old trials fanatic Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Now firstly sorry to post this in this section but i respect the advice and opinions of the contributors. I have just bought a new NZI carbon fibre helmet from Sammy Millers to use when riding the B40 in local Pre 65 trials as i understand helmets are now compulsary. On opening the box i noticed the helmet didnt have an ACU gold sticker. Didnt have any ACU sticker to be precise. Rang Sammy Miller and they said that was right that the helmets are not ACU approved but that this shouldnt be a problem. Now in your opinion and experience is this so? I would have assumed that Sammy Millers being a major trials specialist should not be selling items that are not suitable for the intended purpose. Am i going to come up against a problem when i enter the next trial? Should i try to peel the sticker off one of my old helmets and stick it on this one? Must admit i feel a bit cheated by Sammy Millers and that they should have clearly advised that there may be a problem before selling me the helmet if this is the case. So please help an old fart out as i dont want to walk into a controversy at the upcoming trial. If there will be a problem cant i return the helmet to Sammy Millers for a refund? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpa3 Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 My lad has been wearing a NZI helmet for three years and never been asked to show an ACU sticker. When he bought the helmet, Steve Saunders was wearing one as do a lot of other riders who even ride on the road. This said; it does not meet the regulations laid down by the ACU in the handbook, therefore would not be legal to be used in ACU sanctioned events. See page 55 where it says: "The only indication that a helmet is suitable for immediate use in motorcycle sport is the ACU gold or silver stamp firmly affixed. It is considered that any person selling a helmet for competition use as "ACU Approved" without an approval stamp firmly affixed IS making a false trade description." Draw your own conclusion from this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Have to admit, I would have assumed, as you did, (or not even given it a thought in my case) that the NZI carbon helmet was ACU approved. However, there are many events that are not governed by the ACU, therefore I guess there is no need for them to be ACU approved - they will be marketed worldwide too so they must be constructed to some type of international standard before they could go on sale. So I would guess that you won't get any joy asking for an outright refund as you didn't specifically ask about ACU approval. No harm in asking though, but I'd have thought that if you wanted to exchange it for another make from them that is approved, they would be willing to take it back. In terms of having someone check the helmet at a trial, I've never known this to happen - doesn't even seem to happen at enduros anymore as I think it is deemed rider's responsibility - onus off the club if anything goes wrong and they can't be sued for passing a suspect helmet in today's 'sue the b*stards' focussed society. If you used it in an ACU run event though and you did injure your head through the helmet not doing it's job properly, I would guess that you would not be covered by the ACU insurance. AMCA and other non-ACU events wouldn't present a problem but I'm guessing most of your events are ACU. There are plenty of riders out there using those helmets but they probably haven't given it a thought. Now that you have, you are never going to be comnfortable using it 'just in case' so may be worth asking Millers if they will have it back on exchange. The local BMCA mob over this way (AMCA governed) still don't wear helmets and I just can't believe it in this day and age. If any of them were to crack their heads (and it comes close on occassions I can tell you) and suffered serious injury I don't know how it would affect the sport, but in terms of image it wouldn't be good - 'irresponsible biker injured through not wearing helmet etc.' I sometimes used to ride without one before it was compulsory but no way these days - plus I'm more clumsy now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpa3 Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 Here's a thought. I've just had a look at my new Nau helmet and that hasn't got an ACU badge on it. (My 5 year old AGV does have one.) I'd not even considered the badge before and I've owned it for three months or more. How many riders are wearing Nau's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 The local BMCA mob over this way (AMCA governed) still don't wear helmets and I just can't believe it in this day and age. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I can't believe in this litigious society we live in today that ANY organiser would allow people to to take part in any organised motorcycling event without making a helmet a pre-requisite. It defies belief. You might as well tattoo "SUE ME" on your forehead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpa3 Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 By the way, in road racing, scrutineers check the condition of all helmets including the date of manufacture. Any helmet over 5 years old, or one with damage and the official removes the ACU badge. Apparently the badge is fitted to all approved helmets but remains the property of the ACU. If one falls off, (which does happen occasionaly, taking it in and out of a bag for example) then certain scrutineers can inspect the helmet and apply a new badge. For a fee. I have had to quickly change my helmet on the starting grid because I'd put on my spare lid which had lost it's badge and an official had noticed. In road racing. No ACU Gold badge = no ride. We get off easily in trials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpa3 Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 The local BMCA mob over this way (AMCA governed) still don't wear helmets and I just can't believe it in this day and age. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I can't believe in this litigious society we live in today that ANY organiser would allow people to to take part in any organised motorcycling event without making a helmet a pre-requisite. It defies belief. You might as well tattoo "SUE ME" on your forehead. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am with you on that one. I know it will upset the purists but to compete without head protection beggars belief! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totalshell Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 Way back when,, I was mountain bike racing and helmets were not compulsory (based on the fact that they made you sweaty!) I won a top quality helmet and proudly wore it to the next race, head came into brief contact with overhanging rock outcome.. one very split outer shell and crushed innner shell to helmet and one big bump on head and BIG headache, never ridden without a helmet since... to ride in a competition or to practice without a helmet is inexcuseable, how can events run this way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpa3 Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 to ride in a competition or to practice without a helmet is inexcuseable, how can events run this way? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Because we didn't wear helmets in the good old days! We didn't have seat belts in cars and bumpers were made of sheet metal. Orphans were sent to the work house and witches were...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabie Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 a) trials doesn't require an ACU Sticker to be on the helmet silver and gold mean OK for MX and they ban open face (ie most trails) helmets for exact details find a Scrutineer who's been to an ACU technical seminar compulsory helmets way back in the day either we (the ACU) or the insurance company of the time decided to introduce it as it was a good idea (but no legal requirement) - similarly we in MX introduced a no riding in the paddock rule (at all) when trials and road race still ride in the paddock anyway this really p****d off a lot of trials people to the nth level. this coupled with some other issues lead to (in my end of the world) a significant chunk of our centre trials clubs going AMCA (who use the same insurance company!!!) - who have a much more laizze faire attitude to "governing" trials. now for better of for worse we latter found out our insurer will let us do trials without helmets but having gone through the helmets pain and as you've all pointed out "no helmets" is so ridiculous in the current litigious era that we haven't gone back........ anyway these lad want to ride without helmets and the insurance company underwriting it all accepts this - i don't get it myself at all but c'est la vie......... rabie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totalshell Posted January 30, 2006 Report Share Posted January 30, 2006 we get too many people complaining about spelling etc. so its refreshing to see the use of the continental languages in the correct context, however it's double s and hyphenated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabie Posted January 31, 2006 Report Share Posted January 31, 2006 (edited) merci beaucoup pardon, je ne parle francais (un peau) rabie Edited January 31, 2006 by rabie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorpa3 Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Blimey! Someone must have bumped their head! :madsanta: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrc1 Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 Rabie - is that correct open face helmets banned in MX & Enduro? I need to know as I'm tempted to try an odd enduro or two this year. I have a full face hat, but find it restictive & claustrophobic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrc1 Posted February 1, 2006 Report Share Posted February 1, 2006 to ride in a competition or to practice without a helmet is inexcuseable, how can events run this way? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've ridden 6 trials on my new toy now & have only been required to wear a hat twice so far. Four of my local clubs are AMCA (running modern bike trials). I've never felt the need to don plastic locally. If I rode in a rocky centre that might be different. Actually only a few riders go hatless here out of choice, its mainly the old gits (like myself) - but long may that freedom of choice continue. So how can events run? Because even the insurers recognise there is such a small risk involved - and they pay the claims! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.