Tell me what you think about my helmet (fnar fnarr)

[Iminquarantine]

I haven't had a bike for a year, but something will happen this month. Have two helmets, one of which is about 10 years old and one which is about 7 years old. Cosmetically ok.

Should I buy a new helmet? I'm not made of cash so if the old ones are still OK I'd keep them rather than buying a new one.

[Krikkit]

I would, but only because I'm paranoid.

[TimmyMallett]

Iminquarantine said:

I haven't had a bike for a year, but something will happen this month. Have two helmets, one of which is about 10 years old and one which is about 7 years old. Cosmetically ok.

Should I buy a new helmet? I'm not made of cash so if the old ones are still OK I'd keep them rather than buying a new one.

Yes. And No.

Depends on if you think that manufacturers claims that helmet materials degrade, or if it's a scam. I'd rather have a cheaper decent SHARP rather new lid than an old expensive one and I'm in the same place as you (I have a 10 year old RX7 but I probably wouldn't use it now)

[airsafari87]

General advice is that helmets typically have a shelf life of approx. 5 years.

So given yours are 7 and 10 years old I would be inclined to buy a new one.

Remember that a helmet is your 1 big safety item on a bike. You don't need to go out and spend 100's and 100's on a new helmet either. A good quality one which will have passed the required safety tests can be bought new for relatively little money.

[super7]

Where have they been kept? Dark place under the stairs or in sunlight?

[catso]

super7 said:

Where have they been kept? Dark place under the stairs or in sunlight?

Indeed, imagine a helmet that has been used everyday, in all weathers for 5 years versus one that gets occasional use and stored in a cool dark place for 10 years.

Which would have deteriorated more?

[Jazoli]

It doesn't matter what we think, its how much do you value your head? I know blokes who are still using helmets they bought 20 years ago, they aren't dead yet but haven't crashed either.

[TimmyMallett]

If youre really keen to use and existing one, I know once upon a time you could get Arai to image shells to check for integrity. That might be possible. You can still send them off to be 'serviced' and replace D ring straps, mounts and linings etc.

[Bob_Defly]

Jazoli said:

It doesn't matter what we think, its how much do you value your head? I know blokes who are still using helmets they bought 20 years ago, they aren't dead yet but haven't crashed either.

I'd question the sanity of anyone using a 20yr old helmet.

[Iminquarantine]

The helmets have about 25,000 miles all weather use between them. Stored indoors when not in use.

[airsafari87]

Iminquarantine said:

The helmets have about 25,000 miles all weather use between them. Stored indoors when not in use.

How pushed are you for £50?

For £50 you could get an ACU gold star stickered HJC full face helmet.

Fifty quid. A little over 2 tanks of fuel.

[revvingit]

Buy a new fking helmet.

You'd be beater of wearing a ribbon hat of crushed bananas than those old helmets.

[black-k1]

I'd say it's probably time to buy a new helmet. That said, I'd have no issue wearing one of the old helmets if they've been well looked after, while I'm looking for a new helmet.

revvingit said:

Buy a new fking helmet.

You'd be beater of wearing a ribbon hat of crushed bananas than those old helmets.

I didn't know that a ribbon hat of crushed bananas had been tested by any of the known testing establishments.

[Dog Star]

I've got 8 AGV Rossi rep helmets, oldest is probably 15 years old. All are absolutely pristine, kept in their boxes and bags. I swap between them on whatever whim takes me.

I have no qualms about using them whatsover - they're not left in the sun or heat etc, they've hardly seen any use (I do 3000 miles a year average, and rarely go out in rain (not because I can't ride in it, I'm just a detailing freak and can't face the cleaning - I avoid even using the car in rain)). They're still snug etc.

If I used the same helmet every day for a few years it'd probably start feeling a bit loose and baggy - that alone would make me buy another,

[Prof Prolapse]

Easy solution via use of "man maths" logic;

You're unwilling to give up your current helmet(s) one of (which is double it's life expectancy) because you really like your old one and was expensive.

+

You are compromising your personal safety to an unknown extent by continuing to use it.

+

The cost of borrowing is at record lows.

=

You must buy a fabulous new expensive helmet, even if you have to borrow money.

[Aaron702]

Dog Star said:

I've got 8 AGV Rossi rep helmets, oldest is probably 15 years old. All are absolutely pristine, kept in their boxes and bags. I swap between them on whatever whim takes me.

I have no qualms about using them whatsover - they're not left in the sun or heat etc, they've hardly seen any use (I do 3000 miles a year average, and rarely go out in rain (not because I can't ride in it, I'm just a detailing freak and can't face the cleaning - I avoid even using the car in rain)). They're still snug etc.

If I used the same helmet every day for a few years it'd probably start feeling a bit loose and baggy - that alone would make me buy another,

You do 3000 miles a year and own 8 helmets?

[Dog Star]

Aaron702 said:

You do 3000 miles a year and own 8 helmets?

I’d do more but it never stops raining. And they’re Rossi reps, so I collect them, sort of. I don’t just buy random helmets.

Edit to add - I’ve a pristine Doohan replica Arai too, but I don’t use that. So nine helmets.

[Arun_D]

What better excuse to get a new lid than getting a new bike? Sounds like you're due one

[Bob_Defly]

Aaron702 said:

Dog Star said:

I've got 8 AGV Rossi rep helmets, oldest is probably 15 years old. All are absolutely pristine, kept in their boxes and bags. I swap between them on whatever whim takes me.

I have no qualms about using them whatsover - they're not left in the sun or heat etc, they've hardly seen any use (I do 3000 miles a year average, and rarely go out in rain (not because I can't ride in it, I'm just a detailing freak and can't face the cleaning - I avoid even using the car in rain)). They're still snug etc.

If I used the same helmet every day for a few years it'd probably start feeling a bit loose and baggy - that alone would make me buy another,

You do 3000 miles a year and own 8 helmets?

You put them back in bags and then the box? Christ it must take you ages to get out of the house. Do you polish your boot every time too?

[Dog Star]

Bob_Defly said:

You put them back in bags and then the box? Christ it must take you ages to get out of the house. Do you polish your boot every time too?

Well no; the normally used helmet is just "out" like anything else.