Replacing a helmet after a crash?

**green machine** · 24th July 2011, 20:10

How hard is too hard?,took a bit of a spill over the bars today at the Sandpit and my month old $600 helmet looks a bit worse for wear,no visible cracks on the shell or poly lining,but the impact was hard enough to leave an imprint of the plastic part of the lining on my noggin,i wasn't knocked out or didn't get concussion, chatted to someone there and he suggested i replace it........i know they are designed to take ONE impact but what is everyones opinion on how hard is too hard.If i had got dizzy or had a massive headache i'd replace it no question,but it's only four rides old.If it's up for replacement that is the last high end helmet i'll be forking out for.......Cheers

**nzspokes** · 24th July 2011, 20:12

Originally Posted by green machine

How hard is too hard?,took a bit of a spill over the bars today at the Sandpit and my month old $600 helmet looks a bit worse for wear,no visible cracks on the shell or poly lining,but the impact was hard enough to leave an imprint of the plastic part of the lining on my noggin,i wasn't knocked out or didn't get concussion, chatted to someone there and he suggested i replace it........i know they are designed to take ONE impact but what is everyones opinion on how hard is too hard.If i had got dizzy or had a massive headache i'd replace it no question,but it's only four rides old.If it's up for replacement that is the last high end helmet i'll be forking out for.......Cheers

Your $600 just saved your bacon. Go buy a new one. If there is any damage its rooted. It wont work again. Ive worked in the helmet industry.

**gijoe1313** · 24th July 2011, 20:35

As everyone will tell you, replace, replace and replace - the $600 you spent was well worth it and now, you can use it as a wall piece for conversation starter!

I got given arseholes for riding with a lid that had some scratches from a "minor" off (was waiting for a new replacement one to come in). So, looking back - I was a right idiot and should have bought a brand new one straight off and banked it as a spare when my new one came in! (Ah, the foolishness of youth)

**green machine** · 24th July 2011, 20:44

Yeah i'm picking that's what everyone will say,looking at replacements now,but what i want to establish is how to gauge if the knock was sufficient enough to damage the structure of the helmet...as in
Knocked out = new helmet
Concussion = new helmet
Dizzy = new helmet
Chipped Paint = new helmet???
Scratches = new helmet???
Get my drift?

**noobi** · 24th July 2011, 20:45

Both of the previous posters are road riders, which is fine. However their view of protective gear is slightly different, if you crash on the road, usually you are lucky to be alive and all your gear is rooted because it took a big impact, and your not dead. So now that your not dead after crashing on the road you feel that you should replace all your gear, its not such a big deal because you would only need to do it a few times in your life, because you only crash a few times in your life(compared to off road).
Now we look at off road, how many times do you crash, fall off, hit the ground? Id say its a good day if you dont have a get off of some description, if we replaced our helmets every time we fell off and hit our head, we would be broke and not riding...
If its cracked or the foam inside is deformed, then its toast, get a new one, if its not, carry on wearing it until you decide that you want something different...

**nzspokes** · 24th July 2011, 20:51

Originally Posted by noobi

Both of the previous posters are road riders, which is fine. However their view of protective gear is slightly different, if you crash on the road, usually you are lucky to be alive and all your gear is rooted because it took a big impact, and your not dead. So now that your not dead after crashing on the road you feel that you should replace all your gear, its not such a big deal because you would only need to do it a few times in your life, because you only crash a few times in your life(compared to off road).
Now we look at off road, how many times do you crash, fall off, hit the ground? Id say its a good day if you dont have a get off of some description, if we replaced our helmets every time we fell off and hit our head, we would be broke and not riding...
If its cracked or the foam inside is deformed, then its toast, get a new one, if its not, carry on wearing it until you decide that you want something different...

Wrong, he said the impact was hard enough to leave an imprint of the plastic part of the lining on my noggin. The helmet inner has been compromised. If it was just external scratches then no biggy. But this one is rooted.

I do have done more than just ride a road bike to.

**noobi** · 24th July 2011, 20:57

I thought he meant it left and imprint on his head, not the helmet ?

**Rhys** · 24th July 2011, 21:03

If your head hits the ground with any force replace it! But its your life

**Rupe** · 24th July 2011, 21:23

Originally Posted by noobi

Both of the previous posters are road riders, which is fine. However their view of protective gear is slightly different, if you crash on the road, usually you are lucky to be alive and all your gear is rooted because it took a big impact, and your not dead. So now that your not dead after crashing on the road you feel that you should replace all your gear, its not such a big deal because you would only need to do it a few times in your life, because you only crash a few times in your life(compared to off road).
Now we look at off road, how many times do you crash, fall off, hit the ground? Id say its a good day if you dont have a get off of some description, if we replaced our helmets every time we fell off and hit our head, we would be broke and not riding...
If its cracked or the foam inside is deformed, then its toast, get a new one, if its not, carry on wearing it until you decide that you want something different...

I agree with this, road and dirt is a bit different. You/I fall off a fair bit, and cause helmets are heavy your head often hits the ground. most of the time its really minor stuff, so its not really one impact and throw the thing out.

I guess only steve knows how hard he hit the ground and whether he thinks it should be trown or not. Someone like scott would prob know

**YellowDog** · 24th July 2011, 21:28

Your helmet is perfectly fit for legal compliance, as in wearing a helmet whilst riding a motorcycle.

If however you want a reasonable chance of it still being able to save your bacon in the event of an accident: Sorry mate, but it does need to be replaced

**L Rider** · 24th July 2011, 21:29

Agree with Noobi regarding onroad/offroad riding & crashes.

IF offroad helmets had to be replaced when the head is knocked, then wouldn't crashes at organised events be monitored alot more.
Take for example my kids who do Mini mx - if my boy comes off at speed, takes a knock to his head but is feeling fine & gets back up themself, should organisers be checking him & his helmet before he continues the race given that they are run under MNZ rules?

**noobi** · 24th July 2011, 21:31

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Wrong, he said the impact was hard enough to leave an imprint of the plastic part of the lining on my noggin. The helmet inner has been compromised. If it was just external scratches then no biggy. But this one is rooted.

I do have done more than just ride a road bike to.

I didnt say to, or not to, I gave my opinion and where I stand on the topic. If it DID dent the inner foam, then like I said its toast. So how am I wrong again? Other than assuming you only ride road bikes?

**flyingcr250** · 24th July 2011, 21:37

if indoubt throw it out,
ive had a few GOOD crashes with my current helmet and id only replace it if i saw that it was visably damaged,
yes i know there might be damage that i cant see but were do you stop?
at the end of the day steve if you dont feel comfortable wearing it anymore the get rid of it

**green machine** · 24th July 2011, 21:40

Originally Posted by Rupe

I agree with this, road and dirt is a bit different. You/I fall off a fair bit, and cause helmets are heavy your head often hits the ground. most of the time its really minor stuff, so its not really one impact and throw the thing out.

I guess only steve knows how hard he hit the ground and whether he thinks it should be trown or not. Someone like scott would prob know

Yeah that's right Rupe,it was a bit harder than i tip off at a corner,it was over the bars at speed,tho my body hit first,then the helmet,and it was more of a hit and slide than a full frontal impact......i'm looking at helmets......

**green machine** · 24th July 2011, 21:43

Originally Posted by flyingcr250

if indoubt throw it out,
ive had a few GOOD crashes with my current helmet and id only replace it if i saw that it was visably damaged,
yes i know there might be damage that i cant see but were do you stop?
at the end of the day steve if you dont feel comfortable wearing it anymore the get rid of it

Just paintchips and scratches.......i'd be buying a new helmet every week if that was the benchmark