Helmet Testing?

[veeeffarr]

Over the past year, my AGV Airtech has been knocked against doorframes, and dropped on the floor from bike height ones (landed on the bit where you put your head in LOL, didn't hit the shell)

Just wondered if there's anywhere that tests it for cheap?

Don't fancy shelling out for a new lid when I've got my MOT/Insurance/DAS/EVIL TAX FINE this month too.

[GearboxGeezer]

Well you should really not use the lid if you have dropped it.

This would be ok in an ideal world but sadly we dont all have money to get a new lid each time we drop it.. ( not me anyway.. )

Ive heard that Arai do "xrays" on there crash helmets ( maybe others to ) but to be honest can you really trust them? I mean if they say its dangerously damaged, then they would be getting money since you would have to buy a new one..

[ncrn]

how often do you use the helmet? I was told by my cbt instructor you should replace a helmet that is used frequently after 1 year of use, 2 years if the helemt is used less often.

[mistergixer]

Here's my understanding of it:
A helmet is basically 2 parts, the outer shell and the inner lining.
Broadly, the shell is pretty much there to cover the lining and to protect against stones etc. In a high impact crash, it's not uncommon for the shell to split open.
It's the lining which does the job of absorbing the force of an impact by squashing itself against your head - effectively decelerating the force of an impact.
So, whilst it's not a good idea to chuck your lid around, dropping it doesn't produce the same sort of result as a crash - there is nothing inside the helmet to stop the force being spread out or dissiapated without the lining compressing - it'll probably just bounce.
Now put the helmet on and dive head first onto the ground from a height of 3 feet or more - with the lid stuck between the ground and the weight of your head/body (heading downwards) the lining will compress to soften the force of impact.
So, dropping isn't reccomended, but isn't the end of a helmet - however always chuck away a lid that's been damaged in a crash.
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[mr.z]

Provided your head wasn't in it at the time i can't see a problem, the idea you need to replace your helmet it it falls off your bike on the floor is absurd, but helmet makers (and magazines) wont be any rush to indicate otherwise!

The age may make a difference though, 5/6 years might need to think of replaceing it!

Got a "pisspot" elmit of my dads thats 30 years old, the inside is pretty much solid as the outer
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[veeeffarr]

Thanks for that,

The idea that my head wasn't in it at the time, therefore not much damage, was my way of thinking too

[instigator]

[Kitten]

Some manufacturers Xray them to see if they're f**ked. Arai do.
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[ncrn]

[akaDAVE]

I've always been sceptical of this theory that a helmet is useless if it's been dropped from hand height.
I'm sure they are quite delicate and will be compromised if the inside foam is cracked or badly dented but I think that it has become a bit of a popular myth among bikers that you might as well throw it away if dropped.
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GSXR600

[Bendy]

Not too long ago, I attacked a Shoei Raid with a belt sander and took it all the way back to the composite stuff.

It was quite interesting, lots of patches of matting with lines on them (presumably indicating the direction of weave). And even with this lid, which had been high-sided in and scraped down a track for a reasonable distance, there was very little damage to the composite itself, the paint had been worn through but the inner shell material was barely touched.

You have to *really* try to fuck up a helmet, especially if it's not containing your head. I've got lids that I've dropped countless times, bashed against things, used as shopping baskets... I don't worry at all about wearing them.

The only time I've replaced a lid after a drop was when I dropped my flip-face Lazer onto a hard tile floor and one of the clips that keep the flip down broke off. That didn't impress me much.

[Sephiroth]

[Sephiroth]

Groovy, I want something like a HUD.

I always used to drop my old helmet.

Gave it to the missus to use now .

[Itchy]

[Itchy]

Siggi is right , you'd be surprised however how few people will ride with you when you present to them a scratched to fook helmet with barely any paint left on it.
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[fenton]

Im still undecided. Ive heard that some makes of helmet only put a decent amout of protection in the set tes areas. And then skimp on the rest. Anyone know???? i dont wanna destroy my HJC to find out

[benc]

The thing is you cant see the damage you do when you drop a helmet. IT compresses the foam inside the lid where the shell is and leaves a gap there. so if you do crash there is less material to absorb the impact. it doesnt matter if the shell is ok because the damage is on the inside.

But saying that ive kicked one around beaten it with a hammer then cut in half and there wasnt much damage to the foam inside.