Who regularly replaces their helmet?

**slofox** · 10th January 2015, 11:11

...every five years as recommended by Arai (and others I suppose)?

**mossy1200** · 10th January 2015, 11:33

Originally Posted by slofox

...every five years as recommended by Arai (and others I suppose)?

I don't do high km and my helmets don't see as many hours in the sun. Does this mean they last longer?

I think one is older and I don't use it a lot its more for in case needed or passengers. Not replacing that yet.

**nzspokes** · 10th January 2015, 11:43

Ive been getting 2 years out of cheaper helmets. I just got a Shoei which means I can replace internal parts which is what wears out. I commute every day.

**manxkiwi** · 10th January 2015, 12:21

It's the polystyrene inner that loses its properties of impact absorption, that is the time limiting factor in a helmets life. Being out in the sun won't matter (talking fiberglass, not polycarb.). It pays to check the date of manufacture, as lids in shops can be/are up to and over 5 years old when you buy them 'new'.

I've discussed this at length with the Arai bods before. The shell will last almost indefinitely, without a serious knock.

Having said that, I and many others, go longer with their lids.

Hope this helps.

**Maha** · 10th January 2015, 12:26

If I see one I like (or must have) I will buy it and sell the present one, even if I have only had it for a short while. So what is this five years you are talking about? the longest I have owned a bike is two years.

**BlackSheepLogic** · 10th January 2015, 15:20

It's in the range of 7-8 years before I scrap a helmet. Once the inner liners start to crumble. I take very good care of my helmet and the shell looks almost as good as the day I got it.

On my Shoei helmets that equates to ~$100.00 per year. Well worth it in my opinion.

**swarfie** · 10th January 2015, 15:37

Helmet's aren't allowed to pass scrutineering at race meetings in NZ if they're older than 10 years. By that time they're generally too loose on ya scone anyway. I replace my road helmet about every 5 to 6 years for the same reason. They just get too loose and the lining is generally getting tatty after a few washes anyway. The last two matching AGV's the missus and I had we couldn't replace the visors in unzud so had to get some from overseas (found they were cheaper too buying online). Just replaced them a couple of month's ago with HJC IS17's with the internal slide down sunshade and came with pin-lock anti-fog visors as standard. I've had all sorts of brands from FM's, Kiwi, Bell, Shoei's, to a knock-off Shoei I bought in Thailand, both dirt and road helmets. Been stoked with the HJC so far, quiet, light and comfortable. Went to use it a couple of days ago to find that the knob on the top used to slide the sunshade down had broken off so took it back to Boyd's here in the Tron and they replaced the WHOLE helmet, as the wholesaler said it was uneconomic to replace the broken bit. Now that's what I call service

**Yow Ling** · 10th January 2015, 18:10

I crash quite a bit so need to buy new helmets fairly often

**Murray** · 10th January 2015, 18:29

Originally Posted by Yow Ling

I crash quite a bit so need to buy new helmets fairly often

Are you really Akzle logged on under another name????

**oneofsix** · 10th January 2015, 19:23

Originally Posted by swarfie

Helmet's aren't allowed to pass scrutineering at race meetings in NZ if they're older than 10 years. By that time they're generally too loose on ya scone anyway. I replace my road helmet about every 5 to 6 years for the same reason. They just get too loose and the lining is generally getting tatty after a few washes anyway. The last two matching AGV's the missus and I had we couldn't replace the visors in unzud so had to get some from overseas (found they were cheaper too buying online). Just replaced them a couple of month's ago with HJC IS17's with the internal slide down sunshade and came with pin-lock anti-fog visors as standard. I've had all sorts of brands from FM's, Kiwi, Bell, Shoei's, to a knock-off Shoei I bought in Thailand, both dirt and road helmets. Been stoked with the HJC so far, quiet, light and comfortable. Went to use it a couple of days ago to find that the knob on the top used to slide the sunshade down had broken off so took it back to Boyd's here in the Tron and they replaced the WHOLE helmet, as the wholesaler said it was uneconomic to replace the broken bit. Now that's what I call service

seriously?! Those knobs are designed to pop out, you will probably find it on the floor somewhere. They just clip in, pity they don't tell you this. First time I lost the one off mine i Lightly knocked it against a low beam in a parking building, oh no broken

then a mate picks it up off the floor and it clips straight back in, lost count of the number of times I have knocked it out since with my sleeve etc. Oh well, at least you got a new helmet from the shop

**Yow Ling** · 10th January 2015, 19:29

Originally Posted by Murray

Are you really Akzle logged on under another name????

Thats a bit rough, anyway havnt crashed for 30 hours , with a bit of luck i may get through the rest of the year

**swbarnett** · 10th January 2015, 20:20

Originally Posted by slofox

...every five years as recommended by Arai (and others I suppose)?

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.

**swarfie** · 10th January 2015, 20:33

Originally Posted by oneofsix

seriously?! Those knobs are designed to pop out, you will probably find it on the floor somewhere. They just clip in, pity they don't tell you this. First time I lost the one off mine i Lightly knocked it against a low beam in a parking building, oh no broken

then a mate picks it up off the floor and it clips straight back in, lost count of the number of times I have knocked it out since with my sleeve etc. Oh well, at least you got a new helmet from the shop

Would have thought the wholesaler manager would have known that but it was his choice to replace it lock stock and barrel. I'm not arguing...a blokes got to have some luck sometimes I guess. Have to keep an eye out for the "broken" bit

**quickbuck** · 10th January 2015, 21:51

Originally Posted by slofox

...every five years as recommended by Arai (and others I suppose)?

On my 3rd helmet in 5 years...... The Sheoi XR1100 and the Qwest are really good to land head first on the ground in case anybody wants to know.....

**nzspokes** · 10th January 2015, 22:06

Originally Posted by swbarnett

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.

You can wash them you know.