Helmet replacement?

**gav** · 18th August 2004, 12:28

Picked up an entry form for a "have a go day" at Ruapuna and one of the requirements is that helmet must be less than 10 years old. Hmmm, I've got a Shoei RF200 that was manufactured in 1992, but for most of its life it has lived in the original Shoei helmet bag and box in my wardrobe (have two helmets and was bikeless for 7-8 years). I've started using it lately and is basically a brand new helmet, but is it going to be approved for the track? Anyone know? I can understand if a helmet has had 10 years of use how it may no longer be up to scratch, fit wise and safety wise but what do you think? How often should you replace your helmet?

**White trash** · 18th August 2004, 12:30

Every five years. Unless you fuck it. Then sooner.

**Posh Tourer :P** · 18th August 2004, 12:44

I'd certainly replace a helmet immediately if I'd fucked it..

You'd have to be stupid not to.....

**Cajun** · 18th August 2004, 12:53

well for starters you should be fucking helmets, you should go see to a padded cell if you do

**vifferman** · 18th August 2004, 13:02

Originally Posted by Posh Tourer :p

I'd certainly replace a helmet immediately if I'd fucked it..
You'd have to be stupid not to.....

What about if.... you crashed your bike, and had the opportunity to replace your 3+ year old helmet, but for some reason you can't remember (like you thought it was alright, and that by the time the insurance company had devalued it, you'd get stuff all, and you really liked it and doubted whether you'd find a decent replacement for the money, and you weren't sure anyway at that time whether you were going to buy another bike [pause for breath] and maybe it just slipped your mind or you made a bad decision), you didn't. Replace it. And subsequently, when you were locking your bike up one day, you put your helmet on the packrack, thinking, "I hope that doesn't fall off - it's a bit precarious", so of course it fell on the concrete. For the second third or fourth time. Or maybe fifth, who knows? WHo can remember these things? And besides the possibility that it's now ferked, it's starting to show the signs of age anyway. As you do. I mean - as helmets do.

Would that be stupid? To not replace it immediately? If not sooner?
Well, would it? Would the person that didn't replace it in these circumstances be stupid, by your yardstick? What about by your metrestick, or any other stick for that matter?
Huh?

**Deano** · 18th August 2004, 13:08

Ive had my helmet for over 33 years and it has been fucked quite a lot. Wouldn't dream of replacing it, although I did get rid of the waterproof cover very early on.

**gav** · 18th August 2004, 13:15

bit small though isn't it?

**Blakamin** · 18th August 2004, 13:18

Originally Posted by Deano

Ive had my helmet for over 33 years and it has been fucked quite a lot. Wouldn't dream of replacing it, although I did get rid of the waterproof cover very early on.

now THAT would be hard to replace!!

**Deano** · 18th August 2004, 14:05

Originally Posted by gav

bit small though isn't it?

Yeah Gav, thats why I ride a big red throbbing thing to compensate.

Smartass.

**F5 Dave** · 18th August 2004, 15:41

Originally Posted by firestormer

What about if.... you crashed your bike, and had the opportunity to replace your 3+ year old helmet, but for some reason you can't remember (like you thought it was alright, and that by the time the insurance company had devalued it, you'd get stuff all, and you really liked it and doubted whether you'd find a decent replacement for the money, and you weren't sure anyway at that time whether you were going to buy another bike [pause for breath] and maybe it just slipped your mind or you made a bad decision), you didn't. Replace it. And subsequently, when you were locking your bike up one day, you put your helmet on the packrack, thinking, "I hope that doesn't fall off - it's a bit precarious", so of course it fell on the concrete. For the second third or fourth time. Or maybe fifth, who knows? WHo can remember these things? And besides the possibility that it's now ferked, it's starting to show the signs of age anyway. As you do. I mean - as helmets do.

Would that be stupid? To not replace it immediately? If not sooner?
Well, would it? Would the person that didn't replace it in these circumstances be stupid, by your yardstick? What about by your metrestick, or any other stick for that matter?
Huh?

What the hell are you on about??

Helmets are degraded by any structural damage to the outside shell of course, that part is obvious. The shell is meant to spread the load so if it is damaged it will localise it.

The most important part of the helmet is the polystyrene. This is supposed to compress, absorbing the energy & decelerating the brain as gently as possible. Damage to this & the shell through age, sunlight, sweat, dropping it etc will of course make it less effective. By how much? It’s hard to determine, (well if it has been compressed then it is toast) but if it’s your only head (Deano’s wedding tackle aside) then why take the chance?

I’ve recently had to pull someone out of a car with head injuries (well he ran out not knowing where he was) & it makes you think your noggin is worth the best protection. Economics don’t really come into it. Can’t earn much when you are f*d up.

**Posh Tourer :P** · 19th August 2004, 10:14

Originally Posted by firestormer

Would that be stupid?

The odd drop can't be avoided. And like you say, you can't tell. I suppose that is why it is recommended that you replace a helmet regularly. If your helmet is fucked and you don't know it, then you get around it by replacing it regularly. Normally if a helmet is fucked you ought to be able to see the marks anyway though....

NC · 19th August 2004, 10:30

I thought it was every 2 years!

**F5 Dave** · 19th August 2004, 10:30

Won’t see the damage on the inside. This is a damn good reason never to buy a second hand helmet (& the fact it will have conformed to someone else’s head shape).

Many people seem to encourage drops by resting their helmets on the seat of the bike while filling up or something. Put it on the ground, where it won’t get kicked though. If you must, put it on the mirror, but be aware that if a sharp edge is poking into the liner that is not a cool thing.