Five (5) year rule?

abtech · 05-20-2005, 1:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colryn

They state that all they sell are brand new and in the box. Feedback is 99% with over 500 transactions.

Ask them what year the Snell cert is for and for the date of manufacture.

llhank · 05-20-2005, 1:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colryn

They state that all they sell are brand new and in the box. Feedback is 99% with over 500 transactions.

Use the ebay 'contact' feature and make sure the seller knows exactly what you expect. They've always responded to my inquiries.

Supperconductor · 05-20-2005, 1:42 PM

Also don't take most web (non-ebay) retailers prices at face value. It seems as official dealers they have agreed to pricing policies set by the manufacturers. This is a common practice for other types of products too (e.g. Italian espresso machines). I found that if you call their order desk, they can give you a better price verbally which doesn't seem to violate their "MAP" agreement. For example I just ordered by Shoei X11 from Helmet Harbor and got a verbal quote way lower than the price listed on the web site.

xraycatj · 05-20-2005, 5:16 PM

my rf-1000 is still as awesome as ever!

matt232 · 05-20-2005, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llhank

The fit is great and the view better than ARAI because it doesn't have those dumb black vents on the face shield (just the right size to blank out a car.)

You have flying cars in your end of the world?

matt232 · 05-20-2005, 11:09 PM

I was told helmets have a life of 2-3 years and after wearing my shark day in day out for only a year and it already started to get loose I can understand why.....is the 5 year rule used only in areas where you guys hung up the helmet for half the year?

llhank · 05-23-2005, 8:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt232

You have flying cars in your end of the world?

Actually, when you're in a crouch the top of Arai's view field is about even with the road, hence, those dumb vents are in line with the traffic.
Other helmets, notably Shoei and Icon in my experience, sit differently so there is more visibility anyway along with having an unobstructed shield.
Someone said the Arai is designed to better fit the egg-shaped head which means a rounder head causes the helmet to shift down. This may be true.
The bottom line is you should test fit a variety of helmets to see what gives the best visibility for YOU.

SpookyjacK · 05-24-2005, 9:27 AM

First of all i was at a dealer rep show a few years back and met an arai rep showed me what makes arai an arai watched a video on the company and was impressed by how he guessed my head size and shape w/o a tape measure then measured my head, numbers matching told me to get either quantum or rx7 w 12mm top pad and 25mm cheek pads and ive never worn a lid that fit me so well i can wear it for hours no probs. He also told me that the 5year rule is because the natural oils in your skin start to break down the eps liner "expanded polystyrene" so that is why you must change every 5 years. If only they weren't so damn expensive here in canada the rx7rr4 was 1199.99 damn thats a lot of money for a average joe.

AndyL · 05-24-2005, 9:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt232

I was told helmets have a life of 2-3 years and after wearing my shark day in day out for only a year and it already started to get loose I can understand why.....is the 5 year rule used only in areas where you guys hung up the helmet for half the year?

I've worn my Shoei XR-800 pretty much every day for nearly 5 years - it's still in great condition and fits just fine. I'd have an easier time accepting the "5 year rule" if I heard it from someone whose business wasn't selling helmets...
Although it is an excuse to go out and buy that Michael Rutter replica XR-1000 I've been hankering after I suppose.

Baketech · 05-24-2005, 9:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llhank

Actually, when you're in a crouch the top of Arai's view field is about even with the road, hence, those dumb vents are in line with the traffic.

A crouch in traffic....puhleeze...

sheepofblue · 05-24-2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyL

I've worn my Shoei XR-800 pretty much every day for nearly 5 years - it's still in great condition and fits just fine. I'd have an easier time accepting the "5 year rule" if I heard it from someone whose business wasn't selling helmets...
Although it is an excuse to go out and buy that Michael Rutter replica XR-1000 I've been hankering after I suppose.

You did. The track organizations job is to provide a reasonably safe high speed experience not sell helmets. Dead riders are not repeat customers

llhank · 05-24-2005, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baketech

A crouch in traffic....puhleeze...

Oh, you don't have cars on your highways? He thinks of traffic only in the city at slow speed. A CITY SQUID, no doubt.

Baketech · 05-24-2005, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llhank

Oh, you don't have cars on your highways? He thinks of traffic only in the city at slow speed. A CITY SQUID, no doubt.

LMAO, yeah...you got me pegged...

There's just no need to be in a tuck on the highway...

AndyL · 05-24-2005, 2:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

You did. The track organizations job is to provide a reasonably safe high speed experience not sell helmets. Dead riders are not repeat customers

Sorry where was that, I must have missed it.

There doesn't seem to be any such requirement in the UK, AFAICT trackday organisers only require a BSI/CE/ACU sticker and that the helmet is in good condition.

<Devil's advocate> are the track organisations in the US basing their 5-year regulation on anything other than the manufacturers' recommendations?

sheepofblue · 05-24-2005, 2:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyL

Sorry where was that, I must have missed it.

There doesn't seem to be any such requirement in the UK, AFAICT trackday organisers only require a BSI/CE/ACU sticker and that the helmet is in good condition.

<Devil's advocate> are the track organisations in the US basing their 5-year regulation on anything other than the manufacturers' recommendations?

Trackday and race organizations in the states have the rule (5 year) although I am not sure it is universal. They also have certification (Snell or European standards). I imagine it is in part due to manufacturer recommendations. Shoei knows a LOT more about helmets and materials used to make them than I do, who would you listen to?

abtech · 05-24-2005, 5:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyL

Sorry where was that, I must have missed it.

There doesn't seem to be any such requirement in the UK, AFAICT trackday organisers only require a BSI/CE/ACU sticker and that the helmet is in good condition.

<Devil's advocate> are the track organisations in the US basing their 5-year regulation on anything other than the manufacturers' recommendations?

They base them on experience. All crashed helmets in several organizations are dissected or returned to the manufacturer for evaluation. Snell even does crashed helmet evaluations. Statistics have shown older helmets don't fair as well in high speed crashes and since the mid 80's most racing organizations have enforced the 5 year rule.

Zippy · 05-24-2005, 6:28 PM

Here's a question for ya. Not that it has to do with safety, but what is the track day reality? Has anyone ever had their helmet strap inspected at a track day for the date stamp? I've done 41 of them with four different organizations, and never once have I seen this inspection done as a regular course of business. I'm not talking races, but just track days.

abtech · 05-24-2005, 7:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippy

Here's a question for ya. Not that it has to do with safety, but what is the track day reality? Has anyone ever had their helmet strap inspected at a track day for the date stamp? I've done 41 of them with four different organizations, and never once have I seen this inspection done as a regular course of business. I'm not talking races, but just track days.

Trackoholics checks every date and Snell sticker every time.

Oh and just because someone doesn't check the manufacturing date, that doesn't mean your 7 year old helmet will work any better. We aren't talking rocket science here. Why would you want to take a chance on one of the things you actually CAN control about riding a motorcycle?

Zippy · 05-24-2005, 8:50 PM

Duh! That's why I said my comment did not address safety, because I was looking to avert the unneeded editorializing and just get a question answered.

With that out of the way, is there anyone who has attended at Trackoholics track day that will confirm this? Have any of you ever attended a Trackoholics track day where they did not inpect your helmet?

sheepofblue · 05-24-2005, 10:18 PM

I believe Abtech is very familiar with them. Also I realize you did not want to editorialize but his point hopefully negates the need for an answer.

Zippy · 05-25-2005, 12:27 AM

I think it's a valid question. My question is how many track day orgs are checking this. The answer so far, one.

abtech · 05-25-2005, 8:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippy

I think it's a valid question. My question is how many track day orgs are checking this. The answer so far, one.

And the only one I am familiar with as an instructor.

I can say for certain that STT hasn't ever verified I even "have" a helmet. CCS, WERA and GLRRA all were pretty consistent with checking for age and certs at every round. WERA uses the AFM technique with helmet stickers, but still require a visual inspection at each event.

llhank · 05-25-2005, 8:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippy

Here's a question for ya. Not that it has to do with safety, but what is the track day reality? Has anyone ever had their helmet strap inspected at a track day for the date stamp? I've done 41 of them with four different organizations, and never once have I seen this inspection done as a regular course of business. I'm not talking races, but just track days.

At the track days I've attended in Loudon, NH I haven't seen them check anyone's helmet date stamp, including mine.

AndyL · 05-25-2005, 9:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

They base them on experience. All crashed helmets in several organizations are dissected or returned to the manufacturer for evaluation. Snell even does crashed helmet evaluations. Statistics have shown older helmets don't fair as well in high speed crashes and since the mid 80's most racing organizations have enforced the 5 year rule.

So they're basing the rule on experience gained prior to the mid-80's?

abtech · 05-25-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyL

So they're basing the rule on experience gained prior to the mid-80's?

You just don't give up do you. The race organizations test crashed helmets on an ongoing basis and have since the early 80s.

Maybe if you took the time to search a bit on this wonderful thing known as the internet, you could find out some real information as opposed to what is apparently just your own opinion. The Wegman Fund, Rusty Bradley Memorial Fund, the FIM, AFM, AMA Racing and several regional outfits have lots of this information posted out there. You could also take a look at www.SMF.org for some actual facts about helmet integrity, resin aging and current testing procedures in place in this country.