Tapeworks Helmet Graphics Kit

TAPEWORKS HELMET GRAPHICS KIT

CW EVALUATIONS

Fashionable custom-paint alternative

Do YOU FAVOR LIGHTNING BOLTS AND iridescent stripes over more mundane solids? If so, a Tapeworks helmet-graphics kit may be a welcome addition to your two-wheel wardrobe.

Tapeworks (2712 S. Saunders St., Raleigh, NC 27603; 800/232-8273) produces some of the slickest, stick-on graphics we’ve laid eyes on. More than 300 imaginative combinations are available to match most sportbikes dating back to 1988, and virtually all of the 100-plus color choices are clear-coat compatible. A wide selection of manufacturer and sponsor stickers also is available, as are custom applications and fairing decals.

$149.

Suggested retail for the helmet kits, which includes installation, is $149. You must send Tapeworks your helmet; turnaround time is about three weeks. If you’re in a hurry or want to save some money, you can waive the $60 installation fee and paste-up one of 36 “home” kits yourself using the supplied instructions and practice decals.

We evaluated one of Tapeworks’ first kits six years ago. Applied to a fullface Shoei, the result was quite striking, we said, even if close inspection revealed that some tape ends were a bitQ short and others overlapped. Also, the tape job didn’t look as finished as it might, because it wasn’t covered with clear coat, as are many factory designs. But without the clear coat, at least it’s easy to peel up the tape and apply another pattern at a later date.

This time, we requested a relatively conservative design that included Tapeworks’ new fauxcarbon tape. In addition, we asked for the company’s clear-coat treatment, a $100 option.

Based on 1996 Honda CBR600F3 graphics, the red, blue and carbon pattern is both stylish and tasteful. From five feet away, the carbon tape looks pretty authentic. In fact, the design attracted as much-if not more-attention as the latest factory schemes. We also liked the spot-on reproduction of the Cycle World logo, which was done in red with a carbon shadow, and the discreet Tapeworks moniker applied to either side of the helmet.

Mistakes included a minor trimming slip-up near the visor release and overlapping tape ends adjacent to the plastic sidecovers. “Sometimes, we have to do a little overlapping to keep the vinyl in place,” says company president, Russell Masecar. “It depends on the helmet, and we usually try to keep it as inconspicuous as possible.” We also were disappointed in the clear coat, which was loaded with orange peel. At least it hasn’t flaked or yellowed over time.

While our example has a couple of flaws, its positive attributes definitely outweigh the negative ones. Tapeworks helmet-graphic kits are both affordable and handsome, which is why they will probably sell to color-conscious sportbike devotees like hotcakes straight from the griddle. U