Triumphrat

scguy · 10-25-2007

Do the states recognize the european helmet certification like they do the DOT? I am looking at a helmet but it only list the eurpoean cert. and I try to avoid problems with the police when I can.....

Dirk_Gently · 10-25-2007

I think by the thin letter of the law it must be DOT certified in the US to be considered street legal.

Honestly though I don't think anyone would bother you about it. Look at all the novelty helmets people get away with wearing that aren't certified by anything. If push came to shove a judge would probably let it slide anyway if it came to that since it is cetified somewhere.

JasonS · 10-25-2007

the EU std is considered "the best" by those that evaluate standards, because someone here in the States didn't come up with the idea, an EU approved and certified Helmet is not legal in the USA. Logic? WHat Logic?

rustbucket · 10-25-2007

Motorcyclist did a really good article on helmet testing a year or two ago - definitely worth a read.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...helmet_review/

Weasel Pete · 10-25-2007

Helmets in the US aren't "certified" by anyone. The manufacturer places the DOT sticker on them signifying that they meet FMVSS 218. DOT doesn't do any of the testing either, the manufacturer does. The only independent tester is Snell, but a snell cert doesn't make it legal either. IMO the euro standard is much better, but not recognized in the US probably because there isn't enough beaurocracy and the politicians don't get paid off by the EU.
If you like a euro helmet without a DOT sticker, add one and wear it. It's your call.
I have this one on my beanie. Had it for 15 years, many thousands of miles in many states, never pulled over.
If it's a big helmet that's at least 1" thick you won't have any problems anywhere in the US. The law is completely unenforcable anyway.

scguy · 10-30-2007

Thanks to all of you! The article was informative and an eye opener, I thought DOT was the answer to everything. I could never think the government could be wrong about anything

cpallen · 10-30-2007

Here in Washington, the law clearly states the helmet must have a DOT sticker.

"(3) For purposes of this section, "motorcycle helmet" means a protective covering for the head consisting of a hard outer shell, padding adjacent to and inside the outer shell, and a neck or chin strap type retention system, with a sticker indicating that the motorcycle helmet meets standards established by the United States Department of Transportation"

This is in an effort to keep people from wearing the novelty helmets, not decent EU lids. I have been wearing a German Schuberth Concept for years with never a problem. Love the push-button clasp on the strap. I'm sure that the EU standard meets or exceeds the DOT Standard. I have never even bothered to put the required DOT sticker on it.