Helmet life?
Thread Starter
Ditch Magnet
Squid
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 78
From: Chapel Hill TN.
Helmet life?
My lid is approaching it's tenth year of service. How long is acceptable. It hasn't been droped or abused just used allot. I don't feel the need to replace it as it has been a better helmet than my last Arai, other than noise. Also shields are hard to come by. How long do you guys go before replacement?, thanks.
Banned
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,942
From: Lake View Terrace, CA
It's about time for a new lid.....
Even if undamaged, the foam liner has started to break down due to age.
While the manufactures say 5-7 yrs, around 10 is a good life span but any more than that and you are starting to push it. Of course that is just my opinion and YMMV.
Even if undamaged, the foam liner has started to break down due to age.
While the manufactures say 5-7 yrs, around 10 is a good life span but any more than that and you are starting to push it. Of course that is just my opinion and YMMV.
Thread Starter
Ditch Magnet
Squid
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 78
From: Chapel Hill TN.
Thanks, that's what I was thinking. I just hate to get rid of this helmet no buffering at speed and a small shell so no bobbel head look. Guess i will be giving bell vortec a try since times are kinda tight.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 313
From: South Kakalaki
usually I just get bored with my helmet design, or a newer, nicer one comes out and I begin to covet it. Normally about every two years I get the hankering for a new one...Just bought a scorpion exo about a month ago to replace my old helmet.
Thread Starter
Ditch Magnet
Squid
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 78
From: Chapel Hill TN.
I don't have a $25 head either, sure it's not the Haga rep I want but is snell 2010 scrimping? After twelve years of running the place the owners son decided my job looked good so now it's his. My farm in west TN is under water so no winter wheat and nothing going in this spring. The guy I lease the land to is homeless so next year isn't looking good. My rentals have six feet of water in them so in a nut shell, It SUCKS to be the CFO this year! But on the bright side Obama says things are getting better.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 207
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
When I was drag racing as a teen I wore a Bell helmet. When the Bell Star first came out the price was out of my range but I found one on sale and bought it.
I'm looking at all the morons on the road when I ride so lift everytime I wag around is a real PITA. The Bell Star is rock solid. I think some of their other helmets have the same fin tech that keeps the Star so stable.
All my other helmets want to lift - the Star doesn't. There's also little if any side pushing when you turn your head. My02
Thread Starter
Ditch Magnet
Squid
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 78
From: Chapel Hill TN.
Didn't mean to go off on a rant been a shitty month. In 85 I crashed my Intreceptor in a bell held up well might have even saved my egg. Heading into Nashville to try on a bell and a scorpion and any thing else I scope out for around two bills then buy cheap on the net.
Thread Starter
Ditch Magnet
Squid
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 78
From: Chapel Hill TN.
Update. Found a scorpion Exo 1000 for $200. at the local bike shop display was the only one they had. Loved it but didn't know how long it had been around or how meany heads it had been squeezed on to so I passed. Made a low ball offer of $145. for the bell on ebay. Got it today, a bit loud and the visor only has two locking notches up and cracked at about an inch and a half. Other than that great for the $. No wobbles or buffeting up to 140.
Thread Starter
Ditch Magnet
Squid
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 78
From: Chapel Hill TN.
Thanks for the offer Yeller but I pulled 300 miles yesterday with 20 harlry guys so seen enough pea pots for a wile. Also I still have my JC Whitney 3/4 from my mini bike days back in 75 if I can find it. Black 99's are faster 
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,452
From: San Clemente, CA
Thread Starter
Ditch Magnet
Squid
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 78
From: Chapel Hill TN.
Tested
The Bell I replaced the old helmet has been fully tested. I was jumped by a 230lb lump of velvet and muscle. I'm here so it passed. Nine broken bones and me skull wasn't one of them full and solid impact. Spartan next to the scorpion that replaced it but it did it's job well.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 582
From: Santa Fe, New Mexico
I've been told that UV brakes the outer shell down over time so it's a good idea to get a new lid every 5 years or so. A good helmet is worth the money, saved my noggin several times!
Senior Member
Superstock
Superstock
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 321
It's about time for a new lid.....
Even if undamaged, the foam liner has started to break down due to age.
While the manufactures say 5-7 yrs, around 10 is a good life span but any more than that and you are starting to push it. Of course that is just my opinion and YMMV.
Even if undamaged, the foam liner has started to break down due to age.
While the manufactures say 5-7 yrs, around 10 is a good life span but any more than that and you are starting to push it. Of course that is just my opinion and YMMV.
That's good advice. Besides, the helmet is the #1 comfort item for a rider and they keep making them better and a fresh lid feels nice.
Well take off, eh.
SuperBike
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,206
From: QC, Canada
As you very well said, someone buying a 2010 Homologated helmet this year, would only get two years life out of it...
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,066
From: NYC
Those Canadiens, what will they come up with next?
That is a way better idea but how do you determine that? You go to tech inspection with a store reciept? How do they know if its for that helmet?
What race org are you talking about?
That is a way better idea but how do you determine that? You go to tech inspection with a store reciept? How do they know if its for that helmet?
What race org are you talking about?
Out of my mind, back in 5
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,109
From: Skurup, Sweden
Curious to me is how helmet companies claim the foam starts breaking down in 5-7 years but it takes thousands of years to break down in a landfill. I dunno.. I replace mine every 7-8 years just because I like a fresh lid every now and then.
That's good advice. Besides, the helmet is the #1 comfort item for a rider and they keep making them better and a fresh lid feels nice.
That's good advice. Besides, the helmet is the #1 comfort item for a rider and they keep making them better and a fresh lid feels nice.
The foam looses a small amount of elasticity over time, and with wear, you start to make the cavity larger, as you push against it in minute ways... At first, it gives and then restore it's shape... As it starts loosing elasticity, that stops... And compressing the foam ever so slightly, you make it denser... And denser foam plus impact, means head injury in a lot of cases...
Just saying, while 5 years is probably on the money side of the equation, I prefer to err on the side of caution with something like a helmet... I'd say 5-7 years is about done...
