How often would you replace your helmet?

Just wondering what people's opinions are on replacing helmets that have
suffered no major harm, just wear and tear.
I've been using a CMS (Cheapie) since I got my postie two years ago, it's
not been dropped, what are their normal lifespans?

Cheers,
Adrian
CT-110

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 9 Jan 2005 16:10:00 +1100

No one knows for sure....

There are many recommendations, but no studies, so the recommendations
from manufacturers could easily be a way to generate revenue.

A helmet's job is to decellerate your head. It does this by having a
hard layer that when it hits the ground spreads the impact some, and by
having a polystyrene layer that deforms and crushes, slowing your head
down as it does so. So instead of a sudden stop, your head has a
slightly less sudden stop. And the sklooshy bit inside doesn't wham
into your skull quite so hard.

So a helmet with a liner that has gone hard, or has already been
deformed, or a hard shell that is cracked and so won't spread the blow
too well isn't going to do as good a job as a brand new one.

How you tell when it's gone from "OK" to "not good enough" is unknown.

Every time you wear it you deform the polystyrene a little until it has
conformed to the shape of your head. Every time you put it on a mirror
with the weight of the helmet being taken by the polystyrene lining, you
deform it and make it less effective. But how less effective?

The minute the thing goes on your head the first time, the polystyrene
is deformed. So clearly "it is deformed" isn't enough, we have to know
how deformed is too much. And while we can decide "if it's done its
job, it's too deformed to use again", we don't really know how much is
too much short of that.

Years isn't helpful. A lid kept in a dark cupboard for 2 years is
probably better than one that's been worn for 4 hours a day every day
for those 2 years, but how much better?

My usual marker for replacing a lid is when it's no longer comfortable
enough. When the chinstrap's frayed, when the fit is a bit loose, when
there are too many wear and tear scratches on the gelcoat.

I wear my helmet about 10-12 hours a week, so in 2 years it will have
done over 1000 hours. A cheapy helmet is usually getting daggy and a
bit loose by that stage, and I buy another one.

A more expensive lid is usually still comfortable and not deteriorating
externally after the same amount of time, but there's no info about
whether it is measurably better at the bonce-protection business at that
point, or how long it will take until it gives up saving your skull and
starts looking forward to a life as a plant pot.

Zebee

 

Until it no longer sits comfortably and firmly on your head - which is pretty
hard to determine if you use it every day because they wear and the padding
compresses gradually. Go to a bike shop and try on a new helmet and feel how
it fits. Then put your helmet back on your head and compare.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

A handy hint form the VFR list a few days back was to remove the inner liner
(if its removable of course) and wash it with warm soapy water (actually I
think he used shampoo!), he was amazed at how it turned the water black
(even though it looked allright and didnt smell?)

When he put it back on it felt great, fitted nice and snug... guess its
like fluffing a pillow

HTH
JasonBW - Wollongong

 

Oh dear. Looks at 4 year old $120 Nolan open face. Oh dear. Looks at 6 year
old Shoei $260 full face. Oh dear, I should be dead.

Please don't worry about me. I no longer have the AGV I bought in 1965.

Theo

 

i replace my helmet every time i go for a ride, then i take it off again
when im finished, what are you doing, wearing it to bed?

 

Does that mean if the wife goes for a ride with you she miss-places it?

JasonBW - oh no, not the testicle clamp again.

 

I am still wearing the one I bought from Performance Motorcycles in 1967

 

You mean that the majority of people should go and replace their feet ?

 

that doesnt even make sence