Question about a helmet?

[alexp]

I recently bought a gs500 and its my first bike.  The previous owner gave me his helmet, its an Arai Quantum F from around 2000.  My question is is that helmet too old to be used or should i have no problems?    just want to be safe if need be ill buy a new one.

Thanks for any input 

[redhawkdancing]

Trash it! 

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/buying-bike.html


HELMETS

Used helmets are worthless. Regardless of whether it fits you or not, do not count the price of a used helmet as part of the value of the bike. The owner may want to sell the helmet, either because it matches the bike or because (s)he is quitting motorcycling, but since you'll be throwing the helmet out (or, at absolute worst, keeping it as a pillion helmet), don't count its value towards the sale price of the bike.

Used helmets are worthless because you cannot tell if they are damaged or not, and in many cases you don't know when they were made. (Snell-certified helmets should have a date-of-manufacture stamp -- look for one. It might be under the padded lining.) Even if they look good, used helmets might well be junk. Motorcycle helmets work by allowing a layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) to crush, absorbing much of the force of an impact. Unless the hard outer shell is damaged, you cannot tell if the EPS inside is compressed or not. And even then, sometimes you can't -- covering damage with stickers is just as common with helmets as it is with plastic fairings.

Furthermore, EPS becomes more brittle as it ages, and old/brittle EPS has only a small fraction of the original impact absorption abilities. And since you may not know when the helmet was made (who cares when the previous owner bought the thing), you don't know how "fresh" the EPS is. The EPS layer in helmets is also highly vulnerable to ultraviolet and chemical damage -- if, for example, the helmet's owner was in the habit of resting the helmet on the bike's gas tank, gas vapors from the fill cap have attacked and compromised the EPS lining. Or if the helmet was left out in the sun a lot, it could also be damaged from the ultraviolet component of sunlight. Arai (a leading helmet manufacturer) cites acidic sweat as a leading cause of premature EPS degradation. The EPS can also be compressed if the helmet is habitually rested on pointy objects like mirror-stalks or handlebars. The bottom line is, despite what the owner says, you do not know what condition the EPS liner is in, and the EPS liner is the vast majority of the helmet's crash protection.

It's not worth the risk. Yes, in some cases, you can send the helmet back to the manufacturer to have it X-rayed. But that will only tell you if the EPS liner has been compressed, not if it has been chemically damaged. Since you'll never know for sure, buy yourself a good quality new helmet from a good quality manufacturer, and stay away from used helmets.

And if you're still thinking of using a used helmet, realize that helmet fit is one of the most important criteria in selecting a helmet, and it's highly unlikely that a used helmet will fit you as well as one you get from a shop, where you actually get to try different sizes and brands. (Shapes vary subtly by manufacturer; some manufacturers' helmets will fit you better than others.) And if that isn't enough, helmets tend to break in as the padded liner conforms to the unique shape of the wearer's head. You have a different-shaped head than the seller. Get your head its very own new helmet.

[hawaiianGS]

Buy a new one.  Safe yourself the headache.  Helmets have a life span, and that one has past it's prime.

[J_Walker]

In Florida I heard sometimes if you crash, and you have an outdated helmet, and you apply for insurance claim to get your $$ for hospital bills. They will deny you it, because your helmet was to old and your at fault..

So yeah, just buy one...

[adidasguy]

Used helmet?  Eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww 
Say hello to your new friends: Mr. HeadLice and Mr. Dandruff.

[burning1]

Too old. Helmets should be tossed after about 5 years.

When you buy, go to someone with a huge amount of experience fitting helmets, or do your research and fit it yourself. The local cycle gear employees don't know jack about helmet fitting, and a poorly fit helmet is extremely unsafe.

[Toogoofy317]

In Florida I heard sometimes if you crash, and you have an outdated helmet, and you apply for insurance claim to get your $$ for hospital bills. They will deny you it, because your helmet was to old and your at fault..

So yeah, just buy one...

Where do you come up with these stats! Reputable website please. P.S. the giving you a new tire because you hit a pothole is B.S as well! How can you possibly prove that your tire went down because of a pot hole?!?!?

Mary

[J_Walker]

In Florida I heard sometimes if you crash, and you have an outdated helmet, and you apply for insurance claim to get your $$ for hospital bills. They will deny you it, because your helmet was to old and your at fault..



So yeah, just buy one...

Where do you come up with these stats! Reputable website please. P.S. the giving you a new tire because you hit a pothole is B.S as well! How can you possibly prove that your tire went down because of a pot hole?!?!?

Mary

Personal experience? I've lived in Florida my whole life. plenty of pot holes were in my area. Its the citys FAULT for not repairing potholes in the roads. Take a picture of the pot hole you hit also signs around and what not so if they want to go back and check the pothole they can. Than of your tire. report it as soon as it happens and you send The report to the City that it happened in. They will refund your money. Many people don't know about this.. That's why they don't do it! I'm searching for the proof now. Give me a few mins.. Gotta dig this up some where.

For the helmet thing, I can't really prove it. Depends on your insurance company. I will gladly set up the interview between you and the guy who it happened to... Like I said. Personal experience is all. Not saying all insurance company's will do it. But they could do it.. So better safe than sorry.

Edit: give me an hour or so.. I have to finish up lapping my valves.

[alexp]

Thanks for all the responses guys  really helps me out cause im a total noob to motorcycles.  Ive been looking at bell midrange helmet, the Vortex, any one wear one of these? or heard good things.  Thanks alot

[Kijona]

I really don't think an insurance company is going to use their time and money investigating what helmet you were using when you crashed. I think they'd want to know the facts given in a police report. Like how fast you were going, what you were doing, etc.. If you slam into a car turning left in front of you at an intersection, it's not gonna be an issue getting insurance money. Generally speaking, if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing, and it's someone else's fault, the insurance company isn't gonna say jackshit.

If you run off the road doing 90+ in a 55mph zone uh...I doubt they're going to use the helmet as a reason not to pay. And if you're dumb enough to do that sort of thing and get hurt, well, serves you right.

[slipperymongoose]

Yeah you don't know what your getting with a used helmet, plus there is the health hazard argument as well. Down here I can't remember how old but I think you have to turf your helmet every 5 - 10 years. So yours is well and truly past it. My tip go with arai or shoei, if not kbc, Nolan, and AGV. A good place to start

[Dizzledan]

Thanks for all the responses guys  really helps me out cause im a total noob to motorcycles.  Ive been looking at bell midrange helmet, the Vortex, any one wear one of these? or heard good things.  Thanks alot

I had a bell Arrow as my first helmet ($99), it's got decent features: exhaust vents, hairline intake, chin intake (for defroster), breath guard, easily changable visors, noise is pretty quiet, and the pads are removable. DOT certified, thankfully never tested that feature.

[alexp]

Well my friend gets a discount on bell helmets so i could get a top of the line Star for less then a RS-1 (so around 300) with the discount  sounds like a good deal to me?

[Twisted]

Well my friend gets a discount on bell helmets so i could get a top of the line Star for less then a RS-1 (so around 300) with the discount  sounds like a good deal to me?

Making sure it fits is more important than price. No good buying a helmet you dread putting on because it's not fitting right.

[alexp]

Well my friend gets a discount on bell helmets so i could get a top of the line Star for less then a RS-1 (so around 300) with the discount  sounds like a good deal to me?

Making sure it fits is more important than price. No good buying a helmet you dread putting on because it's not fitting right.

Thanks ill make sure to try on a few lids before buying one to see if it fits my head right

[Erika]

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-helmets/motorcycle-helmet-shapes.htm

This might help you narrow down which helmet might fit right. Figure out what your head shape is (round, oval, super oval, etc) and go try some brands that carry those shapes. My very first helmet was round and I have an oval head. I just couldn't figure out why the darn thing would never break in and was always pushing on my forehead, but loose on the sides. I had no idea helmets came in different shapes.

-Erika

[burning1]

The problem is, the helmet that feels most comfortable in the store is invariably not the helmet that fits right. The vast majority of riders own a helmet that's too big... Sometimes, because they don't know what to look for... Othertimes, because they bought a helmet with the wrong shape, and compensate for the uneven pressure by going larger.

If you're going to self fit, I suggest finding a few good fitment videos online... I'll do some research and see if I can find something.

[alexp]

The problem is, the helmet that feels most comfortable in the store is invariably not the helmet that fits right. The vast majority of riders own a helmet that's too big... Sometimes, because they don't know what to look for... Othertimes, because they bought a helmet with the wrong shape, and compensate for the uneven pressure by going larger.

If you're going to self fit, I suggest finding a few good fitment videos online... I'll do some research and see if I can find something.

Okay thanks alot for all the help.  Im going to try to find a good place that sells gear.

[burning1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obi6bW_Uwi0

This video is pretty good. The one thing it doesn't address is pressure points. Different helmets have different shell shapes. Pressure should be even around the crown of your head. If it's tight in some places and loose in others, it's the wrong shell, and you should try a different model or brand. Web bike world has a pretty good page discussing helmet shell shapes of different brands.

Pressure around your head should be even and quite firm. A new helmet hasn't broken in, and will loosen up a little with time.

Again, most people end up buying a helmet buy one that's too loose, resulting in more noise, wind lift, and a reduction in impact protection and safety.

[mimikeni]

It makes sense that persons new to riding should get a good helmet.  Inexperience=increased risk of falls/crashes.  I opted for a relatively inexpensive first helmet (Vega $100).  At the Progressive show in Chicago, I had a guy do a fitting on me.  He explained I need the long oval shape, coincidentally just like the $500-$600 Arai Signet-Q he was selling.  Have to admit, it felt more snug all over than my helmet.  I hope more manufacturers offer that shape of helmet next time I go helmet shopping.