how do you know when to replace a helmet?

[KrystaS]

Other than saving your head in a crash, or making a new fashion
statement, how can you tell when it's time for a new helmet? Is
there a half-life for the foam? When it starts slipping on your head,
not fitting quite right? Every so many years or so many miles? How
do you decide? :chin:

[ridingAK]

I definitely wouldn't wear a helmet that has been dropped, through a crash, etc. I also won't wear a helmet that doesn't fit. I had a Nolan that was slightly large new, and after two seasons of riding was no longer safe, so I replaced it. I voted for number of miles ridden, because I want to always have the peace of mind of knowing that my helmet is at its peak of performance. If that means replacing it more often than necessary, so be it.

[Moondance]

Good question... I haven't ridden long enough to know, but I'm sure we'll get some good answers here :)

[Unforgiven]

Helmets are good for 5 years after the first time you wear it or 6 years after the manufacture date found on the chin strap on an ARAI anyway. If it takes a blow at anytime, the safe thing to do is replace the helmet as the impact foam is only good for one hit on any particular spot.

90% of the people buy helmets too big for them. Won't go into how to fit one but they will usually get loose in the chin pads first from pulling them over your head and the pressure from your cheeks. I'm referring to full face helmets as that is all I have ever owned and all I will ever wear. You can buy new cheek pads for most helmets to get the snugness back again.

[Inky]

What Unforgiven said.

[Luna Tique]

Helmets are good for 5 years after the first time you wear it or 6 years after the manufacture date. If it takes a blow at anytime, the safe thing to do is replace the helmet as the impact foam is only good for one hit on any particular spot.

90% of the people buy helmets too big for them. You can buy new cheek pads for most helmets to get the snugness back again.

:iagree:

[Lucky_Devil]

Here's a link (http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/helmet_CSI.pdf) to a MSF .pdf document regarding helmets... it discusses the reasoning behind the "every few years" rule of thumb.

Here is a link (http://www.smf.org/articles/mpn.html) to interview with Gib Brown, SNELL's director of test development and the foundation's West Coast lab manager.


MPN: There have been various theories over the years that motorcyclists should purchase new helmets every three years or so. Has that been a marketing ploy, or do the materials used in motorcycle helmet construction fatigue over a period of time?

Brown: I think "fatigue" is probably the wrong word to use. What happens is that many manufacturers use glues to put the liner into the shell. We've seen cases where the glues would degrade the liner. We've also seen liners degrade from perspiration and hair oils, and they become compacted through normal use. Snell finally looked at this and said there's no way we can tell an individual how long his or her helmet will be good because the user is the only one who knows how a helmet has been treated. But as a general policy, because of normal degradation and improvements in the helmet, Snell recommends that helmets be replaced every five years.

[KCDakar]

I only use them as a fashion statement. :D:


Here I'll get this for you...:smack:


5 years or when damaged for me please.:thumbup:

Anybody ever put their helmet on the gas tank? Ever try to put gas in a Styrofoam cup? :popcorn1:

[Squeaky]

My current helmet is a little over a year old, hasn't been crashed in or dropped, and isn't too funky smelling - but it is starting to get "worn" in places. The weather stripping that keeps the visor sealed in the rain is splitting a bit, one of the vents is stuck open (and I'm afraid to push too hard for fear I'll break it off completely) and the back of the neck padding starts to pull out of it's "tucked in" position now and then from handling it (not the protection, just the comfort piece that goes between the protection and my neck).

Is it time for a new helmet, or are all these just superficial aspects of the helmet and I shouldn't max out a credit card (or two) for a new one just yet?

[Unforgiven]

Sounds like a lot for a helmet only a year old. What kind of hemet is it? You aren't wearing that thing in the bedroom are you? :D: If so you should probably replace it every six months or so.

[Squeaky]

Hah! No, I wear the MX helmet in the bedroom. You know, cuz it's "dirty" riding.
:beebop:


But seriously..

It's just me and my way of not taking care of my stuff, not the helmet's fault. The weather strip is wearing at the point where I put my hand on the chin bar to put the helmet on and my fingers tuck inside, and the back piece is because I hang it on a cubicle "coat hook" at work to get it off my desk, but it tugs at the edge I guess. I'm just not gentle enough with it - but do I replace it or just deal with it since it's not the safety features? :chin:

[Wildhooves]

I voted for other criteria because although I know that if everything else were perfect with the helmet, I'd replace it in # of years per MSF. BUT not everything goes "perfectly" in my life so I would never base my decision to replace my helmet (or any other safety gear) on how "old" it is. Yes, use it's manufacture date as one criteria but also note: wear/condition, drops, fit, etc. Thus...my vote :):

I have an Arai helmet and I have registered it on the Arai website. I treat it as if it were "very fragile" equipment. I also inspect it and clean it regularly.

[FJRider]

The problem with a poll on something like this is that there is not just one answer.
The accepted answers are,

1 After it has suffered a impact. Some will tell you that this even includes dropping it.

2, If it starts to not fit right. This is why you can not give a answer in years. For the person that only rides a couple of thousand a year 5 years will be a pice of cake. On the other hand the rider that is riding 30K a year in all types of weather the helmet well probably be at the end of its optimal life in under 2 years.

3, At 5 years. You will probably hear a lot of different reasons for this one.

The one thing to remember is that to this day that Hurt Report has been the most detailed study done on helmets and crash's. The study concluded that the 2 most important facts where that YOU WORE A Helmet, and that it FIT RIGHT. The study could see no difference in and other factors and stated that they could see no difference in the protection between the protection in the Pep boys helmet or even one that was bought at a garage sale and the most expensive Bell or other helmet.

No I am not recommending that you just throw some cheap thing on your head. Just trying to stress as some one else stated already that the most important thing is that it FITS.


Denis

[saligia]

Sounds like a lot for a helmet only a year old. What kind of hemet is it? You aren't wearing that thing in the bedroom are you? :D: If so you should probably replace it every six months or so.

No, no, no! That's when you get back to the "it's a fashion statement," so you must have one to match your lingerie. A variety of lingerie = a variety of helmets, no? :D:

Semi-off topic: I was trying helmets on in the vendor marketplace at motoGP last weekend, and I had a salesman trying to get me to pick a helmet based solely upon the color of my bike (or bike to be). Kept telling him that I was interested in one particular helmet, and he continuously tried to get me to look at the "girl-y" helmets or something else . . . slightly silly actually as what I wanted cost more than what he was trying to sell me. Ah, well. His loss.

[indianscout]

The problem with a poll on something like this is that there is not just one answer.
The accepted answers are,

1 After it has suffered a impact. Some will tell you that this even includes dropping it.

2, If it starts to not fit right. This is why you can not give a answer in years. For the person that only rides a couple of thousand a year 5 years will be a pice of cake. On the other hand the rider that is riding 30K a year in all types of weather the helmet well probably be at the end of its optimal life in under 2 years.

3, At 5 years. You will probably hear a lot of different reasons for this one.

The one thing to remember is that to this day that Hurt Report has been the most detailed study done on helmets and crash's. The study concluded that the 2 most important facts where that YOU WORE A Helmet, and that it FIT RIGHT. The study could see no difference in and other factors and stated that they could see no difference in the protection between the protection in the Pep boys helmet or even one that was bought at a garage sale and the most expensive Bell or other helmet.

No I am not recommending that you just throw some cheap thing on your head. Just trying to stress as some one else stated already that the most important thing is that it FITS.


Denis



Makes alot of sence to me.


.