Pudding basin helmets. UK road legal?

[nuyorican]

I'm struggling to find a definitive clear answer on this, without getting bogged down in discussions about safety.

I'm talking about this kind of thing specifically. Not half/open face helmets.



So as I currently understand it from my limited research - am I right in thinking that only helmets with the BS kitemark are UK road legal? And that they only test full-face helmets anyway, meaning that this type would not have a kitemark, and thus: not be legal to wear on UK roads. No exemptions for historical motorbikes or anything?

[Super Sonic]

From a quick search, the ones with a bs stamp are legal.

[loskie]

Believe it or not my now dead father developed and designed protective headwear including motorcycle helmets from mid 70's till he retired maybe 20 years back.

I'm not sure if I can give you a correct answer or best guess but I think it needs to be type approved.
He did tell us a lot of stuff. Some interesting some less so.

IIRC pudding basin helmet will be a NO.

BUT

I think you can wear a turban.

It's highly unlikely Police will know. Tinted Visors too may well be a no no.

[nuyorican]

Super Sonic said:

From a quick search, the ones with a bs stamp are legal.

Of which there are none.

Is how I came to understand it.

Cheers guys.

[loskie]

https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-helmet-law

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/motorcy...


in fact if you read this then GOOGLE as in most walks of life has answered your question

[spoodler]

I was under the impression that helmets that dated from before the reg's came into force were still legal to use, despite the fact that a modern equivalent would not pass testing. This isn't borne out by the links above, but, as is often the case, that is just a quick skim of the relevant legislation as it applies to most situations. Number plate info' from the same site is also massively lacking in detail with regard to older vehicles...

[Caddyshack]

I would want a lot more protection. I am
Sure these are right for the USA Harley effect but I am not sure it’s worth the risk.

They defo need a big moustache to go with them.

[Tyrell Corp]

You may find knowledge and enforcement of this isn't that thorough, whatever the law say here, in my experience.

I wear a Simpson Bandit (top gear 'the stig' helmet) black visor for short rides on sunny days. Also I wear glasses and don't like contacts or shades on a bike .

Ironically when I want to be a headbanger on a bike then the Simpson Bandit is poor at high speed, it lifts at motorway speeds and is noisy - it was designed for car racing. Sort of lid that makes you look a headbanger although impractical if you actually were doing a real Ghostrider .

Whilst maybe I have 'misundertood' the helmet law in reality never been stopped in thousands of miles. I think maybe traffic cop not always aware of the law, bike cops all know but seem to overlook it. A mate of mine routinely wore one of those German Helmets to many a bike rally without any persecution.

Edited by Tyrell Corp on Friday 5th January 19:54

[srob]

Old, original ones are legal as they were legal and still classed as such.

Modern ones (Davida etc) aren’t legal. Loads of people still wear them though and I would if I had one!

[loskie]

UK Cops will not have a clue.

[nuyorican]

Caddyshack said:

I would want a lot more protection. I am
Sure these are right for the USA Harley effect but I am not sure it’s worth the risk.

They defo need a big moustache to go with them.

It's just a little idea i've been mulling over. I visit family in the summer. It's a rural setting. There's an ancient scooter-type moped thing there that I thought would be nice running through the lanes. I highly doubt it could do over 30mph, I probably go faster on my pushbike, on which I've never worn a helmet. Whilst I do personally believe in freedom of choice for such things where you're only putting yourself at risk, a lengthy debate about safety is not what I was after. I just know, that if it is a case of having to get all kitted up to have a go on the scooter I probably wouldn't bother and just get my bike out.

[nuyorican]

srob said:

Old, original ones are legal as they were legal and still classed as such.

Hmm, that's interesting. Will have to look into that.

[Super Sonic]

nuyorican said:

Super Sonic said:

From a quick search, the ones with a bs stamp are legal.

Of which there are none.

Is how I came to understand it.

Cheers guys.

I found a few. All kitemarked, all pre-owned, but still road legal. I wouldn't consider them safe, but that's not what you asked

[nuyorican]

Super Sonic said:

I found a few. All kitemarked, all pre-owned, but still road legal. I wouldn't consider them safe, but that's not what you asked

Ahh sorry. Maybe I misunderstood your post. Probably thought you were talking about new ones.

Yes, safety is not what I'm asking. It's more about staying legal by doing the bare minimum. For the situation in which I'd be riding I'd rather not wear one at all.

Cheers

Edit: what got me thinking about exemptions etc is watching an old video on Youtube of Fred Dibnah where he tears off through the streets of Bolton on his old AJS with nothing but his flat cap on his head. But maybe that was before the regulation..?

Edited by nuyorican on Friday 5th January 20:00

[Tyrell Corp]

Ironic one can buy some old cork and leather crap form a car boot sale and use it legally, wheras spend several hundred on a new racing helmet and it is illegal.

The law is bullsh#t would be my defence here.

[loskie]

nuyorican said:

Super Sonic said:

I found a few. All kitemarked, all pre-owned, but still road legal. I wouldn't consider them safe, but that's not what you asked

Ahh sorry. Maybe I misunderstood your post. Probably thought you were talking about new ones.

Yes, safety is not what I'm asking. It's more about staying legal by doing the bare minimum. For the situation in which I'd be riding I'd rather not wear one at all.

Cheers

Speak to someone who has suffered (and their family has suffered) their head injury. See if that changes your mind. It did with me at 43 as a cyclist. Now I feel naked without a helmet but hated it beforehand. Remember not just you but family and friends too.

[Super Sonic]

nuyorican said:

Ahh sorry. Maybe I misunderstood your post. Probably thought you were talking about new ones.

Yes, safety is not what I'm asking. It's more about staying legal by doing the bare minimum. For the situation in which I'd be riding I'd rather not wear one at all.

Cheers

Edit: what got me thinking about exemptions etc is watching an old video on Youtube of Fred Dibnah where he tears off through the streets of Bolton on his old AJS with nothing but his flat cap on his head. But maybe that was before the regulation..?

Edited by nuyorican on Friday 5th January 20:00

No worries. Tbf, on my first quick search I didn't even check if they were new! I think I would rather have one of the newer non legal ones rather than an antique though, as said above by Tyrrell Corps.

[KTMsm]

Why does legality matter so much ?

If you wear anything I highly doubt you would be stopped unless you were doing something illegal (ie speeding etc)

Then I highly doubt anyone would take any further action unless you failed the attitude test

It's a bit like dirty number plates, we all see them everyday in the winter. How many people do you know have been prosecuted for them? I've never heard of any

[nuyorican]

KTMsm said:

Why does legality matter so much ?

If you wear anything I highly doubt you would be stopped unless you were doing something illegal (ie speeding etc)

Then I highly doubt anyone would take any further action unless you failed the attitude test

It's a bit like dirty number plates, we all see them everyday in the winter. How many people do you know have been prosecuted for them? I've never heard of any

You’re right. I’m sure I would, (and have in the past) pass the attitude test. I just wanted to at least put some effort into staying legal

This thread kind of illustrates the confusion about the matter. And I imagine the boys in blue aren’t that much more clued up in general. If I have to have a robust debate on the roadside every time I go out on the thing then again; ‘the juice ain’t worth the squeeze’.

[LF5335]

Tom Logan said:

I was prevented from riding my bike at the Brackley Festival in 2013 whilst wearing one, luckily I had my Shoei with me. I was told that they were not legal on the road nor allowed by the ACU.

If so, how come Michael Dunlop and Cam Donald were allowed to wear them in the IOM whilst riding garden gates?

I’m going to guess at the fact the Isle of Man has its own laws and legal system that are bugger all to do with the UK and that the ACU has even less relevance to the TT.