Helmet Change - How often?

Well I decided to get on the bike today

I'm sat here looking at my helmet AGV Ti-Tech which I bought about 5 years ago and thinking should I change it?

Has never been dropped and is in spot on condition from the outside. Still fits nice and tight as well.

So how often do you change helmets?

So long as they are looked after I wouldn't bother changing mine unless I simply fancied something different. Not that currently my helmets have lasted anywhere near thinking about changing them because of age.

[G]

Originally Posted by Stig_Of_The_Dump

So long as they are looked after I wouldn't bother changing mine unless I simply fancied something different. Not that currently my helmets have lasted anywhere near thinking about changing them because of age.

I was always under the impression that they had a 5 year shelf life after which time the contruction starts to degrades and becomes brittle. That why 2 year old helmets in shops become heavily discounted.

Part of me even remembers being told during my DAS that there is a manufactured date on them somewhere... I may have imagine that though.

I have only ever had two and I broke my previous one.

5 years is the rule of thumb, but it all depends on usage I guess. UV and weathering will age a helmet more than it's time in existence. My Arai looks very second hand after only 3 winters. I will retire it after another 2 I think. Summers don't seem to age it so much, but you can't see what's going on under the shell.

If your lid only comes out at the weekend and is well cared for and covered up away from UV light then it's probably fine for another year or two. TBH, even if it was a £500 lid, thats £100 a year for a comfy and well made helmet. i'm happy paying that. good excuse to get a nice new one too!

[dizzyblonde]

G is correct. Seems I am continuing helmet conversations from last night.
According to my mate whose business it is to sell good quality helmets and gear to the likes of us, says it is recommended to replace a helmet within five years. If it is dropped or damaged in that time, always replace immediately and never reuse it.

It was a £300+ helmet when I bought it and it has mainly been used weekends. Defo not during the winter

Sounds like I will use it for another year and maybe try grab a new one at the NEC show next year

The other comment I'd make is that soem lids don't fit very well after a while. My Caberg V2 was so loose after just 1 year (but lots of miles) that I retired it and got the Arai (which still fits like a glove). Would never buy a cheap lid again, its a false ecconomy as they just wear out quicker.

Sorry, I seem to have misled you there. I was not stating that a helmet is good indenfinetly, I was only stating what I do as that is what the question asked.

I change mine earlier than 5 years normally either because I have broken the current one or because I just want a new one just because I can. At the moment I seem to be changing them because I have broken them before I want to change them.

Stig I know we are expressing personal opinions so no worries there decision is mine at the end of the day as it's my head and my risk

[fastdruid]

There will be a label somewhere on the lid with a manufactured date. Of course depending on where its located it may not still be readable after 2+ years

I try to go for a max of 5 years but in the past my lids were well past their best by about 3 with the number of miles I used to do. If you're only doing nice weekends, leave it somewhere cool, dry and out of sunlight when stored should be good for 5 years.

Druid