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| Thatch | | Thor |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2011 - 09:35 Post title : Bell Custom 500 | | | I recently purchased an additional helmet for use on the upcoming trip to Bled. I am fullfaceaphobic but knew I needed a helmet in case the rains came and my current Davida Speedster wasn't going to do the trick. I also knew I was running through some different countries that might actually expect my helmet to conform to some safety standard (albeit this one is only DOT (which under EU status of forces agreement I can wear) ) , so instead of wearing the speedster and toting along my shark 'just in case' I purchased a new Bell 500 Custom.
This helmet uses the same shell size as their original 500 from 1954 but beefed up with a better composite and padding to be DOT compliant.
The helmet ranges from (I think) $89 - $139 depending on the graphic/paint choice but I've seen a few for even less money.
It's got a great quilted liner that is fairly comfortable. I say 'fairly' only because I own a Davida with a leather liner and I have NEVER had a more comfortable cool in summer / warm in winter liner than the Davida. Besides the Davida (at 3x the price) I'd say the 500 was very comfortable but the synthetic liner can get warm.
It also comes with the snaps that my Davida lacked. This allows me to attach the swanky bubble shield in case of inclement weather. The shield will take up a lot less room than a second helmet and give me the open face that I want without sporting a silly modular.
All in all the helmet is quite nice. I've killed a few bugs with it and had it up to about 115 mph with no issues. Noise is not a problem and the helmet didn't lift (well it did once but I forgot to cinch it down before taking off. The finish is very nice and they have a number of quirky retro schemes as well as a number of 'flake' colors and solids. The helmet does not give you mushroom head though it is larger than my speedster (a lot smaller than a Jet however). I thought the fit was pretty good and after a few rides it fits even better. The sizing was good and I fit well in a large.
I stumbled onto this video as well in case of further interest..
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| EnGage | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/07/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,155 | | Location | : | Grand Rapids, MI, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2011 - 12:49 Post title : Re: Bell Custom 500 (Re: Thatch) | | | What! no Sasquatch version with brown fur glued on 
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| Thatch | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2011 - 16:24 Post title : Re: Bell Custom 500 (Re: EnGage) | | | no need to go fake Sasquatch when you've got the real thing... 
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| BlueNose | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/09/2009 | | Posts | : | 2,478 | | Location | : | United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2011 - 16:57 Post title : Re: Bell Custom 500 (Re: Thatch) | | | Love it, not sure about the bubble but you need something in the hail storms.
Flip for me unfortunately - open face is the best form of travel - no question.
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2011 - 17:04 Post title : Re: Bell Custom 500 (Re: EnGage) | | | Nice lid, Thatch But, PLEASE...
Avoid the temptation to put on a spiked mohawk!
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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| Thatch | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2011 - 17:12 Post title : Re: Bell Custom 500 (Re: BlueNose) | | | BlueNose wrote:
Love it, not sure about the bubble but you need something in the hail storms.
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The bubble is a must. I actually bought some old bubble goggles as well. Sadly they don't work that well with the helmet. The bubbles work great in a downpour and since I've been effectively sidelined during a rainstorm just because of the pain / distraction of getting hit in the face I needed something. But, if it's not raining hard, there will be no shield.
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| Thatch | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/06/2009 | | Posts | : | 3,655 | | Location | : | Savannah, GA, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2011 - 17:13 Post title : Re: Bell Custom 500 (Re: narsisco_lopez) | | | narsisco_lopez wrote:
Avoid the temptation to put on a spiked mohawk!
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I don't think that will be too difficult. 
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| narsisco_lopez | | Thor | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 2,765 | | Location | : | Golden (Showers!), Colorado, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 May 2011 - 17:30 Post title : Re: Bell Custom 500 (Re: Thatch) | | | $140 bucks ain't too shabby, either. Good choice.
| 2012 Storm (SOLD!)
Other Bikes:
2003 Suzuki DRZ400E (plated - my dual sport/mountain trail/camping bike)
Past Bikes:
2012 K13S
2009 KTM 990 Adventure
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600 (the Alien Queen)
2009 Triumph Sprint ST (another great bike!)
2007 Kawasaki ZX10R
2000 Kawasaki ZRX1100
1975 Honda SB550T "Clubman"
1981 Kawasaki KZ1000J
1985 Suzuki GS550E
1978 Yamaha 650 Special
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