The International CBX Owners Association

Hi all - I gots me an old Arai, late 80's model (Snell 85 certified!).
Great helmets, but the liners on these go bad - foam gets all crumbly, start to smell like old socks, etc.
(I'm sure it does for every other mfg, too). Here is my email exchange with the Nice Lady At Arai:

ME: "Hi - I am finishing up a restoration of an 80s Honda.
I'd like to run it occasionally, wearing a period-correct helmet (the red/white/blue Arai *Freddie Spencer* model).
Do you (or do you know of anyone) that does liner restoration? "

NLAA: "Sorry, but those interiors are not made anymore so there is no way to replace the head liner to make that helmet safe.
Nice helmet!
It should be on a shelf for display as it is too old to protect you any longer but is definately a keeper.
Thanks, Kathy"

-> IT SHOULD BE ON A SHELF !?!?
If I wanna idle down main street in the July 4th parade, providing the young 'uns with a rare sighting of some treasured 80's bike,
I need to look the part (ignore the big abdomen for a minute...).
Does anyone make "parade-suitable" helmet restorations - especially liner (vs. exterior)?
I promise the lawyers I won't go over 20 mph...

~Sleepless

Good question. I too am interested as I have 4 Simpsons ( from 1981) up in my loft with perfectly good outer shells. However, with this Sue City mentality I doubt if anyone would dare undertake the job...

I saw HJCs at Motorcycle Superstore for $39 the other day. I wonder if it would be possible to extract the foam and piece it/glue it into your ARAI.

Thinking aloud, there are helmets with removable inner liners for cleaning (not sure what's involved here.) I wonder if they could be press ganged into duty...

I doubt the removable liners have anything to do with helmet safety. Its the material between the liner and the outer shell that does the work in saving your cranium.

I'm also interested, my Fiber Nava Kevlar helmet is a perfect match for the 81 Prolink.

But, the liner smells like old socks and is falling apart.

I'd also jump at a chance to have a new interior.

Later, George in Delaware

For AliM -
from Simpson's website at: http://simpsonraceproducts.com/faq/

"Does Simpson re-line helmets?
Yes. The helmet must be Snell 2005 to be relined. $125.00 charge for SA rated helmets, $100.00 charge for M & K rated helmets. Helmets must pass inspection by our technicians before we replace the liner. Shipping charges are the responsibility of the customer."

IMO, unless you race with your curlers and barrettes in, I'm not sure why you'd need a new liner on a relatively new, 2005+ helmet. May I suggest some stronger shampoo perhaps?

I started to consider using another Mfg's removable liner in my Arai, but upon inspecting it closer, the fabric portion of the liner and the white styrofoam are fine.
It is the 1/8 inch thick foam on the back of the liner that all crumbly, as well as the cheek pads. I vacuumed all the crumbs out, and am putzing with bicycle helmet inserts at the moment (stolen from the children bike helmets ). I may do bike pads around the crown, and then some proper new cheek pads (different thickness are available as a part of some helmet fitment kits)

~Sleepless

Thanks for that sleepy...