Compulsory for downhill and BMX competition, the full-face helmet offers excellent protection but is not a feasible choice for most riding styles due to weight, heat, and a decreased ability to hear traffic.
Standards Approval:
A helmet sold for BMX use, or used in BMX competition, must pass Australian Standard.
A helmet produced, marketed and sold for use mainly as a competition helmet (other than BMX competition) does not need to meet Australian Standard. The requirement from MTBA is that a helmet carries the Australian Standards compliance sticker OR at least one of the international equivalents; ie: ANSI Z90.4; Snell "B" or "N" series; ASTM F-1447; Canadian CAN/CSA-D113.2-M; U.S.CPSC standard for bicycle helmets; European CEN standard for bicycle helmets (EN1078).
Therefore a full face helmet sold for downhill MTB racing does not need to meet Australian Standard, but the same helmet, if sold for BMX racing, must meet Australian Standard.
All of the full face helmets we stock at Moruya Bicycles do pass Australian Standard and are therefore legal for use in downhill or BMX riding.