A long-ovalled open-face helmet, goggles, and the joy of summer

[Moto]

I thought I would mention the soon-to-be-taboo topic of long-ovalling.

My head is a long oval, as I've come to understand from years of helmet buying. Many desirable helmets are too round, and often the only recourse has been to settle for less desirable helmets in my own shape, typically costing much more.

After watching some ninny on the internet discuss how he made his new Bell 500 Classic conform to his longish head by wearing it around the house for days, and after decades of having salesmen explain my helmet would "break in" through wear, I decided to be more direct. I bought a nice 24 oz. dead blow hammer from Harbor Freight, and went to work.

A Bell 500 Custom in size XXL fits me just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine. But a size XL, once long-ovalled, is the helmet I've always wanted. To long-oval it, I whammed away at the styrofoam in the opposing forehead and occipital regions, and then shimmed the areas near my temples with a bit of styrofoam pressed between the existing foam and the helmet shell.

Now I've found my summertime bliss. The Bell 500 Custom XL-LO doesn't act like an air scoop, so I don't miss a face shield. I use goggles when I leave town, and sunglasses around town. I just refitted my tiny Givi windshield (model A230??, a discontinued item, I think) and remounted it yesterday, but immediately found that it created a big wind blast on my face which I had never noticed much with my old full-face helmet. So I took it right back off and now ride naked, that is, the bike. I'm enjoying slower country rides much more than I had with the full-face helmet.

Offered for your consideration: Open face, goggles, no windshield. The airflow is beautiful, the only annoyance being flying insects. I'm considering adding a scarf. I bought a classic flat plastic five-snap faceshield to keep in my saddlebag for bad weather.

Moto, in the wind

[Daniel Kalal]

I bought a nice 24 oz. dead blow hammer from Harbor Freight, and went to work...

It doesn't matter to me what helmet you wear (or don't wear), but I'm curious how you changed the shape of the fiberglass shell with a hammer.

[rocker59]

It doesn't matter to me what helmet you wear (or don't wear), but I'm curious how you changed the shape of the fiberglass shell with a hammer.

patience and determination, I'm sure.   

[Daniel Kalal]

patience and determination, I'm sure.   

Yeah; you don't see many people skilled enough to hammer dents out of a Corvette body...

[MGrego]

It doesn't matter to me what helmet you wear (or don't wear), but I'm curious how you changed the shape of the fiberglass shell with a hammer.

Oh, I thought he was using the hammer to make his head fit the helmet !!

[Triple Jim]

I assumed the hammer just compressed the styrofoam where it struck it, making more room for his head and less foam thickness for energy absorption.

[rocker59]

I assumed the hammer just compressed the styrofoam where it struck it, making more room for his head and less foam thickness for energy absorption.

Yeah.  That's what I assumed, too, but couldn't resist kidding around...   

[Moto]

I assumed the hammer just compressed the styrofoam where it struck it, making more room for his head and less foam thickness for energy absorption.

Yep, that's it. I'll fix up my phrasing.

[Mark Harpell]

I too have the oval head gene.......most comfy helmet I have is a Davida racing style...I know its not DOT but it fits great and looks vintage....especial ly with goggles and a scarf......

[Moto]

I too have the oval head gene.......most comfy helmet I have is a Davida racing style...I know its not DOT but it fits great and looks vintage....especial ly with goggles and a scarf......

The half-helmet, soup-bowl style? You have a scarf?

[Mark Harpell]

The half-helmet, soup-bowl style? You have a scarf?

Yea, thats it, leather skirt,ear flaps, adjustable cotton web interior, no foam..they still make them...the only picture I have, on the Norton seat. I also have the removeable face cover for it...very nice stuff...

[Aaron D.]

I'm oval too-and I like the Bell 500.

[Moto]

I'm oval too-and I like the Bell 500.

That's a worthwhile point to make. The helmet is/was advertised as having a similar (or the same) interior shape as my RS-1 and the Star. But, for me, the RS-1 fits perfectly, while the 500 does not. I may just be an extreme, extra-long shape, and that shouldn't discourage other oval heads from trying the 500, which I agree is a very nice helmet (especially for the price).

[organfixsing]

I have an extreme long oval skull and have found that a Nolan N44 helmet fits very nicely. It is very adaptable to Full face with chin guard, Full face, no chin guard, Open Face with chin guard, Open face with out chin guard and Open face chin guard optional with a front peak, Tool less visor removal installation.
About the U$400 mark.
I have an XXL. My nominal hat size is > 61cm, probably 62 or 63cm but I have great difficulty finding any of those.

Cheers
Brian 

[Moto]

I have an XXL. My nominal hat size is > 61cm, probably 62 or 63cm but I have great difficulty finding any of those.

Cheers
Brian 

Tilley.com might have hats you could use. My head is 62cm, and I wear their 7 7/8 size pretty comfortably. They used to claim they would make bigger hats on request. You might find the styles lacking, though.

Moto

[Aaron D.]

I'm up at 64+, sort of a melon shape but I did get the biggest Bell, so maybe I have space on the sides.

I've done the foam compression thing many times over the years, it seems more helmets work for me at last!

[charlie b]

I've done both forms of shaping.  Hammer the forehead area, or, get a bigger helmet and "shim" the sides, if you can find one big enough :)

I always wondered why helmets could not be custom fit.  Some ski boots were.  Put some uncured foam in there, insert foot, wait for it to set up.  Or, old school, a specific size and shape of shims to fit your foot.  Or, football helmets with inflatable pads.  Some mfgs have different thickness cheek foam.  Why not some different thickness 'shims' for the other parts of the head?

Probably a liability thing.

[Moto]

Probably a liability thing.

Could be, or maybe certification? Bell has a custom-fit high-end racing helmet , available to anyone who can pay. I remember 40 years ago that in-store hardening foam was just around the corner. Also jet cars.

[Seamaster]

Agree, growing your or my head to fit a helmet is critical. I tried Shoei GT-Air (US Version), Arai RX-Q, and Signet-Q, the size range they fit me rather very large. GT-Air is XL, RX-Q is L, and RX-Q is M.

BTW, I ordered a GT-Air XL from Japan, a big mistake! The Helmet showed up with different padding for Jap market, my head feels like a ping pong ball flows in a beer cup!

[nighthawk]

Yup, open face is my preferred way to go. Just want a scratch free flat shield to protect from the usual road flying debris and haven't found one yet. Nolan has been my compromise for several years now, and not a bad one w/earplugs.

[nick949]

Technically, we are dolichocephalic (long headed), mesaticephalic (moderate headed), or brachycephalic (short headed). It's just the way your genetic cookie crumbles.

Nick

[Moto]

Yup, open face is my preferred way to go. Just want a scratch free flat shield to protect from the usual road flying debris and haven't found one yet. Nolan has been my compromise for several years now, and not a bad one w/earplugs.

I'm hoping to get a soft cloth sheath made up for my flat shield when it's in the saddlebag. Last night I tried using an aviator scarf (silk) over my face when the flying insects got too annoying on the highway. It was completely effective. I felt a bit self-conscious though. I suppose if it feels good it's alright.

[Dukedesmo]

  Some mfgs have different thickness cheek foam.  Why not some different thickness 'shims' for the other parts of the head?

Arai full-face helmets have replaceable liners, cheek pads etc. and they are available in different thicknesses for custom sizing.

Don't know if they do similar for open face helmets though?...

[drlapo]

Blah, bugs in my ears riding with an open helmet last night