helmet age-out?

[feralchimp]

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).

[Kurlon]

Get a new helmet. Penguin Road Racing School - Bike Prep & Gear Requirements

[feralchimp]

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

[Uncle Snake]

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........

[gixxer72]

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??

[Kurlon]

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.

[reks95]

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

[Uncle Snake]

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......

[Tunertype]

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.

[Uncle Snake]

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.

[feralchimp]

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.

[Imbeek]

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

[feralchimp]

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.

[MUZ720]

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..

[ZX-12R]

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.

[jerseygirl]

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.

[RandyO]

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

[MattR302]

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."

[backinthesaddle]

So my bell moto 4 is a no go?

[ZX-12R]

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!

[backinthesaddle]

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.

[PainfullySlow]

So my bell moto 4 is a no go?

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.

[Imbeek]

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.

[MattR302]

The new Bell lids are freaking awesome though.

What are you, a Bell salesman?

[Uncle Snake]

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.

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".