Helmet Life Span?

[MTBryan]

Sorry if this has already been posted. But after doing some searching and not finding this subject, there reaches a point where I have to ask myself if I've spent enough time searching or not. Plus, if it's true, it might be good for others to read anyway.

While watching Jay Leno's garage, he was talking with the Arai helmet rep and said most people replace their helmet every 5 years or so, assuming it wasn't involved in an accident or big impact (in which case it should be replaced immediately).

I was buying some boots today and asked the guys at the local shop, and they agreed you should replace your helmet every 5 years or so.

Is this for real? Do people really replace a perfectly good helmet every 5 years? Do they really have a life span? Or are they trying to get even MORE money from my now shallow pockets?

I bought my Arai for $550 bucks in about 2000. It hasn't been in a crash or even dropped. It has some dings on it. Mostly from rocks while riding (yes, helmetless riders make me scratch my head), or setting it down on rough pavement, and having it roll over. But it still fits super tight, and wears like a tight glove. To ditch it and buy another one for another $500 plus bucks turns my stomach. But I guess I will budget it if I absolutely must.

What do other riders think?

[silvy1200]

not sure if it is true, but i would hate to find out the hard way. lots of good quality helmets out there for descent prices, time for another. if you do throw it out, make sure it is unusable.

[Smitch]

It's true. No conspiracy theories.  Your head is worth it.  Isn't it?

I work in a dealership, and it's amazing how many older guys come in with these ANCIENT helmets to test ride a unit.  I'm talking:

[Statler]

I've never had a helmet that wasn't ready for retirement after about five years.

I suppose if you have many helmets each wouldn't get enough use to get there, but even ones with removable and washable insides get pretty used up in that time frame if it's an only lid.

Do you ride particularly infrequently?    It's really in good shape after seven years?

What's your helmet care secret for the interior?

[MTBryan]

Hey, that's my helmet!

Just kidding. I am a semi-old guy, but mine isn't that old. But that brings up a point I didn't consider: At what point do I draw the line and get a new helmet? 10 years? 20 years? 30 years? Obviously, technology changes pretty quickly. So even a 10 years old lid might be outdated. Even if in perferct shape.

My Arai is about 7 years old (I actually got it in 2001). I'm thinking 8 years is a nice round number. Damn! There goes the fund for my new rear sets! DAMN!

[MTBryan]

What's your helmet care secret for the interior?

I don't wear hair spray, moose, eye shadow or makeup when riding. (oh wait, that's my wife)
I also don't spit with the visor closed.

Kidding aside (but why?), I do wash the inside occasionally. It pulls out and I can wash it out and dry it. Although, it's a little rank now. And, I did sell my old Monster in late 2005, and just got the Foggy recently. So, it really only has under 5 years of use. Although, I used it when snowmobiling quite a bit in the winter.

[silvy1200]

I suppose if you have many helmets each wouldn't get enough use to get there,

that brings up a pretty good question, is it 5 years of use lifespan? or will it be no good if it sat on the shelf for 5 years?

i've got a few helmets i haven't touched in a while  

[Statler]

My thought is five(ish) years of use.   

[Speeddog]

Manufacturers are likely being conservative, but that shouldn't be a surprise on a piece of safety gear.

The shell is composite, one ingredient of which is resin.
Resins can become brittle over time, reducing the toughness of the shell.

The crushable foam liner can suffer from aging as well.

The manufacturer can't control how folks store their helmets.
Prolonged exposure to sun won't help em, for sure.
Exposure to solvents, even just vapor, doesn't help either.

Comes down to your comfort level, I suppose.
Last thing you want to think about just as you part company with your bike is "Hmmm... my helmet's a bit old, I hope it holds up..."

[fasterblkduc]

Speedog is right and I'll add to that another reason. It's believed that bodily fluids (oil from your hair, sweat, etc.), break down the foam over time.

[Desmostro]

Hasn't anyone said it yet?

ok then:

"If you have a $5.00 head, wear a $5.00 helmet."   


When looking for a helmet, I strongly suggest looking into the new ECE (Eurpoe) and SHARP (UK) rating systems. There is a lot of criticism around the US DOT and Snell approval systems. When I read the testing small print details, I almost  'ed. ECE is WAY more stringent. They actually go to factories and do random testing. Snell and DOT do not from what I've read.

Speedog is right and I'll add to that another reason. It's believed that bodily fluids (oil from your hair, sweat, etc.), break down the foam over time.

+1   and gas fumes

Any doubts? Take a Styrofoam cup, and pour some gas in it. See what happens.
Fumes must be doing that in slow motion. Where do you store your helmet?

[NuTTs]

I replaced the interior of my 3 year old Arai RX7 Corsair last night as it goes and the label that is stitched onto the chin strap says 5 year life. It's just common sense I guess as the glass fibre composite must weaken due to exposure to UV, corrosive particles in the air etc.

I must say though, the Arai lids are the best out there. You can TOTALLY replace every single part of the helmet, disassemble it for cleaning, customize the fit... etc. I love it.

I currently have around 7 lids including an excellent BMW Sport Integral II lid that I use for trackdays (as it matches my bike 'n leathers  ) and is a very good helmet but, I still prefer the Arai over my Shoei, Shark, BMW etc. lids. And yes, I have an "Arai head".

If your lid is 8 years old, don't risk it. You don't want to be the guinnea pig to see if it's true or not.

Your head is worth more than $550 and that is still 40%-50% cheaper than an Arai lid in the rest of the world.

[Dana]

Straight from the man:

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=283819

[Desmostro]

Straight from the man:

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/video_player.shtml?vid=283819

  Great video

[AndrewNS]

Frankly, I think that 5 years stuff is bull. Painted fiberglass lasts way longer than 5 years, and lots of commercial items sit around packed in much the same foam as helmet linings use for years and years without anyone worrying about spontaneous decomposition. But hey, do what your own consience tells you, it's your head.