Helmet ok in a suitcase?

[P675]

Hi all. I'm off to Lanzerote I'm a few months and I'm considering renting a bike to see the island for a day. I would like to take my helmet, jacket, trousers, boots and gloves. Do you think a helmet would be fine getting chucked around in a case? I would have to buy a new hard shell case I suppose as the ones I have are soft.

[Mad Maximus]

It depends on how well it’s packaged. I don’t think it being thrown around is an issues it’s just the landings. As long as it’s packaged well it should be fine but I imagine you would need a very thick suitcase. Can’t you take it as hand luggage and use the inside of the helmet as a bag for your bits?

[Rubin215]

I don't know why you're worrying, you're going to be on holiday!

Surely shorts, t-shirt, flip-flops and whatever old skid-lid the hire place has knocking around will be fine?



On a more serious note, make sure and check your travel insurance covers you for riding a motorcycle just in case the worst happens, I know that some policies specifically exclude this.

[P675]

Rubin215 said:

I don't know why you're worrying, you're going to be on holiday!

Surely shorts, t-shirt, flip-flops and whatever old skid-lid the hire place has knocking around will be fine?

About 10 years ago I did this on a moped in Majorca, with only about 15 minutes previous on road experience. Won't be doing that now having come off bikes a few times since

[Krikkit]

I had the same thoughts as you - we're in Tenerife in September and I'll be grabbing a bike for a couple of days for some fun.

I've got a cheap Oxford helmet bag which I'll be putting it in 1st, then into a hard-shell suitcase, I'm sure it'll be fine.

[Rollin]

I've had no issues travelling 4 times with mine, Although I use a large soft bag. I take out all the armour from jacket and jeans and put them round the helmet.

[monthou]

I've carried mine in the past (Ryanair) and had no issues. If challenged I toyed with the idea of sticking it on my head and claiming to be a very nervous flyer.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Always take mine hand luggage as a hat. No issues on easyJet, Air France or British Airways

[-Cappo-]

Likewise, I’ve taken mine many many times and always as hand luggage, never been stopped or asked. I’d do the same re the hat option if pushed! If you watch some baggage handlers, no way you’d want them chucking it around.

Good point re insurance - there are lots of different ways in which the ins companies word and change the approach; sometimes 125 max, sometimes a complete no, some are fine if you have a full license. I’ve even had one tell me that if I shipped my bike out and flew out to join it (which I’ve done a few times) then they wouldn’t cover me, but if I rode it all the way from home to destination then they would. Go figure!

[Bungleaio]

Helmets are classed as ppe so they are excluded from normal carry on allowance so you can take it in the cabin in addition to your normal allowance.

I wouldn’t trust it being in a suitcase.

[jj.]

I took mine inside a Sparco Helmet bag in November to Gran Canaria (for a glorious 9 days of biking).
Took mine on Ryanair, it fitted in the overhead locker. I would imagine if the flight was busy, you'd need to make sure you get on no later than the last 3/4 of the plane, to make sure you get it into the space. As the lockers do get busy, and you need to make sure you're not squeezing it in.

I asked the flight attendant if it could be fitted under the seat. She showed me a line on the floor (that all bags must fit behind), basically the back of the seat in front, there is some bolt/leg of the chair is the limit. The helmet was on the limit of the floor capacity, although the height was a bit tight. If you had someone very heavy in front, maybe their bottom might touch the top of your helmet..!!! Not a situation I would want personally..!!! So better to fit overhead.

No way would my £700 helmet go in the hold, not a chance..!
jj

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

-Cappo- said:

Likewise, I’ve taken mine many many times and always as hand luggage, never been stopped or asked. I’d do the same re the hat option if pushed! If you watch some baggage handlers, no way you’d want them chucking it around.

Good point re insurance - there are lots of different ways in which the ins companies word and change the approach; sometimes 125 max, sometimes a complete no, some are fine if you have a full license. I’ve even had one tell me that if I shipped my bike out and flew out to join it (which I’ve done a few times) then they wouldn’t cover me, but if I rode it all the way from home to destination then they would. Go figure!

I use Navigator Travel Insurance. You phone a place in Manchester and you get to speak to a real person. As I have a number of health conditions and it covers foreign trackdays I find them easy to deal with. I've not had to claim with them, but No Limits Trackdays told me that folk who have done so have found them good.

[SteveKTMer]

I've taken my helmet on a flight several times in the hold in a suitcase. The suitcase is big enough to have plenty of padding around the helmet which is also in a dedicated helmet bag with a hard base and the suitcase has a hard case. Nothing has ever got damaged.

[vindaloo79]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

-Cappo- said:

Likewise, I’ve taken mine many many times and always as hand luggage, never been stopped or asked. I’d do the same re the hat option if pushed! If you watch some baggage handlers, no way you’d want them chucking it around.

Good point re insurance - there are lots of different ways in which the ins companies word and change the approach; sometimes 125 max, sometimes a complete no, some are fine if you have a full license. I’ve even had one tell me that if I shipped my bike out and flew out to join it (which I’ve done a few times) then they wouldn’t cover me, but if I rode it all the way from home to destination then they would. Go figure!

I use Navigator Travel Insurance. You phone a place in Manchester and you get to speak to a real person. As I have a number of health conditions and it covers foreign trackdays I find them easy to deal with. I've not had to claim with them, but No Limits Trackdays told me that folk who have done so have found them good.

I used this insurance company via the online portal as they were one of the few offering adequate insurance for larger cc on a recent trip to Gran Canaria.

I carried the helmet on a jet2 flight in a carrier bag and you couldn’t even tell it was in there to be honest. Once on the flight a couple of guys had theirs on show whilst on boarding and nobody challenged them.

There was plenty of space in the overhead locker around the helmet too.

[srob]

I took mine in my backpack that went in the hold when I went to Australia 20 years ago. I was going for a year but had so much space left in my bag I thought I might as well take it

Packed it full of clothes then wrapped other clothes around it and no harm came to it.

[Biker 1]

Took mine to India many moons ago. I wrapped it in all my gear inside a soft bag in the hold & zero issues. However, a couple of guys in our entourage carried theirs as hand luggage, but one of them was confiscated & put in the hold as it was considered as a 'weapon'!!!

[bogie]

Ive got a hard shell rolling case that takes 2 helmets + gear. Use it when travelling with GF aboard on bike tours, also useful just to use as regular luggage. Bought 10 years ago from demon tweeks, but they dont sell them anymore. It similar to this bag on ebay, larger, this looks ideal for 1 persons kit

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202044914475?mkcid=16&a...

[Rob 131 Sport]

Rubin215 said:

I don't know why you're worrying, you're going to be on holiday!

Surely shorts, t-shirt, flip-flops and whatever old skid-lid the hire place has knocking around will be fine?



On a more serious note, make sure and check your travel insurance covers you for riding a motorcycle just in case the worst happens, I know that some policies specifically exclude this.

I would definitely not put mine in a suitcase that was going into the hold luggage. A very good point regarding the insurance. I know mine permits bikes over 125cc. You’d be amazed at what other things are excluded such as skiing on many policies.

[Krikkit]

Bungleaio said:

Helmets are classed as ppe so they are excluded from normal carry on allowance so you can take it in the cabin in addition to your normal allowance.

Anyone else tried this? Would be handy

[GM182]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

I use Navigator Travel Insurance. You phone a place in Manchester and you get to speak to a real person. As I have a number of health conditions and it covers foreign trackdays I find them easy to deal with. I've not had to claim with them, but No Limits Trackdays told me that folk who have done so have found them good.

I used Navigator Insurance after a recommendation via Horizons Unlimited forum. Easy to deal with and I did have to claim for medical expenses and repatriation after a breaking my leg (Club Class fully flat bed as my leg had to be stretched out flat on the plane) It took three months to get finally paid out but overall I would highly recommend them for trips involving significant bike travel.

For a helmet on board I usually put it in the hold luggage well packed but I'm talking a £200 helmet, not a £700 Arai or something - I'd probably take that as carry on.