The lid don't bounce!!

[flamegrape]

This morning I was leaving for work and I dropped my helmet. It slipped from my hand onto a tiled floor with a horrible heart-wrenching *smack*.

I'm worried it's now no good to use?? There was no force throwing it downward and it fell from about my man-helmet height. Should I now be filing this under 'B' or do you think it'll be OK to use??

Thanks guys!
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Jonny (Riding his Kawasaki ZX6R J1)
It's one big learning curve right now

[skithepowder]

It's probably compromised, doesn't take much, once the polystyrene is compressed even a bit, it loses it's protection value.

What kind of helmet is it? If it's an expensive lid or a shoei/arai try taking it to your local dealer and they can have a closer look at it maybe. I was told by a shoei dealer not long ago that they can tell if it's compromised on the newer shoei helmets if they take the liner out az they "paint it" or something so they can tell if it's been compressed. I can't remember the details.

Do you have it insured? Home insurance if not special helmets and leathers insurance may well cover it.

[flamegrape]

Thanks!

It's a Shark S900 (Fost Lumi). There is no signs of physical damage to it - on the outside at least - but obviously this doesn't mean there is no "interior" damage.

I will see about getting it to a dealer. I paid £250 for it. I'd have to see about House Insurance as I don't have lid'n'leather cover
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Jonny (Riding his Kawasaki ZX6R J1)
It's one big learning curve right now

[Raffles]

Only you can decide what you want to do. Personally, I do not buy into all of this stuff about having to bin a helmet after even just a minor bump. If they were that fragile then what protection would they offer to you if you were bouncing down the carriageway bumping your head several times in the process?
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A good loser will always be a loser.

[flamegrape]

[skithepowder]

You could always get lid and leather insurance, you never know you might have an accident in a week or two

[Minty]

I would go with probability, personally.

If the inner has some minor damage then what is the probability of it receiving another impact, whilst attached to my head, in that same spot that would be sufficient to cause injury.

Regards
Minty*









* holds no responsibility for above remarks.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[flamegrape]

skithepowder... good idea!!

Minty... I'm gonna check it properly tonight and if it looks OK, maybe hang onto it. It does seem crazy that if they receive a bump they have to be replaced... every time. Especially at the cost they are!!
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Jonny (Riding his Kawasaki ZX6R J1)
It's one big learning curve right now

[Ingah]

[Digitalize]

I've dropped my S900 a few times now, from various heights, its definitely not cracked or anything, doesn't unusually twist etc, but then i can't tell if the polystyrene has been comprimised.

I don't think its too bad, although it's always in my mind, and has made me more likely to buy a new lid if i see one i like.
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1998 CB600F Hornet

[HD]

[Inkognito]

Here's a clip with jay leno and a guy from Arai.
About halfway into the clip they're showing some crashed helmets and he's explaining that if you drop the helmet or if it falls off the seat of your bike or something then it will still be ok.

If you drop the helmet and your head isn't inside it then it's just reacting to nothing. But if you crash then it's reacting against your head and then it does what it's supposed to do and you should replace it.

I've seen a few times where people like that explain that it really is a myth that if you drop your helmet then it's no good anymore.
It makes sense what he says. Watch it and see

https://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/091016arai.htm

[flamegrape]

I'll watch that when I get in tonight.

It makes sense that on impact with the road, when wearing it, the protective foam inside it being compressed between your skull and the road surface. Hopefully not damaging your skull in the process.

If it hits something without resistance on both sides, it sounds feasible it'll flex but not be damaged. It's made to compress to absorb/dissipate shock... mmmm.... I'll watch the video and make up my mind.

Brilliant... thank you peoples. You've put my mind at ease somewhat!!
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Jonny (Riding his Kawasaki ZX6R J1)
It's one big learning curve right now

[Paxovasa]

I would continue to use it. A 3 foot drop should be fine.
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[Inkognito]

Yeah i wouldn't worry about it.
The way they're designed to work it shouldn't do any damage other than maybe scratch it a bit if you drop it.
Can't say what it does though if you continually drop it. Say if it falls off every time you put it in the seat of the bike
But once or twice i wouldn't worry about it at all.

[Clanger]

It's your head...you decide.

Noone can make the call for you. Only you know how far it fell, how it sounded...I know what I'd do, but then I will happily wear denim jeans when it's too hot.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Bloke]

If it was a proper clobber i'd but a new helmet and relegate it to a spare.

I don't buy into magical turn on and off helmets.

At the end of the day it's just packing material in there and contrary to the belief that it had nothing to react against, it is fastened to the shell of the helmet thus rigid and will deform under loads.

Drop a piece of polystyrene with 1.75kg fastened to it (the weight of my hjc helmet) onto the floor, will it deform of course it will.

As they say, it's your funeral.
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2008 VFR800 VTEC

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Depends how comfortable you are using it. It's not a choice someone else can make for you as we all have differing lvels of acceptable risk.
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My Flickr

[pinkyfloyd]