Crash Helmets - is it time to buy a new one?

Before you start the riding season, have a look at your crash helmet. Usually you want to replace these every 4-5 years.

Crash helmets do wear out. The straps start to show signs of wear, the stitching on the D-Rings or clasps can be a problem. The foam inserts compress with wear causing a poor fitting helmet. Anytime you drop or bang a helmet, there's a risk you've compromised the structure of the shell. They are only designed to take a single hit...

If your helmet is showing signs of wear, it's time to consider replacing it...

Up in New York you use helmets? Here in Colorado we don't have a helmet law so we don't use helmets:)
Good advice, and I've always worn a helmet, but am constantly amazed by the numbers that don't. We're all scared to death to run 5 yr old certain death tires yet about 90% go with no helmet around here.

My HJC CL-14 will be five years old next month (purchased in April 2004). It has never been in a crash or dropped and is kept inside out of the sunlight when I'm not riding. Is it shot? It still is quite snug. Although I've read all of the arguments about long-term use compressing the inner liner and/or the compressible styrofoam shell.

With those facts in mind, am I better or worse off than the 95% of riders in Kansas with no helmet (honest question, not a flamebait troll)? Maybe it's time for a new helmet with a new paint scheme.

OTOH, if I put up tens of thousands of miles per year, a new lid every year or every couple of years would seem to be a good idea. I'm willing to take my chances with my HJC a couple more years.

Good advice Jeff. Thanks for the reminder. Sometimes you forget about the little things that can add up to a lot. My bucket is in that age range and I believe I'll replace it.
Ride safe.

It is my understanding that what Jeff says is correct. I would guess there is some leeway in the numbers - particularly depending on the amount of use/abuse etc. Kind of interesting that those who don't wear a helmet probably only get one "hit" out of it too!

On the no-helmet stuff - I have noticed that those who ride the "cruisers" are typically the no-helmet bunch, whereas those riding "sport" bikes, tourers and classics are usually wearing a helmet!

See, Darwin was right!:huh:

FWIW - I bought a "Scorpion" full-face helmet when I got the KZ two years ago. They are very reasonably priced, DOT and SNELL approved and I am VERY happy with mine. SWMBO has one too!

There have been a few good evaluation tests done by magazines over the past few years - overall, the more expensive helmets are not much better than the cheap ones at protecting your head. But they are better with creature comforts - cooling ventilation, anti-fogging and visors.

I need to get a new helmet myself - I looked at mine the other day and it's past it's prime for sure...

Well, I should be good for a couple of years yet - bought this one last summer, Uvex Helix RS, super light carbon fiber, only weighs 900 grams/2 lbs and is a perfect fit.

Wasn't cheap but then neither is my head - listing price was $ 600 +, when they offered me a 50% discount I couldn't resist. Won't post any pics of the one it replaced :blush: let's just say a change was way overdue, the old helmet was like 12 years old.

Thats a really nice looking helmet there.

I just got a new one this year too, so I'm good.

Jeff.Saunders wrote:

There have been a few good evaluation tests done by magazines over the past few years - overall, the more expensive helmets are not much better than the cheap ones at protecting your head. But they are better with creature comforts - cooling ventilation, anti-fogging and visors.

I think you're referring to the article Motorcyclist did a few years ago. It seemed to me that the article was tainted by an unsaid ax being ground toward the Snell Foundation. Now it's quite possible their testing wasn't biased and only the writing of the article was. OTOH, the Snell sticker means that an example of the helmet that bears it was actually tested and passed the tests. The DOT sticker provides no such assurance as it's essentially a "self certification" and not necessarily subject to independent testing.

If there were other articles/magazines that made similar comparisons, I missed them.

I need to get a new helmet myself - I looked at mine the other day and it's past it's prime for sure...

Good idea! We need to keep you around for a while, Jeff. :laugh:

The nice thing about a new helmet is that it smells, well, new!

if you have a ten cent head use a ten cent helmet otherwise buy a good one every few years i have to buy a new lid for racing every so many years and when it is done i will use it for a couple of years on the street then by that time it has some personallity [stickers and story's ] so up on the shelf it goes. at last count i had 15 from different years and types of racing all sitting on my shelf in the shop. never to be used again.

Nate, I think it was the Motorcyclist article I'd read.

Yes, the DOT compliance says the manufacturer possibly/probably/may-or-may-not adhere to the DOT standard - somewhat of an iffy standard as it requires manufacturers to self-police compliance.

Just as an experiment. Take any of your old helmets and hit them with a heavy blunt hammer... be prepared for the hammer to bounce back at you... ...it is impressive how much of a pounding they take before giving up. A sharp object (like an axe) will go straight through the shell, but the helmet does absorb a fair amount of shock before the shell quits.

I took the side out of a fiberglass helmet years ago (crashed my old Yamaha RD). I slid my bike down the road and scraped the heck out of the helmet. All the way through to the foam...

I had another helmet get ruined by a large rock kicked up by a truck - that stone would have probably killed me without the helmet.

large rock kicked up my a truck

Excellent topic for this brings up another serious concern... As much as I don't like the idea of having to wear here in Az, especially in the summer months, a chest protector will probably be a way of riding life....

New designs available have made them more comfortable, less weight with Kevlar protection, air flow vent for cooling and a little more stylish for the vanity concious personalities...

OMR