Helmet age

[dxhall]

Helmet manufacturers say that helmets should be retired after 5 years.  My newest helmet is now 7 years old - one is 15 years old, but still looks fine.  Does anyone follow the manufacturer’s recommendation?  I checked prices on replacements, and am still in sticker shock.

[Rich A]

From what I've read, how much a helmet deteriorates over time depends on: how much it has been used, how much exposure it has had to sun or chemicals that would cause the plastic to break down, temperature, and probably some other things.

A helmet that has been in a box in storage will have deteriorated much less than one that has been worn a lot. I recently bought a Shuberth C3 that was NIB but 3 yr old for $350, figuring that it should last 4-5 yrs.

Rich A

[Bert Remington]

Helmet life depends on several factors:

Padding care: was the helmet interior kept clean and was the helmet kept in a fume-free closet out of the sun not in the window of a chemical-rich garage?  If not, time to replace it because the padding has deteriorated.

Shell damage: was the helmet dropped or banged enough to scratch it?  If so, time to replace it because the shell is compromised.

Technology: today's helmets are much safer (padding, shell, eye opening, weight, noise reduction, cooling air flow) than earlier years.  7 years is probably new enough, 15 years isn't.

I like my Bell Qualifier DLX which I purchased from a local dealer for about $200 but Bell is no longer offering it, just the Qualifier (cheaper) and the Qualifier DLX MIPS (more expensive but worth it).  Either helmet is good value for money.

[kingoffleece]

Yes.

[Bert Remington]

And here's the second best reason to buy Bell: they use MGs in their descriptions https://www.bellhelmets.com/motorcycle/p/qualifier-dlx-mips-motorcycle-helmet/250070000300000005.html

[Knuckle Dragger]

UV radiation & organic solvents, both liquid & gaseous, will detrimentally effect helmet structure, linings & padding.  Kept away from a damaging environment, say in a helmet bag inside a cool closet, it should theoretically last indefinitely.

Nevertheless, new helmets are getting better all the time.  New materials (aramid fibre, carbon lattice etc.), construction techniques (lightweight, advanced integral reinforcing mesh overlays) & features (noise reduction, aerodynamics, integral sun visors etc) are all useful advances that don't come cheap.

What price your head? 

[JJ]

Probably a good rule of thumb to get a new helmet every 5-7 years.   Also, no price on your "NOGGIN", so one can never go wrong with a quality SHOEI / ARAI / BELL / AGV / SCHUBERTH / SIMPSON, and there are many others.  Just MHO...

[Siamese]

Supposedly, much of the reason for a helmet needing to be replaced in a prescribed number of years, is the crush material between the shell and the fabric liner.  It degrades over time, and becomes more brittle, with less ability to absorb energy. 

[Tusayan]

I bought my last couple of HJCs for $120 or so, no sticker shock.  End of issue for me - I buy them every few years, it’s hardly worth replacing the visor versus buying a new one.

[mojohand]

It's every five years for me with normal use; a helmet with less use gets replaced no later than seven years. YMMV of course.

[Stevex]

Supposedly, much of the reason for a helmet needing to be replaced in a prescribed number of years, is the crush material between the shell and the fabric liner.  It degrades over time, and becomes more brittle, with less ability to absorb energy.

This ^^
I have worn Arai for as long as I can remember, I'm sure the life of their helmets to 7 year shelf or 5 year in use.
I try to stay within this timespan.

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

I bought my last couple of HJCs for $120 or so, no sticker shock.  End of issue for me - I buy them every few years, it’s hardly worth replacing the visor versus buying a new one.

I’m the same. I’m not choosy about brand. But am choosy about snell rating. I’ve had two different helmets do their job. A few hundred dollars every 5 years is cheap insurance to me.

[Lannis]

I only have one helmet at a time, and use it on every ride.   So in 5 years, it's about worn out - I've made one last 7 years, but it was shot by the time I was done ... lining coming out, mechanisms getting loose.

If I had one in a box that I didn't use, I wouldn't see why it wouldn't be like a "new" helmet 10 years later - no "crushing", no UV, no wear and tear - I don't think anything on a helmet evaporates or degrades like, say, a bike tire.

Lannis

[acguzzi]

foam does crumble as it gets old. In racing we are not allowed to use a helmet more than 5yrs old.

[Testarossa]

foam does crumble as it gets old.

This is true but it's hard to predict the rate at which it degrades. Almost all plastics outgas over the years, losing volatiles, just as tires do. In my collection of ski boots, I find that polyurethane shells from the '70s can crack if even unbuckled. A couple of years ago I finally tossed a Bell 500 I acquired in 1969, which I quit using around 1985. When I took it off the shelf all the foam had turned to powder -- there was nothing left but fabric and fiberglass.

That said, I rotate several helmets. I use a Bell MX9 Adventure for most solo riding because it's very comfortable. Riding two-up with Gail I use a four-year-old Snell-rated Bell Star wired with the SENA intercomm. I have an older Bell studded with ugly GoPro mounts. Etc. Helmets older than about five years sit on the shelf, and if the interior materials still seem okay I feel safe loaning them to visitors. I may not get rid of them, but in the normal course of events I phase out of using them after about five or six years. Sort of the same thing with ski boots.

[ratguzzi]

My favorite helmet, about 60 years old. 1950s Harlie police helmet. Still has the harlie logo embossed on the leather. Paid $2 for it 30 years ago at a yard sale. I rode about 400k under that particular helmet.
Flame away!

[dguzzi]

I guess there should be a crash test dummy to prove it?  Or helmet makers could offer new interiors?  or both

[Motormike]

I've found that even in a quality helmet, the interior padding starts to wear out after 6 or 7 years.  That said, I usually hang on to my Ariai's for 9 to 10 years before retiring them.  Now the important question yet to be asked...what do you do with an old helmet?  Dumpster, recycle (where?) flowerpot? 

[Green1000S]

I have Arai XD4 and the $600 price tag for a new one is high.
However my head is still worth the $600 (give or take $20), so I'll get a new one this year.
Old Arai is 5 years old, been through too much...

[Bulldog9]

I generally buy a new helmet every 5 years, but keep the old in rotation until it is unserviceable or too stinky. With removeable liners, that is easier to do.

I used to wear Shoe exclusively till about 2008 when the movers lost the box with all my helmets and jackets. Had to go out and buy new helmets for my wife and myself, and ended up with a Scorpion I liked very much. Since then, bought an AGV Skyline in 2014, and last year bought a Nolan N44.

I used to care about the Snell rating, not so much anymore.  I tend to buy highly rated (by industry and customer reviews) mid to high range 'last year - leftover' models from reputable brands.

The AGV (6 years) has aged very well, still has great feel, cushion, and all functions well including the drop down visor. Due to it being a bit warm, and low fogging, even though it is 6 years old, I wear it in cooler weather as my go to.  It is quiet, comfortable, and functions well.  The Nolan N44 is also well made, comfortable, and has the best visibility and ventilation of any helmet I've owned. It is also the loudest, and without the pinlock fogs easily despite having excellent ventilation.

Two things that have become 'must haves' for me in addition to quality, comfort noise level and visibility are the drop internal visor and in hemet speaker/intercom capability.

[kingoffleece]

I replaced a six year old ARAI with a AGV K6-super lightweight helmet.  Never going back to a 3 1/2 pound lid.

[Guzzistajohn]

Mine always last right up to the time when BELL or SHOEI come up with the newest and bestus friggin' helmet ever. Then I get last years model.

[drburt]

Now the important question yet to be asked...what do you do with an old helmet?  Dumpster, recycle (where?) flowerpot? 

North edge of Amarillo, Texas (not my artwork, but I like it)

[sidecarnutz]

After Shoei's started to resemble a house payment, I moved to HJC helmets. They fit my big square head just as well as the Shoei's did and I find their fit & finish to be right up there with Shoei. And I see a fresh helmet every 6-7 years to be a good idea even if it still seems to be in excellent shape. Back in 1995 my Shoei full face saved my life when I got hit. Hell, after the Commander of  the Norfolk Naval Safety Center saw it, he asked if I would donate it to the base Motorcycle Safety Training course as a training aid. I bought a new Shoei a year later when I started riding again. But as the 20th century ended, I found that Shoei was out of my price range and I discovered HJC. 'Been wearing HJC ever since.

[Guzzistajohn]

That’s when I switched back to Bell

[dxhall]

That’s why I’m choking on this purchase.  A new Arai Defiant to replace my old one is $800 plus.  I’ve worn Arais
for 20+ years, but I’m starting to wonder if the cost is justified.

Edit: now on sale for $688. 

[Tusayan]

It isn’t justified.

[frozengoose]

It isn’t justified.

Totally agree. The thing of it is, as they say up here, is that if you don't have an accident, it don't matter. My first helmet was a Bell open face I got used in the 70's, has a Snell '62 sticker. In the early "80's, it started to shed foam, so bought a Bell Tour Star II. First full face helmet and what a revelation! Still use it sometimes, but have gotten a few more since then. The point is, any helmet is better than none at all. If you got one you like, just wear it and don't worry about it. The companies make money by selling helmets, so they want you to buy a new one. If they wore out that fast, well maybe they're not so good to begin with. JMHO.

[Stevex]

I don't think anything on a helmet evaporates or degrades like, say, a bike tire.

Lannis

It's the expanded foam that absorbs the shocks that degrades. I guess if you could replace this, the outer shell would last decades.

[blu guzz]

another vote for HJC, and the replacement visors are only about $20.  My last Arai, the visor was $60.