How long does a helmet last?

[O Holy P]

Mine is 4~5 yrs old. I guess I should look into a new one.

[Schism]

Originally Posted by majestic12

I still have mine after 9 Years. I don't get to ride year round though and any drop damage happens on the mirrored visor, $35 an oops. I am in the market for a new one Shoei RF1000, large. I think mine might be a little too small.

i just scored one on flea bay for $289 new gloss black. i love my arai but it's a size too big so i'll try the shoei and change it up.

[BusaWhipped]

I usually buy a new lid every year. Most of it for teh BNG, but my helmets spend alot of time in the wind and sun. UV will break down the integrity of the shell. 5 years is the claimed safe life of a helmet. If you keep it in a closet all the time, it will last longer than if its on your head in the wind.

[BusaWhipped]

Hope Doc got his new lid last year

[TonyMastodon]

Arai helmets take .2 secs off your 1/4 mile!!!

[Laylas_Mom]

Originally Posted by majestic12

I still have mine after 9 Years. I don't get to ride year round though and any drop damage happens on the mirrored visor, $35 an oops. I am in the market for a new one Shoei RF1000, large. I think mine might be a little too small.

Love my Shoei RF1000!

[jch364]

5 yrs seems a little on the low side. what do i know. it just seems to me that if you havent crashed in it that there wouldnt be much to degrade except the padding on the inside, which you can replace on the better helmets. I would hate to think that the $700 I paid for my rx-7 arai in 2007 will be needing replacement in just another 3 years.

[Aggie12]

good luck on finding a new lid

[wardie]

Funny you should ask. I just did a segment on my show about that very same thing. Most manufacturers say 5 years but in reality the only defining factors are the following that would cause you to change helmets.

1. If the helmet has been in a crash and the exterior is messed up a new one is in order.
2. If the lining has been so compressed and wron that the helmet does not fit properly (IE: sits so low on your head that it obstructs your view or hits the back of your jackets collar) then it's time for a change.

Here's what I did recently when confronted by item #2. I have a custom painted Nolan Classic 100 which is about 4 years old. I spent good money at the painters to customize Wardie etc. and racing stuff so I don't want to throw all that away if I don't have to. I removed the old, compressed not so good liner to reveal and a perfectly good styrofoam interior. I called CIMA International and was able to order an N102 interior at a cost of $35. It took me about 1/2 hour to fit it properly. The end result was that I was able to keep a helmet that I liked and upgraded it to a new more modern interior that fit like a glove. Wardie 101

[denon970]

I wish I knew this before I just spent $$ on getting mine custom painted. It turned 5 years old last month. I guess I'll start shopping...

[wardie]

Denon970 nice paint work! Distinctive. Wardie

[Joker]

Originally Posted by jch364

5 yrs seems a little on the low side. what do i know. it just seems to me that if you havent crashed in it that there wouldnt be much to degrade except the padding on the inside, which you can replace on the better helmets. I would hate to think that the $700 I paid for my rx-7 arai in 2007 will be needing replacement in just another 3 years.

I feel the same way being that I do not ride every day. Mine sit in my house until I go for a ride. I will replace the padding first and then next time a new one. I also have an Arai RX-7

[djsin]

interesting...who here hasn't had there helmet fall off the mirror perch? we all need new ones now...last time I checked that's higher then my knee....
from now on helmet comes off and either gets clipped to the tail or sits on the ground by front tire... no more drops

[wardie]

Unless dropping your helmet caused cracks or snaps off vents or otherwise renders the helmets exterior useless then I wouldn't say that the helmet is bad just because it rolled off the bike. Careful examination would be in order but unless damaged I don't think it would need replaced . Just my opinion only.Wardie