How often should I replace my helmet, really?

[James Deuce]

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Art...stHelmets.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 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 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.