Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Ready for new helmet?

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Helmets only have a shelf life of about 3-4years anyway. So the little accident with the helmet is a blessing.

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Wow, never heard this. What is the reasoning behind it?

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Wow, never heard this. What is the reasoning behind it?

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Speaking from the perspective of a Project Manager at a company that specializes in Fiberglass building components...

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Thanks for the explanation from a knowledgable source Rob,

I'm also curious about your "open ended" job description. BUT, (1) the answer might frighten me , OR (2) you might have to kill me .

jh

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One of the major design parameters of every helmet is the specification of foam density. That is what "tunes" the helmet for a specific range of impacts. High density for harder impacts, lower density for a softer landing but with the possibility of bottoming out in a hard blow. With experience you can make a guess at the density of a foam by squeezing it with your thumb enough to make a small impression. (Don't do this with a helmet somebody will be wearing!)


Crushing the cell walls destroys the impact management ability for most stiff foams, so the helmet has to be replaced after a single impact. The crushing is not always visible and can be hidden by the outer shell. The foam can also recover some of its thickness over a period of hours, but not its ability to manage impact. Crushed and partially recovered one-use foam will feel rubbery and soft. Experts measure the foam thickness carefully for crush, but for consumers the recommendation has to be "replace after every impact."

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(a larger impact/drop can destroy the foam UNDER the shell by compacting it when your shell flexes into it, so that area no longer has the same impact absorbing ability)

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But then again I have never understood why a 650.00 Shoei that meets the SAME Snell safety standards as a 150.00 HJC that both offer similar features and both weigh the same vary so much in price...exactly what am I getting for the extra $500.00 again...

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Our specialty is bicycle helmets, and your thread is about motorcycle helmets. I only wish bike helmets lasted as long as a good motorcycle helmet does. Bike helmets mostly have thin plastic covers, not thick ABS or fiberglass like motorcycle helmets, but the styrofoam impact management foam in each is similar. One of your posters had the word on fiberglass--it lasts longer than your motorcycle will. Styrofoam that is not mistreated is similar. Unless you bake it or spray gasoline on it, it lasts for many many years. You can trash a helmet without crashing it in two years, but you really have to work at it. The fitting pads crumble after years of use, but those you can replace. Tests have shown that even the groves in the styrofoam made by carrying a spare motorcycle helmet jammed on a sissy bar in the back don't degrade performance to any real extent. I have heard sales people telling riders all sorts of stuff. Some are knowledgeable, but others are just plain ignorant about the product they are selling. If a helmet's foam degraded after two years, would anybody buy a second one? Putting my brain where my mouth is, the helmet I rode in today was made in 1992. In a crash it would perform better than the bicycle helmets you can buy today, because it has more coverage as well as more and thicker styrofoam, and I am betting my own brain that the foam is as good as it was the day it was manufactured. There is more on our replacement page:http://www.helmets.org/replace.htmbut again it's about bicycle, not motorcycle helmets. Randy Swart

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I dropped my helmet! Do I have to go buy a new one?
Generally the answer is probably not. Helmets are one use items, but are quite durable otherwise, at least the ones we certify. Frequent dropping or spiking a helmet on the ground, or other hard surfaces may eventually degrade the helmet's performance. Similarly if the helmet falls to the ground at highway speeds unoccupied the owner must be aware that some degradation may have occurred. In general the real damage comes when the helmet contacts an object with a head inside. The Foundation recommends that if you are participating in an activity that requires that you wear a helmet, that you avoid hitting stuff with your head. It can be difficult to readily determine if a helmet has been damaged, and the protective capabilities compromised without a thorough inspection by a trained professional. Some manufacturers may provide this service or direct you to these others that can perform these inspections. The Foundation recommends that if you suspect your helmet may be compromised, then replace it. If the helmet has been involved in an impact while in use, replace it.

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I dropped my helmet! Do I have to go buy a new one?
Generally the answer is probably not. Helmets are one use items, but are quite durable otherwise, at least the ones we certify. Frequent dropping or spiking a helmet on the ground, or other hard surfaces may eventually degrade the helmet's performance. Similarly if the helmet falls to the ground at highway speeds unoccupied the owner must be aware that some degradation may have occurred. In general the real damage comes when the helmet contacts an object with a head inside. The Foundation recommends that if you are participating in an activity that requires that you wear a helmet, that you avoid hitting stuff with your head. It can be difficult to readily determine if a helmet has been damaged, and the protective capabilities compromised without a thorough inspection by a trained professional. Some manufacturers may provide this service or direct you to these others that can perform these inspections. The Foundation recommends that if you suspect your helmet may be compromised, then replace it. If the helmet has been involved in an impact while in use, replace it.

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Sorry there are some lines in this that I find very funny...

Like this one..."Frequent dropping or spiking a helmet on the ground, or other hard surfaces may eventually degrade the helmet's performance.

frequently SPIKING you helmet on the GROUND.. MAY EVENTUALLY degrade it performance

and this one too...

The Foundation recommends that if you are participating in an activity that requires that you wear a helmet, that you avoid hitting stuff with your head.

Boy am I glad they put that in there!!! that reaks of "Cover Your A$$" kind of like the warnings printed on plastic trash bags..."Caution this is NOT a Toy"...Avoid hitting stuff with your head....now why didn't I think of that!!


Here is an outstanding article on helmet testing

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I was thinking just now that a good helmet spike would be a nice signature move after a long ride. You know, endzone celebration style!!!

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