I was talking with my friendly HD salesman about the 100th anniversary helmets we have, 1/2 shorties that fit into the hard saddlebags. He mentioned that they are over 5 years old, and we need to replace them. I have to wear a helmet to get onto Cape Canaveral Air Force station where I work, so I always wear a helmet to work. After hours, I try to wear a helmet except on the hottest days here in Florida. I had heard that you need to periodically replace helmets, especially after any impact, but had not heard the time limit. I will replace the anniversary helmets but I was wondering about my Nolan full face (flip up chin) helmets. I have not worn the yellow one since I bought the 03 Road Glide, and only wear the silver Nolan on the days where the temp is real low, 30 degrees F. And in Florida, that is less than two days a year. So are these old helmets still good? I figure the solar exposure is what degrades the plastics in the helmet, but I don't really know that. Anyone out there care to educate me? Can you give me some ideas for helmets that fit into saddlebags?
A general rule of thumb has been to replace helmets every 3 to 5 years, or after any impact. The materials and adhesives degrade over time even if they are sitting in a dark closet somewhere. Some helmet manufacturer's, such as Shoei, will inspect your helmet to determine if it is still safe to use. Shoei does it free of charge, all you have to do is pay shipping one way. Not sure about Nolan, but you might want to contact them and ask.
The following is Shoei's advice on this subject:
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Helmet replacement is recommended even if only one of the under-mentioned points applies:
The helmet was subjected to an impact.
The comfort padding or the retention system has become loose due to heavy use or display signs of deterioration.
The synthetic foam padding displays signs of heavy use and the helmet feels too loose. Test: with the retention system fastened, the helmet turns to the side when you gently shake your head.
There are indentations in the EPS liner and/or white scratches can be seen on surfaces with black paint.
Even if none of these is applied, we, SHOEI, recommend replacement in 5 years after it's first purchased at retail.
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Jerry