Replacing helmet after mild crash

dawg

Member
I was wondering if it's necessary to replace a helmet after a mild crash? I was on a track and went on the grass, wiped out, rolled a couple times and felt my head bump the ground.

There are no visual damages on the helmet since the impact was on grass but I'm not sure if the shell structure has been compromised.

It's a shoei rf1200, 5 years old. I know they say to replace them every 5 so maybe I should anyway? They are just so damn expensive.

Thanks.

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The shell may not show any signs of damage but it is the styrofoam liner of the helmet that compresses when a helmet received an impact. You may not be able to see if the liner has compressed but if your head hit the ground at all, chances are it has.

Best advice replace it. Up to you it is your head!
 
Honestly? Replace it. You only have one head. You may have hit it harder than you realize.
 
Replace it or risk getting a concussion and brain hemorrhage where you'll find blood coming out of your ear and having an operation done by cutting your skull open, stick tubes inside to drain it, and being completely exhausted/functional for a month+

I've had the latter before; not from using a crashed helmet but it serves a gentle reminder to not reuse a helmet without a professional opinion (x-ray). Also the inner liner degrades over time so it will absorb/compress less...which could lead to the above still.
 
Helmets are crazy cheap these days. You can get a Snell-rated full face for a hunnerd bucks. Replace.

My bro just got a Bell Vortex for our dad, $100 from GP Bikes.
 
I believe shoei has a program where you can send in your helmet and check to see the integrity is still there.
 
x-ray would only show any damage to the shell under the paint. The styro wouldn't show up AFAIK. It's at a range to replace anyways, so better safe than sorry. You could always look at getting it checked if Shoei has a program and use it as a spare if it passes.
 
When a helmet that is used for sane street riding gets a slight bump I question replacing it every time. However in racing the potential of needing only the best in safety puts it at the top of the list. Add the age to that and it's time to go shopping.

The link below is to a situation I find uncomfortable. One shouldn't laugh at a person with a disability but if they're a comedian not laughing is an insult. However the helmet related part (Concussion) comes in around the 2:00 mark.


http://www.wimp.com/stutter-comedian/
 
You can send your shoei helmet to the company for X-ray.
They will send you it back with a letter stating whether it's safe or not.
I did it with mine after a crash, and still wore it afterwards.

Again as others have said helmets have come down in price a lot.
 
If you dropped it without a weight in it, you might be o.k. If there was a head in it when it hit, that's different.
In any case you're better off making sure that it's o.k. before using it. But, it's your head, and your money.

When a helmet that is used for sane street riding gets a slight bump I question replacing it every time. However in racing the potential of needing only the best in safety puts it at the top of the list. Add the age to that and it's time to go shopping.

The link below is to a situation I find uncomfortable. One shouldn't laugh at a person with a disability but if they're a comedian not laughing is an insult. However the helmet related part (Concussion) comes in around the 2:00 mark.


http://www.wimp.com/stutter-comedian/

I would think that you have that reversed. Tracks tend to be set up somewhat for rider safety, the streets do not.
 
Think of it this way...once you replace this one for the bike, you get a new helmet for gokarting. That's what I plan to do when I retire mine.
 
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