What to do with old Helmets
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 69,901
Likes: 18,590
From: South Florida
Yuppers, that is who gets mine AND they are appreciative of them.
So, +1.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,431
From: Idaho Panhandle
I once sold a beater '80 Honda CM400T motorcycle for $200.00. It ran well, just faded and worn, not rusty, but surface corrosion on the aluminum. I posted it on Craig's list. I got a call immediately from a kid living 4 hours away. He told me that's all the money he had and would I hold it until tomorrow morning at 7:00.
I said sure. At 5:30 I got up and made coffee. Pouring rain all night, continuing all day. At 6 AM I open the garage to see two kids at the end of of my driveway, soaking wet. They had rode up the night before and spent the night huddled under the eave at the local fire barn down the street. One was a semi experienced rider, one who was buying the bike, a relative newbie. They started and rode the bike around the neighborhood. It ran fine and he gave me $200.00. They were soaking wet, but were going to ride all the way home, non-stop except for gas. His helmet, an old beat up hand me down 3/4. No goggles, no visor, no shield.
I grabbed a well used full face with shield and handed it to him and asked him if he had the money, would he stop for coffee and food every hour. He had enough money for gas and was going to just follow his friend home.
I handed him $50.00 and made him promise to stop every hour and get something hot to eat and drink.
They took off. That's my used helmet story.
The rest, goodwill, garbage, or still in a box on a shelf in the shed. I just donated one unused full face and two like new modular and 1/2 to a vintage motorcycle club for their fund raising auction.
Back too the kid, youth, invincibility, what a wonderful thing to possess. We all had it, we all will lose it if we have not already. I lost mine at 30. Not a day earlier or a day later. First time partying all night that took more than a morning coffee to recover.
I said sure. At 5:30 I got up and made coffee. Pouring rain all night, continuing all day. At 6 AM I open the garage to see two kids at the end of of my driveway, soaking wet. They had rode up the night before and spent the night huddled under the eave at the local fire barn down the street. One was a semi experienced rider, one who was buying the bike, a relative newbie. They started and rode the bike around the neighborhood. It ran fine and he gave me $200.00. They were soaking wet, but were going to ride all the way home, non-stop except for gas. His helmet, an old beat up hand me down 3/4. No goggles, no visor, no shield.
I grabbed a well used full face with shield and handed it to him and asked him if he had the money, would he stop for coffee and food every hour. He had enough money for gas and was going to just follow his friend home.
I handed him $50.00 and made him promise to stop every hour and get something hot to eat and drink.
They took off. That's my used helmet story.
The rest, goodwill, garbage, or still in a box on a shelf in the shed. I just donated one unused full face and two like new modular and 1/2 to a vintage motorcycle club for their fund raising auction.
Back too the kid, youth, invincibility, what a wonderful thing to possess. We all had it, we all will lose it if we have not already. I lost mine at 30. Not a day earlier or a day later. First time partying all night that took more than a morning coffee to recover.
Last edited by son of the hounds; May 5, 2020 at 04:57 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 4,607
Likes: 3,312
From: Virginia
I'm sure they do, they responded to my crash a couple years ago. But I already had my helmet off by the time they arrived and didn't think to ask.
All I know is I went through the trouble of looking up the training division and sending them an e-mail and this is the response I got:
At this time we do not take donations of old motorcycle helmets. We appreciate you reaching out. Have a great day!
That was four years ago. I have a couple more helmets sitting around I don't use, I may reach out to them again.
Last edited by VAFish; May 6, 2020 at 09:35 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 71
From: Belleville Mi.
I was a firefighter EMT for 31 years. Never saw a used motorcycle helmet at training sessions....
Trucky911
Trucky911
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 509
Likes: 21
From: L.I. New York
I sold two old ones that were in good condition at a swap meet along with a bunch of other bike crap that was just collecting dust and taking up room in the garage.If I didn't sell them they would have been thrown out at the end of the day...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 279
From: .