Does a motorbike crash helmet go out of date?

Answer 1

I replace mine EVERY three years. Works out at about £100 a year. Small price to pay for my thick skull.

Answer 2

YES. As of 30.06.00. All Motorcycle helmets used on the road must comply to certain regulations, AND must be British Standards approved. They will have a sticker on the shell indicating compliance with BS 6658, either A, or B,
UN ECE regulation 22.05 ( By the chin strap there will be a UN E-mark starting with the digits 05)
It must also have a kite-mark. And the straps must also be the front fastening popper type not the old loop over type.

As for if they go off...YES, they should be replaced every two years as there is damage caused by the elements.And the cushioning foam inside the helmet can bio-degrade.
Never lend a helmet or borrow one.

What price do you put on your head?

Answer 3

The manufacturers will say they do but its mainly the internal materials that give a little and so you should make sure it fits correctly.

I wouldn't recommend using a helmet that has had an impact in case its compromised in a future accident siuation.

While makers would say you should change each 3 years you'll probably be fine each 5 years. However if their technologies have improved you'll want to keep up with the benefits too.

More importantly is to get the best quality helmet you can afford!

Answer 4

I dont think they OFFICIALLY go out of date but here in Oz they say the sunlight {uv} does make them deteriorate over time.The general guidelines are about three years they do start to get a bit skanky on the inside liner after a while think of it as jocks on your head just a bit sweaty eh!As far as dropping it goes theres a big difference between an empty helmet hitting the ground from 3 feet and one with 80kg travelling at 60km/h and impacting with anything! in the end its your head and your choice but if there is a standards system in your part of the world all helmets have to pass the same test so your you beaut shoei is just as good as the no frills cheapie in theory.
Good Luck hope this helps.

Answer 5

Found a site with this and more:-

Summary:

Did you crash it? Replace!
Did you drop it hard enough to crack the foam? Replace.

Is it from the 1970's? Replace.

Is the outside just foam or cloth instead of plastic? Replace.
Does it lack a CPSC, ASTM or Snell sticker? Replace.
Can you not adjust it to fit correctly? Replace!!

Newer helmets from the late 1980's and the 90's may or may not need replacement. First look to see what standards sticker is inside

Answer 6

They don't really "go out of date". If they've been sitting in a shop window for years the UV in the sunlight can make the shell slightly more brittle than normal. If you use it every day the sweat from your head will degenerate the lining eventually so I replace mine at three year intervals. It stinks and it scratched to bits by then anyway.

Answer 7

Nothing Lasts Forever!!!

When I took my bike training we spent ages on helmet safety.(I'm in UK)
The answer is YES, they should be replaced every two to three years.
They now have to have the correct chin straps and fastenings AND have the correct numbers on the safety standards compliance sticker...cant remember what the numbers are though...sorry!
If you drop your helmet or lend it to someone else (who is gonna tell you that they've dropped your £300 helmet??) you should replace it!

My helmet was five years old when I did my training and it was out of date(had wrong straps and safety standards numbers)

Answer 8

Stale? If you keep it in the closet, perhaps.
It is recommended that helmets be replaced about every 3 years.
I don't.
I only bought a new one because I can't find a new shield for my '84.
I wish I still had my old '76 Captain America helmet.

Answer 9

Yes. Or at least they did - and might still do - for crash helmets used for car racing and rallying, etc. The material (polycarbonate?) deteriorates over time.

Answer 10

Every 2-3 years.. they get sweaty/stinky after a few summers.