How high is too high? In reference to dropping your helmet

[fireitup]

Yesterday my helmet fell from the bike seat on to concrete, only a bit of noticeable damage in the form of a few scratches. I hear there is no real way of telling if there's any interior damage, so it should just be replaced. Being a poor student, parting with the cash for a new one isn't easy. So I would like some advice, please I don't really know how easy helmets are to damage - am I worrying over nothing?

[awayatc]

Most helmets would have suffered a similar fate at some stage....
very few people if any would have replaced theirs because of that.
"Replacing after a fall " is more meant for a real fall, one where the helmet actualy suffers a real impact.....Just don't make it a habit

[Squiggles]

Most helmets would have suffered a similar fate at some stage....
very few people if any would have replaced theirs because of that.
"Replacing after a fall " is more meant for a real fall, one where the helmet actualy suffers a real impact.....Just don't make it a habit

Agreed, try to avoid doing it again.... uni student?

[fireitup]

Thanks! I thought so, suppose i'm just a little paranoid
I'll try not to do it again, after all, I dont want to scratch all the pretty blue paint off, hah.
Yes, uni student indeed.

[Owl]

Mine fell off my bike onto the road a few weeks ago. I chipped it and damaged a vent. I claimed on my contents insurance for a replacement. I've since binned my bike, whacking my head on the road and toasting the new helmet. I'm ok other than a little concussion, but I'm glad I did replace the first one.
Helmets = Arai Corsair.
It's a choice only you can make!

[fergie]

now you have me worried! i've dropped mine twice! didn't give it a thought at the time?

[Owl]

now you have me worried! i've dropped mine twice! didn't give it a thought at the time?

I don't mean to worry anyone! I'd never damaged a helmet before that first one in April, but I'd already made the decision that I would replace one if it ever happened.

[trumpy]

If your helmet is so fragile that it won't survive the odd fall from your bike seat without ending up so weakened that it is of no more use, what do you think the chances are that it's going to save you head when you really need it?

I was wearing my old Nitro when I crashed and and I took it apart and had a good close look at it before I tossed it in the bin. Externally, the right side, temporal area was ground down a couple of layers as was the right side of the chin piece (full face helmets rule!!....sorry, couldn't help that..). The visor came off on impact.
I took all the lining out and checked this with a probe and there appeared to be no "flattening" of the styrene although there were some small variences in thickness throughout, which is not unexpected with this type of product.
I then checked the inside of the shell for damage and could find no visual damage even behind the impact area, although this does not mean there wasn't any.
Yes I do know that every accident is different but I think you will find that your helmet is a pretty tough piece of equipment.

[James Deuce]

The shell isn't what prevents head injuries (other than attempting to prevent penetration ones) the lining is. The shell is there to help spread impact loads over the lining which compresses to stop your skull doing that and to slow the rate of negative acceleration of your brain inside your cranium.

Don't stick your keys or race style gloves in your helmet. If your helmet feels loose replace it or buy a new liner/cheekpads if you helmet manufacturer offers that sort of service.

If the gel coat is penetrated buy a new helmet. I know you'll all go, "yeah right" but they are more fragile than you think. A simple scratch through to the helmet material provides a weak point for stresses to exit when it should be spreading the load over the whole helmet.

Yes I know the olden days folks only wore a pudding bowl and single champagne cork, but times change.

The final and most important point: There's little regard for informed opinion on KB, so just ignore me and anyone else who makes comments about the importance of your head.

[Dodger]

I managed to lightly kick my old helm sometime ago as it was sitting next to my bike.

It slowly rolled down the drive, over the gutter, and down the road. It was about to turn the corner by the time I managed to stop it.
Its scratched to bits, including the visor.

No real impacts involved so there shouldn't be anything wrong with it other then looking like it was involved in a crash

I'm much more careful with my Nolan.

[vifferman]

Although Jim2 is sorta right, it depends on the helmet. Injection moulded type shells are fairly resistant to being dropped, without structural damage or loss of performance, as the toughness/resilience of the shell is what provides the protection to your head. The fibre-reinforced type shells are somewhat more fragile, as they are designed to absorb the impact through the shell to some extent. Both types rely on the shell abosrbing the impact and the progressively softer liner layers between there and your head providing some cushioning and deceleration.
The polystyrene liners aren't as fragile as some people make out, and some of the "Ooh! Your helmet is severely compromised - you better replace it!" schtick is generated by helmet manufacturers and sellers, trying to avoid lawsuits and also sell more helmets.

[BANZAI]

Me too!! I dropped mine twice from about waist height...
It's so annoying when new visor get scratched...

Mine's probly polystyrene liners(RJ Razor) so should be ok, but I don't have money to replace it at the moment anyway.

Before I ride, I think "If I get accident I'll be f**kd" and ride as careful as I can.

Altho I'm just learner so don't really know when and where I'm going to stuff up, so kinda scary eh....

[Manxman]

I managed to lightly kick my old helm sometime ago as it was sitting next to my bike.

It slowly rolled down the drive, over the gutter, and down the road. It was about to turn the corner by the time I managed to stop it.
Its scratched to bits, including the visor.

No real impacts involved so there shouldn't be anything wrong with it other then looking like it was involved in a crash

I'm much more careful with my Nolan.

Mate, if yer gonna kick ya helmet, of course it's gonna try an run (roll) away. Any self-respecting helmet would...

[Manxman]

The shell isn't what prevents head injuries (other than attempting to prevent penetration ones) the lining is. The shell is there to help spread impact loads over the lining which compresses to stop your skull doing that and to slow the rate of negative acceleration of your brain inside your cranium.

Don't stick your keys or race style gloves in your helmet. If your helmet feels loose replace it or buy a new liner/cheekpads if you helmet manufacturer offers that sort of service.

If the gel coat is penetrated buy a new helmet. I know you'll all go, "yeah right" but they are more fragile than you think. A simple scratch through to the helmet material provides a weak point for stresses to exit when it should be spreading the load over the whole helmet.

Yes I know the olden days folks only wore a pudding bowl and single champagne cork, but times change.

The final and most important point: There's little regard for informed opinion on KB, so just ignore me and anyone else who makes comments about the importance of your head.

Yeah, wot he said.

No, wait, ignore him...

[fireitup]

Thanks for all the advice, guys.
Seeing that my helmet has very little superficial damage and the drop wasn't high, i'm leaning towards not replacing it for now. Although I certainly would if i somehow subject my helmet to a more destructive fall.