Australian helmet regulations & other related questions

[Jimmy]

I'm looking into buying a new helmet in the not too distant future. I have found a few which i really like (Simpson and Bell) but they are manufactured in the US. In terms of motorsport regulations in Australia, are these helmets appropriate? I wonder because if i imported one, it wouldn't have the Australian approval sticker, would it? (I think that's what it is called...)

They say they are "Snell 2005 Certified". What is that and is it relevant in Australia?
If it is not appropriate for motorsport because it is not Australian approved, is it possible to get it approved?

Sorry, but i know jack squat when it comes to helmet regulations. All i know is it has to have a D.O.T. sticker.

And onto my next series of questions:
1. Can a motorsport helmet (designed for car) legally be used on a motorcycle? (on the street and track)
2. Can a motorcycle helmet legally be used in motor racing?

Jimmy.

[Fatty]

if he misses this thread and doesn't reply, send a PM to Fattima as he has imported helmets from the USA and knows a thing or 2 about the regulations, IIRC.

[marcusus]

Although I'm not doing any heavy competing, my Bell snell 95 certified helmet always passes scrutineering at club track events and the like.

[Matty]

http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/genera ... Q308_1.pdf

Personally I would never buy a helmet without trying it on first for a test fit. Different models and brands are built to different shapes, some will be very uncomfortable on your head. (Not to mention getting the size right)

[Keith]

Any helmet with an Australian Standard sticker on it is legal for motorcycles. No helmet without the sticker ( even if the sticker just peeled off 5 minutes ago ) is legal in NSW.

[Red 2f MX5]

The snell rating is fine for Australia. It is a worldwide standard.

They will probably have a British standads on them as well. Most Bell do. That is fine in Oz also.

Those standards both exceed Oz standards.

I sell all this stuff for a living.

I use a BELL K1 Sports. Excellent helmet. Not to pricey. It has Snell and British standards.

Cheers
Brett

[Jimmy]

The snell rating is fine for Australia. It is a worldwide standard.

They will probably have a British standads on them as well. Most Bell do. That is fine in Oz also.

Those standards both exceed Oz standards.

I sell all this stuff for a living.

I use a BELL K1 Sports. Excellent helmet. Not to pricey. It has Snell and British standards.

Cheers
Brett

So if i import one and it has the Snell Approval rating but doesn't have an Australian standards sticker, are you saying that this is legal in Aust? I don't want to spend a lot on a helmet only to find i can't use it.

And out of curiosity, do you sell Simpson helmets? In particular the Diamondback? What about the Bell Star? I can't decide on Gloss Black or Matte Black I'm looking at doubling it up as a motorsport/motorcylce helmet.

[BiX]

I think you have to look at from a few different points

1. what do you need it for? Club/state level track use only? motorcycle and track use? national or above motorpsort use?

2. If you want to use it on the road, it must have the AS 1698 sticker on it (not falling of etc)

3. Motorsport wise, depends on what the cams manual/supp reggs say. A AS1698 std helemt (ie motorbike) will be passed for most events (if not all?) in australia.

5. A snell or other motorposrt helmet depends will pass as long as the std is on the list of schedule D, section 1 of the Cams manual...

If your spending good money on a helmet also try rallynuts or demontweaks in the uk. Most of their helmets come with FIA sticker.

[Red 2f MX5]

Tell me the model of the helmet you are interested in and i will let you know if it's ok.

You don't have to have the Australian standards sticker. There are other certifications that exceed the Australian standards. I use a Bell helmet in CAMS events which has no Australian standards sticker on it.

Have you seen some of the helmets with Aus standards stickers on them. You would almost be better with an icecream container on your head.

There are several different certifications you can use here in Australia. Not just helmets with the Australian standards sticker on them.

Cheers
Brett

[Jimmy]

BiX, i plan to get into some form of competative motorsport in the not so distand future. A road bike is on the agenda as well. Speaking of which, check this link out. Its the KTM 1190 RC8. That is one sexy piece of kit. But at a price of $27,990 its a tad expensive!

Cheers Brett. The specific helmets which interest me are the Bell Star and the Simpson Diamondback (i just realised the Diamondback is the same helmet that Stiggy uses but I saw it first!) in matte black or gloss black. I'd also be looking at getting a dark tinited visor to replace the clear standard visor.

[BiX]

If you plan on only doing sprint days and similar and then getting a road bike it may be more cost effective to get a good quaility motorbike helmet that can be used for both. Spend upwards of 700 and you should get a good one. Plus make sure its properly fitted. You have to remember as mentioned above the AS standard is a min std. Most of the good helmets are above the std... the 200 cheapy probably jsut pases!

If your budget allows get the above for the bike and get a proper cams/snell approved one also. This way you can get one open face if you want, with hans posts etc....

[jerrah]

With motorcycles if a helmet doesn't have the Australian standards sticker it is invalid for use regardless of other standards it may have passed.

I'd check with CAMS or AASA.

[Tony]

Hey Jerrah,

This is a pretty old thread. I think a scam bot latched onto the word helmets and inserted the post above.

Regards...