Helmet Hunter

The Atlantic City Vandal has been one of the most celebrated helmet designs of 2009. Casino-themed and inspired graphics from a roulette table, cards, dice, chips and dollars—surely, if this is your thing, this is your helmet. Below are photos of all views of the helmet.

The Suomy Vandal is an entry-level model that carries the features found in Suomy’s premium helmets. It has a very aggressive look even with a flat base, and is of top-notch quality. Of course, as with all Suomy helmets, this has passed all standards concerned with motorcycle safety.

Helmet Hunter best found deal: $422.95

Some features

• Removable air deflector for nose
• Top quality hypo-allergenic lining
• Special sound-absorbing polymers
• High impact resistant composite thermoplastic resin shell
• Lightweight scratch-proof, anti-fog, impact-resistant visor with safety-lock visor system

Photos of Atlantic City

For those of you looking for a replacement face shield for your Suomy Spec 1R and Spec 1R Extreme, look no further. OEM Suomy shields are available for purchase, either as a replacement or a backup, say you want a different shade. A number of available shades are available—clear, light smoke, dark smoke, iridium (mirror), iridium blue, iridium gold, and amber.

All shields are anti-scratch and anti-fog, and has a 3.2-ounce shipping weight. Options for all Suomy-size helmets available. Retail price: $47.95. Helmet Hunter’s best found deal: $44.57. Click here to choose your size and shade combination.

The first to make a Giacomo Agostini was Arai (some 5 years ago), using its RX-7 as a base platform. The latest, but already currently discontinued (check for stocks), model is the Ti-Tech Evolution Agostini, by AGV, which came in green, white, red and gold, and had “Ago 1″ printed on the left (red) side. Also written was “World Champion” and his race number “15″ just below the visor, right around the chin area. It had some gold stars as well, and Ago’s signature at the back, on the white stripe.

About the Ti-Tech Evolution

The Ti-Tech Evolution is constructed from super-light Carbon-Kevlar and is the very same helmet worn by Valentino Rossi. It features an Integrated Ventilation System with pure titanium air intakes and channels hollowed directly in the shell. It has a treated Cool Max removable and washable interior, and has a Double D retention system and a clear, flat, anti-scratch, anti-fog polycarbonate race visor with a quick release and tear-off system.

Photos of the AGV Ago Replica

Suomy Spec 1R Extreme

The 2010 Max Biaggi replica Suomy helmet is out. This time its a Suomy Spec 1R Extreme sporting Max’s signature red, white and yellow stars color theme. The replica does not come cheap at $719.95 retail, but you can expect Suomy’s finest race technology with the Spec 1R. The helmet is available in seven sizes—X-Small to 3X-Large, and comes with a 5-year warranty.

The Spec 1R comes with a default ultra tech clear iridium visor, and is rated ultra-light weight at only 1,250 grams. It features structurally enhanced composite fiber weave which is also good at absorbing sound. Finally, the advanced channeled EPS provides optimum venting while still retaining Suomy’s dynamically variable resistance crush zone.

The Spec 1R Max Biaggi adheres to DOT and BSI/ECE 22.05 standars, and is approved for racing by every major motorcycle research organization in the United States.

Images

If you’re looking for a replacement or a spare shield/visor for your Suomy Gunwind, look no further. Visors for the Gunwind and the Ventura are basically the same, and, if you want one iridium-shaded, we’ve got it for you. Original Suomy visors are retail priced at $62.95. Check below for the low deal that we’ve hunted.

The visor weighs only 8 ounces and is considered “free shipping” on most states. Click here to check out your shipping rates. These are original replacements. Item #31370.

Note

Tinted Shields are not designed for night time use.

Image (reference only)

Arai Profile Springer was available in red and blue, and was one of our favorite designs where the theme “simple is beautiful” applies. Red (or blue) semi-elliptical stripe on a white background, with a black star on the side. It sold at a suggested retail price of $629.95, costly, we know, but we were able to find a lowest deal of $479 used (Helmet City), and $481.46 brand new (Atlantic Moto USA), and depending on size.

Check to see if stocks are still available.

*Sorry for the lack of links, but we’ve deleted them since we received a message from the said suppliers running out of stocks.

Check them anyway.

People have been asking for a review of the Suomy Ventura—a mid-end simple-looking closed helmet that was sold originally for $224.95. Tips say that currently this helmet can be had for sub $110, which makes it a popular option to consider for those looking for a backup helmet or a daily.

The Ventura uses ultra-light weight structurally enhanced composite weave fibers, anti-scratch and anti-fog optics and sound absorbing polymers. It has removable breath deflectors, sponge cervical neck roll, close able delta top diffusers. For safety, the Ventura is DOT and BSI 6658 Type A approved.

We’ve scoured the internet for first-hand user experiences with the Ventura and finally we’ve found one. Yes, just one, from a Suzuki SV650 forum. Details of the review below.

“This was easily the best $145 I’ve spent on a motorcycle product. I was using a 5 year old Bell that was alright but I wanted something newer and hopefully quieter. This Suomy Ventura is about as quiet as I could stand. I think the main difference is the bigger neck roll which blocks a lot of wind. Possibly having the shield mechanism covered up helps, too. The model is not mentioned on the Suomy web site so I’m guessing it’s been discontinued. Plenty of web retailers have them for around $150. I got mine at Dennis Kirk. I’ve read the Suomys aren’t a great fit for everybody so it might be good to try one at a shop if you can but I guess that’s true with any helmet. Good luck!”

The Phil Reed replica model from Arai is basically an Arai Vector with a black and white racing theme and a Union Jack on the temple. It is a simple but elegant design, which can match bike and jacket colors blue, red, black and white. It is available in four sizes: small, medium, large, and extra large. It sells at a retail price of $561.99, which is quite a steal considering the Vector is a feature-packed high-end helmet model from Arai.

About Phil Reed

For those of you who don’t know, Phil Reed was an English MotoGP rider active between 1961 to 1976. He had stints with Yamaha and MV Agusta. He was dubbed “The Prince of Speed” and was the first rider to win championships in the three classes—125cc, 250cc and 500cc.

Phil Reed replica photos

For those looking for replacement cheek pads for their Arai Astral, here are some information you might need.

Arai offers original cheek pads for the Astral; it sells for $40.95 retail and is available as a set in four sizes—15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm and 35mm. These cheek pads also fit the following helmets: Astral-X, Profile, Quantum, Quantum-2 and the RX7.

Part numbers for the sizes as follows:

• 15 mm:#81-0182
• 20 mm:#81-0183
• 25 mm:#81-0184
• 30 mm:#81-0185
• 35 mm:#81-0186

Sample photo

So, which Nolan helmet does Casey Stoner use?

The obvious answer would be, the absolute top of the line. But wait, did you know that Nolan and X-Lite are basically the same? They are made by the same company, Nolangroup, or Nolan of Italy. Which means, Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo basically wear the same helmet every race. To date, Nolan’s top racing helmet is the X-802. You can see the X-802 from both Nolan’s official site and X-Lite’s official site, and they both offer Stoner replica models.

Below are photos of Casey’s standard race helmet

Photos of Casey Stoner’s (sick) Phillip Island helmet

So, where can I get me one of these?

I will update this post once I see an online retailer carrying the X-802 replicas, but for now, maybe you can make do with the older X-602 Casey Stoner selling for $460.83, or the N64, if you can find one.