Skip to main content You must wear a safety helmet that meets British safety standards when riding a motorcycle or moped on the road. All helmets worn on UK roads must meet one of the following: British Standard BS 6658:1985 and carry the BSI Kitemark a European Economic Area member standard offering at least the same safety and protection as BS 6658:1985, and carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark SHARP - the helmet safety scheme The Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme (SHARP) shows you approved helmets and how much protection they offer. If you ride with a visor or goggles they must either: meet a British Standard and display a BSI Kitemark meet a European standard offering at least the same safety and protection as the British Standard and carry a mark equivalent to the BSI Kitemark (UNECE Regulation 22.05) There’s no law about wearing other protective clothing, but specialised motorcycle gear is highly recommended - it could save your life.

Download ‘The essential guide to protective gear for bikers’ (PDF, 432KB) Last updated: 3 October 2016 Help us improve GOV.UK Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. What you were doingThe Australian Standard used to certify safety for motorcycle helmets is extremely tough and it's expensive for helmet manufacturers to obtain the certification. This has deterred international brands from releasing a wide variety of helmets in the local market. So what happens when you want to buy and use a helmet from overseas? Is it even legal to do so? Woman wearing motorcycle helmet image from Shutterstock For the longest time, Australian motorcycle riders were only able to wear helmets that were certified under the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1698 or approved by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ). Helmets that were legal to wear and, by extension, able to be sold in the country had to have a sticker on the back of them indicating that they comply with the Australian certification.

This put a lot of helmet manufacturers off considering they already had to have their products accredited under widely-recognised standards and meeting the ones that are specific to Australia, a comparatively small market, just didn't seem worth it. Which is why you'll find that Australian motorcycle accessory retailers generally carry a limited range of helmets.motorcycle ear plugs sydney But thanks to the internet and the rise of online shopping, motorcyclists were able to access a wider range of helmets with a swathe of funky designs, although they still ran the risk of being fined if they are caught with ones that don't comply with AS/NZS. red wing boots midland tx hoursThere is also the issue of buying a helmet before being able to try it; motorcycle test centres cheshire

if it doesn't fit just right then then it wouldn't be safe to use and then there's the hassle of having to send the product back... if there is a refund policy at all. The joys of online shopping. In recent years, the situation has gradually shifted as Governments in different states began to recognise the consumers' desire to access a bigger range of helmets. pawn shop motorcycle jacketYes, the point of enforcing compliance for helmets is obviously a good thing to protect motorcyclists when they have an accident, but there are global standards that are comparable to AS/NZS 1698, such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 22 (UNECE22.05), and there's little reason to exclude those helmets from the local market.motorcycle for sale bmw k1600gt Queensland was one of the first states to accept European standards motorcycle helmets and Victoria followed suit in August last year. ural motorcycle dealers massachusetts

NSW has also specified that it is now legal to wear motorcycle helmets that meet the UNECE22.05 (also known as ECE22.05) standard. More good news for Australian motorcyclists who want more choice in the helmet they have access to came in November last year when the Minister for Small Business Kelly O'Dwyer revoked the part of the national Consumer Law which prohibited the sale of any helmet that doesn't meet the A/NZS Standard. hjc motorcycle helmet ac-3Now retailers are legally allowed to sell helmets that are rated under the UNECE22.05 Standard.j&s motorcycle lift stand Did you just catch yourself wondering if something was legal or not? bent bike motorcycle salvage storeLet us know and we may be able to answer it in our next Is It Legal? sidi winter motorcycle boots

It is  important that you start with a high quality motorcycle helmet that will last a long time and withstand the stress and beating that you are likely to give it. So included above are a few “Clean Slate” Helmets. If you are a Do-it-yourself (DIY-er) like me, for a truly custom motorcycle helmet there are two options: One technique uses an air gun for the application and the other uses a brush. indian motorcycle shop fargo ndWhile the difference in techniques seems simple, the style that results is dramatically different. motorcycle repair in mansfield ctWith more surface area to work with, including the front chin guard and visor, the full face helmets are open to a LOT of options. honda motorcycle dealer in lebanon pa

Some of my personal favorites are the Smiley Bandit Helmets and the Crystal and Spike Helmets.  Half Helmets, 3/4 Helmets, or retro-style  also have a large surface area to work with for custom painting, airbrushing, and adding accessories. If you have been riding a motorcycle of any kind for any amount of time you probably know that the helmets that you choose to wear come in many shapes, sizes and designs. motorcycle shop in conyers gaSome helmets can sit high on your head, tight side-to-side, or even tighter yet from front-to-back. motorcycle shop in hattiesburg msThe key to finding a great fitting helmet is knowing your exact head measurements and finding a great fitting helmet by researching which helmet brands are most suitable for you (your custom comfort and needs.)motorcycle shop in weston super mare

So why do most bikers not have any idea what their own head size is, and what style of helmet is most suitable for them to wear? My opinion on this is that most bikers and riders don’t care as much about comfort and fitment as they do about looks. Form over Function (ladies; you may be more guilty of this than your counterparts.) This is why I have collected some Badass Motorcycle Helmets for you to check out and find your perfect mix of both style and comfort.motorcycle shops in lismore100% REAL Carbon Fiber Sunglasses –>motorcycle shops in punta gorda florida I know, a lot of the helmets that you (and me) want to buy cost a good chunk of $$. motorcycle shops in burleson texas