clearviewx
Been there
Thread starter
Helmet Shelf Life
- Thread starter clearviewx
- Start date
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
Road warrior
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.
Are you sure it's the polystyrene? Or is the softer foam padding? Or both, I guess.
Elipten_imp
Road warrior
Both. Take an old helmet apart sometime.
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flynrider
Road warrior
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.Cormanus_imp said:
Elipten_imp
Road warrior
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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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
Road warrior
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 roadElipten_imp said:
Priorities!
I guess the word is 'quality' not cheap. As the article to which the Ferret posted a link 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
Road warrior
Good stuff, thanks. After reading that I went to my closet and threw out two old helmets. Cheers.
Chip
Chip
Elipten_imp
Road warrior
Duly noted Cormanus and post edited.
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metallyguitarded_imp
Road warrior
I've got a couple helmets that have passed their "use by" date. I wonder if there's anything creative I can make out of them. Maybe seal the bottom somehow and cut a slot into the tops of them and give them to my boys as piggy banks? Not a very secure piggy bank seeing how they can just lift the face shield to get to the cash. Man cave decorations? Throwing them out just seems so ... unappreciative.
flynrider
Road warrior
Target practice? Plant flowers in them? I found this interesting use over on RideApart :metallyguitarded_imp said:
gossman_imp
Been there
Set them up on the shelf for decoration and a reminder of the old days.
rboe
Road warrior
I have an old Hondaline full face from the early early '80's. The inside feels very hard. It was fun to wear at the MSF course, I think it was older than one of the instructors.
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