buster

Wow r2, that's some mate you have there! Thanks so much for the link - it was a treat. Fantastic to see a site where the weights of each helmet was listed also. The Premier 'Free' and Airoh really look sharp. Seems like they are not sold on this side of the Atlantic though, so I will probably be restricted to one of the others. Which may not be so bad judging from all the responses here. Seems like EVERY manufacturer has its supporters here. Thanks again, I really appreciate it

Thanks again for the additional responses, guys. All very helpful It seems that Airoh helmets are not available in the States - at least not that I've been able to find via various web searches. Euro only, alas. Shame, as they seem an excellent lid...and call to my Italian roots. PeterXmas - never heard of that brand....or BVM's website for that matter. Could you point me towards their link? Cheers! My wife uses a Bieffe, and loves it, but it definitely seems pounds heavier than the NZI. Although I'm sure the newer carbon/kevlar is indeed better on that score. Thanks for the tip, TRFun, I'll have to add that to the list! I really like the look of the Arai the more I see the pics and read on other sites about their superb fit. If I can find a dealer, and the cost is less than my first car ($300), I will give that serious consideration. Hey - anybody have experience drilling out the shells for additional ventilation? Just curious. Thanks again everyone. You've all been tremendously helpful!

Gents - Thanks very much for taking the time to reply! (great pic of the Arai also, r2wt). I appreciate all your thoughts and comments. Seems I have a lot to think about! Cheers!

Three years ago I purchased an NZI Carbon Fiber helmet on the recommendation of friends...whom I now disown. It's a good helmet; light, sorta stylish, and...light. But other than that, I have been rather disappointed in its quality. The buckle rusted within the first few weeks, making it hard to snap on and off. Then the plastic cover over the buckle shattered, exacerbating the annoyance level and thumb pain. The visor seems to splinter from impacts with any object larger than a boson. And of course, the liner is not removable for washing. After a good weekend's riding in the summer I smell like a rolling cheese factory. So, time for a new lid. Now, I really REALLY would like a helmet with good ventilation. Because of the unusual ammout of fatty deposits surrounding my skull, I tend to build up heat faster than a Saturn-V booster rocket. Anyway, I was all set to peruse the offerings of any non-NZI helmet out there, when I saw the "NZI Trivent Helmet". It looks cool! As in, not hot to wear. And I want that desperately. Now, although I SWORE I would not put up with any crummy buckle/visor/liner fiascos again...I just love the heat dissipating qualities all that mesh promises! So I am thinking about a new NZI again. But first I thought I'd ask the gang here their opinion. So, gang, do any of you own this helmet? Is it any good? Does it do anything for the temperature of your noggin? Conversely, does anyone know of a (better buckled, removable lidded) manufacturer who makes anything similar? Thanks much!

Well, no e-mail from you this morning, so I'll assume some gremlin in my computer is eating them. Wouldn't be the first time. The heck with the middle man - just give me (Tom) a call: 973-764-6754 Be warned though: I go to bed at 6pm (start work at 3am), so if you call after that you'll have to talk to my wife. Who will melt your ear. LOL...lovely gal, but when she gets talking about trials she never stops. But she'll be more than happy to hear from you if you've got the aural fortitude Good job on getting Trials Comp! They run great articles, riding tips, etc. I think you'll enjoy it. Don't use MX boots with a trials bike if you can help it. As you intimated, they are too stiff for trials gyrations. Plus, they're heavy. And one of the more important aspects: they have smooth soles. Dabbing on slippery ground could see your foot slide away from you, resulting in a hilarious crash instead of a splendidly graceful save. Since this is your first trials bike, that may happen more frequently than you'd like. I used to use Alpine Stars (the model right before the "No Stop") and loved them. They lasted me for years, too. As long as you find them comfortable you should be fine. In fact, ALL the popular boots seem to get good reviews - they must know what they're doing in Cobbler World by now. I currently use Hebo's, and my wife rides Gaernes. Don't see any downside to any of them. Again - just make sure they're comfy. Standing, as opposed to sitting, makes this consideration very important in trials.

Huh - not sure why your e-mails to me were returned. I've gotten a few others from here in the past two months. Strange. Try this one: notepad101(at)gmail.com (Obviously replace "(at)" with "@"). Oh yeah, I've heard a lot of good things about Lewisport. LOTS of good things. I'm very happy for ya. If you call them, I'm sure they have plenty of air filters in stock and will send one (or two) extras along when they deliver the bike. (And what a great deal on delivery charges!!) I don't know who "Ateb" is that you're referring to, but if you know the guy's real name let me know when you write to me, and I'll see if I can dig it up. I don't keep in touch much with the Rt.15 gang too often, but I think I have some of their numbers in a drawer somewhere, if he's one of them. Best of luck again! My wife and I are looking forward to meeting up with you.

Congrats on the new addition to the Saint household!!! If you still have my previous e-mail, gimme a ring or drop me a line when you take delivery. I'm just up the road from you. If you need another air filter, you've got an awful lot of options. How about the dealer you got the bike from, first of all? (Did you go back to TriCounty?) Or, there's a bunch of dealers online. Also, you may want to subscribe to "Trials Competition" - the monthly newspaper for the trials scene in the US. They have lots of dealers advertise, most of whom can drop ship parts very quickly. And finally, if you're gonna be riding at all with the guys in Franklin, they are some of the nicest guys around - and have lots of experience with GG's. They should be able to hook you up with parts or info pronto. For what it's worth, when we got my wife her GG Pro-200 new in '02, it did not have any manual either. We were *promised* one, but none ever materialised. (Her '96 came with a video tape made by Rising Sun, showing Jim Snell doing all the tear down stuff in his shop. Pretty cool.) Anyway, conrats again, and best of luck! Try not to cry when you drop it the first time....

My wife rode a '96 JTR270 until getting a new Pro200 in '02. What a great bike! I've ridden both extensively myself, and I can confidently say that the 200 is the far superior bike. The only advantage the 270 has is low end torque, otherwise the 200 is stronger (feels it, anyway. Maybe from power:weight?), lighter, has better suspension, and better ergonomics. We did have our share of clutch/tranny problems, but I understand those have been sorted out on later models. Really a super, fun bike that will not cost you any points at anything under world round sections. Of course, it's still not as good as my Beta

BigSaint - Sent you an e-mail through your profile. Gimme a ring when you get it.

Hey BigSaint - I live just up the hill from you, in Highland Lakes (2 miles up 94). I've got a Beta, and my wife has an '02 GG200Pro and a '96 JTR270. Lemme tell you something - that small bore Pro has NO problem with power. It slingshots my fat butt (6' 220 lbs) up pretty hairy stuff without breaking a sweat. Don't let the lower displacement fool you, this thing is a beast. Having said that, it's also twitchy and has a flywheel the size and weight of a credit card. You've gotta be pretty good to get its potential out of it. So - personally speaking - for a first bike Ithink one of the TXT models (the "regular" GG trials bike) would be more beneficial. Drop me an email too, at notepad101@gmail.com Maybe you could come up here and try hers, and see for yourself. (Are you using John France as your dealer, or Town and Country on rt.23? John is an outstanding fellow, and a real trustworthy dealer.)

This question seems to pop up once or twice a year. And every time - EVERY time - Charlie Chitlins chimes in with his home grown (literally) cure for Stinky Shell Syndrome. Which is: Fill your helmet with fresh cut grass and leave it out overnight. Some magical property of lawn clippings apparently causes odors to be absorbed into them. I've always felt that environmentally damaging chemicals were the preferable option whenever available, so I've never actually tried this crackpot theory myself. But I will say that I've ridden with Charlie a few times, and although he's not much of a rider his helmet was always the best smelling one of our group. So you may want to give it a go, just for a lark.

It would help immensely if we knew what continent you were on.

Sorry for the OT aside, but... Charlie - have you gotten any of my e-mails? I mean, like in the last 2 years??

Any idea who Beta will be fielding then?

That's easy: Cushman.

It's funny, I actually WAS gonna make that analogy.... Class will out, baby!

Hey Charlie, I know that Werks Enduro in Warren County, NJ was carrying them last year. Bob Howard (NETA Expert - I don't know if you ever met him, but he lives near me) gave 'em a try and said they were very good for the price (I seem to recall around 70 for the rear). The main problem seems to be finding the darn things. Anyway, drop me a line if you want me to dig up Werks' number. Tom ps. Why you sticking new rubber on something you never ride?

Anyone know if Massimo Bianchi (one of the two who has purchased the Fantic name) is any relation to the Bianchi family that owns Beta? Could be some good financing if he is, not just a small operation.

Now Charlie, there you go spouting off from high atop Mt. Ignorance (PA) again. Don't you realize that forearm abrasions and bicep melanoma are the top two career-ending maladies suffered by trials riders? By adding that 1mm covering of cotton and polyester, almost .0031 lives will be saved this millenium alone, and only at the cost of 15 cases of hyperthermia per event. God, I'm dreading the August events already. What next, full face helmets? On a happy Note: Happy New Year to you too, Ron! Thanks for being the best damn support of any dealer in the NETA. Continued good luck to you and the whole brood in '04.