Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Driving the M3W with a Helmet?

Most of the time I wear a leather helmet & googles. In rain or a long winter journey a Caberg Trip full face helmet. In summer if it is really warm no helmet just goggles. I always use moulded ear plugs.

Tim

Leather helmet, fur-lined leather helmet and open face helmet with popup visor where required by law or the track.

Wear a Greek fisherman's cap otherwise. I have a tendency for sunburn up top!

In Vermont, the M3W is a grey area.

I wear an open face quarter helmet that is leather covered; because I rather not sustain a closed head injury as the result of some asshat not seeing me, or not paying attention to the road and trying to photo/video me while driving. I have a nice full face helmet as well for cold and highway driving.

I don't wear a helmet unless the weather looks like it's going to be atrocious. Just goggles and either a wool flat-hat in anything over 5degC and dry, or one of those Barber fleece trapper hats that were mentioned a couple of months back and which now seem to be sold out....

So what happens if I drive my car into Austria or Italy with just my normal headgear - assume I'd be stopped by the Feds?

I drive without a helmet and without a seat belt, only with a leather cap if the temperature is cool or a long distance to the noise.

Not sure how a beard would help John apart from keeping the chin warm

In Austria I'm doing my testruns: I've been stopped twice so far: all they wanted was info on the M3W, no question regarding the helmet or the seat belt...
In case of an accident insurance companies will be more picky!

A helmet is definitely required and it gets worse than that. Strictly speaking you have to have a motorcycle licence too, ridiculous though that may seem. There would however be some confusion because Italians who had a car licence up to about 15 years ago could ride a bike without having a specific bike licence. You could also probably get away with explainining that you are not required to have a bike licence for this type of vehicle in your home state and that under international agreements you only have to comply with your home state rules for licences to drive a vehicle registered in your home state whilst visiting another EU state.

I am not sure if that is entirely true for road vehicles but you would probably get away with it.

Recently the Swiss police have taken great delight in confiscating bikes of Italian riders who do not have an endorsement for bikes on their licences. The recomendation is that holders of the old paper licences get their licences updated to the new plastic type and request the motorcycle endorsement.

Peter, thank you for your detailed comment on Italy and Suisse!
Bikers licence and helmet is no problem for me as I've got both but important to know for others!

The experience I had with Italian police was very positive so far but a friend of mine - lawyer in Milano - got his scooter confiscated when he rode without helmet.
Better to be careful....

Thanks too for those explanations. I guess that makes sense, as for example a US chap visiting the UK and hiring a Harley would not be allowed to ride helmetless over here without being quickly busted at the roadside.....

I too have a full bike license as well and I may now stuff a compact helmet on the rack next time I go on a Euro tour (or maybe my future trip to M3W Treffen....)!