Savage Designs Custom Helmet Paint

Savage Designs Custom Helmet Paint

CW EVALUATION

Something for everyone

BACK IN THE DAY, YOU COULD PERsonalize your helmet with a simple, down-the-middle racing stripe. These days, though, such an uninspired effort would get you laughed off Racer Road. Custom paint has changed all that, upshot being noggin protectors more akin to art than crash gear.

Michael Savage made his name creating detailed illustrations of the top stars in bike and car racing. Worldwide, he’s sold more than 25,000 lithographs. Now, the New Jersey native is adding custom helmet painting to his resume.

We sent Savage a white Arai Quantum/?, which retails for $427. What we received in return was a samplerflames, grid pattern, lightning bolts, speed bubbles, victory wreath, even the CW logo-of his considerable skill, all done by hand.

Savage is a perfectionist, which is apparent in his work. The finished product is glossy and bowling-ball smooth, with no bubbles, drips or streaks. Functionally, the helmet looks and performs as new, from the vents to the shield mech-

anism to the chinstrap. Impressive.

Because helmet manufacturers don’t want Savage-or anyone else, for that matter-to remove any portion of the helmet other than the faceshield, the eyeport and base gaskets are taped off to eliminate overspray. Our example had a slight buildup of clearcoat around these areas. It’s impossible to see from a couple feet away, though.

With our helmet’s many design elements, duplication would be expensive. That said, Savage says his average job costs $450-600, the lower end of that range putting total helmet/painting costs not a whole lot higher than that of the latest racer-replica lids.

Figure even less for a classic racing stripe... □

DETAILS

Savage Designs 3992 Orchard Dr. Melbourne, FL 32940 321/253-0766 iviviv. savagedesigns. com Price..........$850

Alps

A Flawless graphics A Two-week turnaround; rush service also available

Downs

▼ Can be costly Free time spent polishing helmet