Safety of helmets?

[crazyxr250rider]

how often do you replace your helmets??? came off my bike in the weekend and broke out the chrome piece from the mouth gaurd took linning out and the polystirene doesent look damadged but who knows eh?
Havent got the money to replace it with the same quality (one ind) how can you tell how good a helmet is and whats the minimum reqirement for mx?

[noobi]

how often do you replace your helmets??? came off my bike in the weekend and broke out the chrome piece from the mouth gaurd took linning out and the polystirene doesent look damadged but who knows eh?
Havent got the money to replace it with the same quality (one ind) how can you tell how good a helmet is and whats the minimum reqirement for mx?

anything DOT approved is probably a good helmet regardless of price.
most helmets are only designed for one use, that use being a massive crash. the polystyrene loses its structural integrety and after that it is less effective if you crash again. but a used helmet is better than no helmet.
basically anything that fits well and has a safety standard.

[crazyxr250rider]

Yeh thought so was pretty bad crash came up short on fast jump. got whinded and when i went to stand up after couldnt keep my ballance and fell on my face again lol.

[That Guy]

It's almost impossible to tell really.

Polystyrene is a once only impact absorption material. The shell's job is to spread the impact, the polystyrene underneath that absorbs the load by deforming. Underneath that is just the comfort liner that only helps keep you comfortable but offers no real protection.

Often the shell will look ok, and the comfort liner usually always will, yet the polystyrene will be compressed after an impact, meaning next time round you've lost your shock absorber....a bit like doing a jump on your bike suddenly with the suspension welded into a fixed position...I'm sure you get the picture.

In the end, if you even slightly suspect the polystyrene has been deformed, throw the helmet away.

and what noobi said.

[YellowDog]

Glad to hear that your helmet did its job.

You now need to replace it asap.

Lots of good deals around at the mo.

Someone posted new HJC helmets at <$120.

Good luck.

[honda_power]

Prob not the best, but i run a cheap $89 Kiwi-X Helmet with the peak and mouthguard held on by duct tape, Iv had some huge hits with it, I wont be replacing until its cracked. This one crash per helmet is bullshit in my opinion.

If your on a budget, the Kiwi-X helmets arnt bad

[crazyxr250rider]

So basicly unless i want to be even more of a veg chuck it and get the best dot rated one i can afford???

[That Guy]

Prob not the best, but i run a cheap $89 Kiwi-X Helmet with the peak and mouthguard held on by duct tape, Iv had some huge hits with it, I wont be replacing until its cracked. This one crash per helmet is bullshit in my opinion.

If your on a budget, the Kiwi-X helmets arnt bad

It isn't bullshit if the polystyrene is deformed. Try getting some one day and push a dent into, it does not come back into its original position.

[flyingcr250]

Prob not the best, but i run a cheap $89 Kiwi-X Helmet with the peak and mouthguard held on by duct tape, Iv had some huge hits with it, I wont be replacing until its cracked. This one crash per helmet is bullshit in my opinion.

If your on a budget, the Kiwi-X helmets arnt bad

i agree, i had some shocking crashes in my old helmet (fly relic) and at no time did i feel worried about it not protecting my head for one more crash, i only replaced it because the peak was ripped off and it ripped the mounting screws out of the side of it, i think for off road you can have more than a few crashes in the same helmet because you arent really going that fast, and most crashes are minor, unlike on the road.

[warewolf]

A hit hard enough to upset your balance afterwards has more than likely crushed the impact-absorbing liner. Definitely throw it away.

There's plenty of < $100 helmets that will protect you way better than any pre-crashed helmet. Just make sure it fits well.

From what I've read on helmet standards and testing, more $$$ does not mean more protection. More comfort, style, durability - arguably yes.

[sunhuntin]

i stopped wearing mine fulltime after my wreck, even though i didnt hit my head. better safe than sorry. i used to still wear it occasionally if i was taking a pillion who didnt have their own... i gave them my good one.

local postie guy arsed off his scoot the other day... may have learned to do his chin strap up, as the lid came off and it wasnt even a major... likely slipped over on the some oil or something.

[That Guy]

A hit hard enough to upset your balance afterwards has more than likely crushed the impact-absorbing liner. Definitely throw it away.

Yep I'd agree with that - plenty of low speed offs don't mean your helmet needs throwing away - but if you are seeing stars, feeling sleepy, of just know that your head took a solid thump I throw my helmet away.

[scott411]

i have a bit to do with helmets, i inspect the ouside and inside of the helmets, the one ind helmet will have a full removeable liner, take it out, and inspect it, the polysterene on the inside is normally painted black, and looking at it will show white stress lines if it has been stressed,
look on the outside for major marks, cracks etc,

[crazyxr250rider]

no paint in there but the paint is looking scetch, could you do me a deal on a helmet ? any 08 ones kicking round need some pants shirt and gloves too , shit you could bring some down with you???

[scott411]

pm me or email me with your sizes, i have some troopers that i can do mean deals on, and some 08 and 09 gear i am dumping