How old is your crash hat

[Chris V]

While looking for a new lid today, I totted up of the age of my current Schoei RF200.
Its seen me through a Yamaha KLR250, Harley Custom Sportster, Harley Road King and now the SV 650.
That makes it twelve years old.
I'm feeling very embarassed, but i've not been off once so never had to replace it and the years just slipped by. :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

[hall13uk]

my arai condor is about 3 years old needs changing dropped it the other day

[chris SVK3]

1 year old agv Gp pro not a bad lid. But one thing to bear in mind my partner is a chemist and she did studies on materials and the effects by enviroment conditions and she found that full time riding (every day) can weaken the lid 15% in 2 years due to UV lights and chemicals on the road and in the atmosphere

[wyrdness]

While looking for a new lid today, I totted up of the age of my current Schoei RF200.
Its seen me through a Yamaha KLR250, Harley Custom Sportster, Harley Road King and now the SV 650.
That makes it twelve years old.
I'm feeling very embarassed, but i've not been off once so never had to replace it and the years just slipped by. :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

I've heard that you should replace lids every few years as the materials that they are made from can deteriorate over time, particularly the softer inner shell which can compress. Also I would expect modern helmets to be generally of higher quality than older ones, due to more R&D and possibly improved materials.

I threw away my first lid recently, 11 years old, not that I've used it for about 7 years. I'd kept it as a spare. It was fine back then, but didn't seem to have stood up to the test of time. In 11 years, I've had 4 lids, an FM, a Roof Boxer, a Shark and my current Shoei Raid so, on average, one every three years.

[fizzwheel]

about 2 1/2 years old

I think the recommendation is that a lid that is used everyday should be retired after 3 years, a lid that is used during summer for the occasional ride should be retired after 5 years

I dont want to retire mine at all Shoei dont make the design anymore...

its a Miguel Du Hamel Replica and they dont make it anymore :cry:

[northwind]

My Arai's about 6 months old, looks a bit older :)

[Red ones]

I think the recommendation is that a lid that is used everyday should be retired after 3 years, a lid that is used during summer for the occasional ride should be retired after 5 years

That's what I have always been told. Besides after about 3 years of daily wear I find the fit isn't what it was. So I replaced mine last May at the BMF.

[dirtydog]

shoei xr1000 1 month old due to my roof r010 having an unexpected meeting with the road whilst still wearing it :evil: roof was about 1 1/2 year old

[Blue Flame]

Quote from Caberg's website....

'A DATE OF EXPIRY APPLIES TO A HELMET?
Researches have shown no evidence of degradation of the materials used in the helmets manufac-ture due to the mere effect of the times passing by. Nevertheless the exposure to the atmosphere agents (extreme hot and extreme cold), and to the exposure and the contacts with the vapors of the lubricants and gasoline normally used in the mo-torist environment is likely possible it might have some sort of influence to the molecular links of the materials used. Moreover, because of its own nature, the helmet often undergo to shocks of different amplitude that could limit its peformances. For all these reasons, for the abuse to the comfort padding and for the technical evolution that make more modern and protective lids available, it is suggested to replace the helmet after 5 years of use. In case of intensive use this delay should be shortened accordingly. If a helmet supports a severe blow, even if there is no evidence of damage, it should be replaced.'

[Iansv]

My current Shoei is 7 years old, bought a replacement but crashed it so back to shoei until i spend the money on a replacement

[Italianjob]

I've had my Shoei Raid for nearly 2 years now, very good helmet but will probably need replacing in the next 18 months.

I've heard that accident and emergency, ambulance crew training centres and first aid centres are always interested in taking in old helmets for training purposes, is this true?

[Sudoxe]

Been rideing arround 3 years, on my 3rd lid.
1st one lazer, cheap lid cbt, first bike etc
2nd Caberg Flip Jerisimo?
3rd Shoei XR800

I tried my caberg back on yesterday, as it was sunny and it has a sun visor, no way i would wear it now, way too loose. I thought it was too small when i got it! Shoei fits much better.

Then again, my lids take a lot of abuse, commuting each day in london, office, knocked arround etc.

Dan

[Carsick]

About 6 hours.
I just bought a nice shiny KBC VR1 with a slightly dodgy black visor.
Previous HJC CS12 was about a year but since it had an unscheduled meeting with the road a while back, I thought I ought to replace it.
I don't know about anybody else, but I find that after a year the lining is a bit minty, anyway.
It's only when you wear it off the bike for more than a few minutes that you realise, of course.

[fizzwheel]

I've heard that accident and emergency, ambulance crew training centres and first aid centres are always interested in taking in old helmets for training purposes, is this true?

Yes that is true, I dont know how you go about donating your old one though

[hall13uk]

I've heard that accident and emergency, ambulance crew training centres and first aid centres are always interested in taking in old helmets for training purposes, is this true?

Yes that is true, I dont know how you go about donating your old one thoughjust take it to your local ambulance station (not a hospital) if you dont know where that is try a search engine on the net to find it

[shutdown]

current one is about 4 mnths old replacing my 3 year old helmet

can't remember make, i'm not into brands for helmets

[Valman]

I don't know about anybody else, but I find that after a year the lining is a bit minty, anyway.
It's only when you wear it off the bike for more than a few minutes that you realise, of course.

Try wearing a silk balaclava or something similar to keep the helmet lining in good condition. I bought the Oxford Coolmax one with my helmet and it really makes a difference, especially when the weather's like it's been the last week, and then you can just wash it when required.

[Warren]

[quote=Chris V]While looking for a new lid today, I totted up of the age of my current Schoei RF200.
Its seen me through a Yamaha KLR250, Harley Custom Sportster, Harley Road King and now the SV 650.
That makes it twelve years old.
I'm feeling very embarassed, but i've not been off once so never had to replace it and the years just slipped by. :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

I've heard that you should replace lids every few years as the materials that they are made from can deteriorate over time, particularly the softer inner shell which can compress. Also I would expect modern helmets to be generally of higher quality than older ones, due to more R&D and possibly improved materials.

quote]


ive heard the same.


my oldest is 1.5 years old and is now kept as a spare. my main lid (KBC with tinted visor) is 6 months old.

[MavUK]

4 1/2 years. Due for replacement this summer (along with the gloves and boots). Leathers were replaced a couple of years ago when I had the cash for better protective gear and started to do a long cummute each day...

Q for you guys... Do I get another Shark, or are Shoie (sp?), Arai (sp?) better? Rather get the best protection possible...

[Flamin_Squirrel]

The best lid (protection wise) is the one that fits. You might find as I did that Shoei for example, won't fit your head properly, where as an Arai might.

When you start paying silly money you're not really paying for protection, you're paying for comfort. Softer padding, lighter, better ventilation etc.

[MavUK]

So Shark, Shoie and Arai are all of about the same protection then? I'll see what's available in the summer then. At least I know I've not got to start chasing a particular brand of helmet...

[Ceri JC]

I've had my Shoei Raid for nearly 2 years now, very good helmet but will probably need replacing in the next 18 months.

I've heard that accident and emergency, ambulance crew training centres and first aid centres are always interested in taking in old helmets for training purposes, is this true?

St. John's ambulance will take them too. Dunno how to go about donating, but just ringing your local hospital might provide the answer.

I will defo be donating my old lid when it's retired, even if it's crash-damaged; if anything, a crashed one is more "realistic". Remember, it's in our interests ambulance crews can remove lids safely.

[Mogs]

My lid is a year and a day old. I rang my local ambulance station and they weren't insterested in my old one, perhaps i was just speaking to the wrong bloke.

I plan to change mine every two years, so don't buy expensive.

[Natasha]

My Arai Quantum F is nearly 3 years old. Needs cheek pads replacing but at £32.00 its a bargain!

[northwind]

I'll ask the crew next time I'm in an ambulance :)

Natasha's got a good point... I got a reasonably good, reasonably priced lid first time, £100 for a HJC ZF-8, and the lining collapsed after about a year (maybe 5000 miles at that point) to the point where it was no longer safe 9and the chinpiece blew back into my face at speed) I spent something like £210 on my Arai Condor (that's a total guess BTW) and after 6000 miles it still fits well. If I can get another 4000 out of it, and I'm absolutely sure I will unless I break it, then it's not only a more comfortable, better, less noisy, lighter, and better vented lid, but it's going to work out cheaper as well.