Motorcycle Helmet Question

[travisobvs]

Hey Everyone,

I stopped by MOTO SF today to get a new visor for my my 1995 Scorpion EVO helmet. The attendant told me that I needed to buy a whole new helmet because my helmet was too old. She explained that the foam within the helmet become dried and hard and would actually cause an even worse impact. I have never heard this theory before and figured my helmet would be good for life.

Have any of you every heard of this..

 

[Toast]

Yea that's really really old and definitely not safe anyone. Helmets are supposed to be replaced every 5 years.

 

[RickM]

That helmet is past expired. Get a new one.

 

[EjGlows]

5 years - get a new one.

 

[rugbydawg13]

Yes, that's old but could still be fine. I've heard that 5 year rule but have never seen any data supporting that commonly used recommendation. The claim that it could cause more damage is dubious. Id replace it if it were mine since it is far beyond almost any manufacturer warranty and was likely built using the old hard as a rock Snell standard that had been revised.

 

[EjGlows]

You do realize that those points are why every 5 years it's probably a good idea to buy a new heat THAT PROTECTS YOUR BRAIN.

Naaaahhhh... It's all bullshit.

 

[rugbydawg13]

I'm not saying is bullshit. I typically replace mine more often than that because they get worn out, like the liner is tearing etc. My point is that I've never seen anyone ever post a shred of data that supports the 5 year statute that people always repeat. Im not so much challenging that it's better safe than sorry but prompting folks to back up these "facts" that get constantly repeated on forums.

 

[EjGlows]

It's your head. You decide what kind of protection you want based on the standards you feel best represent your scientific knowledge.

I guess we should all be happy with just lap belts because they were statistical considered safe in 1965.

 

[rugbydawg13]

Thanks. Your condescending tone is so conducive to gaining any real knowledge.

 

[travisobvs]

I am not against getting another helmet, to be honest the white helmet on my blue bike was going to need a change anyway. It's just a really secure, comfortable helmet. I have to agree with some of the comments above, I would like to hear the reasoning behind why a helmet would be less effective over time. At least now I know it wasn't just a sales tactic!

Thanks for the quick replies. Go check my next annoying post about saddle bags if your still up

 

[RickM]

I have had the impact absorbing layer disintegrate on an old helmet( ~9years old at the time) when I pulled the liner off it. But that is just one example and I don't know how it was stored or if it was exposed to some chemicals before I got it.

Btw Shoei ( and I think other manufacturers too) recommend replacing helmets every 5 years. Maybe they want to us to just buy more helmets.

5 years the helmet wears out any way unless you don't ride much. I wash( the liner ) mine about once a month. 5 years is 60 washes. Am sure the shield mechanism might wear out too.

 

[antidote]

I am not against getting another helmet, to be honest the white helmet on my blue bike was going to need a change anyway. It's just a really secure, comfortable helmet. I have to agree with some of the comments above, I would like to hear the reasoning behind why a helmet would be less effective over time. At least now I know it wasn't just a sales tactic!

Thanks for the quick replies. Go check my next annoying post about saddle bags if your still up

Just throwing some different fuel on a related fire....all white helmets can actually look pretty cool, match ANY color bike, and even better stand out very well to drivers. That is all.

Tires should be replaced every 5 years too, used up or not. Things wear out on a chemical bonding type of level. Whether the pads in your 1995 helmet are safe anymore...maybe...but I can GUARANTEE you that EVERY bit of technology and safety tech for sure is 100000000% better than it was 20 freaking years ago! New helmet is going to be lighter and safer no matter what, and fit pfffft there are a ton of helmets and Im sure you can find one that is equal to or more comfortable.

 

[ilikefood]

I would like to hear the reasoning behind why a helmet would be less effective over time.)

The energy-absorbing lining in helmets is made from polystyrene - essentially pretty hard styrofoam. Just like any other synthetic polymer, polystyrene degrades over time, becomes more brittle, crumbles, and loses its ability to absorb energy. This means that a helmet with a degraded energy-absorbing lining won't be nearly as good at absorbing impacts, and in a crash will transfer more crash energy to your brain, causing brain injury.

The speed of this degradation will depend on how the helmet is treated. If you keep your helmet where gasoline fumes are present (like in a garage), or in a hot place, it will degrade faster. If you keep it on a shelf in your bedroom, it will degrade slower.

The recommendation to replace helmets after five years is a rule of thumb. Helmets aren't milk, they won't go bad immediately after the expiration date. But a nearly 20-year-old helmet? No matter how well it's cared for, it's useless as a helmet.

There is also the issue of the helmet's history. Have you owned it since new, so you know that it wasn't crashed, dropped from a height, or otherwise hit? The energy-absorbing lining is one-time-use only. Once a helmet is hit hard (as would happen in a drop from a few feet of height), the polystyrene compresses and won't protect you from another hit in the same place. That's why you should never buy a used helmet.

Also, helmet designs improve over time. Each new generation of helmets has advances not only in protection, but also in comfort, ventilation, wind noise reduction, new features, and so on.

Seriously, do yourself a favor - throw this thing out. Cut off the straps before you do, so someone else won't be tempted to pick it up from the trash and try to use it. There are plenty of helmets that are decent and not too expensive, around $150-$200. You don't have to shell out $800 for a top-end Shoei or Arai. There is no doubt that even a cheapo helmet will be WAY better than this antique one, both in protection and in comfort.

 

[antidote]

^^ilikethisguysthinking...oh and food too

 

[redruM]

We put a man on the moon nearly half a century ago... yet today, we can't engineer $500+ crash helmets to be fully road-worthy beyond 5 friggin years.

Sounds legit.

 

[Clem Kevin]

I'm not saying is bullshit. I typically replace mine more often than that because they get worn out, like the liner is tearing etc. My point is that I've never seen anyone ever post a shred of data that supports the 5 year statute that people always repeat. Im not so much challenging that it's better safe than sorry but prompting folks to back up these "facts" that get constantly repeated on forums.

Give Snell a call, I'm sure they can give you all the date you'd need.

 

[antidote]

We put a man on the moon nearly half a century ago... yet today, we can't engineer $500+ crash helmets to be fully road-worthy beyond 5 friggin years.

Sounds legit.

 

[rojocorsa]

Just throwing some different fuel on a related fire....all white helmets can actually look pretty cool, match ANY color bike, and even better stand out very well to drivers. That is all.

Agreed. I wish I would have bought a white Shoei instead of a charcoal gray one. We'll see in 5 years then...

 

[sanjuro]

I'm not saying is bullshit. I typically replace mine more often than that because they get worn out, like the liner is tearing etc. My point is that I've never seen anyone ever post a shred of data that supports the 5 year statute that people always repeat. Im not so much challenging that it's better safe than sorry but prompting folks to back up these "facts" that get constantly repeated on forums.

Why should you replace your helmet every five years?

The five-year replacement recommendation is based on a consensus by both helmet manufacturers and the Snell Foundation. Glues, resins and other materials used in helmet production 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.

http://www.smf.org/helmetfaq#aWhyReplace

Is it a made-up number? Just because helmet testing data is not released does not mean it hasn't been tested. One reason could be that if exact data is released, then helmet companies could be sued if a 4 year old helmet failed to prevent concussion.

 

[afm199]

I'm not saying is bullshit. I typically replace mine more often than that because they get worn out, like the liner is tearing etc. My point is that I've never seen anyone ever post a shred of data that supports the 5 year statute that people always repeat. Im not so much challenging that it's better safe than sorry but prompting folks to back up these "facts" that get constantly repeated on forums.

Correct. Some helmets will be rotten ( people who use lots of hair oil or leave the helmet in the sun every day). I have a couple five year old helmets in which the foam is fine. The 5 year rule is basically an industry ploy to sell helmets. Go up to the inside roof and poke your fingernail in the foam. Then do it with a new helmet. That will quickly tell you the condition of the foam.