Should i buy a new helmet?

[ninjeff]

SO, long story short:

I started riding in 2006. Wanting only the best for my melon (without spending a fortune) i picked up a RF-1000 helmet. It fit great, looked good, felt good, etc.
I stopped riding in 09 due to selling the bike. Haven't worn the helmet since.

I brought it out of the helmet bag tonight and polished it up (it was dusty) slapped it back on, and it still fit pretty good.
Looking at he internal padding though it didn't feel as "spongy" as i remembered it. It wasn't totally shot, just didn't feel like it used to.

So, should i get another lid?  Or is this one ok?

I remember reading somewhere that you're supposed to replace your helmet every 5 years, but is that a marketing ploy or does it have some weight behind it?

[shonole]

SO, long story short:

I started riding in 2006. Wanting only the best for my melon (without spending a fortune) i picked up a RF-1000 helmet. It fit great, looked good, felt good, etc.
I stopped riding in 09 due to selling the bike. Haven't worn the helmet since.

I brought it out of the helmet bag tonight and polished it up (it was dusty) slapped it back on, and it still fit pretty good.
Looking at he internal padding though it didn't feel as "spongy" as i remembered it. It wasn't totally shot, just didn't feel like it used to.

So, should i get another lid?  Or is this one ok?

I remember reading somewhere that you're supposed to replace your helmet every 5 years, but is that a marketing ploy or does it have some weight behind it?

It should be okay.  Remove the cheek pads and wash them separately.  Remove the visor and wash the rest with shampoo/something easily removable.  Then dry in the sun/blowdryer (on cool), etc.  Should be good as new.

That said, there have been some massive improvements in helmets over the past decade.  You make want to look into a new one for comfort/functionality reasons.

[Twisted]

It is a Shoei, it will be ok. Only if you drop it or crash it would I replace. But is the end it is up to you. To bad you don't get the Shark helmets over in the US anymore. As they fit like Shoei have just as many if not more features and half the price.

[ninjeff]

Well it fits and feels great, if they've done better it'll be unbelievable!
Do you think washing the padding inside will restore some sponginess/springiness?

[ninjeff]

It is a Shoei, it will be ok. Only if you drop it or crash it would I replace. But is the end it is up to you. To bad you don't get the Shark helmets over in the US anymore. As they fit like Shoei have just as many if not more features and half the price.

I found teh Shoie to be the best fit because its more "egg" shaped (if that makes sense)

All teh other helmets felt like they were pinching my forehead and back of the head while leaving wiggle room on the sides.

[Bluesmudge]

Look under the lining for the sticker with the manufacturing date on it.

Some say you should replace your helmet every five years from this date. However, if you have never been a daily rider and take good care of your helmet, I would say you can get a few more years. The main problem is that human sweat is very deleterious to the protective materials in motorcycle helmets. Just sitting around isn't nearly as bad for them as being used.

That said, it is actually a great thing to wash your helmet liner regularly. It will prolong the effective life of the helmet.

[shonole]

Well it fits and feels great, if they've done better it'll be unbelievable!
Do you think washing the padding inside will restore some sponginess/springiness?

Absolutely. 

[ohgood]

Well it fits and feels great, if they've done better it'll be unbelievable!
Do you think washing the padding inside will restore some sponginess/springiness?

Absolutely.

Your riding skill and awareness has so much more fo do with safety than the "sell by" date on your helmet.

Ride and enjoy

[tt_four]

Sometimes I still wear the Arai helmet I got in 03-04 

I bought a new helmet a year or so ago, and usually use the new one, but I still love that Arai too much to toss it out haha. Stupid $600 helmets are hard to throw away.

[ninjeff]

Well it fits and feels great, if they've done better it'll be unbelievable!
Do you think washing the padding inside will restore some sponginess/springiness?

Absolutely.

Your riding skill and awareness has so much more fo do with safety than the "sell by" date on your helmet.

Ride and enjoy

I know.

But my head is my head and i happen to like it enough to want the best for it.

Stupid selfish head.......costing me money......

[redhawkdancing]

The RF-1100 liner is completely replaceable. Not sure about the 1000, but it's worth a search. Shoei will X-ray your helmet and let you know if it is still good. They willl even ship it back for free.   

[ninjeff]

The RF-1100 liner is completely replaceable. Not sure about the 1000, but it's worth a search. Shoei will X-ray your helmet and let you know if it is still good. They willl even ship it back for free.   

Really?

Wow!
And yet another reason i will always buy a Shoei.....

[Bluesmudge]

You could always sell it to some unsuspecting squid on craigslist and get enough money to buy a new helmet from a less premium company 

[shonole]

You could always sell it to some unsuspecting squid on craigslist and get enough money to buy a new helmet from a less premium company 

Or end up selling a shaZam! helmet to someone that can't afford anything nicer and was hoping for a good deal. 

Bottom line, if you like the helmet, keep it. 

[ninjeff]

You could always sell it to some unsuspecting squid on craigslist and get enough money to buy a new helmet from a less premium company 

Nah, if i buy another helmet it will be a Shoei RF-1100.

Besides, its in really good condition, just a bit....old.

[Kijona]

Something else that a lot of people don't consider is that if you ride a lot...the sun will make the helmet brittle. It's not a bad idea to replace a helmet you wear a lot every few years.

I had an old BIEFFE helmet that got worn a lot and then put away. Upon removing it from storage, it was dropped, and the helmet split open just from being dropped on concrete - imagine if your head was inside it in a crash.

I believe the helmet was around 10 years old.

[Twisted]

You could always sell it to some unsuspecting squid on craigslist and get enough money to buy a new helmet from a less premium company 

Nah, if i buy another helmet it will be a Shoei RF-1100.

Besides, its in really good condition, just a bit....old.

I had an RF1000 and tried on the RF1100. I found they didn't fit the same. It may have been just me but I found the RF1000 a better fit. I think they messed with the shell sizes on the newer helmets. Just go try one on before you pull the trigger. I found the Arai Vector (I think it was) fit like the RF1000 and so did the the Shark RSI.

[ninjeff]

You could always sell it to some unsuspecting squid on craigslist and get enough money to buy a new helmet from a less premium company 

Nah, if i buy another helmet it will be a Shoei RF-1100.

Besides, its in really good condition, just a bit....old.

I had an RF1000 and tried on the RF1100. I found they didn't fit the same. It may have been just me but I found the RF1000 a better fit. I think they messed with the shell sizes on the newer helmets. Just go try one on before you pull the trigger. I found the Arai Vector (I think it was) fit like the RF1000 and so did the the Shark RSI.

Hmm. VERY good notes. Thank you. I was just going to pull the trigger on a RF1100 eventually but now i'll stop by the local shop and peruse before i do that.

Itll be a few months though. My RF1000 seems to be in great condition, and it'll take care of things for  a few months until i decide i need some new hotness.

[gsJack]

SO, long story short:

I started riding in 2006. Wanting only the best for my melon (without spending a fortune) i picked up a RF-1000 helmet.........................................................................I remember reading somewhere that you're supposed to replace your helmet every 5 years, but is that a marketing ploy or does it have some weight behind it?

Probably a market ploy with some weight behind it, kinda like tires many say should be replaced after they're 5 years old.  Most are still still good a few years longer but the time comes when they are really harder than a rock and stick like a rock.

I bought a RF1000 back in the spring of 04 after my 97 GS and Symac flip face helmet were totalled and have used the RF1000 most of the years since.  Was getting a bit concerned about the age of the Shoei although new cheek pads a couple years ago refreshed it inside a lot, it was getting a bit loose.  Now with some eye problems causing me a lot more trouble with sun/shade changes and needing on/off tinted shield I went looking for a helmet with a built in quickly deployed and retarded sunshade.  Settled for a HJC IS-33 open face with built in full face shield plus deployable sunshade inside.  It's very comfortable and works well but if I was headed back to the mountains, which I'm not, I'd wear the old RF1000 full face.

Tried on a RF1100 at the bike show last month and the fit just wasn't the same as the RF1000 I was using.  Also the RF1100 is a bit heavier than the RF1000 which was one of the lighter full face helmets around.  Not that it's real important but my new IS-33 has all removable and replaceable parts inside like the RF1100 has and it's lighter than the RF1000.  The RF1000 really was a winner in it's time.

[Toogoofy317]

If you like the fit of the Shoei RF-1000 may I recommend the seven zero seven Vendetta 2. I picked mine up in May of last year. I had my heart set on the Shoei but only had $150 in graduation money. I tried it on wait? This thing feels a ton lighter. Bet you can't change visors. Yup at $20 a visor vs $35. Okay, it definitely won't breathe as well. Wrong breathes better in cooler weather almost too well. Bet it fogs like a beotch! A little less than the Shoei. Well, it will only be DOT I'm sure. Wrong again got Snell approval too.

It passed every requirement of the Shoei and was on sale at Cycle gear for $109. Only down side of my Vendetta 2 is I can't fit sunglasses very well in there but after getting a tinted visor for $20 cured that problem too!

I need to do a write up soon! But, 9 months out 

Mary