How long are motorcycle helmets good for? It’s a question that both veteran and novice bikers will find themselves asking at some point in time. In terms of safety, the helmet is probably the most important accessory on any motorcycle. It’s there to protect your head in the unfortunate event of an accident. Motorcyclists ride on the outside, making them particularly susceptible to being injured.
Of these injuries, those to the head are usually the most life threatening. As such, it’s important to make sure that you have the best helmet that you can buy to protect yourself. But is there a lifespan to motorcycle helmets. Are you supposed to keep yours for the lifetime of the motorcycle, or are you supposed to periodically change it? Those are the questions we are going to answer in this article.
What is the lifespan of a motorcycle helmet?
Your motorcycle helmet does have a lifespan. That “expiry date,” depends on a number of factors, including how often you use your bike. A helmet that is worn every day will likely need to be replaced sooner than one that is only used on occasional weekends. But how long should you keep your motorcycle helmet?
The answer is that motorcycle helmets usually need to be replaced after every 5 years. However, if you are a heavy user, you will need to replace yours every 3 years. Should you go beyond these timeframes, you will be putting yourself at risk of serious injury. In most instances, helmet manufacturers offer 5 year warranties on their products. That’s an indication of the amount of time during which they expect the helmets to remain effective.
Why do motorcycle helmets expire?
One would intuitively think a motorcycle helmet would last for as long as the motorcycle itself. However, that is not usually the case. But why do helmets have expiry dates?
There are a couple of reasons for this. In the first place, helmets get worn as they are used. We have already noted that the more often a helmet is used, the more it is likely to suffer in terms of wear and tear.
Note that this damage may not be apparent on the outside. The helmet may actually look good at face value. But you would still need to replace it after the given timeframe because the inside will have been damaged.
This damage is partly caused by sweat, hair oils and UV rays. These things usually combine to damage the materials that are important for protecting the rider in the event of an accident. In essence, should you choose to keep using the motorcycle helmet beyond it’s expiry period, you will be that much more at risk of having your head damaged should you be involved in an accident.
Which parts of a motorcycle helmet gets damaged over time?
A motorcycle helmet may seem like a simple item on the outside, but it is a complicated piece of equipment that is the product of thousands of hours of research. The goal, as noted earlier, is to protect the rider in the event of an accident.
This goal is achieved through the combination of components that make up the helmet. When people think of the helmet, they mostly think of the outer shell. However, there are many more parts, all of which are important to its function as a safety device. The following are some of the elements on a motorcycle helmet that can get damaged over time;
The outer shell
This is the most visible part of the motorcycle helmet. It can be made out of a variety of material, including fiberglass, carbon fiber, ABS and polycarbonate. The outer shell of a motorcycle may look tough, but it is also prone to damage.
Usually, the main cause of damage are UV rays as we have already pointed out. This shell offers the first layer of protection in accidents. So, it needs to be up to the job.
Damage from UV rays differs depending on the material with which a helmet is manufactured, so you need to take a look at what the manufacturer says about yours.
The padding
The motorcycle’s inner padding offers comfort as you ride your bike along. It’s also an important component in terms of safety. The padding protects your head from the hard impacts should you be involved in an accident.
This component, however, is prone to the wear and tear that happens as you use your helmet. The process of putting on the helmet causes the inner padding to lose shape, which, in turn, reduces the helmet’s effectiveness as a protective device.
It’s sometimes possible to replace the padding. You will have to reach out to the manufacturer to find out if it’s possible to do so on yours.
Chin straps
Chin straps are another important element on a motorcycle helmet that’s prone to damage. Chin straps are of paramount importance as far as your safety is concerned. They are the component that keeps your helmet on your head.
The helmet needs to be secure in order to provide you with the maximum level of comfort. Should the chin strap get damaged, you may need to get in touch with manufacturer to find out whether or not it can be replaced. Otherwise, you will need to buy a new helmet.
Learn about palletized vs non palletized motorcycle shipping
AA Motorcycle Shipping offers secure transportation of your motorcycle
We have just noted that motorcycle helmets have expiry dates. It’s not advisable to keep yours beyond 5 years. And if you are a heavy user, you will need to replace yours earlier than that. But what if you wish to have your motorcycle shipped from one point to the next?
That’s where we come in as AA Motorcycle Shipping. We are one of the most recognizable names in motorcycle shipping in North America. That’s not surprising considering that we have been in business for three decades.
In that time, we have mastered the art of shipping motorcycles of all shapes and sizes. Our goal is to ensure safety for your priced possession as it travels to its destinations. That’s made of possible by our state-of-the-art equipment. If you are looking to get your motorcycle shipped at an affordable prices, get a free quote from us today.
