Helmet life span
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 6,322
Likes: 2,500
From: Tennessee
They say that so that they can sell more helmets....Were it not for helmet laws, 90% of us probably wouldn't wear one at all, so I don't think an older helmet is very high on the list of things to worry about.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 168
From: Potsdam, NY
That's why motorcycle fatalities are 10x higher, per capita, in states without helmet laws.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: upper midwest
I have two helmets that I closed in a fiberglass box and stored in my shop for 20 + years. One is a Bell and I forget what the other one is... I had forgot about them, but the other day I opened the box and took them out, they looked good.
Then I put my hand into them to feel the foam, and it was obvious the foam was breaking down. There's NO WAY i'd trust either one of them to be much good in a crash ever again...
SR
Then I put my hand into them to feel the foam, and it was obvious the foam was breaking down. There's NO WAY i'd trust either one of them to be much good in a crash ever again...
SR
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,732
Likes: 9,241
From: Snow Hill, NC
Will see when I get it what it looks and feel like... will then either keep or re-sell on Ebay.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 6
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I believe that the reason why they have a shelf life is along the same lines of car tires and why they have a shelf life. That left in the environment, the oil that the rubber is made of dries up and the rubber begins to crack and deteriorate.
However, kept in the right conditions, the rubber is non biodegradable and will last infinity.
In my opinion, the same goes with helmets. Kept within a box, in the bag, in air conditioning on the shelf and out of the sun, it will last forever.
The 5 years they refer to is from the date 1st put into service.
However, kept in the right conditions, the rubber is non biodegradable and will last infinity.
In my opinion, the same goes with helmets. Kept within a box, in the bag, in air conditioning on the shelf and out of the sun, it will last forever.
The 5 years they refer to is from the date 1st put into service.
Last edited by Thumper09; Jul 17, 2014 at 12:34 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,557
Likes: 6
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
