Helmet Paint - Updated with pics!

KTMShane699
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Colchester, CT US
Edited Date/Time 1/19/2016 6:14pm
Custom helmet paint threads here seem to generate some buzz. I recently ordered a Bell Moto-9 Carbon Flex for this upcoming season. Right after getting it, I knew it was going to go off to Lee Helliwell of Hellion Designs so he could work his magic on it. We discussed some ideas back and forth and I told him I wanted to go kind of retro with a 90's theme. We picked a few old school Kiedrowski lids to pull some inspiration from. I'd always thought he had some awesome helmets back in the day. They were always clean, patriotic and stood out to me. Lee said that in order to do that and modernize it, we'd have to execute it well. I took it a step further when I told him I wanted to have some exposed carbon, some gloss and some matte finish on the helmet. Lee took on the challenge willingly even after I told him if he didn't think we could pull it off well that we could go in a different direction.

Fast forward to a few weeks later...I get a text over the weekend saying "This thing is baaaadd!" And today I get another text saying it's the "best paint iv'e done yet." For those who don't know, Lee has been around a while and painting helmets for more than a day or two.

The bad part is I don't get to see it until tomorrow. Not even a photo to get my imagination going. So once I pick it up, I'll post up a few pics so it can be checked out! And if you're ever looking to get some work done, contact Lee. He's a great guy, does great work and even posts here on Vital.

I'll also include the three photos I gave him for ideas so you can see what he had to work with.

Shane







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Crush
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1/18/2016 4:58pm
Looking forward too it, Kied was my fav rider in the early 90s, bad dude.
hellion
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Westfield, MA US
1/18/2016 6:16pm
Thanks for the kind words Shane. I really like the helmet Troy Lee did that's at the top of your list above. When doing a retro helmet I really try to stay true to the original design as much as possible, otherwise people won't even recognize where the inspiration came from. Most of the changes are in the details and personalization. Hopefully you like it as much as I do.
Drakep2
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Loretto, TN US
1/18/2016 6:24pm
Really looking forward to it! I just got a new 6d and was thinking about getting it painted. I have a question though.... is painting expensive? I really like how it makes you stand out and how your helmet is a one off. I may just order some stickers with name and number if it is too much. High school with no job and a passion for motocross is not ideal
KTMShane699
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1/18/2016 6:57pm
Drakep2 wrote:
Really looking forward to it! I just got a new 6d and was thinking about getting it painted. I have a question though.... is painting expensive...
Really looking forward to it! I just got a new 6d and was thinking about getting it painted. I have a question though.... is painting expensive? I really like how it makes you stand out and how your helmet is a one off. I may just order some stickers with name and number if it is too much. High school with no job and a passion for motocross is not ideal
Ask Hellion who just posted above. He's the man when it comes to painting lids. There's a great source of info that can answer all your questions right here at your fingertips!

Shane

The Shop

1/18/2016 7:04pm
Definitely want to check this out. I've seen a lot of Lee's stuff, seen a good bit in person too and it always looks top-notch.

I'm definitely a big custom paint fan. I've only ever had 1 done, but I've recently sent another one out to a Mark Koch in Texas. I've seen some of his in person too and it's really good stuff too, so I can't wait to get this one back.

Jerry Bernardo used to paint some wicked stuff too!
KTMShane699
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1/19/2016 8:23am
And here it is! Lee killed it. Thanks Lee. The attention to detail is amazing.

Shane












hvaughn88
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1/19/2016 8:24am
holy hell, that turned out incredible. Nice work Hellion!
huck
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Mountain Home, AR US
1/19/2016 8:29am
Drakep2 wrote:
Really looking forward to it! I just got a new 6d and was thinking about getting it painted. I have a question though.... is painting expensive...
Really looking forward to it! I just got a new 6d and was thinking about getting it painted. I have a question though.... is painting expensive? I really like how it makes you stand out and how your helmet is a one off. I may just order some stickers with name and number if it is too much. High school with no job and a passion for motocross is not ideal
If you have to ask...then it's probably too expensive. Or, if you're debating on using stickers, instead of paint...it's probably too expensive.
mattyhamz2
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1/19/2016 8:37am
Hell ya that is badass!!!!!! When I get a chunk of change I know exactly where I'm sending my helmet. Badass work from your painter! I'd be afraid to wear it now though.
KTMShane699
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Colchester, CT US
1/19/2016 8:42am
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Hell ya that is badass!!!!!! When I get a chunk of change I know exactly where I'm sending my helmet. Badass work from your painter! I'd...
Hell ya that is badass!!!!!! When I get a chunk of change I know exactly where I'm sending my helmet. Badass work from your painter! I'd be afraid to wear it now though.
Thanks! I'm lucky to have him close by and to have been working with him for a number of years now. Guessing I'd say he's been painting helmets for me for about fifteen years or so. It's been awesome to watch him progress and keep up with the current trends (while also setting some himself). He's a super humble guy with amazing vision. I can't say I've ever been disappointed with his product or his ability to put the vision on the helmet. If you send him a helmet, you won't be disappointed in the product. The wait is the worst part. And there's no sneak previews!

Enjoy,
Shane
Meister
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Canton, OH US
1/19/2016 8:59am
Helmet looks sick. I haven't had a custom painted lid in 10 years or better. However, this post makes me wanna again.. Maybe hellion can chime in on rough estimate pricing? I used to have pro art works do most of my helmets. Don't even know if they're still around.
gt80rider
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1/19/2016 9:07am
Now that is bad ass, I am seriously jealous.
mxb2
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Bowie, MD US
1/19/2016 9:09am
And here it is! Lee killed it. Thanks Lee. The attention to detail is amazing. Shane [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/01/19/120468/s1200_image.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/01/19/120469/s1200_image.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/01/19/120470/s1200_image.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/01/19/120471/s1200_image.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/01/19/120472/s1200_image.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/01/19/120473/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
And here it is! Lee killed it. Thanks Lee. The attention to detail is amazing.

Shane












Nicccccee, great lookin lid. Congrats Shane
MR. X
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1/19/2016 9:17am
Would you like me to drop it for you ?
Starcrossed
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New Bedford, MA US
1/19/2016 9:24am
Dynamite job...awesome helmet, may it serve you well.
1/19/2016 9:38am
Looks great! I love the look of the stars and stripes next to the other colors.
Gary105
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Douglas, MA US
1/19/2016 9:51am
hellion wrote:
Thanks for the kind words Shane. I really like the helmet Troy Lee did that's at the top of your list above. When doing a retro...
Thanks for the kind words Shane. I really like the helmet Troy Lee did that's at the top of your list above. When doing a retro helmet I really try to stay true to the original design as much as possible, otherwise people won't even recognize where the inspiration came from. Most of the changes are in the details and personalization. Hopefully you like it as much as I do.
Lee you do some amazing work let me tell you.... WOW!!!!
731chopper
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1/19/2016 10:06am
That looks fantastic. I'd also like to hear a ballpark on the pricing from Hellion. I've never had a helmet custom painted but have always wanted to and may be interested now.
hvaughn88
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Conway, AR US
1/19/2016 10:10am
I really like having the matte black and carbon adjoining each other. I've always found that very aesthetically pleasing.
1/19/2016 10:27am
Very nice!

Good choices to play off of, but this one is well played as well.

Congrats to both of you.

Zycki11
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Ankeny, IA US
1/19/2016 10:40am
Yep, he crushed it. I would be in quite the pickle for sure. Every new helmet I buy I drop on the ground and nick it on purpose. I don't think I could bring myself to doing that with a paint job of that caliber. Pretty damn smexy if you ask me.
hellion
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Westfield, MA US
1/19/2016 11:13am Edited Date/Time 1/19/2016 11:58am
Thank you guys for the compliments!! To the guys who asked about pricing; I rarely if ever come here to promote what I do. I just come here to hang out with fellow moto heads. I'm also not sure how GuyB and ML feel about self promotion, but I suppose I could say that custom paint jobs have been between 5 and 7 hundred average lately, usually toward the lower end of that number. I do have a Facebook page for more info too.

And Shane, so good to make you happy. After the year you've been through you sure do deserve it. Give that lid a roll through the grass before you wear it, even if only for superstition's sake it makes me feel better.
Meister
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1/19/2016 11:48am
Thanks for the rough estimate.
nytsmaC
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1/19/2016 12:17pm
MR. X wrote:
Would you like me to drop it for you ?
That would be the true old-school method of breaking in a freshly painted lid.. When he hands you that masterpiece, you have to slam it against the corner of your box van bumper before you break eye contact.

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