How many km's do you put on a helmet??

I consider every insect hit on my helmet to be a mini collision, once it hits 1,000,000, it's got to go.
 
There is no rule of time. Once the inner foam starts to harden and flake off, then it's long past the point of full protection as the impact absorbant properties are degraded. Ten years before the comfort liner on my Shoei RF800 started to be abrasive to the skin but I kept it as a back up helmet for 4 more years finally retiring it to a garbage can this morning.

Goodbye orange Picotte Jester! Technology also surpassed it, it was damn heavy compared to my Shark RSR2 or Scorpion EXO1100.
 
mikbusa said:
I consider every insect hit on my helmet to be a mini collision, once it hits 1,000,000, it's got to go.
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So one summer evening ride along the Grand River and it's done?
 
Big bugs count as 10
 
I use Shoei X 11, five years or until it gets to stinky, ( yes I know you can replace the inner bits, did that at the third year, helped the stink a a lot) but after five years and about 100 ks, its time to say good bye.
 
depends on the helmet materials. Liner, foam, glue, etc. on the inside will deteriorate and wear out at different rates depending on how much you sweat in the helmet, how often you clean it, how frequently you put it on and take it off (many short trips with multiple on and off will cause different wear patterns over time than fewer longer rides where the helmet just stays on). Shell material can degrade with sun exposure. Cheaper helmets with poly type shells will degrade faster with sun exposure (for instance, vinyl siding on homes goes brittle after just a few years of sun exposure) than higher end helmets with better shells. Degradation would depend on how much you ride on sunny days vs. cloudy days.

Essentially, every helmet will wear out at a different time. The 5 year rule is just a guideline. I bought my Shoei RF1000 in 2006, and with 65,000kms+ on it, it still looks great on the outside but the liner is starting to show a bit of wear. I'll probably replace it next summer.
 
I usually replace my helmets when they get to about 70-80k ... for me that works out to about every 2 or 3 years...

if you rode only 15k per year you would easily get 5 yrs out of it but I ride about 30-40k per year (this year has been pathetic for me only about 20k)
 
MrBruce said:
Your helmet life depends on many factors, the primary one being whether it is of premium quality. A helmet like a Shoei or Arai will last you several years, whereas a cheap entry level helmet, sub $200 would in most cases be ready for replacement well within 1-2 years depending on how much you ride. Keep your helmet fresh by investing in new cheek pads/liners every so often and make sure to give it a good clean once in awhile.
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Bollocks...HJCs have replaceable parts, are pretty reasonable quality (of my 5 helmets an HJC is one of the quietest strangely) and are often around the $200 mark. Arai and Shoei spend a ******** on marketing and you're showing it works.

I have 5 helmets as I have a disease...like a magpie I like shiny things plus I really can't let a bargain Shark helmet go by, I have 3 of those, different models, none over $250 paid and all worth way way more (closeouts are your friend)...I'm not as bad as johnnyp636 though...search the threads for his helmet collection.
 
jc100 said:
Bollocks...HJCs have replaceable parts, are pretty reasonable quality (of my 5 helmets an HJC is one of the quietest strangely) and are often around the $200 mark. Arai and Shoei spend a ******** on marketing and you're showing it works.

I have 5 helmets as I have a disease...like a magpie I like shiny things plus I really can't let a bargain Shark helmet go by, I have 3 of those, different models, none over $250 paid and all worth way way more (closeouts are your friend)...I'm not as bad as johnnyp636 though...search the threads for his helmet collection.
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I guess even after buying five helmets, you still have not realized that different helmets fit different head sizes/shapes better than others. Oh well.
 
ViperZ said:
I guess even after buying five helmets, you still have not realized that different helmets fit different head sizes/shapes better than others. Oh well.
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I assume you have yet to realize his post makes absolutely no reference to helmet shapes?
 
beverage said:
depends on the helmet materials. Liner, foam, glue, etc. on the inside will deteriorate and wear out at different rates depending on how much you sweat in the helmet, how often you clean it, how frequently you put it on and take it off (many short trips with multiple on and off will cause different wear patterns over time than fewer longer rides where the helmet just stays on). Shell material can degrade with sun exposure. Cheaper helmets with poly type shells will degrade faster with sun exposure (for instance, vinyl siding on homes goes brittle after just a few years of sun exposure) than higher end helmets with better shells. Degradation would depend on how much you ride on sunny days vs. cloudy days.

Essentially, every helmet will wear out at a different time. The 5 year rule is just a guideline. I bought my Shoei RF1000 in 2006, and with 65,000kms+ on it, it still looks great on the outside but the liner is starting to show a bit of wear. I'll probably replace it next summer.
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Uv rays are the big one. If u want a laugh Leave a helmet in direct sunlight for ten years then put your fist right though it. No joke
 
One thing I've noticed is since I now work at home and am a lazy slob, I don't shave as much. My stubble does a number on the cheek pads and after a year of this starts to look a little rough.
 
gsxr guy said:
Uv rays are the big one. If u want a laugh Leave a helmet in direct sunlight for ten years then put your fist right though it. No joke
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I thought most of the clear coats they use now-a-days have UV blocks in them. They definitely do this for carbon fiber, I'd be surprised if they didn't do this now on even cheap helmets.
 
jc100 said:
Bollocks...HJCs have replaceable parts, are pretty reasonable quality (of my 5 helmets an HJC is one of the quietest strangely) and are often around the $200 mark. Arai and Shoei spend a ******** on marketing and you're showing it works.

I have 5 helmets as I have a disease...like a magpie I like shiny things plus I really can't let a bargain Shark helmet go by, I have 3 of those, different models, none over $250 paid and all worth way way more (closeouts are your friend)...I'm not as bad as johnnyp636 though...search the threads for his helmet collection.
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Marketing...funny stuff. You can't argue with quality, maybe you should do your homework before you go spouting off about quality helmets. HJC will never be in the same breath as Shoei or Arai. I'm glad HJC serves you well and while it is a decent helmet, it is less about marketing and more about overall design, construction, fit and finish that makes a premium helmet. I don't watch tv or read motorcycle publications, but I've done my homework and have a clear understanding of what makes certain helmets better than others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww25Q-TCmZo
 
MrBruce said:
Marketing...funny stuff. You can't argue with quality, maybe you should do your homework before you go spouting off about quality helmets. HJC will never be in the same breath as Shoei or Arai. I'm glad HJC serves you well and while it is a decent helmet, it is less about marketing and more about overall design, construction, fit and finish that makes a premium helmet. I don't watch tv or read motorcycle publications, but I've done my homework and have a clear understanding of what makes certain helmets better than others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww25Q-TCmZo
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So a commercial made by Shoei for Shoei is your homework?
 
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