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What laws are there about putting stuff on your helmets

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29K views 35 replies 28 participants last post by  GI Jack  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
specificly, something like this
http://ironhorsehelmets.com/item1044_Skull&Crossbones_strip.htm

I found this, and I was like, wow, now I could make my helmet match my jacket.


or what about thoose old school ww1 german helmets bikers back in the day used to wear, with the big spike on top. Are those legal? I don't wanna be stopped and get a nasty supprise from th law.

http://ironhorsehelmets.com/DOT_German_Flat_Motorcycle_Helmet.htm

that plus

http://studsandspikes.com/buy/spike-giant-inch-tree-alum-single-p-678.html
 
#3 ·
All I can invision is:
1). dropping your helmet on your seat, spikes down!:eek:
2). sliding your helemt across yours or worse yet MY gas tank!:eek:
3)dropping your helmet spikes down on your girls foot!:eek:
4) God forbid, you take a pavemtn test, the spikes on your jacket, helmet and some freshy part of your body meet!:eek:
I'd let the spikes sit home if'n I were you!:)
Just and old guys thoughts:)
Joe
I ride, therefore I am!:)
 
#5 ·
I would think (Ya I do that from time to time)
I for one would not like to go down on the bike and bend over and stick the front of my leg ,knee cap, arm, hand or any other body part with the spike on my helmet during the fall.
Not even once much less more that once.
But it is a free world do what you want.
Maybe it would be cheesy but could you get a rubber look a like spike? Just saying
 
#10 · (Edited)
What kind of statement are you trying to make?
1. It wasn't originally a nazi helmet. The nazis didn't wear a helmet with a spike. The design originates in WW1 germany, under the army of the kaiser, years before the nazis. The nazis used a similar design without the spike. you aren't one of those people who bitches everytime they see an iron cross are you????

2. I've got no taste nor class, don't care niether.

However I'm big into retro ****. And this is like seriously retro

i would be careful attaching anything to a helmet... legality aside, if you put a hole in that helmet to attach a spike (i noticed the big one was supposed to screw on), you may be compromising the integrity of the helmet, and therefore the safety of your head. anything that could catch on asphalt in a wreck (like a metal spike), instead of sliding as most helmets would, could break your neck.
probably gonna use glue, spikes are made out of aluminum and aren't sharp. use modeling glue, find something strong enough to keep it on, but weak enough to snap off if I hit pavement.
 
#9 ·
i would be careful attaching anything to a helmet... legality aside, if you put a hole in that helmet to attach a spike (i noticed the big one was supposed to screw on), you may be compromising the integrity of the helmet, and therefore the safety of your head. anything that could catch on asphalt in a wreck (like a metal spike), instead of sliding as most helmets would, could break your neck.
 
#11 ·
What he said is correct. You attach a big metal spike to your helmet, when you crash you are going to have that spike through your brain. Mohawks are flexible so that they don't go through the helmet. DOT will not approve any helmet that has something like that sticking off it, I promise.
 
#13 ·
i just took a safety course. there they had a DOT helmet cut in half to show the layers of the helmet. the helmet is mostly styrofoam looking material. if you were to drill a hole through it, there isn't much there to anchor it. also the helmets are designed for a 1 crash 1 hit philosophy. anything after that, the helmet should be replaced. if you read the helmets manual, it'll say the same. also be careful when buying "novelty" helmets as they are usually not certified for wear.
 
#26 ·
it doesn't work like that. They'd be heavy AND expensive. An army kevlar helmet can be ran over by a hummer repeatedly and survive. Its great. They can stop bullets. Even the latest ones are heavy, they aren't one bit aerodynamic, and they are EXPENSIVE.

polycarbonate, thats some sci-fi bull****. Kevlar/ceramic/high impact plastic is the real 21st century ****

All this, and I don't think for single accident protection of the head the margin of protection is any real bit better.

Its like asking why 1.3 liter 180hp sportsbike engines can't power compact automobiles.
 
#20 ·
In California those helmet would be illegal. Our law VC 27802 follows the federal guidelines and I have listed parts pertaining projections from a helmet.
Code of Federal Regulations
Title 49, Volume 5 - Revised as of October 1, 2001
CITE: 49CFR571.218
[Page 643-659]
TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
CHAPTER V--NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS--Table of Contents
Subpart B--Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
Sec. 571.218 Standard No. 218; Motorcycle helmets.


S5.5 Projections. A helmet shall not have any rigid projections inside its shell. Rigid projections outside any helmet's shell shall be limited to those required for operation of essential accessories, and shall not protrude more than 0.20 inch (5 mm).
 
#28 ·
Even if a spike is glued on, it could be dangerous in a crash. If you were to land on the spike, the force of impact would be concentrated on the small spot where the spike is glued. It would most likely punch right through the shell, foam and directly into your skull.

If the spike was rubber is would probably be safe.