What is the best time To Replace your helmet?
“You should replace your motorcycle helmet every five years” is the traditional advice in the motorcycle industry. But does anyone genuinely know why this is the case? We seek to determine if your helmet needs to be replaced every 60 months – and if so, why.
Motorcycle helmet manufacturers will answer this question differently. Some say a helmet has a lifespan of just five years, and others say it has seven years.
Do You Need to Replace Your Motorcycle Helmet Often?
Nevertheless, experts in the motorcycle industry agree that a motorcycle helmet should be replaced every five years as a rule of thumb.
Which motorcycle helmet manufacturer claims the most extended lifespan? The answer to this question depends on many factors. Mainly this is due to the different manufacturing materials used by different motorcycle helmet brands.
However, a motorcycle helmet’s lifespan can be determined by its usage. Motorcycle helmets are used differently by different users.
Is your motorcycle helmet going to expire?
Under the comfort liner or beneath the helmet’s padding, you can usually find a sticker indicating the helmet’s production date. It is recommended that you replace your helmet every seven years after it was manufactured.
All helmets manufactured after 1974 already have a production date on them. The helmet is already expired if there is no production date on it.
Generally, manufacturers recommend changing your motorcycle helmet after five years of regular use.
According to Arai, your motorcycle helmet should be replaced after five years of use, while Shoe recommends replacing your helmet seven years after it was manufactured. Almost everyone in the motorcycle industry suggests that a motorcycle helmet should last for five years.
Situations When a Helmet Should Be Replaced Quickly
There is no definite date when you need to replace your motorcycle helmet since your helmet has no expiration date.
You may need to replace your motorcycle helmet immediately if you encounter any of the following conditions:
Helmets: Why you should replace them
You are responsible for your own safety! Consider these reasons and more for replacing your helmet.
- Damage to the inside or outside of the helmet
A motorcycle helmet consists of protective foam that absorbs impact and protects the head. However, its protection factor is reduced if it has been damaged in some other manner. If you don’t take precautions that much before an accident occurs, you will be more vulnerable when riding a bicycle.
- Heat
Over time, heat deteriorates any material. It’s not recommended to keep motorcycle helmets in direct sunlight for an extended period or to keep them at high temperatures for an extended period due to excessive exposure to the sun’s rays. If this occurs, they could become damaged during an accident.
A shell that is left out in the rain without being covered by a cloth bag can become brittle if water seeps into the layer inside, reducing the shell’s integrity when reassembled. As a result, the one-time protective gear won’t withstand shockwaves caused when it impacts other surfaces after an accident.
Safety concerns require that the visors be replaced with any scratches on either side.This means that your helmet will not hold together in an accident.
- Expiration date
Helmets are designed to only last for a certain period before degrading to maintain their protective properties. The risk of riders not wanting to ride on your bike is too great, so you should replace them! If it has passed its expiration date, it must be replaced.
Do I have to buy an expired or used helmet?
- Used helmets are indeed cheaper than new ones, but it is essential to keep in mind that it is impossible to verify whether they are authentic or not. This step should not be considered when purchasing a helmet. The following reasons explain why:
- Similarly, determining the manufactured date can be tricky. Even if you find a date stamp, you cannot be sure whether it’s authentic or how much it’s been used.
- If you buy a used or expired helmet, you may not get a perfect fit.
- Pay attention to hygienic factors. Body fluids and oils from the skin and hair will have been inadvertently deposited in the comfort layers from the previous owner.
Safety Checks for Helmets
Check your helmet for loose parts, such as flip-up chin bars, visors, and flip-down chin bars. Ensure that your helmet’s EPS liner is regularly attached to the outer shell, perhaps every few months or so. Ensure that the retention straps and the stitching on the helmet do not fray or come undone. Ensure that the clip system will stay closed when it should.
Cracks and chips should be checked on the outer shell. Replace your helmet if there are any cracks, as that one crack could be a weak spot that opens up and cause serious head injuries to the wearer in the event of an accident. When you have a family that depends on you, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
You should treat your helmet as if it were your life. Keep it warm and dry inside your house, not in the garage or shed. Set it right-side-up so the cat won’t pee in it. Please don’t set it upside-down as you would a bird’s nest. Do not place it in a hot car or by a window in the sun.
Padding and comfort liners are often machine washable and removable. You should wash the padding of your helmet a couple of times a year if it is removable and washable. Check the documentation for your helmet for instructions.
After one or two years, replacing the comfort liner will make it feel and look like a brand new helmet. Celebrate your helmet’s birthday periodically.
Conclusion
When you drive on the road, your motorcycle helmet is an essential piece of equipment. Despite not guarantee 100% safety, it does protect one of your most vital parts – your head.
It will help if you replace your motorcycle helmet at the right time. It is safe to follow the rule of replacing a motorcycle helmet every five years, though there is no hard and fast rule.
Nonetheless, if any other conditions arise that justify replacement, your motorcycle helmet must be replaced as soon as possible.
