How Often Should I Replace My Motorcycle Helmet?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

The general rule is to replace your motorcycle helmet

every five years

, but what if you drop it, sweat heavily or wear it every day? The biggest myth is that if your helmet falls off your bike when it’s parked, you should change your helmet.

Do motorcycle helmets really expire?

The answer is:

Yes, there is

. Manufacturers recommend replacement, no matter how it looks, every 7 years from the production date and after 5 years of use. To check when your helmet was manufactured, look inside to find a date stamp.

How do I know if my motorcycle helmet is still good?


Check in with your head

. “Typically, you know if the helmet took a good hit, because a good hit to the helmet is a good hit to the head,” Parks says. “Just even the sound of the impact or the way your head felt—like if you hit hard enough to see stars—can tell you if the helmet should be replaced.”

How often should I change my helmet?

How often should helmets be replaced? The maximum useful lifespan of a riding helmet is

five years, from the date of first wear

. Even if you haven’t been in an accident with your helmet, it’s important to replace it after it expires past this time. This is due to natural wear and tear on the materials.

Does dropping a motorcycle helmet ruin it?


If it fell with your head inside, regardless if involved in an accident or not, yes, you should replace it

. If it fell on its own, but you notice a deformation on the EPS, or you see visible damage marks on the shell, you should replace it.

What is the life of a bike helmet?

The government testing body in the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), recommends replacing a bicycle helmet every

five to 10 years

. The Snell Memorial Foundation, which also certifies helmets for safety, states a firm five years.

How long do Shoei helmets last?

A: According to Shoei, its helmets should be replaced

five years after the purchase date, or seven years after the production date

. The production date is on a sticker inside the helmet under the padding near the ear.

What do you do with old motorcycle helmets?

  1. Donate to organizations that collect bike helmets.
  2. Donate your helmet to emergency services.
  3. Donate it to School.
  4. Recycle it.
  5. Reuse it.
  6. Give it to a motorist who doesn’t wear helmets.

How long are Bell helmets good for?

Bell has a general recommendation of replacing your helmet

every three (3) years

. If you are unsure of the condition of your helmet, or whether it should be replaced, call us at 800-456-2355 or e-mail us at

[email protected]

for information on a free inspection.

Do riding helmets expire?

But

all riding helmets have an expiration date

. And the main consensus from helmet manufactures is your helmet will last about 5 years from the time you first put it on your head. And there are several reasons why.

How many miles is too high for a motorcycle?

For small sports bikes, 20,000 to 30,000 is on the high side. For larger bikes,

50,000 miles and up

is considered high motorcycle mileage. But before you write off any models, consider that a properly maintained bike can last well past 100,000 miles!

How long should a motorcycle crash helmet last?

If the average mileage for a biker is somewhere between 6,000 miles and 8,000 miles, then it might be suggested that once a helmet has done

between 40,000 and 50,000 miles

it’s about time to change it. The guys who ride 20k a year will often change their helmets every 2/3 years.

How long should a crash helmet last?

Generally, the advice from all helmet manufacturers is to replace your helmet

every 5 years

under “normal” use, but emphasise that the life of a helmet should really depend on how it’s been used.

How many times can you drop a motorcycle helmet?

“Helmets are one-use items, but they are quite durable otherwise, at least the Snell ones we certify”. Frequent dropping or spiking a helmet on the ground, or other hard surfaces will eventually degrade the helmet’s performance. But

a few drops is okay

.

Are HJC helmets good?

HJC helmets are

extremely comfortable, stylish and use top quality materials and safety features

. We love HJC’s price points too. They are reasonably priced especially given the sheer number of features they have. Bike riders of all budgets can afford to get a good quality helmet through HJC.

How much force can a motorcycle helmet withstand?

It is believed that the head can withstand

300 ‘G-forces’

, which is higher than other body parts. The deceleration of ‘G-forces’, movement of the head and duration of the incident all determine the amount of injury the head will sustain.

How long are motorcycle helmets good?

The industry standard states that the lifespan of a motorcycle helmet is

five years

. That is as long as you have not cut its life short by an accident or impact to it. If that happens you should definitely not use it, time to trash it!

When should I replace my full face helmet?

A vast majority of helmets use EPS, expanded polystyrene, foam which gets crushed in a hard hit. You should only need to replace

if you take a serious hit

, as once crushed it loses its impact absorption ability.

How can you tell a fake SHOEI?

Should a motorcycle helmet be replaced after an accident?

For starters, most people are aware that

you must replace a helmet after any crash where your head hit

. The foam part of a helmet is made for one-time use, and after crushing once it is no longer as protective as it was, even if it still looks intact.

How much are used motorcycle helmets worth?

A used motorcycle helmet can cost

between $30 and $550

on average, depending on its condition and age. Although a good amount of money can be saved by purchasing a used motorcycle helmet, this is usually not recommended as it poses some hazards.

How often should you replace a Shoei helmet?

Even if none of these is applied, we, SHOEI, recommend replacement in

5 years

after its first purchased at retail.” As you can see, SHOEI identifies a number of ways in which a helmet deteriorates with use over time that can affect the integrity of the helmet.

Can you replace motorcycle helmet straps?

As a part of a safety accessory, it’s not unusual for a helmet strap to be damaged or come loose after a certain amount of use. It’s the strap that keeps the helmet in place after all. However,

if damaged, you can easily replace the strap within a few minutes

.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.