How often does everyone replace their helmet?

[Snowhere]

A standard engineering factor of safety is 2x. Get lawyers involved and you get 3x. Get the marketing guys involved and it goes to 4x. So as long as you do not damage your helmet from crashes or dropping it severely, you can take that 5 yr life and double it. I buy $500+ helmets, there is no way I am retiring them in 2-3 years.

10 years is a more reasonable life for the helmet. I also do not leave the helmet locked on my bike in the sun. Easy enough to take it with me into work or where ever I may be. Plus that way it cannot be stolen.

[pknopp]

I notice some mention how they like their helmets to be quiet. Now I fully believe in to each their own whatever they choose but I hate riding with an enclosed helmet that blocks as much sound as possible.

It makes me feel like I'm riding in the car. (yes, I do wear a helmet)

[Silly_me]

I notice some mention how they like their helmets to be quiet. Now I fully believe in to each their own whatever they choose but I hate riding with an enclosed helmet that blocks as much sound as possible.

a) you really like wind noise
b) you never ride in cold weather
c) You ride a cruiser/goldwing or something with incredible wind protection already

[Paul@VWvortex]

I have several helmets that are old enough to be retired; I just don't know how to dispose of them other than just dumping them in the trash... Which is probably the answer.

I see 10 year-old helmets for sale on Craigslist all the time for $50. How is your head not worth more even if there are helmets out there that are far better for as little as $100?

[pknopp]

a) you really like wind noise
b) you never ride in cold weather
c) You ride a cruiser/goldwing or something with incredible wind protection already

a) I like to be able to hear the bike.
b) As long as it's in the 40's I'll ride and granted if it's real cold the ears do like the added warmth.
c) Right now I just have a 63 Honda Dream as I sold my 71 CB750 a couple months ago but I'm looking for another one. (Again to each their own but I would never own a bike that wasn't air cooled). Coolant systems muffle out all the mechanical sounds.

[turbinepowered]

I notice some mention how they like their helmets to be quiet. Now I fully believe in to each their own whatever they choose but I hate riding with an enclosed helmet that blocks as much sound as possible.

It makes me feel like I'm riding in the car. (yes, I do wear a helmet)

I'll take a helmet with good airflow (noise) and earplugs (yes, I wear them), especially in the summer. It gets disgustingly hot down here in a black helmet in the sun...


My current helmet is coming up on three years old. I figure I will likely get a fresh one this coming winter, something with better padding and less airflow, wear that in winter and this one in summer, replace at five years. At $200 a five year lifespan is acceptable to me.

[Silly_me]

a) I like to be able to hear the bike.

Well, my bike sounds like a blender with gravel in it, so I wear ear buds and play music (fwiw I can still hear the engine fine, and it has the stock exhaust).

[nhbubba]

How often? When I feel like it.. basically.

I've had three full face helmets in ~17 years of riding. The first was a hand-me-down that didn't fit for ****. I replaced that when I got the money (and brains) to do so.

The second was a quality SNELL rated HJC. That I just replaced last year as it was getting a little dodgy and the date code was well over 5 years old. I've been eyeing a track day lately and they require < 5 y/o date code. I wish I could claim I did it out of interest in my own safety, but I didn't.

Also the new lid was on sale. Off-season clearances ftw.