Motorcycle Helmet Standards: Snell, DOT, ECE 22.05 and Sharp | Sportbike Track Gear

The absolute most important thing is that a rider ALWAYS wears a helmet when on a bike - no exceptions. When I was 16, I once went for a 10 min. ride (dirt) and crashed - no helmet. Thankfully I was okay. I have always worn a helmet since then, every single time I swing a leg over a bike. Use a full face helmet, the best you can afford. What's in your head is irreplaceable.

The 1 dislike is from someone who purchased a WOW helmet

I’ll trust my head on any SNELL or ECE rated. DOT? Not so much Just a suggestion, it will be better if STG can elaborate also the kind of “torture” Snell and ECE organization does to helmets to ensure their safety

When I'm helmet shopping, it's ECE or Snell, no DOT only. Part of my take is, if they put up the testing costs, they expect it to rate. Also, I have several rides in Europe on my to-do list, so if I can work in one, I'd prefer to have a certified helmet ready to take with me.

Thank you for your knowledge on products i greatly appreciate it

Snell is a joke and they know it. If you are driving a car then fine. Snell is good enough. But I only wear either ECE or FIM helmets. DOT is worst than Snell. It seems like the DOT lives in a some fantasy land. I think that Brian from FortNine has it right when he explains Snell standards and how they added a standards (M2020R) only to be able to sell helmets in Europe. First they trashed the ECE standards saying they were unsafe and later adopted similar standards. It seems that Snell cares more about putting their certificate in every helmet possible to help their bank account, rather than saving lives. Here is a link to someone who had done his homework and actually explains the standards. And a video about the absolute joke the DOT standards are. Very good videos that if they don’t convince you of wearing ECE or FIM helmets, then nothing will. Some gave said that living in ignorance is a bliss. Smell BS: https://youtu.be/76yu124i3Bo DOT BS and how manufactures regulate themselves: https://youtu.be/0BUyp3HX8cY

You should look at SHARP rating as a comparative not an absolute value. They themselves insist on that. Best point in my view is ECE batch testing before shipping out. If batch fails it must be destroyed.

It's like science yo!

great series Brian, do you know if there is any difference between an aria DT USA helmet and an aria chaser X European helmet ?

I thought scorpion helmet were supposed to be only DOT certified but a couple of days ago I bought an exo-390 and it's only ECE22.05 approved is that correct.???

You should have added that SNELL won't approve any modular helmet or a helmet with a drop down visor. Those helmets can only get An ECE and/or DOT rating.

Helmet certification standards are a highly controversial subject in motorcycle circles, everyone wants to believe their helmet’s certification standard is number 1 but at the end of the day it’s down to each rider to do their research, make their decision and the wear their (correctly fitted and fastened) helmet. Every time.

What are your thoughts on helmets bought in Europe that are DOT approved in the U.S, but does not come with the DOT certification and only comes with the ECE certification since it was bought in Europe? I bought an AGV Corsa R from Spain and it didn’t have the DOT sticker. Should I worry about getting stopped by police because it doesn’t have that sticker?

Hi I’m considering purchasing a drivin sprocket and chain kit off your site. However if I go with the steel it doesn’t come with the 39 tooth option unless I go aluminum. Any advice or help you can give would be great Thank u

The Snell standard is worse than useless unless I'm in a tube framed race car. I am far more worried about angular velocities and bouncing off things at an angle than smacking my head into a pole twice on the same spot. To make a helmet pass Snell tradeoffs have to be made that diminish safety in other types of collisions. I'm sure they thought it was a good idea when they started but they know it's a rubbish test now and refuse to improve it.

What color is more visable white or hi viz?

I bought a Bell Race Star online from the USA and shipped it to Mongolia where I live - there are no required standards or even helmet laws here. My race star is DOT and Snell approved. I bought it largely because the UK version got 5 stars on Sharp tests. I don’t care about Snell and even less about DOT. So are you saying Sharp tested a different Bell Race Star helmet than mine? (The euro version is also Snell M2015 approved, FWIW).

I don't trust DOT only unless it's from a reputable helmet company.

What is the difference between Snell m2015 and m2020?

We need to be more specific with the nomenclature when it comes to these standards, it's not uncommon to call a helmet "DOT certified", but in reality the department of transportation does not "certify" anything about them.