How often do you replace your helmet? - Ducati.ms

Chi-town748 · Feb 16th, 2011, 9:41 pm

Just seeing what the everyone else is doing and wondering if I'm crazy for still wearing my Helmet. It's a Soumy helmet and I bought it back in 2008, in Alaska were the riding season was like 3 months tops, lets put it this way, since I've own my 1098 and helmet all brand new at the time. I've racked up just under 4K miles on the bike give or take a few. I'm in the military and don't get to ride more than a few months out of a year if that. The helmet has always been inside the house. So get a new helmet or wait another year or two.

Dmitry · Feb 16th, 2011, 10:02 pm

I have a collection of retired helmets, in the past I replaced them every 5 years, but I ended up wearing my last one longer than I should have almost 10 years by the time I ordered a new one it was quite loose fitting and the straps were looking little tired, luckily I never got to test it. 3 days after a new helmet arrived I did a full on face plant in to some fine Vermont soil, pretty sure if I was still wearing the old one the outcome would not have been the same. Have heard horror stories about old helmets failing in the crash.

DMCTRUBY · Feb 16th, 2011, 10:35 pm

Some helmets have the replacement guidance stamped on the chin strap, most also have the "born on date" there as well.

Shoei RF1000 guidance for example is 5 years from start of use, or a max 7 years from the date stamp.

Helmet technology gets better every year, and there is some breaking down of the impact material in your old helmet over time. By chance I was justing checking my helmets this evening and pondering what to do with my favorite Arai which has a 06/2004 date, but I purchased it in 2006. By the rules I should be replacing it, and I probably will. It's hard to shelf a $700 helmet that was never in an accident and looks great. It may see some occasional use this spring but I am going to buy a new helmet this year as my others helmets are at least that old as well.

I clicked the "5" year button, but that is with a fudge factor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi-town748

Just seeing what the everyone else is doing and wondering if I'm crazy for still wearing my Helmet. It's a Soumy helmet and I bought it back in 2008, in Alaska were the riding season was like 3 months tops, lets put it this way, since I've own my 1098 and helmet all brand new at the time. I've racked up just under 4K miles on the bike give or take a few. I'm in the military and don't get to ride more than a few months out of a year if that. The helmet has always been inside the house. So get a new helmet or wait another year or two.

Chi-town748 · Feb 17th, 2011, 1:23 am

I feel the same, I think I went over the top on this helmet. I think this coming year I'll pick up on more reasonably priced. Like "DMCTRUBY" said, its hard to shelf a perfectly good helmet. I wonder if we emailed myth busters this "Myth" and see what results they would come up with. Not saying its a myth but really, i find it hard to believe that so called impact materiel losses its impact safeness or whatever technology jargon they use to make us buy a new helmet every few years. With that being said if a retailer were to sell me a "brand new" helmet from say 2005/06 Never opened and I was in an accident what they be held liable for selling me a expired product?

**amullo** · Feb 17th, 2011, 7:22 am

I´ve changed helmets 4 times since 2002.. And I´ve heard that around 5 years is the max you should use a helmet if you ride often.

//Anders

redbcgraygt · Feb 17th, 2011, 8:03 am

I said 4-6, but who knows what I'll end up doing. I think the amount of time its on your head would factor in as well.

Twisted10 · Feb 17th, 2011, 8:05 am

5 years.

RUNnDUC · Feb 17th, 2011, 8:13 am

I change about every 5 years, with that said I’m looking for a helmet now and I’m having a hard time choosing a helmet. I’m looking for good quality at price that I find reasonable, along with a good fit, quite and the least lift as possible. I’m not asking for much, as usual. Oh and a design that looks good with a Ducati.

Dmitry · Feb 17th, 2011, 8:36 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi-town748

i find it hard to believe that so called impact materiel losses its impact safeness

Everything deteriorates, plastic, fiberglass, straps. Ever seen a dry-rotted tire, does not take 5 years in most cases.

Like I said before I have two 10 y/o Shoei helmets, the one I crashed hard in 2000 and the replacement I bought for it. Crashed helmet fits much tighter due to lack of use even though it has a damaged shell.

Also while on the subject of crashing, as far as I know there are only 2 company's that will inspect your crashed helmets for you, Shoei is one, have not had to send anything to them in a while, and recently I found out that Arai does the same, they will insect and send your lid back for the cost of postage, $10. I still prefer the fit of Shoei but Arai customer service is second to none.

Twisted10 · Feb 17th, 2011, 8:46 am

Kneedraggers is having some great deals on Suomy right now.

bout to pick up a new one myself.