young Drivers…

A lot of Lambretta riders and scooterists in general are of more mature years these days… and I like to think most of us know how to ride safely and defensively. But I’m sure we’ve all encoutered  car drivers who don’t seem to have a clue, about anyone on two wheels.
Young Car Driver is a resource for learner car drivers and younger motorists that has a section on how to drive around motorcyclists… it’s worth letting friends, family and neighbours know about this one. UPDATE! Since I originally wrote this post it’s come to my attention Young Car Driver are running a competition to win a SatNav. If you want to be in with a chance of winning one, here’s the link.

Lock Down

ScooterlockVespaOf course, you won’t be going anywhere  if you’re pride and joy gets nicked. It’s always heartbreaking to see some scumbag has nicked a scooter – they are so much more than simply vehicles. Sadly, There are 20,000 scooters stolen a year, 80% of which are from the owners home. If you’ve had your scoot nick, get it listed on the LCGB National Stolen Scooter Registry, sharpish. Of course the best scenario is not get your scooter nicked in the first place. Simply parking next to a more desirable scooter won’t cut it, the scumbags will probably have both your scooters in the back of the transit! The guys at SCOOTERLOCK.co.uk  specialise in Lambretta and Vespa scooter locks, and scooter security products. A worthwhile precaution, in my ever so humble opinion.

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A quick look at… helmets

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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.

Biltwell detail_253_DOTHelmet-Red-Left detail_255_GringoFlatTi-Rt large_6_Rootbeer-MF_Side large_246_Bonanza-Helmet-BlackOut-LeftSd large_255_Gringo_Titanium_1 large_255_GringoFlatTi_BubbleMirror large_258_GringoGlossOrange_BubbleClear-Side large_258_GringoGlossOrange-Rt

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.

LAM60017-1 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.07.10 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.07.19 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.07.36 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.07.44 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.08.08 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.08.21Firstly, 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.931166_426885520741256_378916533_nCoot HelmetsScreen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.18.45 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.18.26Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.15.56 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.14.37 Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.13.40Screen shot 2013-05-12 at 17.13.14

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!

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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.

Indicator gloves

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The first thing I did when I got my first Lambretta (actually a Serveta LI 150 Special) was to take a hacksaw to  the indicator stems. This was probably illegal, and it certainly puzzled my safety conscious dad. But they just didn’t look right. And unless you’ve got a penchant for an original 80’s style Spanish bike, (be it a Special or a Lince 200), indicators just don’t fit the Lambretta look.

The one possible exception to this rule, is original 60’s aftermarket accessories… such as the Ulma “Fried Eggs” that I have a picture of somewhere. I’ll dig it out, and post it.

An alternative solution for those needing to indicate their intentions to other motorists may come from the cycling world… with these indicator gloves. Via Bless This Stuff. I’m not sure though. Anybody seen a more elegant solution, or do Lambretta riders and orange flashing llghts just not go together?ImageImageImage

Genuine Trojan helmets

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I know open face helmets aren’t up everybody’s street… but I wear one. And there are some great options to choose from these days. I featured the St. Georges cross version of Heritage Helmets impressive Lambretta range a while back. Now they’ve added to the range with a  mashup with the truly iconic record label Trojan. Anyone who who’s there British reggae will know Trojan records… a brand synonymous with early ska, rocksteady and soulful reggae. So these helmets make a strong statement about your musical tastes… whatever flavour of Lambrettista you are…  mod, skinhead or suedehead… or just a Lambretta riding reggae fan. Hell, there’s even a version you could get away with if you ride a V*spa!. Although for full effect I suggest you ride an orange DL/GP! For the full spec, and the full range, check out the Heritage Helmets website. 
UPDATED with new high res imagery, 3/8/11