How often should I replace my helmet, really?

[HenryDorsetCase]

OK, so prompted by this thread:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/178680-X-lite-helmets-Nolan-Brand-Made-in-Italy

I realised that my "go-to" helmet was made in 2005 - probably bought in 2006. Its been up the track and I figured, yeah, 11 years is long enough.

I thought I would retire it and go for the other helmet I had the same (because I have a lot of sunk money in visors mainly). Except it was made in 2007. Bought in 2008.

Shit. It is pristine condition. Lives in a helmet bag and used occasionally and mainly for trackdays.


So, am I OK to use it? Should I just throw it away (and the selection of clear, tint, pinlock and halftint visors I have for it)?

IF I do need to replace it, why?

Even my Arai is way older than I thought. and I know how many times it has been worn: twice.

:(

May as well bust out the Davida Jet.

[YellowDog]

It sounds like you have looked after it and it's never had a ding. Storage is the main issue, as the foamy stuff between the plastic lid and the soft linings can break down faster under the wrong conditions.

I don't change my helmet regulatly enough either, but then I ride a lot more safely these days :shit:

[AllanB]

5 years used to be the word. However I am sure I saw a advert for Arai or similar offering USA warranties longer than that.

Despite careful storage I have found the foam can start to break down (cheek pads etc) - all these are replaceable on decent lids and I do replace mine as despite washing them they get that helmet smell. Most importantly check straps and connectors.

Also helmets are always improving and upgrading at a reasonable rate so you get the advantage of a lighter, better ventilated and quieter lid (hopefully).


My helmet issue is worse than yours - current lid is maybe 1.5 years old - purchased when I had a black, bike however the vivid orange/green on black graphics cosmetically clash with my bright red Ducati. What's a boy to do? Even Mrs B commented when I got the new bike (and quieted down when I told her how much to replace the helmet).

It's bugging me - far more concerning than the safety of a 10 year old lid bawahahahahahahahah

[YellowDog]

Yip.... I have a blue bike, with a blue set of leathers. My sister bought me the blue lid I asked her to buy for my birthday, but sadly it was in Ducati RED :mad:

[Maha]

Certainly change you helmet if it takes an impact (even drop the ground while carrying it) other than that certainly when you find another that you really want.
I mostly change when I get a new bike, which was once almost annually.

We have given two helmets to local Volunteer Fire Brigades for their training, one was about a year old but had been dropped.

[nzspokes]

Main concern will be the styrene impact layer and the straps. Both are subject to breakdown through sweat and mold. Our high UV also has a part to play in this. 5 years seems to be the go and I would use that as a base. A helmet in constant use for 10 years IMO is way past its best.

A lid not used much and stored in a dry environment away from light could well be fine.

[RDJ]

A lid not used much and stored in a dry environment away from light could well be fine.

Yes, this. I have a 10-year-old airbrushed Arai (Signet) helmet never dropped, lightly used (1 month in 10 on average), stored overseas in air-conditioned darkness until I fly'n'ride. A couple years ago out of curiosity I had an industrial lab take samples of the original fi'glass rocker ventilation thingies (had spares) and also biopsy and test the polystyrene, and compare with a 1-year-old also-Arai (Vector) lid. No statistically significant deterioration in either the shell material or the 'styrene liner.

[NZsarge]

Main concern will be the styrene impact layer and the straps. Both are subject to breakdown through sweat and mold. Our high UV also has a part to play in this. 5 years seems to be the go and I would use that as a base. A helmet in constant use for 10 years IMO is way past its best.

A lid not used much and stored in a dry environment away from light could well be fine.

I'd tend to agree with these thoughts on it.

[mulletman]

Ive just replaced my Shark helmet after 4 years constant use with an updated (same model) one id tried on at Oulton Park :msn-wink: a couple of weeks back, it was only then i noticed how nice and snug my lid is supposed to fit.

The straps etc look ok on my old lid but who really knows, i know ive felt plenty of stones impact / bounce off it even if visibly it doesnt show them.

[Oakie]

My helmet issue is worse than yours - current lid is maybe 1.5 years old - purchased when I had a black, bike however the vivid orange/green on black graphics cosmetically clash with my bright red Ducati. What's a boy to do? Even Mrs B commented when I got the new bike (and quieted down when I told her how much to replace the helmet).

Get a wee test pot of red house paint and paint your lid. What could go wrong?

[AllanB]

Get a wee test pot of red house paint and paint your lid. What could go wrong?

Thought of this. But I have read too many warnings over paint affecting some lids. I'll need to check the construction of it.

Have though of stick on sign writing graphics - good project for a winter night or two!

[caspernz]

Age of the lid is not a big deal I'd say, usage and sun exposure be the key.

A lid used daily will be done in 3-5 years, but that special lid kept in a careful manner will live a longer life.

Personally I run with one lid, keeping the old one as a spare, until a new one is bought. Then repeat. But hey, each to their own.

[local]

Thought of this. But I have read too many warnings over paint affecting some lids. I'll need to check the construction of it.

Have though of stick on sign writing graphics - good project for a winter night or two!

Red plastidip and 15 minutes would sort it, and you can always peel it off easily later.

[nzspokes]

Red plastidip and 15 minutes would sort it, and you can always peel it off easily later.

I wouldnt. In a slide it could mean the helmet gripped on the road and strained/broke ya neck. Thats why helmets had a hard finish.

[pritch]

Thought of this. But I have read too many warnings over paint affecting some lids. I'll need to check the construction of it.

Have though of stick on sign writing graphics - good project for a winter night or two!

As a rough (very) rule of thumb, my highly unofficial take on this is that you can paint or put stickers on fibreglass helmets - if you must. Plastic helmets can be suseptible to solvents so become problematical. The Snell approved hats are most likely glass as they are required to be very stiff. The European hats are more likely to be plastic.

Good luck : )

[James Deuce]

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Articles/MotorcyclistHelmets.html
http://motorbikewriter.com/replace-motorcycle-helmet/ - Australian article so includes free racist suppositions.
http://www.smf.org/helmetfaq

[AllanB]

The five-year replacement recommendation is based on a consensus by both helmet manufacturers and the Snell Foundation. Glues, resins and other materials used in helmet production can affect liner materials. Hair oils, body fluids and cosmetics, as well as normal "wear and tear" all contribute to helmet degradation. Petroleum based products present in cleaners, paints, fuels and other commonly encountered materials may also degrade materials used in many helmets possibly degrading performance. Additionally, experience indicates there will be a noticeable improvement in the protective characteristic of helmets over a five-year period due to advances in materials, designs, production methods and the standards. Thus, the recommendation for five-year helmet replacement is a judgment call stemming from a prudent safety philosophy.

The above from James Snell link. Aussie link ...... pillow......

So as a lawyer is it not compulsory to slick back your hair for court :niceone: those oils will kill your lid.

[eldog]

The five-year replacement recommendation is based on a consensus by both helmet manufacturers and the Snell Foundation. Glues, resins and other materials used in helmet production can affect liner materials. Hair oils, body fluids and cosmetics, as well as normal "wear and tear" all contribute to helmet degradation. Petroleum based products present in cleaners, paints, fuels and other commonly encountered materials may also degrade materials used in many helmets possibly degrading performance. Additionally, experience indicates there will be a noticeable improvement in the protective characteristic of helmets over a five-year period due to advances in materials, designs, production methods and the standards. Thus, the recommendation for five-year helmet replacement is a judgment call stemming from a prudent safety philosophy.

The above from James Snell link. Aussie link ...... pillow......

So as a lawyer is it not compulsory to slick back your hair for court :niceone: those oils will kill your lid.
I understand not leaving on the fuel tank, and wearing a skull liner to protect the helmet liners but body fluids?

[James Deuce]

I understand not leaving on the fuel tank, but body fluids?
You're telling me you've never urinated in the helmet of someone stupid enough to leave it attached to their bike?

Any more transgressions like that and we're coming for your membership card.

[eldog]

You're telling me you've never urinated in the helmet of someone stupid enough to leave it attached to their bike?

Any more transgressions like that and we're coming for your membership card.

"There was some cow poop on the road and there was only this here helmet that I could use to scoop it up, dunno whose helmet it is, honest officer, I am sure the owner will be right along, Bye"

Always wanted to use a helmet as a goldfish bowl, you can see the fish through the visor when it's down, darned if I know why the water gets out, or who the owner is

[James Deuce]

"There was some cow poop on the road and there was only this here helmet that I could use to scoop it up, dunno whose helmet it is, honest officer, I am sure the owner will be right along, Bye"
That's better.

[eldog]

That's better.

Them membership cards are hard to get......

[AllanB]

I understand not leaving on the fuel tank, and wearing a skull liner to protect the helmet liners but body fluids?

Sweat.

Summer traffic lights.

Over cooked corner panic sweat.

Hot lady on the footpath dirty old man sweat.

[aws]

Main concern will be the styrene impact layer and the straps. Both are subject to breakdown through sweat and mold. Our high UV also has a part to play in this. 5 years seems to be the go and I would use that as a base. A helmet in constant use for 10 years IMO is way past its best.

A lid not used much and stored in a dry environment away from light could well be fine.
Was doing a bit of research for work recently and discovered that this whole "we've got the highest UV in the world" thing is a load of tosh. Turns out our UV is pretty average really in spite of what we get taught.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[aws]

Asking how long a helmet should last is one of those questions that you can never get a straight answer to. I've tried the same thing with hard hats and no one will tell you. The DOL just had some statement like "they should last at least 3 years if you look after them". So then workplaces that want to have a policy just take this minimum as a maximum and replace them after 3 years even if, like mine, it's spent 2 years and 363 days in a cupboard in the office.

The real answer is - no one knows. Every use case is different and ultimately it's going to be a judgement call based on how much you've used it, what your appetite for risk is, and how wealthy you're feeling at the time. I suspect that a glass or carbon fibre helmet will show relatively little degradation in strength over time because the fibres are resistant to UV and the painted exterior will likely prevent UV from degrading the resin. Having said that, I'm no expert, so it's just my opinion. Personally, I'd probably look to replace a helmet when the lining wears out.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[HenryDorsetCase]

Sweat.

Summer traffic lights.

Over cooked corner panic sweat.

Hot lady on the footpath dirty old man sweat.

So Shoei number 2 (trackdays only pretty much) is next on the list.

[pritch]

OK y'all convinced me. I just put the rubbish bag out but I'm going to grab my Shark and add it to the contents. It must be coming up eight years old and it was free with a new VFR. How time flies...

[AllanB]

I'd though any excuse to buy a new one would start one shopping.

MrsB still can't understand how when you buy a new bike you keep internet shopping for 'upgrades & farkles'

She has however come to accept this practice.

She's a keeper.

[pritch]

She's a keeper.

Aaah you are indeed fortunate. Similar sentiment to the shooters saying, "Lucky is the man whose wife likes the smell of Hoppes Number 9".


Throwing that old Shark away felt good. Next week I'll throw away a Grex.

I bought the Grex when I bought a second hand moped. The guy in the shop thought I was buying a different helmet so that nobody would recognise me. and I'm not sufficiently sure of myself to deny that completely. The reason I thought I was buying it was that the AGV and Arai helmets that I was using at that time cost considerably more, like almost double, what I had paid for the scooter. I would have felt silly riding around on a second hand moped wearing a Rossi replica helmet.

If that seems odd, I didn't normally wear a leather jacket, touring gear, or boots on the moped either.

[Swoop]

Please remember, if you are throwing out an old helmet, to cut off the chinstraps!

It is being taken off of the road and out of use for a reason.

[pritch]

Please remember, if you are throwing out an old helmet, to cut off the chinstraps!

It is being taken off of the road and out of use for a reason.

I'm only tossing the Grex 'cause I don't wear it. If somebody wants to go to the dump and fish it out from among all the stinking garbage they're welcome to it. Although the local rubbish collection system means it's in a bag, so it will likely be anonymous as it travels to its final resting place.

[Swoop]

I'm only tossing the Grex 'cause I don't wear it. If somebody wants to go to the dump and fish it out from among all the stinking garbage they're welcome to it.

Just so long as anyone who "finds" a helmet is unable to use it. "Removed from service" = definitely un-usable.
The last thing we want to see is a helmet on BeTradeMe for sale...

[HenryDorsetCase]

Please remember, if you are throwing out an old helmet, to cut off the chinstraps!

It is being taken off of the road and out of use for a reason.

I'm liking the idea of giving it to a Volunteer brigade or St Johns or someone so they can use it to practice getting helmets off of downed riders at this point.

I saw a fucking cool Arai today in Trevor Pierce Yamaha...... just saying

[HenryDorsetCase]

I have now officially retired this helmet.

[HenryDorsetCase]

pleased I rememberd to put pants on.

[Maha]

pleased I rememberd to put pants on.

Some may be heart broken.

[AllanB]

I wore pants once.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Stupid having this and not using it, right?

[Swoop]

I wore pants once.

They are greatly over-rated.
Even at weddings and funerals.

[caspernz]

Stupid having this and not using it, right?

Very nice lid, just don't scuff the paint job...:shit:

[Erelyes]

Please remember, if you are throwing out an old helmet, to cut off the chinstraps!

It is being taken off of the road and out of use for a reason.

Sad to say that probably won't stop some people.

[Swoop]

Sad to say that probably won't stop some people.
It will reduce the chances of it being seen for sale on BeTradeMe or elsewhere.
If someone is dumb enough to use it without a securing strap, they deserve to be removed from the gene pool.

[Dogboy900]

The number of scooter riders I have seen lately with the straps either not done up at all, or done so loosely they hang well below the chin, I would say there are plenty out there waiting to be weeded out.

I assume it is because it is uncomfortable, or it takes too long to do up the straps so they don't bother.

[Tazz]

As a rule, one use then turn it inside out for one more, and then rubbish :-D