Helmet safety standards / import from USA.

[ec1 eex]

I bought a Shoei helmet a couple of years ago in the states and recently one of my friends told me that this was illegal to use on the road as it doesn't have British or European standards stickers/tags on it.

After searching round the internet I can see that it's illegal to sell a helmet in the UK that doesn't have these stickers on. I'm sure I once read that as long as the helmet I'm wearing should reasonably meet the British / European standards, then it's fine to use. Mine is DOT and Snell approved.

Am I right, or have I effectively been riding round without a helmet that wouldn't be counted as actually wearing a helmet?

Thanks, Phil

[Phone_Monkey]

I had a similar issue, was going to buy a lid whilst out in Japan, but was told that it would be technically illegal as it doesn't have the EC marks on it. However, it would take an extremely ar*ey plod to do you for it as Shoei/Arai etc are well known brands, and just seeing the name should be ok.

Only reason I'm not gettin one in the land of the rising sun is its going to be a bitch bringing it back

[podman]

I had a similar issue with my Arai last year, it didnt have an ACU gold sticker which i needed to do a trackday.

I got a sticker from eBay.

However ive just checked for you and they are no longer for sale, i guess its b'cos of the trouble the ACU got in last year for just selling the stickers alone...

Buy a cheap lid(under £30!) with an ACU sticker , peel it off and transfer that over? Expensive way of doing it I know...if it was me i wouldnt worry.

[black-k1]

podman said:

Buy a cheap lid(under £30!) with an ACU sticker , peel it off and transfer that over? Expensive way of doing it I know...if it was me i wouldnt worry.

Of course, what you should never do, is visit somewhere where there are lots of helmets with ACU stickers and 'aquire' one of those stickers!

[gordski]

I'm sure I read in one of the bike mags, that the lid is not illegal, but if you have a spill, then you might have problems if you are injured claiming on the old insurance

[bully69]

podman said:

I had a similar issue with my Arai last year, it didnt have an ACU gold sticker which i needed to do a trackday.

I got a sticker from eBay.

However ive just checked for you and they are no longer for sale, i guess its b'cos of the trouble the ACU got in last year for just selling the stickers alone...

Buy a cheap lid(under £30!) with an ACU sticker , peel it off and transfer that over? Expensive way of doing it I know...if it was me i wouldnt worry.

You wont get the sticker off without destroying it ! They are designed that way. Drop me a PM i have the solution here !!!!!.

Ta

[slim_boy_fat]

gordski said:

I'm sure I read in one of the bike mags, that the lid is not illegal, but if you have a spill, then you might have problems if you are injured claiming on the old insurance

Is it not the case that the Snell standards are actually higher than the EU ones, and US helmets offer better protection?

[hugoagogo]

afaik you can actually go to the ACU and get them to put a sticker on

another point is the asian market lids are slightly different shaped inside, so unless you are chinese, japanese, korean etc, you don't want one of them

[Phone_Monkey]

hugoagogo said:

afaik you can actually go to the ACU and get them to put a sticker on

another point is the asian market lids are slightly different shaped inside, so unless you are chinese, japanese, korean etc, you don't want one of them

I am!! never knew that I could buy one and get it stickered up, will look into this further

[Muffles]

So if I've taken all the stickers off my (single colour) XR-1000, I might run into trouble if I go to a track day, or encounter a grumpy plod? Why don't they mark the helmet in a different way, surely I can't be the only one who wanted to remove the ugly stickers?

[sjtscott]

Some interesting info here relating to replacement of ACU Gold with a new 1 to 5 star rating system based on combo of Snell and ECE 22.05 standards.
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/acu...

Also comparisons between testing standards here on the Snell site:
http://www.smf.org/articles/mcomp2.html

[hugoagogo]

Phone_Monkey said:

hugoagogo said:

afaik you can actually go to the ACU and get them to put a sticker on

another point is the asian market lids are slightly different shaped inside, so unless you are chinese, japanese, korean etc, you don't want one of them

I am!! never knew that I could buy one and get it stickered up, will look into this further

found it
"HELMET STAMPING
Helmets which are to be mailed for approval and stamping should be sent to:
ACU, ACU HOUSE, WOOD STREET, RUGBY, WARWICKSHIRE CV21 2YX. TEL: [phone]
A fee of £15.00 should also be enclosed which covers return post and packing charges.
Helmets may also be inspected and perhaps approved by most International Technical Officials
at a cost of £5.00."

BUT - ACU stickers only make a lid legal for racing in the uk, not for road use

to SELL a helmet in the uk, it maybe needs an EU standard or BS kitemark or whatever, but to USE one you only need United Nations ECE Regulation 22.05 - so a japanese lid should have that