Stupid old helmet question

[nerrrd]

I have a 2014 Bell RS-1 which I bought in 2018 and have been wearing pretty much every day since then, it’s the most comfortable and best-fitting helmet I’ve ever owned.

Lately I’ve noticed some white cracks are starting to appear in the black polystyrene lining. It’s old and overdue for replacement, but helmet shopping is a real headache when your head apparently doesn’t fit the mean that most manufacturers cater for.

I also have a much cheaper Bell Qualifier bought in 2016, same basic shape (visors interchangeable) but plastic instead of fibreglass and not so comfy, well-fitting or generous with the lining. This one only has about a year’s worth of wear on it, been sitting on a shelf since then.

Another new, proper-fitting helmet is the ideal, but in the meantime which would you keep wearing? The well-used, higher quality but showing its age helmet that still fits really well, or the basic, still quite old but hardly used helmet that fits just OK?

[1/32 man]

Get the credit card out and go shopping now......your head will thank you for it later.

Upon returning to motorcycling I bought a Bell qualifier....it looked the business but the thing squealed like a pig and after a month or two I spent yet more$$ on a replacement and after some more months I bought another helmet, in an attempt to upgrade and quieten things down.
I am still using the latest now after a couple of years.

Go on get down to the motorcycle shop/s and have a bit of fun trying things on.....

[Berries]

Just don't fall off. Problem solved.

[roogazza]

I bought a new Shoei X11 about 15 yrs ago, It'll probably see me out.....?????

[Moise]

I bought a new Shoei X11 about 15 yrs ago, It'll probably see me out.....?????

Shoei recommend binning a helmet 5 years from purchase or 7 years from DoM. I'm sure that's conservative, but my experience has been that around 5 years is definitely long enough.

I had an X11 Vermeulen but crashed wearing it when it was a year old. Never wore it again but keep it on a shelf in the garage.

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[SPman]

Finally retired the old Shark - I did get it in 2006! I suppose 16 yrs of use was enough ...... Wanted a Bell - none available in WA - ended with a Suomy TX-Pro carbon composite. First Suomy that's ever fitted, light, quieter on a naked than a fared bike -?? - good aeros and affordable.

[jellywrestler]

Shoei recommend binning a helmet 5 years from purchase or 7 years from DoM. I'm sure that's conservative, but my experience has been that around 5 years is definitely long enough

why, what is defective that at five years fails to do it's job?

[Moise]

why, what is defective that at five years fails to do it's job?

The EPS liner hardens with age according to Shoei. But they are now saying to replace after 7 years.


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[roogazza]

The EPS liner hardens with age according to Shoei. But they are now saying to replace after 7 years.


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what was the old Bell Ad, If you have a $10 head ,wear a $10 helmet !!!!! lol

My shoei could be degrading naturally I suppose ? But it's never hit the deck. MY usage is maybe once a week in Summer, (3 mths )
Otherwise it's sitting in the garage out of the sun.
I think I paid $1200 for it when new.
A major impact would be the final test I guess,but I don't plan on that....It looks like new !

[jellywrestler]

The EPS liner hardens with age according to Shoei. But they are now saying to replace after 7 years.


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so how good are the manufacturers if they are still using the same defective material 30 years later?

[Moise]

so how good are the manufacturers if they are still using the same defective material 30 years later?

There is nothing better than EPS for absorbing impact forces, despite its deficiencies.

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[Moise]

what was the old Bell Ad, If you have a $10 head ,wear a $10 helmet !!!!! lol

My shoei could be degrading naturally I suppose ? But it's never hit the deck. MY usage is maybe once a week in Summer, (3 mths )
Otherwise it's sitting in the garage out of the sun.
I think I paid $1200 for it when new.
A major impact would be the final test I guess,but I don't plan on that....It looks like new !

You shouldn't keep helmets in the garage, as they may be exposed to solvents. Mine lives in the wardrobe!

You could take the liner out and have a good look at the EPS, Shoei paint it black for a reason... But really, there is no way to know if it's OK or not.

New helmets should meet the revised ECE standard, which is an significant improvement over the previous version.

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[Hoonicorn]

Your old helmet has probably 'broken in' to the shape of your head after 10 years of wear. If you have a round head, look for brands that suit that shape, same goes for oval. Don't be shy asking to order thicker padding for the helmet if you want a snug fit.

[roogazza]

You shouldn't keep helmets in the garage, as they may be exposed to solvents. Mine lives in the wardrobe!

Lol if you saw my garage it's like a bedroom for the car, rideon and the bike ! I have a shed for nasty solvents n shit.

Ps was gunna get out today early for a fang ,but figured its a Holiday so there may be more chicanes on the roads.
Tomoro early then !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! G xxxx

[Moise]

.

He doesn't really deal with myth 1 except to say how it came about. Shoei has recently changed their recommendation to replace every 7 years, so perhaps they have done some research?



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