Who regularly replaces their helmet?

[nzspokes]

Arai suggest 5 years of use or 7 years from DOM.

Oh and I have never washed a helmet either. None of them have ever got stinky.

Do you find everybody wants you to be Tec on group rides?

[Big Dog]

DOM is a valid point though. Because it is impractical to actually test a helmet, scrutineering involves checking this date with a lot of organisations.
When I was selling gear as a part time job we got a lot of people in who said their barely used helmet had been rejected at various events. Especially cart events.

Mind you I have heard of racers buffing out or putting stickers over scratches from an off.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Night Falcon]

I have 5 helmets, 2 of which I wont wear again but cant bring myself to chuck them out.

[yevjenko]

most helmets actually have an expiry date on it somewhere, usually inside and often hard to find (under the cloth and fabric linings).

Most I have seen have a date of manufacture, not an expiry date

[vifferman]

Iffen I handn'ta read this thread, I wouldn't have got around to washing my helmet interior.
Being an XR1100, all the internal padding readily removes (handy for installing the Sena), so I unclipped it all, filled the sink with warm water and Softly wool wash, and away I went. I was going to wipe out the inside too while the lining was out, but id didn't smell once the lining was out.
After some rinsing and a day-and-a-half of air drying, back in it went, and I was pleased that only only did it now smell OK (very faint trace of the smell of Softly), the padding was slightly plumper.
Job well done!

[Mom]

I replaced my last helmet after only a year. Mind you I did hit the ground with my head in it.

Past helmets have lasted me a few more years usually replaced them at about 3 years because they started to stink royally and I couldn't replace the internal parts.

My current helmet is the first Shoei so I've yet to see how long it takes before the currently not so stinky parts need replacing.

I have had to replace a very expensive Shoei helmet after I have bowling balled it across a carpark (cold morning in Taupo and the chin part was wet with condensation from breathing) and it slipped out of my hand. Lesson learned, don't carry my helmet that way. I also replaced one that hit the ground hard enough to break the outside coating and expose the innards after a stationary drop of the bike, on a real off camber slope. Over she went! Head down on the road, on top of a poxy rock of some sort

Be good to hold onto the one I currently have long enough to replace the cheek pads etc. Having said that, I actually threw away a helmet when we sold our house last year. It was circa late '70's. Spray painted matt bleck ( as you do). All the foam was dust inside, and the polystyrene was dehydrated somehow, very thin anyway. It was MINE though, one of the things I kept when my first marriage failed so a bit sad to part with it. Still cut the straps off it for safety

It has been far too, far too since we saw you guys. We should plan a catch up.

[Arctic Wolfe]

Being an XR1100,
Job well done!

Excellent Helmet ........ have same .... can't remember the model though.

[Mom]

Iffen I handn'ta read this thread, I wouldn't have got around to washing my helmet interior.
Being an XR1100, all the internal padding readily removes (handy for installing the Sena), so I unclipped it all, filled the sink with warm water and Softly wool wash, and away I went. I was going to wipe out the inside too while the lining was out, but id didn't smell once the lining was out.
After some rinsing and a day-and-a-half of air drying, back in it went, and I was pleased that only only did it now smell OK (very faint trace of the smell of Softly), the padding was slightly plumper.
Job well done!

Beats the smell of head though eh?

[Arctic Wolfe]

I have found that wearing a balaclava goes a long way in keeping my helmets fresh. I wear a balaclava all year round every time I ride.
When I used to have long hair, the balaclava made the on and off of the helmet so much smoother .....

I do however look for the thinnest lightest balaclava's ..............

[Big Dog]

Beats the smell of head though eh?

Nothing beats head. If she swallows there is no smell.


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[slofox]

I didn't intend for this to happen just yet but I have bought a new helmet anyway.

Tried Scorpion helmets but couldn't find one that fitted my weird head shape. So I went back to Arai. This time to a Quantum 2. Much more secure than the old Chaser. Maybe the bit about five years is right after all.

I thought I might get away with using the old visors on the new lid. Same shapes and slots etc but turns out the Chaser visors are a little smaller than the Quantum and just won't quite fit. Bugger.

Recently, Arai helmets, previously distributed by Dold's, have gone to Northern. This does not seem to be too popular a change amongst the trade people I have talked to. However, Scuttlebut at the precinct has it that the owner of Northern is also the owner of Cycletreads. So I contacted CT to check their prices on Arai lids. The quantum, that is priced between $750 and $799 at most retail outlets I have checked, was quoted to me at $585 - including freight. Which was an offer I couldn't refuse - even without a horse's head in my bed. So I got it. Arrived yesterday, spent last night transferring all the bits and pieces (interphone, RD receiver, camera mount) from old to new. Test ride this morning was fine.

So if you want an Arai, check CT for prices.

[pritch]

So I contacted CT to check their prices on Arai lids. The quantum, that is priced between $750 and $799 at most retail outlets I have checked, was quoted to me at $585 - including freight.

That's good news 'cause both of my Arai helmets were well north of a grand, and being retired now that's a bit steep. Six hundred odd might cause me to gulp but that's almost normal, Shoie money. Still, I'm hoping I don't need to replace any helmets any time soon.

[vifferman]

Excellent Helmet ........ have same .... can't remember the model though.

Yeah, it's great, but not the one I wanted (a 'Skeet'), as they had none in stock in my size, and Cycletreads wasn't sure the one on order wasn't already spoken for). So, I've got a Bradley Smith replica. My wife hates it, because the middle part of the stylised Union Jack looks coffin-shaped, complete with a cross.

I have found that wearing a balaclava goes a long way in keeping my helmets fresh. I wear a balaclava all year round every time I ride.
When I used to have long hair, the balaclava made the on and off of the helmet so much smoother
I do however look for the thinnest lightest balaclava's ..............

The silk balaclavas are pretty thin, and before I got the XR1100 I used to wear one a lot. However, because I'm bald, even the thin seam up the middle used to leave lines on my head, making it look like I'd had cranial surgery. I haven't needed to wear a balaclava with the XR1100 because it has excellent ventilation but isn't at all cold in winter.

[Moi]

I have found that wearing a balaclava goes a long way in keeping my helmets fresh. I wear a balaclava all year round every time I ride.
When I used to have long hair, the balaclava made the on and off of the helmet so much smoother .....

I do however look for the thinnest lightest balaclava's ..............

Have been looking for a 'thin' balaclava but have found lots that are thick and 'it'll keep your head warm' which I don't want... so what are you using as a thin balaclava?

Cheers.

[Erelyes]

5 years TOPS and mine are in the skip. Better a 3 year old $150 helmet than a 7 year old $1500 helmet.

Absolutely. I have nothing against people buying $1500 helmets, but you buy one cos they have awesome graphics / less noise / bells and whistles, not because the polystyrene inside them is somehow more durable than a reasonably-priced offering.

Nothing beats head. If she swallows there is no smell.

"You must spread some reputation around......"

Have been looking for a 'thin' balaclava but have found lots that are thick and 'it'll keep your head warm' which I don't want... so what are you using as a thin balaclava?

Cheers.

Icebreaker. There is no competition. Make sure you get the 200gm one, not the 260gm.

Personally I prefer a neck tube and have been wearing one for the last couple years, nearly every day. Tend to find it gets a bit finky after 1-2 weeks, so I wash it about that often.

They come in black as well as super bright colours; mine is grey.

Had my helmet for a couple years and never once washed it. No smell at all. Did take all the liners out once for a bit of a general check-over of the helmet though. Estimate I'll probably replace it in a couple years, it's already slightly looser than when I got it. The snugness of fit deteriorates as well, mainly with use, somewhat also with time.