Five (5) year rule?

llhank · 05-27-2005, 9:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyL

What I have written here on this subject is only my opinion and I am not claiming anything else.

I certainly have searched the internet for actual facts about this and found none, including on the sites you mentioned. The nearest I found was this on the Snell site:
http://www.smf.org/headsup/headsup25.html
See the section "replacing your helmet" by Ed Hunter.
Apparently he has done some actual testing on used helmets, but sadly does not publish the detailed results. He says he'd tested 26 used helmets of various ages, the oldest must have been 30+ years old. Some were Snell-certified and some weren't. No allowance was made for condition or what treatment they'd received. More than half were found to still pass the Snell standard that was in force when they were new. Without seeing the data there are numerous unanswered questions - had the older helmets degraded more, had the ones that failed been dropped or crashed etc.

I'd love to read some genuine research into how much less protection a 6-year-old helmet gives than a 4-year-old or new one. However until someone finds any such publication I guess we're stuck with exchanging opinions.

Your opinion is just as good as anyone else's. You don't have to trust another's opinions, standards, or biases to apply to you. Your experience makes you the best judge of what's best. Some people like to follow 'gurus' in making choices while some are perfectly capable of thinking for themselves.
Beyond that, realize that there are many self-serving interests out there (and here) that depend upon planned obsolescence in products. They'd just love for you to discard a perfectly good helmet in favor of a new, different one every 5 years, or even more frequently, if they could get away with it. Typical ploys include styling, upgraded standards, and implied better construction due to higher cost. It's your decision as to whether these factors are real or frivolous in your particular situation.
I've tried Bell, Icon, AGV, Arai, and Shoei. Had crashes with Bell and Shoei and both held up. As for comfort, I rank them Icon, AGAVE, Shoe, Bell, and Ar (worst.) I don't need any experts to make those judgements for me.

cbr99xx · 05-27-2005, 11:37 PM

My Shoei has a Snell date of M2000 BUT a manufacture date of 10/02.

I sweated this a bit because I've only owned the helmet a couple of years (almost) and did buy the outdated design for economy purposes (parameters also including safety).

I know that the liner material does break down after time... I've witnessed this first hand (with my Bro's CBX matched helmet).

What I didn't know was what the limit was... A hundred bucks a year to save what little Intel I have left seems like a bargain to me.

I also believe in planned obsolescence, I also believe that when you attach "safety" to an item I become a bit apprehensive.

BUT.... I (at some point) have to surrender my 'supposed' experience with an item... or a thing... AND realize that I may not be the center of the universe.

It's as though you know that when you come under that bridge and match your line to the "s" that your line will work. Someone can tell you about that line... The only way to tell if it will work is to try it yourself.

As far as helmets go... I'd rather take someone's word than try it myself...!!!.

sheepofblue · 03-06-2006, 2:40 PM

FYI for anyone looking at or owning a Fulmer and looking for the born on date:

"
Under the cloth lining of your helmet, you will find a month/year of production stamped into the EPS (styrofoam). It varies by helmet where it is stamped - but you should be able to lift up the interior lining flaps to find it.

Helmets should be replaced after 5 years regardless of condition because the EPS degrades with time. I'm sure this is why they're wanting to make sure you're as protected as you possibly can be.
"

From Fulmer customer service (quick reply) Also for Fireblades.org days be sure your model is Snell 2000 (or 2005) as not all models are.

abtech · 03-06-2006, 6:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

FYI for anyone looking at or owning a Fulmer and looking for the born on date:

"
Under the cloth lining of your helmet, you will find a month/year of production stamped into the EPS (styrofoam). It varies by helmet where it is stamped - but you should be able to lift up the interior lining flaps to find it.

Helmets should be replaced after 5 years regardless of condition because the EPS degrades with time. I'm sure this is why they're wanting to make sure you're as protected as you possibly can be.
"

From Fulmer customer service (quick reply) Also for Fireblades.org days be sure your model is Snell 2000 (or 2005) as not all models are.

Sheep, you need to read the FAQ. We are allowing the Euro standards this year (everything else remains the same as to age and condition).

sheepofblue · 03-06-2006, 7:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

Sheep, you need to read the FAQ. We are allowing the Euro standards this year (everything else remains the same as to age and condition).

I know but some Fulmer's are DOT only vs DOT/Snell thus I believe would not qualify under the new rules either

Stealth · 03-06-2006, 10:59 PM

I find this all very interesting because they've been telling me 7 years (I'm in Aus)

abtech · 03-07-2006, 9:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealth

I find this all very interesting because they've been telling me 7 years (I'm in Aus)

That's because the materials wear out backwards down there.

abtech · 03-07-2006, 9:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

I know but some Fulmer's are DOT only vs DOT/Snell thus I believe would not qualify under the new rules either

DOT only helmets will not make it through tech, I can assure you.

sheepofblue · 03-07-2006, 9:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

DOT only helmets will not make it through tech, I can assure you.

Thus my warning to be sure the model is Snell

I remember last year many people were asking where to find the born on date for various makes. To my knowledge no one found a Fulmer date so I thought I would pass it along.

Of all the brands Fulmer actually fits at #3 for me behind Arai and Shoei. Maybe even ahead of Shoei. Finding an Arai in the south is harder than finding the winning lotto ticket

Also a Shoei is actually a bit worse fit but has a super comfy liner. So I am considering a Fulmer unless I can find an RX7 that isn't already 4 years old and $500+

luvtolean · 03-07-2006, 1:29 PM

Sharkskinz and carbon bodywork...and you bitch about the price of a top of the line helmet.

Dude, rethink your priorities.

sheepofblue · 03-10-2006, 9:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Sharkskinz and carbon bodywork...and you bitch about the price of a top of the line helmet.

Dude, rethink your priorities.

Not at all. It is not paying for a Arai it is finding one. No one stocks them and the warehouses have a 10 helmet minimum to get setup as an Arai dealer. Trying to find a way around the minimum but so far no luck.

PS I love my Arai, it is easily worth the $$$

SomeStrangeGuy · 03-31-2006, 9:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheepofblue

Trying to find a way around the minimum but so far no luck.

Let me help, tucker rocky is carrying Arai for 2006. Now you just need to find a stealership in your area that already has an account setup with them which shouldn't be too much of a problem I'd hope...of course your parts guy will have to measure it for you and check fitment etc. etc. as per Arai's prici..I mean fitment guides

I'm buying a Shoei, 5 year rule in effect.
After the girlfriend ordered a new TZ-r for herself, I was contemplating doing similar...on the way home one of the air vents ripped off my RX-7rr, I'll take that as a sign.

Quinc · 04-04-2006, 2:46 AM

what about just replacing the pads in your helmet?

SomeStrangeGuy · 04-04-2006, 3:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quinc

what about just replacing the pads in your helmet?

Think about what your putting inside it my good man, spare no expense.

HondaGalToo · 04-04-2006, 6:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quinc

what about just replacing the pads in your helmet?

Nope, doesn't count. It's not the pads that are the problem, per se. After 5 years the styrofoam and other materials making up the hard shell start to degrade.

Quinc · 04-04-2006, 11:46 PM

good point.

MrIncredible · 04-06-2006, 11:38 PM

Trackdays aside, my RF 800 earned the name "Old Stinky" upon the purchase of my RF-1000 last year. I still like "Old Stinky", but it was time to move on after five years (as is the rule).

After 6 months of use, the RF-1000 took a direct blow followed by a roll up onto my head for me and held up quite nice. I would have an 8 inch zipper on my skull and questionable amounts of brain left without it. There's no telling what might have happened with the 800 due to its age. Still, it would have been nice to get more than 6 months out of the new helmet...

The riding season is upon us and I'm not sure what to get next.