| Author | Message | ||
     Rpm4x4 |
I have a Z1R Duke that I like a lot but is starting to get a little loose on my head. Other than that its in perfect shape. I tried to buy new cheek pads but the helmet has been discontinued and I cant seem to find any.  Ive had it for one year which is about 15K miles. Is that normal to happen? Should I buy a smaller helmet next time and suffer through a longer break in? Should I just expect to buy a new helmet every 15K miles? | ||
| Svh |
I have read a few articles over the years and the "experts" say to replace your helmet every 3 years due to degredation of the foam that protects you or until it no longer fits properly. Most of these "experts" work for the helmet manufacturers though. I don't know much of that helmet but I have had my Icon for 3years and am about to replace it and it has not gotten noticably more loose on my melon. I would expect a helmet to last more than 15k miles. | ||
| Bosh |
I've had my Shoei since 1998. Still fits like new. Just a little stinky is all  . You could try putting it on, then shoot in some of that expanding packing foam for a custom fit  ... or not. Sounds like you need a new helmet to me. | ||
| Danger_dave |
You should replace it annually or sooner. DD representing Arai & Davida Helmets. | ||
| Bosh |
From the Davida website: "The use of extensive human head data has enabled us to produce helmets that are proportional to head size." Amazing  | ||
| Etennuly |
You should replace it annually or sooner. DD representing Arai & Davida Helmets Well yeah.....if you fall off and land on your head, of course! I'm four years into my 'Buell' helmet. I can see it going another year. Things do start to wear a bit, like the straps, seals, shield brackets, glue, interior foam, and liner. It is still fitting well and not any noisier than when new. Around fifty thousand miles of Buellin'. | ||
| Danger_dave |
The fun is in the measuring.  | ||
| Xb9ser |
I buy a new one about every 3 years | ||
| Twowheeldream |
A helmet that doesn't fit properly can't protect properly. If your helmet feels loose, buy a new one. You don't have to spend tons of money, HJC has a model for under a hundred bucks... doesn't have the best features, but it will protect you in the event of an accident. I worked at the local motorcycle dealership for 3 years and fit people for helmets everyday. Know that it is supposed to be snug on the cheeks to the point that if you had a piece of gum in your mouth with the helmet on, you would be lightly biting your cheeks if you chewed the gum. You should be able to feel the helmet touch the top of your head and there should be no excessive pressure on your forhead or temples. Wear the helmet for a few minutes to make sure, walk around the store a little and makes sure its still comfortable after a few minutes. Everyone thinks they have a big head... I would constantly be asked if we had any large or extra large helmets and end up selling the person a properly fitted medium. Now, the idea behind replacing your helmet every 3-5 years is in the decomposition of materials that keep you safe. Styrofoam, or expanded polypropelyne is the main material that protects you from impact forces. It also desolves when in contact with gasoline. How often do you put your helmet on your gas tank. The outer shell of your helmet is also subject to the forces of the sun, wich we all know fades paint and will make it crack or week, and is basicaly nothing more than a form of laminated materials. Plus all the times you drop it, bang it, scratch it, ding it. Over the period of 3-5 years, you might be able to see how it may not protect you as well in the event of a crash. Remember, you wear a helmet for a reason, to protect you. Another anaolgy that might help you think about this is your tires... if you didn't know, tires have a shelf life, of about 3-5 years as well. Over time they lose there elasticity, the oils in them dry out, the rubber gets hard and they wont hold to the road as well as a new set. If left in the sun they will begin to dryrot, wich could cause a blowout. There are many reasons behind why a helmet should be replaced every so often, but the most important is your own safety. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I got a chance to speak to a Arai company rep. He stated helmets should be replaced every 5 years, but cheek pads and the like should be replaced sooner. | ||
| Bott |
whenever the Boss (wife) lets me.... | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
One of the advantages of an expensive helmet like the Arai is that it lasts longer than cheap helmets. After going through a bunch of cheap hats, it finally dawned on me that not only was an Arai a much better helmet, it was cheaper over the long run. Of course, it depends somewhat on how often the helmet is used. I am sort of an all the gear all the time sort of guy.  | ||
| Babired |
+1 with Twowheeldream Too many people wear helmets bigger than their heads. How many of you have an old coffee cup from Mc Donald's or Dunkin Donuts in your garage filled with nuts and bolts? If you have one that has been sitting on your shelf for some years go and try to see how flexible/ brittle it is. The impact absorbing liner is made out of the same material. K | ||
| Jaimec |
FIVE years. Anyone saying less is trying to sell you helmets. And it has less to do with helmet degradation than it does getting a more current helmet (most likely lighter and stronger at a better price than was possible five years ago). Unless, of course, you've dropped or crashed with the helmet, or you store it in the garage with all the petroleum fumes in there eating away at the polystyrene liner. Many years ago at an SMSA meeting (State Motorcycle Safety Administrators) we had a representative from the Snell Institute address this question directly. They bought two identical helmets at a dealership. They tested one of the helmets and recorded their findings. The second helmet they put up on a pole on a farm in upstate New York and just left it there for five years. Five years of four seasons a year, all kinds of weather. After five years they took the helmet down and tested it, and you know what they found? The numbers were so close to the numbers from the brand new helmet that they were statistically IDENTICAL. (Message edited by Jaimec on May 21, 2009) | ||
| S1wmike |
Any DOT or Snell certified helmet will protect you accordingly provided it it fitted correctly. To prevent yourself from buying a new helmet every 15K miles find a helmet that is not at the end of it's product run and the cheek inserts and other parts should still be available during the service life of your new helmet. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I'd like to get another Shoei Picotte, anybody see them cheap? I know they aren't being produced any longer. | ||
| Limitedx1 |
I get a new one when i find a new pattern i want to run.....usually one every two years lol | ||
| Xl1200r |
I go every 2 years or so, but that's been more about "I want" than "I need". | ||
| Froggy |
My current helmet is about a year and a half old, the longest I have had one without destroying it in a wreck. I am getting bored with it and am ready to change.  | ||
| Rainman |
I get a new one when i find a new pattern i want to run.....usually one every two years }Me, too. I'm flying an AFX Freedom with the stars and stripes. When my older brother (53) sets out for the ghani-kistan border in the next month, I'll pick up a white fullface and apply a blue-star sticker and fly it until he gets back. Still have my 7-year-old Shoe RR...fits great and works the best in the winter. | ||
| Twowheeldream |
+1 with Babired One of the mechanics I knew used to prank people all the time, he used to love the NFG's. He would leave one of the styrofoam cups at the end of his lift while "working" intently on the bike, and ask the new fun guy to get him a little gas out of the shop tank. Definately sucks to be on the wrong end of that joke. If you don't know what happens, the cup basicaly melts from contact with the gas, and disolves dumping the gas all over the target of the prank. It takes just long enough for you to start walking back with the cup half full. +1 to S1WMike A helmet that doesn't fit properly can't protect properly | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Hey, Gentleman Jon, is that the computer setup you use to do all your porn surfing?  | ||
| Froggy |
Why do you think he is using a white mac keyboard? It hides the stains better  | ||
| S1wmike |
I thought the helmet was for safe sex  | ||
| Ted |
i just replaced mine after 12+years.  i found that testing one on for 5mins doesnt cut it. An HJC felt great for 10mins but after 20 didnt. i also found you get what you pay for. i bought a cheapo, it fits well but is noisey. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
I recently replaced my 7 y/o helmet. It should have been done sooner because of a low side at Road America. The helmet never hit "hard ground" but did get some rash from the kitty litter. I did replace the pads in my previous helmet (AGV X-Vent) after 4 years. (Message edited by lake_bueller on May 21, 2009) | ||
| Danny_h__jesternut |
LRRS @ NHIS, don't expect to race with a lid over two yrs. You ain't gona get out on the track ,all helmets are checked when you go tru tech inspection. I'll go with that. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
Just to be clear I am buying a new helmet. I plan to retire the Z1R to cold weather duty. I wear a shampa under my helmet in cold weather which may have contributed to its demise. I just got a Icon Mainframe halo from a friend for nothing but he dropped it and it needs a vent. Im going to run that for a while until I can get the funds for a new lid. I kind of like the Mainframe. My exhaust rumble is less harsh with it. I may buy a new one of those. Anybody know a cheap place to buy the top vent for the Icon mainframe? From what Ive found they are $40+ shipping. Thats almost halfway to a new helmet. | ||
| Babired |
You can get Icon helmets cheap at Motorcycle superstore. They have some listed for under $100.00 | ||
| Ducbsa |
Jeez, I had a Bell from '90 to '05. I have changed my ways though, after buying the replacement in a shop where they made sure it fit. No more mail order for me. |
