Ghibli was one of those helmets that you’d see ads for, but never seemed to see them on the street. The helmet was a stylistic standout when it came out around 1980. Playboy magazine featured it as a helmet for the fashion-conscious rider. You would have thought the Playboy nod would have given the helmet a big boost, but again they seemed to be very rare in terms of riders who actually wore them. If you wore a Ghibli, or are aware of any racers who wore the helmet let us know.
Ghibli was was a stylistic standout when it came out around 1980.
Rider Files 
Larry, My friend Frank Kobilsek had the only one of those I ever saw. We called him Major Matt Mason, which was a toy astronaut kind of like a small GI Joe. I met with Frank at the Poeria TT and we talked about the helmet. I can’t believe you have done a piece on it. John Lambrick
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Even though he may have not been a well known racer of any sort, he was well known to me as my Pop…my grandfather on my mothers side. He was part of the Raritan Roadrunners motorcycle club here in NJ, and possibly others. Now 84 years old, he’s been riding since he was 13, and still gets on a bike from time to time. The helmet I remember him wearing, and the helmets that he passed on to myself and my father when my dad bought his ’79 Goldwing from him, are Ghibli. We still have the 3 of them, all Onyx black, one in pretty good shape, the other 2 a little more worn. I even had the smallest one strapped to my head (and myself strapped to the back of the Wing) when I was about 5 years old, until my dad had to get rid of the bike when I was about 9. So when I bought my Ducati, my father dug up the Ghibli helmets. I think I’m going to use the one, and I may try to restore the other two as best I can. Just thought I’d share my story. When I was a child, these helmets were THE helmet as far as I knew.
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Great story. Thanks for sharing. I might put the helmets on display or something, but wearing them probably isn’t a good idea. Helmets are good for about 3-5 years and then it’s time to shelve them.
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A friend of mine in 1980 had two of these for his GL1000. The absolute quietest helmet I ever wore! If I could find a store that sells them I would buy one in a heartbeat..
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I had one and loved it rode the motorcycle to work all summer long in the 1980 to about 1986.
I do not know what ever happened to it and now I was looking for another one due to the fact that I now have 4 wheelers and was wanting a helmet
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I LOVED my Ghibli helmet! What a work of art. I bought it back in the spring of 1984 from a specialty leathers dealer in Washington State. It was so amazing, I actually protected my helmet from getting scratched in a motorcycle accident, instinctively. I couldn’t bare to see that helmet get damaged.
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I bought two of these in 1982 from Playboy promo and rode on a 1982 Yamaha XJ650LJ Turbo, was known as the Knight Rider in San Diego party circles. Had a collection of Turbo bikes; 1982 Honda CX500TC, 1982 Yamaha XJ650LJ, 1983 Honda CX650TC, 1984 Kawasaki GPZ750E. Owned all at the same time, rode different one each day, known as TURBO also. Had a 1975 Yamaha DT250 Enduro highly modified too as a street killer, detailed this one and the Yamaha Turbo into BATCYCLES, was known as BATMAN! Ahh, the good ole days, those bikes are gone but still have all the gear. I use the Ghibli’s still, rebuilt the lever mechanics and sewn new liners, Painted flat black with the smoked shield. I ride in N.W.Arkansas area today with my restored 1984 Honda VF1000F, still get looks with the alien looking helmet, especially when I flip the visor and they see a leather clad face inside. Can see the whole picture story of my bike collection and the gear at honda84vf1kf@yahoo.com Flicker account open to public. Will be traveling soon the Dallas and Memphis areas, look for me and ask about the helmet if you dare!
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I have 3 , of them one in which was used just for spare parts, the other two I converted in Street Hawk replicas helmets . Both have the factory tinted visor but one visor is cracked and I try not to open and close it to much so that the crack doesn’t travel and break . They are still sleek by todays standards in my opinion and I’m currently searching for a factory tinted visor so If anyone wants to sale me one let me know ….
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I bought a red Ghibli in 1981 für my Zündapp GTS 50. I loved both the helmet and the light motorcycle. I used this helmet for several years with pride. After an accident with slight damages, I changed to Nolan, because Ghibli was hard to get in between. Beautiful memories….
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Me and a buddy where talking about these last week. We each bought one from Playboy ad in the 1980’s. Mine was electric blue. Very light helmet. Wish I still had it.
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I had one in the 80’s. It looked like a black egg. I got some ribbing about the egg shape but it was great and anyone who actually tried it agreed. It was super quiet and I loved the venting ability with the small movement of the lever at the bottom; never fogged.
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My second helmet was a Ghibli, it instantly became my regular helmet.
I loved how the visor would lever down then snap backwards and seal over your face. Sold it with all seven of my Norton Commandos.
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I get one! Yesterday! And its more than nice! Its beatifull!
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I bought one in the mid-eighties from a magazine ad. Quietest helmet I’ve ever had. I wish they would bring them back. Had a bad accident in 1986, the helmet sustained quite a few scratches but protected me very well. I kept it for another 10 years or so just as a testament to my protection. It was the orange/red color that really stood out. Miss that quiet.
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Hallo habe heute einen in Rot erworben,er ist in einem sehr gutem Zustand, freue mich sehr werde es ausprobieren mit meiner GS 1000, GS 750L,und Gpz 750 schöne Grüße aus Ungarn.
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I purchased my Ghibli June 1983 from an add in a motorcycle magazine. Once it arrived I was more than pleased. I loved the lever actuated shield and the sexy shape. It was also quiet and comfortable. Unfortunately I had a high speed wreck on my Suzuki 550GSES only one year later, and although the Ghibli helmet held up perfectly and saved my precious head, I knew I could not safely use it again. At some point I lost it after a few military moves.
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I owned a pair of Ghibli helmets…rode allot with them. Wish I still had them, they were the quietest for touring and sealed much better in the rain than the Nolan N105’s and later helmets I have. If I could get a new Ghibli today, I would. I am in the USA.
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