Motorcycle helmets have a certain time to end the product and require replacement for enhanced head protection.
Riders replace their helmets after the crash or every few years to ensure safe head protection. This head protection allows you to know how long does a motorcycle helmet last.
If you want to know about the warranty of the helmet, there is a guide on how long does a motorcycle helmet last.
How Long Does a Motorcycle Helmet Last?
A helmet’s durability depends on frequent use and the number of crashes you faced on the road. Most helmet retailers stated a helmet lasts for five years.
The glues and adhesive manufacturing used in the helmet will lose its ability of head protection over time.
Even the most recognized headgears do not have a long product life cycle unless you take good care of your helmet regarding cleaning and storage.
How long does a motorcycle helmet last depends on the number of scratches or impacts you faced during the ride. The truth is when it comes to the durability of the helmet; the interior affects the helmet’s durability. When it comes to frequent wearing, helmets do wear out and break down over time. Even if you not have touched the helmet in a while, it will slowly deteriorate on its own.
The majority of helmets deteriorated due to the three main things that are amount of use, maintenance practices and initial build quality. Three things that make the helmet to wear and tear over time unless you take good care. This five-year warranty is the general approximation of the amount of wear that takes place over the amount of time. This approximation depends on how well you take care of your headwear.
If you feel that, your helmet starts to deteriorate, it is time to look for a long-lasting helmet.
When to Replace a Motorcycle Helmet
As mentioned earlier, a helmet needs to replace every five years of warranty as to the approximation durability. Due to frequent use, this where you need to replace your helmet.
To know when to replace your helmet, you need to check the exterior and the interior of the helmet after you have met the crash. If the interior foam or the fabric lining becomes loose or comes out, it is time to replace, even if the helmet has not reached the five-year warranty.
The frequent use of your helmet smears with grease, hair products and sweat that affect the interior lining. This causes the interior foam to deteriorate quicker than it would normally do. To protect your hair from forming grease, flakes and hair products in the interior, you need to wear a headscarf or a skullcap before wearing your helmet. To know more about preventing helmet hair, just click on this link.
A helmet needs a replacement due to the changes invention of protective headgear. With the emerging invention of technology, more and more helmet manufacturers are adding advanced functions that offer more head protection than before. This helps to provide with a long-lasting headwear that allow a better road safety.
Signs Your Helmet Needs a Replacement
How long does a motorcycle helmet last depends on the how far the helmet has deteriorated. To replace a motorcycle helmet, there are certain signs in which your helmet has come to an end. Such signs mention below:
Helmet age
Generally, a helmet lasts for five years of warranty. This depends on the helmet retailer and the usage. To know how long are motorcycle helmets requires good maintenance to keep your helmet lasts its durability.
If you have worn your helmet for more than five years, it is time to need a replacement. Even if your helmet is in good condition, you must consider how the components would influence the ride. If you feel the lifespan of your helmet starts to weaken your head protection, it is time to replace a new headgear. You will get the idea of how long does a motorcycle helmet last.
Usage
Your helmet exposed to different residues and the changing weather pattern during your ride. If you hit the road frequently, the consistent use weakens the function of head protection. Your helmet will not have the same head protection, as it would normally do.
If you have worn your helmet very often, you need to replace your headgear. Rain, fog, dust, snow, bugs, sand and other residues damage your helmet over time.
Number of accidents
This is such an obvious sign of helmet deterioration and must replace for better head protection. How long does a motorcycle helmet last depends on the number of accidents. Riders continue to wear the damaged helmet after the accident.
Once you have met the crash, you must take off your helmet and get your head x-rayed for any signs of brain damage. Wearing the broken helmet will not do any good to protect your head from accidents. If you have been through several crashes, look for any marks on the exterior and the interior of the helmet. To replace the helmet after the crash is to buy a new headgear.
Helmet becomes loose
The helmet should fit snugly onto your head. When you shake or nod your head, the helmet sticks to your head like glue. Due to frequent wearing and occasional rides, the helmet becomes loose over time. To feel if your helmet has become loose is to shake your head.
If you have noticed the helmet slides off while shaking, it is a sign that the interior lining became compacted. This is where you need a replacement. You must check the adhesive function of the interior lining. Never wear the loose helmet during your ride.
Interior starts deteriorating
When the helmet becomes a frequent use, the interior lining deteriorates first. If you notice flakes, grease, cracks and dandruff, you need to wash the interior or replace a new helmet. The reason the interior deteriorates is that the helmet will not have the ability to absorb the inner liner, as it would normally do.
If you have gotten into a crash, make sure you check the interior lining for any signs of cracks or deformation of the foam. The hair products you use affect the interior of your helmet. Make sure you replace the helmet if your interior starts to deteriorate.
Exterior starts deteriorating
The exterior is the next part that deteriorates after the crash. If you see any marks, scratches or begins to fall apart. You can tell the helmet is no longer safe for head protection.
During the accident, the exterior shell is the first contact with another vehicle. This causes the shell to form a crack before it reaches to your head. If you have met the crash and the shell tears apart, you must replace a new helmet.
Strap or lock failure
The chinstrap forms corrosion over time due to the exposure of weather and dirt. This causes the strap to become rust, which you must replace the chinstrap or buy a new helmet. The chinstrap keeps your helmet in place, if you feel that the straps have stopped working, it is time for a replacement.
Conclusion
Here is the informative guide about how long does a motorcycle helmet last. You can see a motorcycle helmet has a definite timeframe to end the product. Riders replace their helmets due to impacts or frequent rides to ensure better head protection. If you want to protect your head from accidents, you must refer to the guide on when to acquire helmet replacement.
So do take good care of your helmet and enjoy the ride!
You can also read how long does a motorcycle chain last and what to do after a motorcycle accident.