When to replace Lid?

[stevo as b4]

Sorry to bring up this old chestnut again!

But my trusty Arai Quantum F is nearly 15years old now. It's only done probably 9000miles, and had little use for 5years or more.

Fit is good, and I've washed it out and it's nice and clean inside too. Would it be a good idea to look at a new lid soon, or would you just keep using an old lid that your happy with, if it's got no damage.

I even have 2spare visors, one still in the packaging for it, so unless I spash out on a new Simpson bandit I'm thinking just keep it?

[pepperami]

Low mileage bash-hat in good order, why replace?
Have you been slung down the road with it on?, no, keep using it IMHO
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Dalemac]

Oh FFS Stevo! you really should know this by now.

Do you feel like your 15 year old lid would provide adequate protection in the event of a crash?

Use your noggin and buy some up-to-date protection to protect it with.

EDIT

For got sakes, a simpson lid? What are you, 5 years old?

If you do get one, for the love of god get the motorcycle specific one, not the car one. Two different applications, two completely different safety requirements.

On second thought, just keep the damn 15 year old arai, probably better than a car lid!
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[monkeybiker]

You should replace it. The material deteriorates with time. You can't guarantee it will protect you properly in a crash.

[delsol]

OP is justifying keeping crap because he has spare parts for it.

I've done that before

[Kaneda80]

I beleive the recommendation is to replace after three years, regardless of usage.
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I like turtles

[Rogerborg]

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[monkeybiker]

[monkeybiker]

[Kaneda80]

[stevo as b4]

I'm almost kind of glad I brought this silly boring topic back up now, as differing opinion on what people would do so far.

I know it's done no more than 9400miles, as that's what my ZX6R had done when I sold it, and I had other cheaper lids that used for Pedboi antics and riding my other bikes with. I only ever wore the Arai on the 6R, and I looked after it, always stored in the bag in a dark room etc. It was never dropped either, and I have a spare smoked visor for it, and a new and unused iridium visor in the packaging. (shows the era when I bought it)

My Dainese helmet got chucked out last week (about 9yrs old) as the inner lining had just disintergrated and half of it went in my eye while riding my KMX back from the MOT.

I dragged out the Arai from storage and gave it a clean and a wash/shampoo inside, and I think it's still in great condition. It fits very well, the padding is still tight and firm, and it was always a good fit and fairly quiet too.

I'm not bothered about having a quiet lid, as I don't do many miles and want to hear the 2stroke ring ding too! But I could happily use this lid as it feels like it still has plenty of life left in it.

Though I am a 5yr old I would still be happy to go out tomorrow any buy a new lid if it was genuinely a case of my old lid being dangerous. I do like the Simpson Bandit (I'm an 80's child) and would be choosing for what I like the looks of as long as the fit is good too.

Otherwise I quite like the Bell classic striped look helmets, and have even thought of just buying an MX replica lid for the wannabe motocross rider on the wannabe motocross bike!

[Kaneda80]

Here you go ;)Helmet trade-in offer: Up to 30% off a new helmet this weekend when you trade in your old one! Fri 26 - Sun 28 June. T&Cs apply. More info at www.laguna.co.uk
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I like turtles

[Shaft]

I've bought a couple of new Bells fairly recently (Star Classic and Moto 8) but I still prefer my 12 year old Shoei Raid and my 1990 vintage Simpson Bandit.

Neither have been dropped or crashed and they fit like they did when new, so I'm happy to keep using them.

Tried a new Bandit at last year's Excel show and they've changed the lining, so it's now as hard as nails and twice as uncomfortable, which is disappointing.

I'm tempted by an M30, but I can't find anyone local that has one to try on, so I'll be keeping my powder dry on that.
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Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[MarJay]

Fibreglass lids last 5 years of use before the shell degrades. Replace it.

There are loads of reasonably priced quality lids out there these days. Arai's have got expensive, but HJC and other makes are pretty good now.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[MattEMulsion]

Like the OP I have what was a reasonably expensive Shoei that I bought in 2002, it has done the best part of 25k and has always been looked after, stored properly and never dropped. I do have a new Shoei now that I had a couple of years ago so my old one is redundant as such.


It would be interesting to see it being tested against a new helmet to see whether it has deteriorated with age in the amount of protection it still gives or whether it is mostly marketing hype. And I'm going to guess most of it is marketing waffle.
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Yamaha YZF-R6

[MarJay]

[Rogerborg]

[andyscooter]

I change mine when I see another I like

My loft has about 15 lids in it

All perfectly wearable but I decided I wanted another

I use three regularly

A cheap for work and a nicer one for pleasure riding

And I've got an open faced for that nice day we have every year
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[Northern Monkey]

[Northern Monkey]

My un-referenced opinion would be that a loss of Plasticiser over time in the polystyrene would cause it to become more brittle, and reduce it's energy absorbing ability.

The loss of plasticiser may cause cracking from stresses experienced by the liner which were previously within design limits but now sufficient to cause permanent damage to the energy absorbing layer.
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Fisty: after polishing the tank with the glistenng beads of sweat from my full hot scrotum, I filled the headrace bearings with 10cc of my manmilk

[Aceslock]

Cut the helmut in half to see if the polystyrene has deteriorated, if ok - glue back together and re-use
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Previous Bike: Skyjet SJ27
Sold: Yamaha YZF 600 R Thundercat. Sold: ZX636R
Current bike: R1 14B (Beast)

[Rogerborg]

[DrSnoosnoo]

[Northern Monkey]