When to replace a helmet?

[ThinkAgain]

I crashed yesterday and my head bounced off the road as I slid across two lanes of traffic.  My head only hit one good time and the helmet only got scratched across the back.  

The motorcycle rider's safety course said that even if your helmet only falls from your seat to the ground, then it's no longer a safe helmet.  Is this true?  

Having saved me in one spill, is it time to retire this helmet?

[glenn9171]

Personally, I wouldn't necessarily replace one that fell from the seat.  It would depend on how hard it hit, etc.  But if your head is in it in a crash, then you should have already gotten a new one.  Buy one today before you ride again.  They are designed to protect you once.  When it absorbs an impact, the styrofoam-looking liner crushes to take the blow.  It has done that now.  Another hit and it won't do it's job properly.

[vtlion]

Having saved me in one spill, is it time to retire this helmet?

YES!!!!

[tricked500]

I would get a new one ASAP

Tricked500

[Lex143ms]

sucks man, but would you rather contemplate whether or not your helmet is going to work when you are about to slide across the ground when someone pulls out infront of you?

[pantablo]

Yes. Did its job. get a new lid and dont crash again; could get expensive...

btw-I have had my lid fall twice from my bike's seat and I wouldnt replace it due to that. But if I took a spill it would be replaced immediately.

Glad it did its job.

[ThinkAgain]

That's what I figured.  I guess a helmet (even an expensive one) is cheaper than a hospital bill . . . or worse.  

I'm a firm believer in riding gear now.  I always wear a jacket, gloves and a helmet, and from the waist up I'm fine.  My hip, knee and ankle are another story!  I think I see a pair of boots and some sort of riding pant in my near future.  What do you guys think of one piece vs. two piece riding gear?

[Mat]

I'm a firm believer in riding gear now.  I always wear a jacket, gloves and a helmet, and from the waist up I'm fine.

your not the only one

i have been off my bike for the past week because of my crash.  may still be in the hospital if it wasn't for my jacket.  road rash is a bad thing

[dmp221]

Here ya go....if you've never seen an aerostitch suit, you're in for a treat:

www.aerostitch.com

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4020&highlight=helmet

There is tons of replies to this topic on the above pages.

As I found out in the course of my seach, dropping it off your seat is a load of    - if this were true, it would not save your life in a crash, simply because as you have stated your head bounced and knocked a few times before taking a big impact. If your helmet is wrecked on the first little bump when you come off, what will happen to your head when you finally come to a stop against that guard rail?!

I would suggest that you replace your helemt BECAUSE you had a crash... you cant honestly know what kind of impact your head made in a situation like that!

Stay Safe