How often do you replace your lid?

[PaddyDaddyO]

The Schuberth thread got me wonderin' ... how often do y'all replace your lids? Beyond the immediate replacement if it gets damaged, of course. I am talking replacement interval due to flexation, outgassing, delamination, UV damage and the other forces at work trying to destroy our buckets from the moment they come off the assembly line.

[Skippy]

You should replace it every 4 or 5 years but it all depends how well the fit is on your head cause that could also change in the years.This is what all helemt manufacturers are recomending.THere was a thread about this not so long ago.

[bradzdotcom]

i swap out for a new one every year, or actually, about every 15~16,000 miles. i replace the cheekpads every 8,000 miles.

Helmets are cheap. Replacement brains are REALLY expensive.

when i was racing, you always had at least two helmets and you'd replace each helmet after it had four to six races. (you didn't pay for 'em, so you didn't care).
If you dropped a helmet from waist level or above, you never wore it again. At one point "the helmet guys" used to x-ray a helmet you dropped to see if it was okay, but it turned out to be cheaper and faster to just replace it.


having bounced my head off of dirt, asphalt, trees, rocks...wildlife...i'm a little picky about the helmet thing.
i'd DEFINITELY be afraid to wear any helmet that had more than three years on it, whether it was worn regularly while racing or just hanging out in the hall closet.

...brad

[RonC]

Qestion: How do heat/sweat and related items affect helmets, esp the impact absorbing liners? Anyone know? It seems to me that there are two things to consider: the impact/puncture/abrasion resistence of the shell and the impact absorbing capacity of the styrofoam (or whatever).

The shell is probably affected day to day by UV, heat, ... while the lining materials are probably affected by heat/moisture/ ... But at what rates? Do they degrade faster in a climate like the SE (hot, humid) or in the SW (hot, dry)?

[FDH]

I try to remember to replace my helmet after each concussion, but lately I don't think I remember.

[Moybin]

RonC

The foam lining material is usually EPS (expanded polystyrene). The same stuff they use for floatation in boat docks. As everyone knows, this stuff is obnoxious when it comes to disintegrating: it doesn't! Very stable and durable.

I remember seeing somewhere (on this forum?) not too long ago where a fellow took a 10 year old helmet and smacked it with a sledge hammer. It withstood this punishment, much to the surprise of the hammer swinger. And that was a helmet made with obviously 10 year old technology.

I think (and this is my personal opinion ONLY) that helmets made in the last 4-5 years are a lot more durable than the manufacturers would like us to think. After all, it has to pass Snell or DOT or CE, and once in the public market it is an obvious target for any ambulance chasing lawyer with a get-rich-quick mentality. So they have to be pretty good. So good, I feel, that the manufacturers are faced with a situation where there is no actual design end-of-life for them.

Lastly, there is always the accident that will completely compromise the newest, lastest and greatest technology and not keep someone alive. No safety product can ever be designed for every possible accident.

[RonC]

Moybin:

Thanks. Good input, good analysis. IMO, the helmet replacement point comes when you WANT a new one and/or it has gotten to smelly and disreputable to live with.

Related topic: has anyone had problems with the side pod tabs breaking on Arai helmets? You know, the half-moon shaped piece that covers the base plate?

[Skippy]

I haven't had that problem Ron on any of my Arai's but they are made to come of quite easy in case of an accident for savety reasons.But if you have a problem I'm sure Arai will sort you out with a new one.I found there service to be great and had a number of things fixed for free at one of there appearences at dealers with there service van.Don't know if they do the same in the US though but I bet that if you gave them a call they will sort it out.

[ckcarr]

My question was then what do you do with the old one? I lugged it around for two years and finally just threw it away last weekend when cleaning the garage out.

[RonC]

I have had 2 of the side pods break so far. Arai has been great to work with -- replaces the part w/o complaint. Maybe just a bad batch of plastic when the ran off the side pods? They both broke at the same point: at the little tab at the top that engages a slot at the top of the base plate.

[bradzdotcom]

ck~
i used to save them, all lined up nice and pretty on a shelf, until i realized i'd be lugging them around with me for eternity. and for no good reason.

now i just save the last "old" helmet as a desperation spare. when the next new one comes along, the old spare goes into the trash.

...brad