Helmets - ACU stickers

[DrSnoosnoo]

I'm in the market for a new helmet. I was trying a load on in the local Get Geared to see what fit.

I liked the Shark Skwal / D-Skwal for fitment but once I was home I remember not seeing the ACU sticker on the back that my AGV one has. I'm contemplating the odd track day in the future and it seems the helmet will need an ACU sticker.

Looking through Sportsbikeshop the pictures of almost all the helmets I've looked at don't have a sticker, think I only saw them on the AGVs.

So 2 questions;

Can anyone comment on/recommend the Shark Skwal 2 helmet? The Spartan doesn't fit right, pressure points at like 10 and 2 pm on the top of my head.

And ACU stickers, I know they can be bought off ebay but is that the only way to get them if it doesn't come with them?
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I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Riejufixing]

https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/?manufacturer=Shark&model=Skwal&type=1
https://sharp.dft.gov.uk/helmets/?manufacturer=Shark&model=D-Skwal&type=1

Clickable links to further details. Does ACU approval mean anything in addition, I wonder? FWIW D-SKWAL does seem to be ACU gold-approved.

[MarJay]

I read some blurb by someone who worked for one of the helmet manufacturers on another forum recently. They basically said if the helmet doesn't come with an ACU sticker and is supposed to have one, they'll send you one FOC. They also said it means the square root of jack and requires no testing or approval. The ACU just have a list, and if the helmet is full face they add it to the list, pretty much.

So, unless you're racing, I wouldn't worry.

[edit]Oh, meant to say my lids have NEVER been checked at a trackday, apart from ensuring they are correctly fastened. [edit]
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[waffles]

Did you ask the people in Get Geared? Some manufacturers seem to be skipping adding the stickers on (it costs money) but the helmets are still approved, the vast majority of them won't see a track anyway so the sticker wouldn't be needed. At least that is my understanding of the situation - ACU only applies if you are using the helmet for sport e.g. trackdays.

Contact the helmet manufacturer and get them to send one out to you? I guess you would have to show them proof of purchase. ACU also approve helmets and give stickers but they need to inspect the lid.

Source - https://billyscrashhelmets.co.uk/crash-helmets-and-the-acu-gold-sticker/

No idea about Shark Skwal 2's, but didn't the first version of that have problems with the visor ratcheting system? It would break off and leave people with visors hanging off? I think a few people on here had them and had to keep sending them off to Shark to be fixed/replaced so I would look very carefully at that part ro check other peoples reviews online. I find the new Shark lids to be really uncomfortable now anyway, they have a hug gap at the nape of my neck and don't feel very secure on.

EDIT - following on from MarJay's point about checking lids at tracks, none of mine have ever been looked over or inspected either.
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Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[DrSnoosnoo]

thanks for the info saying they've never been checked. I just read the requirements for a trackday website and one said ACU helmet. I also understand it means nothing with regards to safety, just the fact it has the sticker and I wouldn't be sent home.

I didn't ask in the shop because I didn't think about it until I was home.
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[andys675]

[DrSnoosnoo]

Is there a list of ACU approved helmets? I've looked on ACU website and can't quite find a database of helmets on there that they OK...
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R

[Jim Mc]

You used to be able to buy the ACU Gold stickers on eBay. While that might not be the most sensible advice, at least you'll get to buy the most comfortably fitting helmet and Shark is a good quality brand so I doubt there's much of a risk.

I'm not aware of track venues doing a more thorough check than the sticker being present on the helmet.

[DrDonnyBrago]

I have a plain white skwal 2, had it since July ish. No complaints. The inner sunvisor is cool, I don't really use the lights but keep it charged in case it is a particularly shitty day. Lid is pretty quiet, well vented and I think they all come with pinlock inserts.

I found the chin strap was rather long and had to adjust it to almost the shortest it would go (it's a ratchet fitting with strap adjustment too). I've never experienced that before so be sure to test fit and do up the chin strap until it fits properly as I'm sure it will be an issue for some people.

I heard about the visors being fragile, they changed the design which is supposed to have fixed it, there are batch numbers stuck to the visor so you can check which version. Haven't had problems with mine but it's still pretty new.

[DrSnoosnoo]

[grr666]

Spartan Carbon here, similar lid shell and visor wise but double D fastening. Can't really complain about the
visor, I swapped it out for a black one as soon as I bought the lid following the video from Shark in this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaGLuY-RxG8

It was a doddle and I never broke anything.

I'm not an all weather rider so can't comment on seal quality etc, but that would be true of any of my 3 lids.

I'm not sure George from getgeared has quite got the hang of it though. I suspect this div and his awful
how to video is responsible for 90% of the breakages that you read about. People forget Shark is a french firm
so won't show in UK search engine results as prominently which means a lot of folk miss the proper how to
from the people who make the damn thing. I found the ruddy faced imbeciles video first but was certain his way
couldn't be correct, it seemed too haphazard and aggressive. A little further digging revealed the proper video.

Here's how to adjust the seal while I'm at it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVpJBpOgwbc
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[DrSnoosnoo]

[DrDonnyBrago]

Mine has an ACU sticker btw:

[bladerunner]

if its a good branded helmet then dont worry about the ACU sticker ...you can actually ask the ACU for one to add to your helmet and as said there is zero actual testing required for race use, if its road legal uk approved and full face then its good to go so long as your happy its safe and you trust your life to it when your face surfing tarmac at 100mph its your call. if you do the whole ACU race licence thing then it's explained on your training day.
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[DrSnoosnoo]

[DrSnoosnoo]

To close out.

I bought a Skwal 2. It came with an ACU sticker.

Fin.
____________________
I'm Sam; Northern, Ginger, Lover
Did have: '95 ZZR600 '83 CG125 '97 ZZR1100 '15 Hypermotard 821 SP Do Have: '10 ZX10R