5 Year helmets??

[BusaBoy]

I would love some proffesional validation to this. When I walked in and heard this it pissed me off. Several bikers there seemed surprised that I did not know this. They acted as though it were common knowledge. I would love to learn that in fact (not opinion) that this were bogus info.

[Proulx06]

Originally posted by BusaBoy
I would love some proffesional validation to this. When I walked in and heard this it pissed me off. Several bikers there seemed surprised that I did not know this. They acted as though it were common knowledge. I would love to learn that in fact (not opinion) that this were bogus info.

I'm not sure there is professional validation really. It's all just an opinion. Nobody can say that EVERY helmet will fail EVERY 5 years NO MATTER WHAT. I'm sure some do, and I'm sure some people have fallen with 7 year old helmets and lived. I guess it's just a matter of how much you want to protect yourself. Me, I'm cheap and my helmet's only a year old, so I don't have to make this decision just yet.

[Awesome]

Originally posted by BusaBoy
I would love some proffesional validation to this. When I walked in and heard this it pissed me off. Several bikers there seemed surprised that I did not know this. They acted as though it were common knowledge. I would love to learn that in fact (not opinion) that this were bogus info.

You're just finding out vague details of someone mentioning this whole subject and from hear say you can call my facts opinions? Maybe you shoudl take another look as I listed rules and standards and you're telling me some guy that's paid $6 an hour at some bike store gave you the industry low down. If you want proffessional validation go back to the last post on the first page of the thread. If you want to argue about what you don't know, go somewhere else. Pretty rude when you ask for clarification on something you don't know about then call it bullshit when it's clarified.

[BusaBoy]

Please don't take this wrong. I really meant no offense. The sales staff as MOTO are among the most knowledgable I have ever met. This is a group of hard core riders and also the base for a state run motorcycle safety riding course. I did say that your opinions could very well be correct, but there are also experienced riders that do not agree with your comments. I don't want to throw away a lot of cash I don't need to, but I also don't want to screw around with a helmet that may not be safe.

[babo]

This is from the SNELL people @ www.smf.org

(Snell gets 100% of it's funding from the helmet mfgs)

Why replace helmet every five years?

"The five year replacement recommendation is based on a consensus by both the helmet manufacturers and the Snell Foundation. Glues, resins and other materials used in helmet production over can affect liner materials. Hair oils, body fluids and cosmetics, as well as normal "wear and tear" all contribute to helmet degradation. Petroleum based products present in cleaners, paints, fuels and other commonly encountered materials may also degrade materials used in many helmets possibly degrading performance. Additionally, experience indicates there will be a noticeable improvement in the protective characteristic of helmets over a five year period due to advances in materials, designs, production methods and the standards. Thus, the recommendation for five year helmet replacement is a judgment call stemming from a prudent safety philosophy"









The above statement seems to indicate that a helemt that gets used should be replaced, not one that has been sitting on a shelf.

Secondly, the advancement in design and materials advances to the point that a newer helmet is much safer that a five year old helmet. OK (Snell standards change every five years???)



The recent Motorcyclist article (everyone here read that I hope) that slammed the SNELL standards specifically adressed the "shelf life" issue. I believe that the determination was that a helmet, kept out of extremes (hot/cold), and out of the sun, would perform as new.

I'd like to add that I'd much rather wear a 10 year old NOS helmet that fit properly, than a brand new helmet that didn't.

[babo]

WTF - I take one phone call and Proulx06 posts the shit I was gonna post!

Well, listen to him!

[BusaBoy]

That's a good idea! Enough on this subject. I didn't want to get anyone heated...I just wanted to know the facts. I agree..if it's on the shelf, don't worry about how old it is. If you have used it for 5 years, replace it.

[Honclfibr]

I just replaced my helmet after three years of use. It was pretty well-worn, I'd wager it'd still protect my head but I had no problem replacing it. After 5 years, I don't think that helmet owes you anything more. Maybe replace it just to get away from the 70s disco colors your RF-100 is currently sporting

[bara954]

want an easy solution. dont buy a $750 helmet. ive never kept a helmet over 3 years. i upgrade my bike requiring a different color scheme, or i just buy a new helmet. if you buy the $100-200 helmet than you can afford to buy a new helmet every few years.

[RandyO]

Originally posted by bara954
i upgrade my bike requiring a different color scheme,

helmet poser

[neuthunder]

i Just bought the icon mainframe halo from newenough.com and i'm loving it so far.... cost me $215

[bara954]

Originally posted by RandyO
helmet poser

hell ya, i dont want to look like a with a bike one color and a helmet another.

[J954]

If anyone gets Motorcyclist magazine their is a section called blowing the lid off it's got the low down on helmets June 05 issue.

[Awesome]

Originally posted by bara954
hell ya, i dont want to look like a with a bike one color and a helmet another.

I used to think that way. Now I think the guys looking like fags are the storm troopers and power rangers with everything matching from head to toe. I know chicks match their bra and underwear....

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by BusaBoy
You are so right Ninja! Although I love the look of the new Arai, the helmet is built for pill heads. I'm more of a pumpkin head and they just don't fit right. The HJC's fit me well but they are heavy!

Arai has 2 different helmet shapes. one for oval heads and one for round. if you were looking at a RX7 then try one of the Quantums. i bought an Arai that was last years model for 275. but i got a Shoei X-11 (their top o the line) for a little over $400. tyhe Scorpians have been getting good reveiws and so have the Icons. HJC is a good helmet at a decent price. if you are just looking for a lid then go where your wallet doesnt get too light. if you are looking for features (lightness, venting etc) then have deep pockets. keep in mind that lightness and vents = more wind noise

[SVRACER01]

from the SNELL site:

"Finally the protective capabilities may diminsh over time. Some helmets are made of materials which deteriorate from age and therefore have a limited life span. At this the the Foundation recommends replacing a helmet every five (5) years, or less if the manufacturer so recommends"

So thats from SNELL. you should read the site. I had no idea that they tested everything from chinstraps to periferial vision of a helmet in order for it to pass.
if you dont want to take their advice you dont have to ....we live in the USA so thats your right.
i made my dad and mom buy new helmets this year because theirs said SNELL85 on them and the liner was crumbling. i know thats an extreme but even they didnt know there was a shelf life on helmets.

[RandyO]

Originally posted by SVRACER01
Arai has 2 different helmet shapes. one for oval heads and one for round.

where you been, Arai has had 3 shapes for a few years now

Quantum, Signet, and the recent Astral

you can also further customize the fit with different thickness cheek pads

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by RandyO
where you been, Arai has had 3 shapes for a few years now

Quantum, Signet, and the recent Astral

you can also further customize the fit with different thickness cheek pads

i was over at Shoei is that OK with you?
no i didnt know about the astral being a different shape but i knew of the design.
with that said try on all of the Arai helmets
whats the 3rd shape............ potato head?

[bara954]

Originally posted by hessogood
I used to think that way. Now I think the guys looking like fags are the storm troopers and power rangers with everything matching from head to toe. I know chicks match their bra and underwear....

ya, i dont get that crazy, i just try to avoid having a yellow bike and red helmet. usually i get the helmets thrown in when i buy the new bike, so its never really been an issue.

[babo]

Originally posted by J954
If anyone gets Motorcyclist magazine their is a section called blowing the lid off it's got the low down on helmets June 05 issue.

Here it is.


http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...atz/index.html

[BusaBoy]

This was sent to me this morning:

Unfortunately it is true. I know a lot of people don't want to believe that the materials break down after a time, but they do. Of course this doesn't mean a helmet becomes useless from one day to the next on its 5th birthday. If you care for it properly you can get more time out of it. There are many ways to shorten the life, however: if you leave it in the trunk of your car on a hot summer day, for example, it will melt the EPS foam liner. Likewise, placing your helmet on your gas tank is a good way to ruin the liner. The gasoline fumes are very destructive to helmet liners. And even though the helmets are damaged in this way, there is no visible damage to the helmet. These are extreme examples, but over time normal atmospheric pollutants, sweat, salt and time all contribute to the deterioration of the EPS foam liner. So a helmet that is over 10 years old may look just fine on the outside, but it would have the same energy absorbing capability of plywood. (OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get the idea!)

The main reason they break down (relatively) quickly is the nature of the material that is capable of absorbing an enormous amount of energy but is also very lightweight and relatively small. Engineers can make a material that can absorb the same amount of energy and last indefinately but the material would be much bigger and heavier, therefore making it unsuitable for helmet use. (I believe you can find such materials in the dashboards of cars.)

You can find similar situations in other sports. A good friend of mine runs a running store. He has sold me on wearing running shoes most of the day, since I stand a lot on a hard floor and running shoes offer the best support. They are also lightweight for comfort. The drawback is that they become useless to me after about 6 months. Serious runners replace their shoes about every 3 months. At about $100/pair that's like replacing your helmet every year! The material they use in the shoes offer great support and are very lightweight but at the cost of longevity. If a pair of top quality running shoes sits on his shelf for more than 6 months, they are no longer good to sell and he usually ends up giving them away to the school system or some charity.

This is the same reason you will find top quality helmets "on sale" at the discount retailers. They usually buy leftover stock that have been sitting on some shelf for a while. So that "brand new" Arai you bought for $100 less was manufactured in 2001, giving you maybe 2 good seasons before it needs to be replaced. Isn't this the same reason people look at the date code on the tires they are buying to be sure they get the freshest rubber available?

But I think the most important reason to replace a helmet every 4,5, or 6 years is that the manufacturers are not sitting still - they are constantly improving their products making them safer, lighter, and more comfortable. Isn't that reason enough? Wouldn't you want the latest technology available to protect your brain?

I hope that I have been helpful. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to contact me.

Paul Conley
Moto Market

p.s. What are they basing their "marketing crap" opinions on?

[Proulx06]

If a pair of top quality running shoes sits on his shelf for more than 6 months, they are no longer good to sell and he usually ends up giving them away to the school system or some charity.

Hi. I wear a size 11.5 Nike, 11 Adidas. PM me here and I'll come pick up your entire 6 month old stock. Riiiight.

[babo]

Excellent! Another reason why not to exercise!








It sure is nice that Paul Conley of Motomarket took the time to respond! (another reason why these guys should be supported).

He does seem to be making a leap in logic that a helmet thats been sitting on a shelf in a store is going to deteriorate as quickly as one that's seen consistant use.

Kind of like the Underpants gnomes

[Awesome]

Interesting, did he say anything I didnt'?

[BusaBoy]

There is one important differance from what you stated.

He states that the stores selling disount helmets are because the life of the helmet is now shorter, not that thet are making room for new stock. The life of the helmet is decreasing while it sits on the shelf. Not as quickly as while being worn of course, but still. [B][SIZE=3]