Welcome to NESR! Most features of this site require registration, including replying to threads, sending private messages, starting new threads, and uploading files. Click here to register.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 33

helmet age-out?

  1. #1
    no can kneedown feralchimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Somerville MA
    Age
    46
    Posts
    917

    helmet age-out?

    My track helmet has been worn maybe 10 times, but was manufactured in 2009. Do I need a new one for a Penguin day or not?

    Also, f- Arai for discontinuing the Profile and not making something else with the same head shape (afaik).

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    -Jared
    ZX-4RR, Hyperstrada 821, ZX-6R (FS!), 701 E/SM (FS!)

  2. #2
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,520

    Re: helmet age-out?


    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3
    no can kneedown feralchimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Somerville MA
    Age
    46
    Posts
    917

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Tried on a bunch today, and ended up ordering a Signet Q in "rainbow try-hard" color scheme.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  4. #4
    Satans Donkey Uncle Snake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Central VT
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,734

    Re: helmet age-out?

    My new RX-Q arrived yesterday. Perfect fit for my head shape. Arai's have saved my head twice now, now reason to change. New graphics are weak though........

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Jake
    2006 ZX-10R
    1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100

  5. #5
    Lifer gixxer72's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    The desert
    Posts
    2,959

    Re: helmet age-out?

    This is troubling. I bought an Arai in 2009, it has seen maybe 2000 miles. Never crashed, dropped or bumped. Not left out in the sun, or exposed to freezing temps. Someone please give me a verifiable scientific reason why this helmet needs to be replaced??

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  6. #6
    Lifer Kurlon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Waterboro ME
    Age
    46
    Posts
    13,520

    Re: helmet age-out?

    If you're not trying to get through tech inspection you can run your helmet for as long as you wish.

    Because tech inspectors can't actually see signs of EPS degradation due to age, sweat, extreme temperatures, etc they have adopted the 5 year rule instead. Argue all you want, bring research on the topic, even an inspection report from Arai saying it's still good, you're not getting it past tech.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Marlboro
    Posts
    372

    Re: helmet age-out?

    This is the main reason why I can't bring myself to buy a $700 helmet.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  8. #8
    Satans Donkey Uncle Snake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Central VT
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,734

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by reks95 View Post
    This is the main reason why I can't bring myself to buy a $700 helmet.
    I do it every five years. Seems like cheap life insurance. And I can do track days......

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Jake
    2006 ZX-10R
    1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100

  9. #9
    Senior Member Tunertype's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Holyoke, MA
    Posts
    475

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Snake View Post
    I do it every five years. Seems like cheap life insurance. And I can do track days......
    You can do track days with a cheap helmet too. A quality name brand helmet of the same material builds will also provide the same protection. A $150-$250 helmet is going to be the same "life insurance" as a $700 helmet. Which by the way is no where near any kind of insurance there are plenty of other body parts that can be damaged that will kill you. What you do get for $700 is some extra features and bragging rights to having spent the extra money on a helmet. Kind of like buying a luxury car... Mostly you just buy it to impress your friends and maybe a little to have the remote butt massagers.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  10. #10
    Satans Donkey Uncle Snake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Central VT
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,734

    Re: helmet age-out?

    I buy the Arai's because they fit my head better than any other helmet I've ever tried out. I'm a cheap bastard and WISH a $200. helmet fit as well as an RX-Q does. every five years I try on as many helmets as I can. Been doing this since 1988.````

    Oh and choosing the best fitting helmet that I can find is "insurance" to me.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by Uncle Snake; 04-17-16 at 08:59 PM.
    Jake
    2006 ZX-10R
    1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100

  11. #11
    no can kneedown feralchimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Somerville MA
    Age
    46
    Posts
    917

    Re: helmet age-out?

    It's possible (let's say highly likely) there's a $200 helmet out there that would protect me as well as an Arai in the event of a serious crash. I don't particularly want to find out, but a lot of what I'm paying for is the long history of other riders crashing in them, which settles enough of the question that I can focus on everything else. The rest is build/materials quality. Okay maybe 5% bling.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    -Jared
    ZX-4RR, Hyperstrada 821, ZX-6R (FS!), 701 E/SM (FS!)

  12. #12
    Lifer Imbeek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Southwick,MA
    Posts
    2,441

    Re: helmet age-out?

    I bought a good fitting Shoei at cycle gear on sale for $350 and don't feel like I cut any corners.

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  13. #13
    no can kneedown feralchimp's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Somerville MA
    Age
    46
    Posts
    917

    Re: helmet age-out?

    There's no question Arai gets away with pricing that others don't, just because of the reputation. I had a Shoei RF1100 for years and it was great.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    -Jared
    ZX-4RR, Hyperstrada 821, ZX-6R (FS!), 701 E/SM (FS!)

  14. #14

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Arai's are pricy but worth it, Deals can be found on Ebay and other on line shops. Tested more then one and there fit and finish are better then must others. Never bought one to impress my friends or others, to each his own wear want you like on your head its yours and yours alone protect it as you see fit..

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by MUZ720; 04-18-16 at 08:24 AM.

  15. #15
    Lifer ZX-12R's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Candia, NH
    Age
    43
    Posts
    5,860

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by Imbeek View Post
    I bought a good fitting Shoei at cycle gear on sale for $350 and don't feel like I cut any corners.
    Shoei is a top tier manufacturer so you didn't cut any corners.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "...i would seriously bite somebody right in the balls..." -bump909

  16. #16
    Senior Member jerseygirl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Portland, ME
    Posts
    440

    Re: helmet age-out?

    I have fit and sold Arai helmets for going on 12 years. The rule of thumb is 5 years of wear or 7 years from date of manufacture, whichever comes first. After that, the inside can start to break down. It is old. Worth replacing in my opinion for the peace of mind.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    You can take the girl outta Jersey.....

    USCRA #75
    Street- 03 Suzuki SV650
    Track- 71 Honda CB350

  17. #17
    Angry Gumball RandyO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2001
    Location
    Farmington, NH
    Age
    71
    Posts
    18,028

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Snake View Post
    I do it every five years. Seems like cheap life insurance. And I can do track days......
    a helmet is not "life insurance"

    life insurance only pays when your dead

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    RandyO
    IBA#9560
    A man with a gun is a citizen
    A man without a gun is a subject LETS GO BRANDON

  18. #18
    Awesomeness, Inc. MattR302's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    New Haven-ish, CT
    Age
    39
    Posts
    1,644

    Re: helmet age-out?

    My track helmet is a no-frills Scorpion EXO400 I got on clearance for $60 - it is my third Scorpion and second model EXO400.
    Every time I put my track helmet on, I think to myself "Wow, I wish my $500 Shoei GT-Air street helmet fit my head this well."

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  19. #19
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    The Valley of Hope, Rhode Island
    Age
    59
    Posts
    1,695

    Re: helmet age-out?

    So my bell moto 4 is a no go?helmet age-out?-image-jpghelmet age-out?-image-jpg

    1 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2013 ZX6R-636

  20. #20
    Lifer ZX-12R's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Candia, NH
    Age
    43
    Posts
    5,860

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by backinthesaddle View Post
    So my bell moto 4 is a no go?
    Helmets of that era didn't have the wimpy EPS liners that fall apart just because you use them. You should be good to go!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "...i would seriously bite somebody right in the balls..." -bump909

  21. #21
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    The Valley of Hope, Rhode Island
    Age
    59
    Posts
    1,695

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by ZX-12R View Post
    Helmets of that era didn't have the wimpy EPS liners that fall apart just because you use them. You should be good to go!
    it was a good era.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    2013 ZX6R-636

  22. #22
    You dont know slow... PainfullySlow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Rocky Hill, CT
    Age
    54
    Posts
    917

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by backinthesaddle View Post
    So my bell moto 4 is a no go?helmet age-out?-image-jpghelmet age-out?-image-jpg
    Ok, that is awesome. I really wish that I kept at least some of my older helmets :-p

    The new Bell lids are freaking awesome though.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  23. #23
    Lifer Imbeek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Southwick,MA
    Posts
    2,441

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by ZX-12R View Post
    Helmets of that era didn't have the wimpy EPS liners that fall apart just because you use them. You should be good to go!
    I smell a product development/marketing opportunity.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  24. #24
    Awesomeness, Inc. MattR302's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    New Haven-ish, CT
    Age
    39
    Posts
    1,644

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by PainfullySlow View Post
    The new Bell lids are freaking awesome though.
    What are you, a Bell salesman?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  25. #25
    Satans Donkey Uncle Snake's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Central VT
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,734

    Re: helmet age-out?

    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Snake View Post
    I buy the Arai's because they fit my head better than any other helmet I've ever tried out. I'm a cheap bastard and WISH a $200. helmet fit as well as an RX-Q does. every five years I try on as many helmets as I can. Been doing this since 1988.````

    Oh and choosing the best fitting helmet that I can find is "insurance" to me.
    Quote Originally Posted by RandyO View Post
    a helmet is not "life insurance"

    life insurance only pays when your dead
    Never said it was life insurance.. I should have said, "To keep me alive insurance".

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Jake
    2006 ZX-10R
    1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Readhere helmet liner to helmet shell
    By GNTurbo6 in forum General Bike Related
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 09-19-12, 09:59 PM
  2. Scorpion Helmet, Icon Helmet, Shift Jacket
    By RevLimitLaunch in forum For Sale
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-21-09, 08:53 PM
  3. HJC CL-12 helmet
    By Jim in forum For Sale
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-13-07, 05:31 PM
  4. New Helmet!
    By Ecooke21 in forum Dirty Bastards
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 11-22-05, 06:15 PM
  5. HJC helmet
    By sxlova07 in forum General Bike Related
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 11-06-05, 04:43 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •