I didn't put much thought into the helmets when I moved here, but am now realizing that my helmets are not legal to use here. It's a shame since I have some good quality/pricey helmets that I simply just can not use now. I have a few Shoei's and Arai's that apparently are no good here. I guess they are just wall decorations now! lol I wasn't looking forward to having to buy a new helmet since I do have many already. Shoei and Arai have been the best helmets that fit me perfect, so I'm trying to stay away from buying another one, since they cost a lot. Are the U.S. spec helmets at least good to use for trackdays? Are they worth anything to anybody here?
Just reading up on the laws/regulations here in the U.K. Apparently with the helmet companies there are separate markets for North America, U.K., and Asia. They all require different standards. My helmets are DOT/Snell approved, but that's not good enough in the U.K. Here it also requires an ACU (Gold sticker?) which are different standards. I've heard rumors that some riders(Americans) just found some of the Gold ACU stickers and slapped them on the helmets to make them "look" legal. Now I don't want to be that rider to do that, but spending another $500+ each for helmets, my wife rides with me, so she'll need one, when I already have a multitude of pricey U.S. helmets doesn't sound reasonable to me.
I would be very surprised if the helmets were manufactured differently, shoei and arai are very helpful in my experience try getting in touch with them, they would be able to tell you if the helmets are legal over here or not.
Buy on of these you're sorted ACU GOLD APPROVED HELMET STICKER | eBay Uk helmets are tested to destruction not really helpful in the real world!
I have only gone to their websites and it is noted on their sites, the helmets for different regions are manufactured differently to meet the different standards, but it is a good idea for me to contact someone directly to ask.
Forget about it. In all the years I've been riding, even in the eighties when every daft sod here was wearing illegal Simpson Bandits, I've never heard of a single bloke getting done.
A quick Google found the Shoei North America site with just that question and yes you guessed it, helmets are manufactured to meet homologation requirements in specific countries and can be very different even down to shell shape. Not too sure your basic traffic policeman of GB or European origin has the information to know the difference given the huge variety of helmets on the market. At no time when I have been stopped in the UK or on the Continent has my helmet been examined. If a lookalike WWII German army helmet can be considered appropriate, I'm not going to challenge a US manufactured mainstream helmet. Andy
A manufacturer is not going to make a crap helmet for one market because their government aren't bothered. Shell shapes are because different race of people have slightly different shaped heads.
It's your head, wear what you consider is safe. As far as I'm aware the ACU sticker just means you can use it for racing and has no bearing on road use.
In all honesty, I'm not worried about using the helmets on the roads, I'm actually more concerned about when I go to the track. As I've stated in another post, I'm an avid track day rider and regularly do 1-2 track days per month. So, obviously I have all the gear and then some, but it's looking like all my helmets that I have will not be allowed on the track?!?! Once my bike gets here I'm heading to the track with her and I already have to buy some new tyre warmers as mine are U.S. spec plugs/voltage and a couple of other things to get my bike there, so I don't want to have to worry about buying another helmet.
Done 3 track days in Spain and 3 days in the UK since March and the only check I have been subjected too other than the loudness of my exhaust was the zip on my 2 piece suit. The girlfriend was asked to change her gloves for ones with a cuff. Although the memory is going due to age, I cannot remember ever having had my kit scrutinised. Andy
Well that's good to know. I really don't think there is any big difference between a U.S. Shoei helmet to a U.K. Shoei helmet. If my helmets have worked on U.S. tracks they should work just fine on a U.K. track. Unless you have some kind of special asphalt! lol
If you're wearing Shoei or Arai, noone will check as they would all be ACU in the UK anyway. As @figaro says, if its not a Storm Trooper or Predator lid im sure you'll be fine. Trailers? You'll be after one of these then.... Motolug Collapsible Motorcycle Trailers - Home page
