Buying a helmet in the US?

[Trefor]

I'm thinking of picking up a new helmet when I'm in the bay area in mid Sept. Are the helmets sold over there stamped with the same standards markings as those in Europe? I want to be sure I get one that is accepted. (I don't suppose they have a BS marking!?!)

Is it worth it? Are they cheaper?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Trefor/.

[shpub]

They will be SNELL or SFI which is motorsport approved in the UK. Not approved for bike use as they are not BS or EC rated. Import duty is high at around 22% IIRC

[trefor]

Thanks Steve.

Import duty? I've never paid that before.

Hmm, need a suitcase which fits a helmet ...

[zumbruk]

In theory, everything (and I mean *everything*) you bring in over the personal import allowance (which is a pitiful £145, IIRC) is liable to VAT and import duty, to a total of approximately 30% of the purchase price.

(Edited to say that limit has gone up from £50.)

>> Edited by zumbruk on Tuesday 2nd September 14:28

[fluxen]

Look for the rating of SA2000. It's the newest Snell certification and any helmet with it will be an SFI-rated helmet. SA95 is too old a design, I wouldn't buy it if I were you.

[Trefor]

zumbruk said:

In theory, everything (and I mean *everything*) you bring in over the personal import allowance (which is a pitiful £145, IIRC) is liable to VAT and import duty, to a total of approximately 30% of the purchase price. (Edited to say that limit has gone up from £50.) >> Edited by zumbruk on Tuesday 2nd September 14:28

I was playing stupid - I did know about import duty. I didn't know the limit had gone up that much though.

[Trefor]

fluxen said:

Look for the rating of SA2000. It's the newest Snell certification and any helmet with it will be an SFI-rated helmet. SA95 is too old a design, I wouldn't buy it if I were you.

Thank you.

[viper_larry]

I bought a Bell Sport II helmet over the internet a couple of years ago and had it delivered to a friend in San Francisco just before I went out on business. At the time the helmet was £300 in the UK and I paid less than £200 in the US. Just wrapped the box in brown paper and brought it back as standard luggage through customs - didn't get stopped so all was fine