How Long Are Motorcycle Helmets Good For?

A high-quality helmet and a powerful motorcycle make a perfect couple. However, your helmet tends to degrade quickly. So, how long are motorcycle helmets good for? 

Your helmet will weaken after 5 years of continuous wear and tear. Yet, its lifespan also varies depending on factors, such as frequent uses or accidents.

You are the one that has the most influence on your gear’s durability. Keep reading this article from MotoCzysz, and you can learn more about this issue. 

How Long Are Motorcycle Helmets Good For? 

Every manufacturer has a suggestion for their products. Arai suggests that you should replace your helmet every five years from the day you first use them.

Other makers, like Shoei, recommend upgrading your gear seven years after its manufacture date. 

All helmet manufacturers say that you should update your gear every five years with normal wear. 

Please underline, though, that the lifespan of a motorcycle helmet should primarily depend on how you use it. The more you ride with it, the lower the life expectancy of your gear.

In addition to frequent use, UV rays do the most long-term deterioration on your safety hat. 

Helmets often last for five years with normal use

Materials For Helmets 

Let’s talk about the material for a road helmet first to go any farther. Analyzing the materials used by producers might help you gain a better grasp of helmet longevity.

A helmet has two main parts: exterior and interior. Each area requires high-quality materials to last longer and remain durable. 

Often, a motorcycle helmet has an outer shell constructed of tough plastic, carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other commonly encountered materials.

These compounds are among the most durable materials available for helmet production. They can also last for a long time.

Moreover, those materials are remarkably resilient and are quite sturdy. 

If your helmet comes with one of these compounds, a drop onto the floor can’t cause any severe damage. Things may be different with other materials.

Another protective characteristic is the EPS foam. There is dense foam inside the helmet.  You might need to examine the foam for distortion if you dropped your gear with something hefty inside it.

The foam is in charge of dispersing and absorbing impact. As a result, dropping should not significantly influence its interior, necessitating the purchase of a new helmet.

Inside your gear, you’ll also discover some kind of moisture-wicking inner liner. This comfort liner will assist in maintaining its integrity by absorbing sweat and other body fluids.

The materials for interior and exterior must be durable

Signs To Replace Your Motorcycle Helmet 

Here are some indicators for something wrong with your gear. If you’re a new rider, these pointers might help you figure out if you need helmet replacement. 

Age

According to extensive research, motorcycle helmets expire after five years of regular wear and tear.

It may appear to be in excellent condition, but please remember its age and its damage to the components.

When you wear your gear consistently, it is susceptible to temperature, dirt, prolonged UV exposure, and other factors. 

All external elements have an impact on its integrity. They also weaken the glues and resins that keep the components in their positions.

Despite the lack of actual proof, most companies apply the 5-year age expiry date. 

Some additional elements might influence how long your helmet lasts. So, while the suggested age limit for a repair is five years from the production date, it might be less or more.

Shoei helmets have a 5-year average lifetime. Because they are one of the most well-known companies in the motorcycle industry, you may take it as a starting point. 

Snell Memorial Foundation safety requirements also include a 5-year warranty. As a result, Snell Foundation makes sure to follow this in order to avoid potential litigation.

Five year helmet replacement is advisable

Usage

When you wear your gear every day, it may experience more wear and tear. Consistent usages may degrade materials and the durability of your helmet over time, even if it isn’t entirely obvious.

It’s comparable to riding your motorcycle or driving your car on a daily basis. As the miles rise, you must either perform multiple maintenance or purchase a new automobile.

Accidents

Although this factor is obvious, it is worth mentioning. If you’ve been in an accident, it’s possible that you need a new helmet. 

You should adequately check your gear and, if necessary, have it x-rayed for any problems.

Wearing a broken helmet will provide little security. It irritates your head, preventing you from controlling your vehicle correctly.

Moreover, the broken part from the safety hat may make you injured. It shouldn’t save money on such issues. 

Loosen components

When you purchase a new helmet, it should fit perfectly. It sticks to your head like glue no matter how much you shake or turn it.

To see whether your gear has loosened, perform this test: Make a side-to-side shaking motion with your head. 

Does it remain secured on your head, or does it move around? The helmet padding has compressed if it moves about when you shake your head.

It’s better to upgrade the helmet comfort padding in this case. You should also check the indentations in the comfort liner.

Your safety hat should have a tight fit around your head. You don’t want to be involved in an accident while carrying a sagging helmet. 

Loose-fitting safety gear may cause traumatic brain and head injury. As a result, make sure that yours can fit firmly. If not, replace your helmet. 

Make sure that your hat fits your head perfectly

Deteriorating interior

Often, the helmet shells are not the first to degrade. 

There is foam and inner lining equipped inside the helmet. If the inside begins to peel off onto your shoulders or into your hair, it’s time to get a new one. 

Whether this problem occurs after three or five years of usage, you should consider upgrading your gear. 

Because the EPS liner usually has a black paint coating, you may also look inside the helmet for slight white fractures.

If this incident occurs, the helmet’s structure will be deteriorating. It will fail to absorb impact properly. The deterioration can also affect liner materials.

When you use a hair conditioner or have hair oils, be aware that it may add to the deterioration of the internal components of your hat. 

The cheek pads are also important to ensure the comfort of your rider. So check its performance too. 

Deteriorating exterior

If the shell gets brittle, fractures form, or breaks apart; it is time to upgrade it. You need to check if wearing a helmet in this damaged state is acceptable.

In an accident, the shell is the main point of contact. As a result, this component must be robust and long-lasting. 

In the event of an accident, any breaks in the shell will quickly expose your head to danger.

Strap failure

Also, check to see whether the straps are still functional. If you use your helmet frequently, you may realize that the strap hooks have rusted due to inclement weather and grime.

The chin strap is essential for securing it on your head. If this component stops functioning correctly, it may be time to replace the chin strap or even get a new safety hat. 

The chin straps are important for security

Helmet Safety Checks 

Is your motorcycle helmet good? There are some things you need to check to ensure your gear’s quality and prudent safety philosophy. 

The first and foremost thing to examine is the retention system. 

Thoroughly monitor your safety hat to make sure that the EPS liner is securely fastened to the outer shell.

Also, make sure the retention straps aren’t fraying. The stitching isn’t pulling loose, or the helmet isn’t coming off.

Additionally, check that the clip structure can close and stay closed as needed. Ensure that your helmet’s movable components, like the windshield or the flip-up jaw bar, aren’t getting loose.

Look for chips and fissures in the outer shell. If your helmet has any fractures, you should change it right away. 

That one small crack might be the vulnerable point that opens up in a crash, allowing the rider to sustain potentially deadly head injuries. 

Check your gear inside out carefully

How Often Should You Replace Your Helmet? 

Do you have to update your helmet when it reaches the age of five years? Perhaps yes, and maybe no. You’d spend the time carefully checking it both inside and out.

Pull firmly on the chin buckles. If it cracks, that could be the issue. 

If everything seems to be in proper working order, the protective foam comfort liner and the cushion liner are still in excellent condition.

Replace your helmet if it has been in an accident when it has collided with something sharp. 

Even though it appears to be in good shape, there might be an undetectable crack in the outside shell.

If the safety hat has an EPS comfort liner, it can only work for one collision. The foam can’t stand another depression again. As a result, it will not withstand the pressure on the following impact. 

The last reason you may need helmet replacement is for noticeable improvement. 

Headgear technology has gone a long way in the last decade. One of the finest motivations to upgrade your gear is to adapt to the most up-to-date technologies in terms of security, comfort, and lightness.

These advances permit manufacturers to come up with innovative production methods.  

Check to see if your first helmet can work properly

Frequently Asked Questions 

Riders have shown their concerns about motorcycle and bicycle helmets possibly degrading performance. Here are some of their frequently asked questions. 

1. Does a motorcycle helmet expire? 

The manufacturer says that you should replace your helmet every 3 to 5 years, depending on how old it is.

2. How can you check for helmet degradation?

Photo-oxidative deterioration harms your helmets. However, you can notice that the color of your gear is beginning to fade, often starting from the top. 

The PC would start turning yellow if your safety hat is made of transparent polycarbonate. It’s a phenomenon known as photo-yellowing.

Many factors will influence how rapidly the helmet shell deteriorates. Check to see if your location is UV-susceptible. Consider how often you use your gear and at what times of day, and how you store it while not in use.

There are many things to check used helmets

3. Do motorcycle helmets expire?

Most helmet manufacturers do not have an expiration date on their products. 

On the other hand, many helmets are subject to wear and tear as well as technical obsolescence. As a matter of thumb, you need to replace your gear every five years.

4. What is the ideal fit for a motorcycle helmet?

A helmet should fit snugly over the whole user’s head without causing pressure. Also, his or her helmet does not have any side-to-side or up and down motions during the ride. It shouldn’t be too snug or too loose.

You can learn more tips about sizing your gear from:

Final Words 

If you keep your helmet correctly and maintain it regularly, it will last a long time. When it comes to purchasing new gear, you should keep in mind the age and use of your older helmet.

Aside from natural wear and tear, innovations in helmet technology are another motivation for replacing helmets. 

Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. If you need any further information, please feel free to ask. Thank you for being interested in the post! 

Wish you have a safe and enjoyable ride!