Although the outer helmet shells are still quite new and only slightly scratched, their resistance to impact has decreased. So, how often should you replace a motorcycle helmet? Refer to the article below to get the answer for yourself.
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How Long Are Motorcycle Helmets Good For?
In each country, wearing a helmet when operating a motorcycle is one of the legal provisions to protect road users. However, there has not been any law that stipulates the shelf life of helmets.
Experts and helmet manufacturers recommend people should not use it for more than 5 years. Depending on the structure of each type of hat, usage habits, and manufacturer’s reputation, the exact time may vary slightly. Specifically:
Fullface Type
The design and structure of this hat are quite solid and have higher safety than other versions. As a specialized hat for backpackers (who often drive cars at high speed and go long distances), the lifespan of these lines will also be higher than other current lines.
Although it has the same structure as high-grade virgin ABS plastic that has not been heat-treated, the shell of the full-face ones is a bit thicker than the usual ones. If used carefully, your item can last for 5 years.
Half Head Type
This is a specialized product line for people who often move to the inner city. With a compact design, this hat is extremely popular with many people.
Because they are used regularly and continuously, they need a thinner shell to meet criteria such as coolness and compactness. This makes the life of this helmet line quite short, up to about 3 years.
3/4 Head Type
Although not as compact as the one above, this model is still an easy-to-use, versatile helmet Suitable for trips between the city and the suburbs.
Their lining is thicker and softer, protecting almost the entire head area in the event of an unfortunate collision. The lifespan of this type is usually 3 to 4 years.
What Affects Motorcycle Helmet Lifespan?
Many people think the helmet they are using has no signs of damage, so why change it? This is indeed a big mistake because it will gradually lose its ability to protect from the inside over time of use. There are reasons such as:
Collision While Using
During use, there may be collisions, such as hitting the wall, or table shelf, falling to the ground, etc. Thus, your items will gradually reduce impact resistance in accident situations.
Do not be subjective with this because although it looks like there is no problem or just a few small scratches, its life has been reduced a bit. The shell and foam liner only provide the best protection on the first crash impact; they will decrease in subsequent times.
Over time, your product can only withstand light impacts; sudden and strong collision situations will cause danger to the user.
Due To Inclement Weather
As a head protection product, it is exposed to complex weather conditions daily, such as rain, direct sunlight, dirt, wind, ultraviolet light, etc. This will directly affect the helmet protection structure and reduce the helmet shelf life considerably.
Aging Of Texture Layers
Helmets are usually made from virgin ABS plastic, high compression density EPS foam, and liner materials. The bond between the plastic particles and the foam liner will gradually lose, reducing the details’ impact resistance when encountering heavy impact.
In addition, price is also a factor to consider because cheaper helmets usually cannot last long.
FAQs
What Should I Do With The Old Ones?
Old motorcycle helmets and bicycle helmets are no longer safe to protect you from a head injury but do not rush to throw them away because they have interesting uses that few people know about.
You can reuse them for many different things while saving and creating unique features such as making flower pots, speakers, night lights, decorations, etc.
How Do Helmets Protect You?
It reduces force transmission to the user’s scalp, skull, brain, and spine. It cannot protect all parts of your body, but it does cover the most important part of you – your brain.
Conclusion
Above is information about how long motorcycle helmets are good for. Although it is not a mandatory regulation, you should replace it every 3-5 years to ensure safety.
Hope this article is useful to you. Thanks for reading.
View more: US helmet laws by state
