From Amy at www.mxintheus.com
Check out my article on How to Buy a Helmet that Fits. It's got information on not only finding the right helmet, but when to replace a helmet. You can read the How My HJC Helmet Saved My Life and then link to the How to Buy a Helmet that Fits article that's at the bottom of the page.
Here's a quote from that article:
"Now for the million dollar question. When do you need to replace your helmet? It depends on the quality of helmet you bought. If you buy a Shoei or Arai, and never drop it or crash while wearing it, you can keep your helmet for five to six years. Steve Blakeney said that "It all depends on the maker. Helmets under $150 should be replaced every four years because the adhesive starts letting go."
When can you crash and keep your helmet? Never. Any manufacturer will tell you to replace your helmet the minute you crash. "You'd be amazed at how hard you can conk your head," Steve Blakeney said. "You may not even see a crack on the fiberglass." He explained that a lot of times the paint and clear coat hide small cracks in your helmet. Cracks can also be hidden by your helmet's liner. Also, Steve Blakeney told me that, "You can't see it on the outside, but the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene which is the hard foam inside your helmet) on the inside gets compressed. The helmet sacrifices itself for your head." By not replacing your helmet after a crash, "You're taking a chance.""
Check out my article on How to Buy a Helmet that Fits. It's got information on not only finding the right helmet, but when to replace a helmet. You can read the How My HJC Helmet Saved My Life and then link to the How to Buy a Helmet that Fits article that's at the bottom of the page.
Here's a quote from that article:
"Now for the million dollar question. When do you need to replace your helmet? It depends on the quality of helmet you bought. If you buy a Shoei or Arai, and never drop it or crash while wearing it, you can keep your helmet for five to six years. Steve Blakeney said that "It all depends on the maker. Helmets under $150 should be replaced every four years because the adhesive starts letting go."
When can you crash and keep your helmet? Never. Any manufacturer will tell you to replace your helmet the minute you crash. "You'd be amazed at how hard you can conk your head," Steve Blakeney said. "You may not even see a crack on the fiberglass." He explained that a lot of times the paint and clear coat hide small cracks in your helmet. Cracks can also be hidden by your helmet's liner. Also, Steve Blakeney told me that, "You can't see it on the outside, but the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene which is the hard foam inside your helmet) on the inside gets compressed. The helmet sacrifices itself for your head." By not replacing your helmet after a crash, "You're taking a chance.""