How long do your helmets last?

[CatatonicBug]

How often do you buy a new helmet? Do you wait until one is "worn out", then buy a new one, or what causes you to spend the cash on a new one? Do you throw your old helmet away when you do get a new one, or do you hang onto it, hoping it might get used again someday?

My first helmet was a Shoei RF200 (used, from CL for $40) that was so old that the internal foam left crumbles in my hair every time I wore it. I know most people suggest to NEVER buy a used helmet, but I was desperate to be legal, and not so much worried about being safe at the time. I have since acquired 2 new helmets (each a year apart). The first one (a Seven0Seven Vendetta) was actually a gift, and was a $79 special with a fit that was really too snug (even with a 2X) and very little ventilation. My second new helmet purchase (Gmax GM68) was researched, and I knew what I wanted. The fit is MUCH more comfortable, and ventilation is much better (though still not perfect). It even has blinky LED lights on the back for safety!

I still have all 3 helmets, and though I will never use the original Shoei again, I also don't think anyone else should. I'll probably throw it in the trash eventually. I use the Seven0Seven as a passenger helmet for my son or SWMBO.

[latexeses]

I have my Shoei from the early 80's and the foam is doing the exact same thing.

It has never taken a strike of any kind and I would have it relined if I knew where to send the thing.

I like it because it fit well and wasn't noisy.

Also it doesn't look like a Wurlitzer jukebox.

Anyone ever own a Ghibli helmet?

[RS Thornton]

including dirt rides - 1 yr

It just isnt a real season if I don't dump the bike out on the trails. I always seem to find the a rock or tree limb in my way down that chips or scratches the helmet. I should throw them all out but I still have about 6 of them lined up on the top of books shelves.
Stricly road use I would say 3-4 years, I am looking at the Fulmer M1 for this year to replace my 3 yr old Symax.
Scott

[kjohnson]

i don't really have the riding time under my belt to be an accurate addition to the poll, but i replaced my first helmet after 2 years. it was fairly scratched from being put on concrete and gravel while i worked on bikes doing plug chops and such or just taking a break. the only real reason i changed is to go from a 3/4 to a full face

[tarzan]

I have a Nolan modular that SWMBO bought me for Christmas in '07.She
bought it to match the SG I had at the time, which was Maroon. Now it doesn't match any of my scoots.
I also have two half helmets, both less than a year old. I gave my old half helmet away last year and it was a few years old.
I also have an old full face helmet that must be from the 80's or early 90's
that I use for demolition derbys.
I figure if they aint broke and have never suffered an impact then they are still usable.

[psycoreefer]

I'm wearing a full face modular snowmobile helmet that I got for Christmas back in 2001. Only reason I got that was because the shield on my old helmet broke and it didn't really fit me anymore. The one before that I probably had for 6 years or so. My dad has pictures of him wearing the same helmet in the 70's.

[Geezer]

For me it's not about length of time but how beat up looking the helmet is. I'm thinking about replacing my 8 year old Bell but I can't find anything else that fits. I bought a new HJC XXL on close out and I can't even get it on. BTW, I'd sell this one for $50 if someone wants it...

Geezer

[3Phase]

Somewhere I still have my old silver full face Bell Star helmet the dealer gave me when I bought my new KZ750 back in 1981. I used it for over 30 years on different bikes and yes it was a little scuffed here and there but it was still silver, it was still very comfortable and it was only on its fifth or sixth face shield.

When I got the XS I couldn't find my old Bell and had to use the HJC CL-10 that came with the bike. It was kind of noisy and wasn't as comfortable as my old Bell but it worked and it was free.

This year the local shops stopped even listing much less stocking replacement face shields for the old HJC CL-10 so I bought a brand new Bell Apex helmet. It's not silver, it's rubberized matte black so it won't scuff or chip, it's very quiet and it's very comfortable.


Regards,

Scott

[DGXSER]

Per the MSF course I took, they last until the first impact of any sort and "must" be replaced at that time. And yes, falling off the seat onto the ground counts as that one impact per my instructor.

Having had mine save my brain, I'd say $100-$150 is cheap money compared to my brain. (Yeah Tod, I know that is debatable!!)

[cywelchjr]

Per the MSF course I took, they last until the first impact of any sort and "must" be replaced at that time. And yes, falling off the seat onto the ground counts as that one impact per my instructor.

Having had mine save my brain, I'd say $100-$150 is cheap money compared to my brain. (Yeah Tod, I know that is debatable!!)

I was told by a helmet co rep that a drop from the seat empty doesn't count. These things were made to protect an 11 lb head in an impact and a drop from seat height will not cause any structural damage to an empty helmet. But I was also told that the inner liner (the foam) does lose it's ability to absorb impact after a few years just from the affect of air and hair/skin oils on the foam. Any impact with your head in the helmet does indeed count as that one impact, unless it something like bumping you head on the door frame on the way out or something like that. But an empty helmet is not going to do anything to itself that will reduce it's ability to absorb an impact, you can however crack a visor or something like that, I had mine land on the hinge of the visor and broke the plastic screw, I replaced it with a nice metal one.

[earl G]

i readed in one motorcycle mag that you should get a new helmet every 5 years. then i found this------------: The length of time that a helmet is viable was determined by a consensus between the helmet manufacturers and the Snell Foundation. Hair oils, body fluids, environmental situations and normal wear and tear may cause a deterioration in performance. The Snell Foundation also advises that protective advances in the helmet technology also changes within five-year periods. some helmets have dates inside, look for when buying a used helmet.

[oldyam80sg]

Spend $500.00 + on a helmet and you don't get rid of it every 5 years.That's just me.

[beegshot]

Same here...

My Arai Quantum/e is getting pretty old. The foam is starting to go...it's time to replace it. I spoke to the Arai reps at the big Motorcycle show here last year. I asked about getting new foam for my helmet. He asked, "what model is it?"

When I said, "Quantum/e"...his jaw dropped...

Then, he gave me some spiel about how I was gonna die when I had a wreck, blah, blah, blah...So, I asked him if he thought I'd be better off not wearing any helmet.

<crickets>

I just checked Competition Accessories...they're selling Quantum 2's for under $400.

I'm convinced it's time to start looking for a new lid.

Robert

[CatatonicBug]

I don't know how anyone can justify spending that kind of money on a helmet! I know, you'll say, "What is your brain worth to you?", but if I can get a helmet that passes the same inspections, and fits well for under $200, why would I pay 3 times that much for a different brand? Especially if I'm going to get a new one after 2-5 years (as this poll seems to indicate is the norm).

The way I see it, they are all made from basically the same components: expanded polystyrene, inner padding, and an outer shell made of either poly or carbon fiber. Other than fit, style, and a few small details, they are all basically the same. There has not been a single quantifiable study that shows that any particular brand of helmet stands up to an impact any better than another (if you know of one, please let me know). I'd much rather spend my money on my bike than a high-dollar hat.

[lvrsnr]

The single impact rule for my street bucket a full face hjc, but if I had to replace my dirt helmet (a bell star) after each impact I'd be replacing it about four times a year, as it seems in the dirt where no laws apply I seem to do more trick dismounts.