Helmet Shelf Life

[clearviewx]

From the Nighthawk Forum

http://motorcycle-central.com/why-do-mot...ts-expire/

[Cormanus]

Interesting. I followed a link to a piece on helmet noise. I do wish writers of articles on helmet noise would make clear that, at speed, the noise in any helmet is at a level that, over time, will damage your hearing.

[flynrider]

I get about 5 years out of a helmet. Over the years the polystyrene inner shell tends to compress. Whether that's from exposure to the elements or just compression from my head, I don't know. I do know that after about 5 years the helmet has a substantially looser fit than when it was new. That's when I know it's time to go shopping.

[Cormanus]

Are you sure it's the polystyrene? Or is the softer foam padding? Or both, I guess.

[Elipten_imp]

Both. Take an old helmet apart sometime.


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[flynrider]

Are you sure it's the polystyrene? Or is the softer foam padding? Or both, I guess.

I'm sure they both compress, but the polystyrene definitely changes over time. In the old days I tried to keep an old Bell Star in business by putting in a new set of interior pads (I'm a cheap ba****d). The fit was still uncomfortably loose and I had to replace it.

[Elipten_imp]

There are somethings you should not be cheap about. I doubt one would be saying, boy I'm glad I saved a few bucks using an old, low quality, or used helmet as the surgeon drills into the skull to relieve cranial pressure.

When I was young my good friend an emergency room surgeon used to say, "I'll see if you still ride or enjoy it as much after the first bad accident you survive". Luckily it has never happened, but I am very careful. The closer I get to the goal of retirement to more careful I get.


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[flynrider]

There are somethings you should not be cheap about. I doubt one would be saying, boy I'm glad I saved a few bucks using an old, low quality, or used helmet as the surgeon drills into the skull to relieve cranial pressure.

When I was young my good friend an emergency room surgeon used to say, "I'll see if you still ride or enjoy it as much after the first bad accident you survive". Luckily it has never happened, but I am very careful. The closer I get to the goal of retirement to more careful I get.


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Agreed. This was in my younger, stupider days. I really wanted to keep the helmet because it had been modified with headphones so I could listen to my 8-track tape player on the road Priorities!

[Cormanus]

I guess the word is 'quality' not cheap. As the article to which the Ferret posted a link [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=5010&pid=76460#pid76460]here points out, there are plenty of inexpensive helmets that are very high quality. That view is supported by this [url=http://sharp.direct.gov.uk/home]British site. Presumably these are all helmets that comply with whatever standard is used in the UK.

[ChipBeck_imp]

Good stuff, thanks. After reading that I went to my closet and threw out two old helmets. Cheers.

Chip