Motorcycle helmet laws?

Squashie

I've searched a good bit for an answer to this question now and can't find myself one anywhere. All I can find is that I do indeed need a helmet to drive a motorcycle, but duh, I know that already. I want to know if there's any restrictions on the type at all.

Basically I miss the place and want to know if I'll ever be able to legally scooter down a road here in Ireland Vietnam-style —wearing one of their type helmets, a poncho and a full pollution face mask?

And if not, how dire would the consequences be if I were to do it anyway? Considering if I was pulled over some day, I would still be wearing a helmet, and could have it a good big bulky one with a partial visor. Would I be let away with a warning maybe? They couldn't possibly penalise badly someone who looked that big a hero?

Flyin Irishman

The helmet in the picture looks like a standard openface helmet, in which case your perfectly entitled to wear one of them while riding your bike in ireland.

I personally wouldnt, as if you were in a crash it could well be the end of your face , but thankfully that choice has not been taken away from us (yet)!

bladespin

Has to meet an 'appropriate' standard, IIRC which could mean anyhting really :rolleyes: Seen everything from genuine old german army to super high tech carbon fibre composite lids being worn without hassle.

Please Kill Me

Flyin Irishman wrote: »

The helmet in the picture looks like a standard openface helmet, in which case your perfectly entitled to wear one of them while riding your bike in ireland.

I personally wouldnt, as if you were in a crash it could well be the end of your face , but thankfully that choice has not been taken away from us (yet)!

bladespin wrote: »

Has to meet an 'appropriate' standard, IIRC which could mean anyhting really :rolleyes: Seen everything from genuine old german army to super high tech carbon fibre composite lids being worn without hassle.

It's a combination of both posts here. You can wear an open faced helmet (provided it meets the appropriate standards) but I really wouldn't advise it. It might look cool or trendy or whatever, but like FI said, if you come off, it's goodbye face! At least on a normal helmet, you have a chin-bar to protect yourself.

Squashie

So I'll get away with it then?... Hurray! In that case I'm gonna start planning my outfit. I (and my face) survived crashes intact galore while over there, I can risk it the odd time over here too. I won't drive it much.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8BObPsfg8

BrokenArrows

Man I couldn't ride in a country like that. Madness.

seanybiker

That place is crazy for riding a bike. Some laugh I'd say though.

CJhaughey

To be legal, any helmet you wear should carry the E mark. This is a circle with a capital E inside and a number.
The standard you should be looking for is ECE 22.05 which is the latest standard
I would say that Open face helmets give a great sense of freedom much more so than full face helmets but given the type of weather we get, it would be a very good idea to at least get a lid with an integrated visor, that you can slide out of the way at low speeds.
Eye protection will be necessary from stones, insects and other crap.
I think a jet type is probably better for here if you want an open face type.
I like them, and used one for years with no bad effects apart from riding in rain feeling like needles on the face.:D

eurofoxy

i use a momo design helmet when out and about on the scooter, but have something else when on the bigger bike....

Cuddlesworth

Squashie wrote: »

So I'll get away with it then?... Hurray! In that case I'm gonna start planning my outfit. I (and my face) survived crashes intact galore while over there, I can risk it the odd time over here too. I won't drive it much.

Much slower average speed on the roads and city's and with the bikes themselves then here. 10km/h can make a huge difference.

Wossack

I wouldnt wear a helmet without a fixed chinbar

bit of a naff website, but it has the diagram thats of most impact (sic) - http://bmwdean.com/swisher.htm