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CVO Technical => Riding Gear => Topic started by: Hotrod50 on May 22, 2014, 11:56:47 PM

Title: Old Helmets
Post by: Hotrod50 on May 22, 2014, 11:56:47 PM
What do you all do with old helmets that have never been wrecked?  Seems a shame to throw them away.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: 2k on May 23, 2014, 08:07:55 AM
Guess thats just one more reason some will call me reckless, I have a helmet that I've had for 17yrs and while I have changed the liner several times the shell is still the same.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: garretn on May 23, 2014, 09:16:14 AM
This is a good question..  I have three that are in good shape but are about 10yrs old. 
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: stevehd on May 23, 2014, 09:18:28 AM
Check if your local rescue squad would like them for traiining
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: grc on May 23, 2014, 09:27:44 AM

My old helmets go to the landfill.  I don't want them being used by someone else who may not understand that old helmets are kind of like old tires, not to be trusted when it comes to safety.  If someone only wears a helmet because it's required by law in their state, perhaps they wouldn't care if they used an old hand-me-down.  But I don't want to encourage that sort of thing, since I'm convinced a good helmet is worthwhile and I wear one whenever I ride, even in the helmet optional states around here.

Jerry
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: iski on May 23, 2014, 09:39:51 AM
I keep a couple around in case someone visits & they are riding one of the bikes.  An old helmet is better than no helmet. Mine are swapped out every 5 years or so, usually.

Other than that on old helmets, I cut the straps & toss 'em in the trash.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: Chains on May 23, 2014, 07:18:24 PM
My old helmets go to the landfill.  I don't want them being used by someone else who may not understand that old helmets are kind of like old tires, not to be trusted when it comes to safety.  If someone only wears a helmet because it's required by law in their state, perhaps they wouldn't care if they used an old hand-me-down.  But I don't want to encourage that sort of thing, since I'm convinced a good helmet is worthwhile and I wear one whenever I ride, even in the helmet optional states around here.

Jerry

Like Jerry I dispose of mine but only after cutting the straps off an cutting a chunk out of the helmet.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: Jswerve on May 23, 2014, 07:25:31 PM
What's a helmet?  :P
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: SmokeyJoe on May 29, 2014, 08:52:42 AM
I am glad I saw this post cause it go tme to thinking.  At work I check folks hard hats for their experation date, cause the plastic breaks down and can become brittle.  Anyway I never actually thought about my helmet. 

How long are they suppose to be good for?  I have a pretty old Shoei I would hate to see go even though I dont wear it much anymore.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: Fired00d on May 29, 2014, 09:28:44 AM
I am glad I saw this post cause it go tme to thinking.  At work I check folks hard hats for their experation date, cause the plastic breaks down and can become brittle.  Anyway I never actually thought about my helmet. 

How long are they suppose to be good for?  I have a pretty old Shoei I would hate to see go even though I dont wear it much anymore.
I read somewhere that "manufacturers recommended life expectancy was 5 years" for helmets. Some of the things that were stated to validate this was because of the oils/sweat/etc. the liner would be subjected to degrading it, and also the fact that helmets get dropped and they could develop hair line cracks not visible to the naked eye. :nixweiss:

 :pumpkin:
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 :fireman:
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: Midnight Rider on May 29, 2014, 11:52:03 AM
Like Gary said, 5 years is the recommended interval for retiring old helmets.  Not only the shell, but the foam liner can deteriorate as well, and that is what absorbs the shock to help keep your brain attached to your skull and prevent concussions.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: spada84 on May 29, 2014, 12:00:13 PM
If you have ever noticed, a new helmet fits tightly.  After a couple of years, or many miles, it becomes looser.  This is not because your head is smaller, but the shock-absorbing foam is becoming packed down, and therefore less effective. 
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: iski on May 29, 2014, 05:15:12 PM
If you have ever noticed, a new helmet fits tightly.  After a couple of years, or many miles, it becomes looser.  This is not because your head is smaller, but the shock-absorbing foam is becoming packed down, and therefore less effective.

This is good to know.  I thought my brain was getting smaller.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: schmoopy on May 29, 2014, 08:41:37 PM
It seems to me they might make some interesting hanging planters/baskets. Possibly a light fixture if you remove the lining(full-face might work best for this). I'm a big fan of re-purposing stuff.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: SmokeyJoe on May 30, 2014, 12:16:57 AM
It seems to me they might make some interesting hanging planters/baskets. Possibly a light fixture if you remove the lining(full-face might work best for this). I'm a big fan of re-purposing stuff.

Cool bowling bag tote
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: iski on May 30, 2014, 04:11:36 AM
It seems to me they might make some interesting hanging planters/baskets. Possibly a light fixture if you remove the lining(full-face might work best for this). I'm a big fan of re-purposing stuff.

Planters are a good idea.

A friend had a bird nest in his helmet in a shed a few years ago.  Hatched out a brand new bird family in it.  I cleaned out the beginnings of a nest a while back in an old helmet. 
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: krypto2011 on May 30, 2014, 04:58:09 AM
This is what we do with em!!!
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: charles05663 on May 30, 2014, 04:57:17 PM
What do you all do with old helmets that have never been wrecked?  Seems a shame to throw them away.

Ballistics testing with a .45 and a melon.  I also dispose my old hard drives the same way minus the melon.

 :oops: :nixweiss:
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: FLHTCUSE7 on May 30, 2014, 08:39:17 PM
Any helmet older than 4 years go in the trash.
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: tweeter13 on May 31, 2014, 09:41:55 PM
I replace mine every two years,  I kept my motocross helmets that I won heat races or LCQ's with.  But my street bike helmets we just shoot them along with old TVs   

They were going to the trash anyway. 

Tweeter
Title: Re: Old Helmets
Post by: spydglide on July 12, 2014, 01:55:58 PM
I replace mine every two years,  I kept my motocross helmets that I won heat races or LCQ's with.  But my street bike helmets we just shoot them along with old TVs   

They were going to the trash anyway. 

Tweeter
Those old TV's are the most fun to shoot, aren't they?  Easy to get them to 'catch fire' and add that fun factor.  I bet the new slim TV's are not as fun as targets go.....  :rifle:   har!  Never tried my old helmets, but now that you all have instilled the idea you know I'll be heading out to do just that.   ;D  spyder