Modern Vespa

I just got a new helmet to use while riding my Vespa, so that means I get to have fun with reflective stickers to make myself a bit more visible and to add some style!

This is my canvas, an HJC IS 5.






Thought he helmet is new, I did take it out for one ride, so I cleaned it thoroughly and removed the stupid warning and DOT sticker. I used alcohol to remove any extra glue and my helmet was ready for stickers!!

As this helmet will be primarily used on my new GTS300 HPE, I decided on an Italian Racing theme. Checkers and the colors of the Italian Flag.

First the checkers.





Now carefully peal off the backing:





Now some color using reflective pinstriping.





Now for some directional arrows for the sides, Italian style! I made an arrow template. Used masking tape to hold the 3 strips together, then cut and pasted as they say!





Added some additional checkers along the bottom for some more style, and I think we are done!



And this is how it looks in my dark garage with a flashlight.



Not bad for a guy with no artistic ability what so ever!!

Rick G

That looks great!

Well done!

Nice job! Not as easy as it looks depending on the curvature of the helmet and how much the stickers will stretch around the curves.

Thanks. I have had some practice as I gunk up all my helmets with stickers and decals.

I will also be adding some stripes to my Vespa. Still thinking on what I want to do. I will post up once I do.

Lets see some of your helmet creations.

Rick G

Very creative. I certainly like the idea of being more visible since I do a lot of night riding. Will have to look into something like that. Kudos!

Nice!

These are the guys I bought the checkers and pinstriping from.

https://www.reflectivedecals.com/product/reflective-pin-strip/

Rick G

Cool stuff. Thanks for the link!

I've bought quite a bit from them over the years. I like the superbrit black reflective pinstriping. I outline my top case with it. I've also used it on the black BVs along the sides. It works very well.

Here's what I did with our new helmets a year ago.

Trying for the Shoei GT-Air look

Lots of reflective checkers on the back

Good job on the Shoei's!

Rick G

pmatulew

Did you cut all the blue stickers by hand or did you find them precut?

Thanks
Miguel

I added the finishing touches to my helmet and started gunking up my scoot. I added a "65" to both helmet and scoot. This was my 65th birthday present to myself after all.

I also added some reflective striping to my scoot.

What do you guys think?














Rick G

I think all the additional reflectivity will definitely help you be more visible at night. I like it all.
Miguel

Great job on the scoot. Dresses it up without being a total sticker bomb. Colors go nice with the green.

Miguel: I had to hand cut all the decals. Bought chunks of vinyl on Ebay. Downloaded a couple views of the design I wanted to replicate and made some paper templates to tape on and adjust. Unfortunately I quickly found out that the vinyl I bought wasn't compliant enough to lay flat on the compound curves of the shell. Tried heating and stretching and pullling and rubbing and it just wasn't having it. Ended up modifying the design several times to narrower pieces that would conform better. After a full season of riding they're holding up okay. There are a few edges that have wrinkled but I'll live with it.

Yes, getting vinyl decals to conform to rounded surfaces is a pain. As careful as I was, I have a couple of wrinkles and small bubbles. But overall I am pleased with the results.

Lets see more of your sticker creations!!

Rick G

Great Job! I have a white Vespa Helmet that I rarely use because it is boring, you have given me lots of ideas!!!

I like the stickers and the fact that they are reflective. However, the helmet - no. Please don't throw rocks at me or give me the thumbs down, but an open face helmet only protects 65% of your head. Yes, I wore them when I was a kid, but bought my first full face helmet (Shoei) in 1974 and have worn them since. My 2 cents.

Ha! I was waiting for this post . Of course no thumbs down that would be petty. We all choose our risk levels and to this the day the Piaggio dealer still doesn't sell a full face helmet. That has to say something.

Great work with the stickers, looks awesome.

[quote="Harbinger"] Yeah, well I had a good buddy in high school that did a low side and it resulted in a broken jaw and extensive dental work while wearing an open face. There has also been more than one accident on here with the same results. I just don't like seeing people get hurt when it is preventable. I live in SC (a helmet option state) and I am amazed how someone will spend $20K plus on a bike and buy a cheap $50 helmet just so they can ride thru NC. But I guess it's like you stated - that riders choose their risk level. Different strokes.....

[quote="Tierney"] Yup. I have 6 helmets in the house. One aviator and the rest full face. But to each own and on a really hot day I will occasionally wear the aviator or keep a modular on the open position and only drop it down on the freeway.

I've said this before though. A proper advanced riding class with refresher is the best defence. Better to not go down at all than rely on gear. Ideally one does both but man a FF can suck in the real heat.

My "sticker experience" has been mixed. I'll just throw out that the Chinese crap I've put all over the rear of our Kawasaki Mule UTV has faded before even one summer ran out! The good stuff from 3m thats SAE rated last much, much longer. My last few pieces of the good stuff came from ebay seller who buys big rolls and breaks it down. I'm talking the wide type, not the skinny tape.
I'm in the same camp with above comment, it's full helmet for me always! I like my head and brain too much to change.

I once posted something about getting a new open face helmet and the same "warnings," and horror stories started tanking the thread. I think Stickyfrog said it best when he posted: It gets old... Imagine if every time someone joined and posted photos of their new scooter, they were met with the opinion that two wheeled vehicles are dangerous, and then horror stories. That wouldn't be nice, would it?

I think the OP has done a great job with the stickers, and probably knows other styles of helmet exist.

At least the older Vespas (and likely the new ones, haven't checked) wouldn't accommodate a full-face helmet in the pet carrier. A helmet you have with you because you can stow it under the seat provides more protection than one you leave at home (for those jurisdictions where helmets are optional). Then again, a ride not taken because you don't want to carry the helmet around at your destination and don't trust the helmet hook is safer still, but it means a ride not taken.

It's about risk tolerance.

That's not really a thing, is it?
Most helmets get stolen because someone wants to give someone they just met a ride back to the crib, and they don't have an extra one with them. That's why it usually happens at two fifteen in the morning near bars and nightclubs, and they often cut the strap to steal them. If you were going to steal a helmet to use every day, would you cut the strap? In places where helmets are optional, you are unlikely to have one stolen, so you can pretty much leave it on the mirror and it will be there when you get back. I do this with my modulars all the time.
In helmet law States, you can chain it to the bike through the chinbar, but be cognizant that if it rains while you are gone, your head might be in for a surprise when you put it on.

...with all the UFO sightings in the USA there is the risk of being exchanged and killed by a hunting plane...
In my opinion it is enough to wear a reflective jacket, better if it is bright yellow like that of the road attendants; it has a larger surface and is more visible.

Looks like things are toughening up here on MV? Guy cannot deviate the least from a rigid platform established by the OP?
Thread title= Fun, with stickers but not with followups...

Helmet law discussions are inflammatory and hence just a general pain in the ass for the moderators, which is why we don't talk about them. The Open vs FF is bordering on that I guess.

https://modernvespa.com/forum/post2#2

Open vs. full face is IMO an entirely different discussion. I never participate in the helmet law discussions as there's no common ground or any way to really discuss that subject? That is not the point I was after.
Now back to fun with stickers?

Thanks for the kind comments! I totally agree that my open face helmet only covers 65% of my head. It is my choice when I wear it. To be honest it is mostly for around town at slower speeds. If I am going some distance then one of my motorcycle full face helmets will be my choice.

I usually gunk them up with stickers too. Here is my latest creation. An HJC RPHA 90.





Rick G

... come on ... you were good with your helmet and then let's face it guys, if we could do it we'd also customize clothing.



These writings were made with a reflective material.

^^^^^wow, I like this. I'm sorry I opened up this can of worms. I'll go back to the NSM side now......

great job 8)

If you are applying reflective tape to helmets, you can also apply a strip to the heels of your boots for extra visibility at night...!

Full-face does protect more of your head.
It also cuts out 100% of your hearing to warn you of vehicles coming close to you.

I haven't had that experience with my full face; that it cuts out all the sound. Maybe 60-70%, but otherwise, no. Anyone else??

Not mine either and I find with the right frequency filtering earplugs worn with my full face I hear important no sea like other vehicles Bette since those sounds aren't drown out by the wind noise.

Coming back from Clear Lake to Houston Saturday night there were a lot of bikes on I45 since this was Lone Star Rally weekend in Galveston. There was one large cruiser, all black with the rider wearing all black gear and helmet without a single reflective or even lighter color spot on it but the bike had red led strips in a shield pattern along his side cases that really stood out. The black bikes with black clad riders and just stock taillights were very difficult to see even with the overhead lights on the freeway. Those with auxiliary leds were a while lot more visible followed by those with reflective pinstripes or piping, on their jackets.

Nice work!