Anyone purchased a helmet from Europe?

[djh3]

I was wondering if anyone has purchased a helmet from Europe or that general region. I have been considering a new lid. I am really partial to my Bell Mag 9 SENA. So 3/4 helmets is what I like, the internal sun shield is probably a must have. Most helmets with the sun shield have the operating mechanisim on left side. Trouble is that is the side the comms mount has to slip inbetween liner and shell and sometimes the cable/linkage will no allow.

 

[BajaRon]

Many times an out of region helmet will not have any warranty coverage. Some parts can also be region specific. But since Europe is a much bigger 3/4 open helmet market than the USA, there are usually more options from that region.

 

[crna59]

Helmets from Europe will not have a DOT cert (only ECE).... if anyone cares.

 

[BajaRon]

Helmets from Europe will not have a DOT cert (only ECE).... if anyone cares.

Actually, the ECE cert testing is probably better than our Snell and certainly better than DOT. But well made helmets like Arai, for example, will pass any test anywhere in the world. They just don't bother paying for the test in countries where it is not the accepted cert. I would not have a problem with an ECE certified helmet.

 

[RayBJ]

I bought my last 3 helmets (HJC fan) from Netherlands. Much cheaper for the exact same US lid and delivery within a week.

 

[djh3]

I did a little looking last year and ran across the DOT vs ECE cert. Agreed the ECE cert is more stringent than DOT. One of the articles I read basically said an ECE helmet can pass a DOT test, but a lot of DOT helmets won't pass an ECE test. I will say that I have not heard of anyone being stopped and cited for a non-DOT helmet as a reason to stop you.

 

[Gwolf]

I have been wearing helmets on motorcycles for over 60 years and wore the same type helmets for go-cart racing for about 15 years. Nobody has ever stopped me and wanted to see if the helmets were certified or not. Never heard of anybody being charged with wearing a non-certified helmet. The only one it seems to matter to might be the purchaser of the helmet. Never heard of anybody looking for the date of purchase on a helmet someone was wearing either.

 

[troop]

I have purchased several helmets over the years from motostorm.it and never had any issues. Sometimes to save some $$, but also to get a style not available from the same manufacture in the USA. Two things to keep in mind:
1.) Know your size and fitment. I've had USA variants of the brand I purchased and never had fitment issues.
2.) You won't get a warranty from a Euro helmet.
Damn tariffs have made buying a Euro helmet no longer an option for me. Expect to pay both a 15% tariff and additional processing fee from the shipping company

 

[crna59]

Actually, the ECE cert testing is probably better than our Snell and certainly better than DOT. But well made helmets like Arai, for example, will pass any test anywhere in the world. They just don't bother paying for the test in countries where it is not the accepted cert. I would not have a problem with an ECE certified helmet.

I actually prefer an ECE helmet too... but, I always have to inform my students that if Mr. Officer pulls you over and you don't have a DOT sticker on your helmet, you can get penalized. The students just tell me you can buy DOT stickers off of "flea-bay"...
I'm not going to get into a big debate on ECE/DOT/Snell/FIM... I just know that if a student brings their own helmet to one of my classes and it doesn't have a DOT sticker, then they won't be able to take the class...

 

[3Tyme]

I purchased a helmet from Chromeburner in 2023. I ordered it on a Wednesday morning, DHL delivered it to my house about noon on Friday. They were located in The Netherlands at the time. Their website now lists them as being in Germany. Looks like the went thru bankruptcy in 2024. I would have rather bought locally or US shipper but the helmet I wanted wasn't sold in the USA

 

[djh3]

Yea this whole tax on import thing may put a big kybosh on the entire thing though.

 

[2dogs]

I bought 2 Shark modular helmets online from Europe when I bought my Spyder. During my research, I found that testing requirements in European countries were conducted after manufacturing and assembly, unlike preassembly testing here in the US. That procedure safeguarded against defects entering the marketplace, like the US testing procedures. That may have changed since I purchased our helmets.

 

[rjinaz86323]

Both the wife and I wear Shark Evo One helmets. I find they fit great and I like the way the chin guard goes all the way back.

 

[troop]

I actually prefer an ECE helmet too... but, I always have to inform my students that if Mr. Officer pulls you over and you don't have a DOT sticker on your helmet, you can get penalized. The students just tell me you can buy DOT stickers off of "flea-bay"...
I'm not going to get into a big debate on ECE/DOT/Snell/FIM... I just know that if a student brings their own helmet to one of my classes and it doesn't have a DOT sticker, then they won't be able to take the class...

DOT helmet rules are comical. I was a WI state trooper for 25 years and never ever checked a riders helmet for DOT certification. Why?
1.) The US DOT does not even test helmets for safety. They have their standards and it's a On Your Honor system for manufactures to claim that their helmets meet DOT specs.
2.) Euro ECE 22.05/latest 22.06 helmet safety specs exceed DOT safety specs.
3.) The majority of States now, with exceptions, don't require helmets. Here in WI, the exceptions are riders 16-17 and those riders who don't have a M (motorcycle) endorsement. If a qualified rider is wearing either a Euro helmet or novelty helmet that doesn't have DOT qualifications, they can just take it off. No court in WI would ever find a rider guilty of a non DOT helmet if they meet helmet exceptions.
I get that rider safety classes need the helmet requirement. They should be allowed to waive the DOT spec if the helmet meets either Euro 22.05/22.06 specs. Off my soapbox now.

 

[BajaRon]

DOT helmet rules are comical. I was a WI state trooper for 25 years and never ever checked a riders helmet for DOT certification. Why?
1.) The US DOT does not even test helmets for safety. They have their standards and it's a On Your Honor system for manufactures to claim that their helmets meet DOT specs.
2.) Euro ECE 22.05/latest 22.06 helmet safety specs exceed DOT safety specs.
3.) The majority of States now, with exceptions, don't require helmets. Here in WI, the exceptions are riders 16-17 and those riders who don't have a M (motorcycle) endorsement. If a qualified rider is wearing either a Euro helmet or novelty helmet that doesn't have DOT qualifications, they can just take it off. No court in WI would ever find a rider guilty of a non DOT helmet if they meet helmet exceptions.
I get that rider safety classes need the helmet requirement. They should be allowed to waive the DOT spec if the helmet meets either Euro 22.05/22.06 specs. Off my soapbox now.

I have to agree with your final assessment. If it is really about safety, then an ECE helmet should definitely be allowed. But it's just another example of illogical liability driven policy that we are drowning in.