Youth helmet standards

[L Rider]

we're waiting on a response from MNZ but thought someone on here may know.
We're getting our boy a new helmet. From the MNZ rules it reads that helmets must be Snell or ECE standards (have a bit more detail than that).
Most of the major brand youth helmets such as Thor, Fox are DOT standard. But the same helmet in adult in Snell and Dot.
Alot of kids are racing in these, so are they actually allowed per MNZ or do clubs just not check?

[scott411]

i thought DOT standards were recongnised, along with the European ECE 05 and Australian 1698 which are very comman on helmets sold in NZ,

but the rulebook does not mention that it is, only Snell ratings

[L Rider]

i thought DOT standards were recongnised, along with the European ECE 05 and Australian 1698 which are very comman on helmets sold in NZ,

but the rulebook does not mention that it is, only Snell ratings

Thats why we're so bloody confused. Somewhere we read was that the DOT was higher than i think (don't quote me) the ECE 05 yet why wouldn't DOT be in the rule book.

[scott411]

i would not say DOT was higher than ECE, more level,

in teh states DOT in considered lower than Snell,

[p.dath]

Thats why we're so bloody confused. Somewhere we read was that the DOT was higher than i think (don't quote me) the ECE 05 yet why wouldn't DOT be in the rule book.

DOT and ECE 22-05 are very comparable. ECE 22-05 calls for a smaller energy transfer to the brain though - so I personally prefer it over DOT.

If I recall correctly, 300g is considered lethal. DOT standard says it can't exceed 400g - and it only has to be certified by the helmet maker. SNELL until recently set the limit at 300g, and had to be externally tested, and ECE 22-05 set it at 275g, and had to be externally tested.

If a helmet passes ECE 22-05 it is highly likley to pass DOT.

I just bought my 5 year old son an LS2 helmet. It is a woman's XS size. 4 star SHARP rating. Full face helmet. ECE 22-05 certified. About $110.

[p.dath]

ps. Check out my BLOG on motorcycle helmets.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/en...orcycle-Helmet

[L Rider]

We have read up about the ratings and what they mean etc.
our son currently has a ffm helmet which is the ece. That one is a few years old so we're getting him another. As he races we want to make sure that it is accepted by MNZ.
The one he has chosen & we've fitted is the 2011 Fox V1 Youth helmet. This youth helmet has the smaller shell (not sure if all youth one's do but think alot do).
But our concern is it says its DOT std whereas the Adult V1 states its Snell and Dot.

[L Rider]

Have heard back from MNZ.

DOT is NOT approved by them.
So now back to the drawing board of which helmet to get him - he really liked the Fox V1 we found.

There is alot of kids out there wearing them too.

[honda_power]

it really doesnt matter does it? i used to race in my old moto star helmet with the peak held on with masking tape... i never got told that i couldnt ride with that helmet

[L Rider]

it really doesnt matter does it? i used to race in my old moto star helmet with the peak held on with masking tape... i never got told that i couldnt ride with that helmet

Recently the club our kids ride in have been getting stricter and have been checking helmets and that licenses are filled in with correct helmet details.

Spoke to ProSport this arvo and he has said its all bullshit and that he has been in an arguement with MNZ for 6 mths about it. The helmets do meet international standards and that they just have DOT on them as its better known worldwide than ECE.

[p.dath]

Recently the club our kids ride in have been getting stricter and have been checking helmets and that licenses are filled in with correct helmet details.

Spoke to ProSport this arvo and he has said its all bullshit and that he has been in an arguement with MNZ for 6 mths about it. The helmets do meet international standards and that they just have DOT on them as its better known worldwide than ECE.

I'm sure if they had paid for the certification test for ECE 22-05 then they would pay the couple of extra cents per helmet to write those letters on it ...

In Europe it is a legal requirement that a helmet for road use meets ECE 22-05. Europe represents a significant chunk of the worldwide market for helmets. That's why pretty much every helmet you can buy in NZ also has ECE 22-05 written on it.

And it is also why I think ECE 22-05 is a fairly well recognised standard.

[scott411]

Recently the club our kids ride in have been getting stricter and have been checking helmets and that licenses are filled in with correct helmet details.

Spoke to ProSport this arvo and he has said its all bullshit and that he has been in an arguement with MNZ for 6 mths about it. The helmets do meet international standards and that they just have DOT on them as its better known worldwide than ECE.

i disagree with that quote as well, ECE is very well recongnised,

the issue with these helmets is they will be made for the US market so they will have the dot sticker on them, i presume they do not get enough quantity's to get the helmets shipped with the ECE or AS1698 sticker on them,

[4stroke]

sounds like a job for redrider,,,, print out the approptiot sticker and waallllaa helmet is good to go, hell thats what id do, very hard finding a lid to fit my big head

[cs363]

Have heard back from MNZ.

DOT is NOT approved by them.

Not surprising as it obviously parallels the importation rules on helmets - it's actually illegal to import a DOT approved helmet into NZ if that is the only standard the helmet has, unless the helmet is manufactured and purchased in the USA (i.e. Simpson etc). Most helmets that you see here for sale with a DOT sticker will most likely have Snell approval too, otherwise they have been imported illegally.
ECE22/04 & 05 are the leading standards for the majority of helmets imported into NZ these days.

( http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/fa...opeds.html#mot )

That said, on the MNZ front, unless things have changed recently, you can get around having a non-approved helmet if the helmet in question is examined and given written approval by an MNZ steward.
From the rule book: 8.2.3 Helmets manufactured with standards other than those approved can only be used
in competition after approval by MNZ.
I am aware of others who have had DOT approved helmets recognised by MNZ under this clause, so strange that they didn't give you this option.
Full rules re: safety gear here: http://www.mnz.co.nz/download/2010_M...afety_Gear.pdf

[L Rider]

Scott do you have any 2011 youth Fox V1 helmets in store that you could have a look on them if there is any other rating than DOT??

Ian from Sports Pro has emailed through some documentation he received saying that all Fox V1 Youth and Shift youth helmets do meet Dot and ECE stds. He said that we could print that off and keep in the car incase the helmet is questioned.

I'm just rather lost on the whole thing as so many kids are riding with these helmets that are so called only Dot approved and not approved by MNZ.
Because they're riding with them are they therefore accepted or do they risk being pulled up on it?

Lady at MNZ basically told me not to buy any helmet with just Dot that it will not be accepted at all.