Helmets and crashing

[motor_mayhem]

:niceone:Just of interest what's the general concensus on when you should replace your helmet?

Personally I have had a fair few offs but as there is no significant damage I am definitely inclined to keep using it. However I have someone asking for advice about it and while I can be more cavalier with my own health, I don't really want to tell them the wrong thing i.e. safety in mind but avoid unnecessary spending.

Please lend your thoughts. :niceone:

[Edbear]

General advice is to replace it after any serious impact. That could mean dropping it on concrete. Like the crumple zones in a car, they are designed to collapse progressively and any hard knock can compromise the integrity if the helmet.

[Usarka]

Off roads a bit tricky though eh. You'd be broke if you replaced your nut lid everytime you head came in contact with something (or maybe I'm just a rubber spastic).

ps - head injuries suck

[fastoyz]

you always hear to replace it after a good crash but iam sure 90% of people dont, i have only replaced mine when ive been knocked out in them, the actual helmet makes a difference, the orginal fox pilot was a total piece of shit, i pretty much got a head ache every crash in those, you cant beat a Shoei if you do a bit of face planting!

[motor_mayhem]

ps - head injuries suck

I know, I had one last year, a week off work and all that.

(Sometimes it seems like I've had a fair few more :shutup: )

[p.dath]

Check out my BLOG on choosing a motorcycle helmet:
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/1562-Choosing-a-Motorcycle-Helmet

Most manufacturers recommend you replace helmets every 2 and 5 years. But that is a manufacturer recommendation. The reason for this is the inner energy absorbing foam breaks down with time, and you can't tell by looking at it.

When you have an off the with the helmet the energy absorbing foam compresses. Lets say you only have a minor off, and it compresses 20%. Then means next time you only have 80% left to try and save you from brain damage.

Would I replace my helmet if I just dropped it on the ground and it was less than 2 years old? Probably not - even though it is recommended. If it was 5 years old - probably yes, as the energy absorbing foam is probably no good now anyway.

Ultimately it is a personal decisions for you to make.

[Shorty_925]

Most manufacturers recommend you replace helmets every 2 and 5 years. But that is a manufacturer recommendation.

And then you buy it from the shop, take it home look into the make and model and find out its already past that...I found that out the other day, wasnt too impressed.

Any drop/hit/crash of a road helmet id ditch it. Off-road, how many tree branches(sp?) do you hit before enoughs enough and need to get a new helmet..? I guess its down to what your comfortable with knoing what has happened to the helmet before putting it on for that next ride.

Had a few brands and only stick to Shoei as well now, trust it, and the fit is great.

[BM-GS]

You'll want to be checking the manufacture date in the lid before you buy it. Every helmet has a sticker (usually inside, under the lining, tucked away so you can't see it) with the month (sometimes week) & year of its manufacture.

When you look at the lids in the sales, you might want to ask youself why it's down from $500 to $200. It could be there'll be no effect that you can tell for as long as you own the lid; it could be it doesn't do its job just when you need it to. A very tricky subject, but the more people think and work it out for themselves, the better decision they can make.

[scott411]

you want to check the inside of the helmets as well as the outside, any crushing of the foam inside means it is past its life, nearly all of the current mx helmets have removeable liners so it is pretty easy to do,

Being knocked out does not always mean the helmet is wrecked, and not being knocked out does not mean it is still all good either