Fort Worth Motorcycle Riders

Helmet Longevity : Myth or fact does it have to be replaced

Is that a question or did you forget to include a link?

question ? Google has articles going both ways on issue

I would say yes, it's needs to be replaced every so often. Is that magic number 5 years, probably not. I would guess you could likely use a helmet for several years more, but 5 years probably is a reasonable time with a sizable margin of safety.

I saw some articles that said that was BS and that unless the helment has some sort of impact, it will not break down and that the helmet manufacturers are the ones pushing us to replace so I'd like to see something from someone that a study has been done independently.

I've gotta agree with DarcShadow... they wear out eventually, and i'd say it'd be more of how many miles you have worn it rather than the age itself, especially if you are going to go 5 years from the manufacturer date. My helmet was manufactured nearly a year before I purchased it brand new, so I'm not going to base it's life off that date, nor would I say a helmet that has been worn 3 times a year should be replaced in the same amount of time that a helmet that gets worn on a daily basic should be replaced.

My guess is the bulk of the push is helmet manufactures.

But yes, they do wear out. I replace mine based on fit, as they wear the fit starts to become loser, a lose helmet is bad juju. The materials also degrade (at what rate, I don't know but they do)

Also, how many years do you keep putting on the same sweaty sock before you decide enough is enough and get a new sock.

fixxervi6 wrote:how many years do you keep putting on the same sweaty sock before you decide enough is enough and get a new sock.

Until the hole is big enough the sock doesn't stay on my foot.

Wow, I agree 100% with every single post...all good points. Most importantly, as fixxer noted, if it starts to become loose, do something...replace the padding if your helmet allows for it, replace the helmet if it doesn't. If nothing else for riding enjoyment if not safety.

DarcShadow wrote:

fixxervi6 wrote:how many years do you keep putting on the same sweaty sock before you decide enough is enough and get a new sock.

Until the hole is big enough the sock doesn't stay on my foot.

Yep, and same for tighty whities.

Lol Terry.

Don't forget, plastics and styrofoams do degrade when exposed to chemicals and UV light. At some point, that will limit the impact absorption ability of a helmet. I think that the term limit is a factor of the Schnell rating. Honestly, am I gonna toss a helmet right at 5 years, no, but by then I'll probably be ready to upgrade anyways.

Agreed.

it would be interesting to do some impact testing of a 5 year old helmet and say a 10 year old helmet to see what the results are.
Of course the testing would not involve human impacts, lol

I have a 20 yr old Arai RX7 we could test. We need to find someone who can x-ray it after an impact.

I dont' have an xray machine, and I don't know the stress limits for a DOT helmet

The thing for me is this. I usually buy at least one helmet a year just because I like the design or want to try a new one or whatever. I still wear all my old ones (other than the one that I wrecked in) and ones that don't fit well anymore. I guess what I am saying is that I don't know many people that go 5 years without buying a new helmet anyway.

I've never owned a bike or a helmet for 5 years or more so moot point for me and I'm thinking helmet tech has advanced greatly in last 5 years, kevlar and all so not sure testing an old one would be fair. I do think that the helmet industry has little or no data on their claims that helmets break down over time. I could see the old helmets maybe breaking down but not the new ones.

I am sure snell or dot has info on this type of stuff.

Hi, my name is Terry and I have a helmet buying problem.

I also have a helmet buying problem .... but I still use all of mine even the ones past 5 years old. But seeing as I cycle so many helmets none of them have a huge amount of use.

DemonDuck wrote:I don't know many people that go 5 years without buying a new helmet anyway.

*raises hand* I typically buy a new helmet when I buy a new bike, granted if I could get past the totaling a bike and helmet at the same time I might go longer between helmet purchases.

Yes but that is usually every 5 years right DS?

If I'm lucky.