Helmet Question ---Poll

[Big IV]

 
We still have some of Dad's helmets in the shed that are older than I am. We don't still run them however.
I do try to replace mine after a major accident incase the foam has compressed because after I don't think it will work that well twice. That was recommended to me by the manufactuer.
Perhaps I should replace more often.
How often do you replace your helmets?

[Bob E.]

I know for racing, they will not let you run a helmet that is more than 5 years old.  And I think that is the geeral rule for the street too.  That said, last summer I bought a new helmet to replace my old Shoei that was 13 years old.

[junior]

you missed a spot.......where is the spot for the ones that dont wear one unless they have to?

[FLAVALK]

you missed a spot.......where is the spot for the ones that dont wear one unless they have to?

That's why I voted "Replace?"

[junior]

me too flavalk

[flatsixrider]

I will replace mine after ANY incident that has even the slightest chance of impacting helmet performance.  A drop from more than 4-5 feet.  Replace.  I tend to replace every 3-4 years.  If the helmet EPS or padding becomes too loose to fit me correctly I will replace.  If the chin strap shows excessive wear...  So many reasons to replace over not replacing.  Plus, there are always deals to be had on SNELL and DOT approved lids.  I am currently wearing an Icon Alliance which I find plenty comfortable and through closeout at newenough.com cost me $50 instead of the regular price of nearly $200.   

[Tundra]

Replace?...Because the only time I REPLACE is to try another brand/style.

[Duffy]

I had to answer "After a Major Fall".  

I am on my third (I think) helmet since 2005!

I bought the VOX in October 07. Good helmet for the price ($100). I have had to tighten the screws on it a couple times.

[NiteRiderF6]

After 3 or 4 of our summers down south.... your helmet begins to .... deteriorate a bit... so I usually replace mine about every 4th year. YMMV, BTW, We pretty much have to wear them full time here... the patrol will get cha! Ride Safely!

[Black Pearl's Captain]

I had to answer "After a Major Fall".  

I am on my third (I think) helmet since 2005!

I bought the VOX in October 07. Good helmet for the price ($100). I have had to tighten the screws on it a couple times.

Duffy I'm going to rag on you and your helmet usage. That full face wont help your pretty facewith it up. If you bought why not use it? The only time it should be up is sitting at the stop light.

I know I'm anal about this and have ragged others but why why why if you bought a full face not use it when your riding? Good thing you weren't riding anywhere dangeous where they have crashes daily. 

Don't take this wrong, just saying..

Raymond

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

  I'm with nightrider down here about 3 to 4 yrs the inside gets pretty rough and hard to stick your head in there. The heat and humidity plays a manner part in the destruction of the padding. I'll never  buy a black helmet again because it's like a convection oven on long rides in the summer.

[DFragn]

Sorry, but the poll should include "any time the helmet is dropped"

Any helmet should be replaced if it even just falls from your seat.

[flatsixrider]

Sorry, but the poll should include "any time the helmet is dropped"

Any helmet should be replaced if it even just falls from your seat.

+1 

[RedValk]

yea...and it's probably JUST me....but....i can't believe how many times i see folks CARELESSLY hang or place their helmet somewhere on or around their bike...and in minutes, you inevitably here "crash/crack"...as it hits and bounces off the ground. ME...I am always SUPER cautious about where i put my helmet when it isn't on my head...cause if nothing else, as much as i paid for the dang thing, i don't EVEN want it gettin' scratched up by carelessly handling it...much less PERHAPS lessening it's safety?

i'm always amazed at every rally how many helmets i see dropped, kicked....scuffed...scratched...abused. But......again.....it's probalby just me.......you know how 'anal' i am about the cleanliness of my bikes 

I even check and scold Sherry for carelessly placing her helmet on the seat of her bike...where it MIGHT be able to slide off and fall...........

Call me Captain "Anal" 

[ChromeDome]

I usually replace my helmet every 3 to 5 years. Partly because the technology is always improving, partly because of general wear and tear (sweat on the inside and various bugs,  pebbles, etc smashing into the outside) and partly because of a deal. I do have a 3/4 helmet I wear during the summer when riding here in the area but use the Fullface/Flipfront when on a trip.

[Big IV]

  I'm not sure that's a great thing to want to be called, perhaps it is a promotion over Major Payne.

I do usually hang my helmet on the sissy bar. Its fairly stable there. I prefer it not to go rolling away. But it happens. When my wife is riding she takes my sissy bar for her helmet rack and I end up putting my helmet on the seat. But an open modular helmet sits fairly solidly.

As for This post needs...I wonder if I can edit it? Good suggestion. Let me play with it.

[F-106]

It cost me about $800.00 to replace our helments {RF-1000) back in 04. I use mine 4-5 times a week so i will be in need replacment this next year. But my wife has only worn hers 12 times over the last 5 years. I called shoie. They told me replace at 5 years reguardless. But the rep at the cycle world show said the new helemets are so good 7-9 years WITH PROPER CARE AND TREAMENT. THAT INCLUDES DROPPING IT OFF THE BIKE WHEN PARKED. We use padded helment bags and keep them inside all the time. So far so good.

[Momz]

Here in Michigan we have a "so called helmet law" that is by any legal definition "unenforceable". So I have for several years chosen to wear a bicycle helmet. Yes,...a Bell bicycle helmet!!!

After my cervical spinal chord surgery a year ago, I still a light weight helmet that woulf not move around like the Bell that I was using, so I looked for a more suitable replacement. I found a carbon fiber novelty helmet that weighs just a few ounces and doesn't move around at speed for $35.00 at a local chopper shop.

I'd still be using my bicycle helmet today, years later, and I still may for local rides. I will defend anyones right to wear a helmet if they choose to do so. But I also believe that any government does not have the right to tell me that I must protect myself and others by wearing a helmet.

That said,....replace when you feel replacement is due.

[RedValk]

I'm not sure that's a great thing to want to be called, perhaps it is a promotion over Major Payne.

trust me, i've been called FAR worse     

[dreamaker]

I am also from Michigan and I agree and disagree with the helmet law. I agree of the right to choose but not all people are competent riders so we have to suffer because of them. I wear a carbon fiber helmet that is not a novelty helmet it is DOT and I would not ride a bike without a helmet. In my early days I was in a bike accident and if you saw my Bell helmet that would have been my skull. I use to video crash tests and seen how the neck and head snaps on impact. That is why I choose  carbon fiber because it is 7 times stronger then fiberglass based on data and is lighter and does not add weight for extreme HICs to the head.

Dan

[CajunRider]

I'm against ANY helmet law.  Riding is dangerous... we all know that... we choose the take the risk in spite of the danger because of the love for biking.  The helmet law is just step 1 to outlawing all bikes.  (Like banning auto/machine guns is the first step to banning ALL fire-arms.)

However... even though I think the law is crap, I ALWAYS wear my helmet... law or no law.  I just want my right to choose. 

Now... on subject of the poll... I change my helmet every 2 or 3 years or after any damage can be seen (like a bad fall onto concrete). 

My 2 cents.

[fudgie]

I guess I would replace mine like a car seat. After a major accident. I still have  :evil:e the same helmets I bought over 12 yrs ago. Mine has been dropped a few times off the bike. I just cover up the scratches with helmet stickers! 
I voted on the 'don't wear it' selection. I do occasionally will wear it to work in town or Indy. I perfer not to wear it and I work EMS.

[dreamaker]

I think in view of the poll.  To me it would seem that the type of material would be a factor for longevity of the helmet.  So it would be hard to toss a $500 carbon fiber helmet in the trash after a few years. Should see what the recommendation of the helmet are.

Dan

[junior]

i know with MHSA the requires us to replace out hardhats every 3 years. Mine Health Safety Administration

[SgtBunny]

i know with MHSA the requires us to replace out hardhats every 3 years. Mine Health Safety Administration

That's because someone was in the position to get kickbacks if they made that reg.  Same with several other regs out there dealing with governmental agencies. 

[rmrc51]

i know with MHSA the requires us to replace out hardhats every 3 years. Mine Health Safety Administration

That's because someone was in the position to get kickbacks if they made that reg.  Same with several other regs out there dealing with governmental agencies. 

Now that I CAN believe!

[SgtBunny]

rmrc51, I notice your from VA.

I was don in Gundy back in about 2005 or 2006, can't remember which, working with MSHA when they were re-opening a mine that had been on fire.

I know all too well some of the crazy regs they like to use.  What is funnier is they had us staged near one of the portals with our remote camera systems in case it flashed again as it went near the magic number with methane levels.

It was the first time ever that MSHA and the military had worked together exploring multi-agency support when re-opening a mine.  This led to the rapid response of our comms kit to be deployed to Sago and Logan mine disasters.

[dreamaker]

You could be right about kick backs,we see it on TV all the time.  I use to work at a test facility and testing can get pretty hairy. We think about thing that we can see like impact to a helmet, but we don't think about the things we can't see.  I think one of them would be UV they talk about it all the time on TV. But if ever looked a paint that has been exposed and unexposed and compare or cracks in rubber or plastic that has been exposed, might make sense.  I recall seneral years ago I had a plastic cover that was exposed and when I removed it, it crumbled like tempered glass shattered. Now of days some people use UV filters in there products, but not everyone does. So that may be a factor in longevity of the helmet.

Dan

[solo1]

I have 2 open face and 2 full face.  None are over 5 years old.  The mfrs will always tell you to replace at 3-5 years because of this litigious society.  I'll replace mine at 6-7 years based on exposure to the sun and temps.

Whether the polycarbonate or fibreglass shells will deteriorate in that time, I don't know.  i also don't know about the poly foam inside.  As we know, the fiibreglass or polycarbonate shell is made to temporarily deform under impact and will generally spring back while the polystryrene foam is meant to permanently deform and absorb the shock.  That's why a "oh s***!" drop off a bike seat won't show but would compromise the safety.  Your brain would rattle around inside a damaged helmet like a pea in a pod.

I don't believe in helmet laws but i always wear one.  I, for one, wouldn't want to expose my brain to the G forces involved in any kind of accident.  Almost certain brain damage.  I know, I retired as an environmental test engineer and i saw mind blowing (pardon the pun) high level g forces in the most conservative impact tests.

[kiwi#9582]

So, do you mean what I do or what we are ALL supposed to do???  Poll to saee what we KNOW or what we think???

[Wetrudgeon]

We had an open face Vega that was two years old (and beginning to show some wear and tear) when someone stole it off the Valk saddle while it was parked at the grocery store.  We consider stealing another's helmet rude and altogether not in keeping with gentlemanly or lady like life practices.  Since this rather disgusting incident, we have tried to be a bit more careful leaving our lid laying about the bike unattended.

Anyway, this made helmet replacement mandatory after two years.  The replacement (a much nicer Nolan N42) is now approaching two years of age, but we have no immediate plans to replace it unless it too is stolen.

We trudge on. 

[solo1]

I don't give a rats patootie whether you wear a helmet or don't wear a helmet. 

[Duey]

I checked replace?  I did so because replace is not justified unless the helmet has been damaged or deteriorated or law says you have to. I don't know if there is a law anywhere that says you have to so I will let that one ride.
Deterioration can usually be seen by a visual inspection.
Damage is a bit harder to find. I use a non destructive test that we use on composite structure on major aircraft.  It's called a tap test. Using a small metal or hard plastic item weighing about an 3  ounces(a 50 cent piece will work) I tap gently every square inch of the helmet exterior. If the sound is sharp it should be good. If the sound is a dull thud it usually means the composite is delaminated(internal layers of material separated)or damaged and should be repaired or replaced. In the case of the helmet, if I find and area that is over an inch in diameter I replace the helmet since the outer shell has been damaged enough that the internal foam may be damaged as well.
I have had enough head damage that I can tell what would happen without wearing a helmet. I wear one 99% of the time.

[Andy]

If we replaced them when they were dropped we would have had to buy the wife a new Arai less than two months after initial purchase!! At $500.00 a crack we'll take our chances.