Our helmets
are the single most important part of safety gear. They protect our noggins from impact with hard-shelled bugs, rocks thrown
up by other vehicles, and most importantly, in the event of a crash; they are the only thing standing between the road and
our skulls. While our bodies are not built to survive an impact with another vehicle or the road, our heads are the most vulnerable
part of our anatomy. Although it is unpleasant, we can usually survive road rash, and broken bones, but none of us are likely
to survive our brains being scrambled by an impact with the road. So,
when should we replace our helmets?
As soon as your
helmet is manufactured, the shell begins to deteriorate. Since this deterioration is not always visible, the production date
is your best indicator. You will find it on a sticker inside the liner, or stamped into the leather portion of the chin- strap.
Every helmet manufactured since 1974 should have the production date in it. When you buy a new helmet, check the date. Some
dealers may have old helmets in their stock and the “new” helmet you are buying may be about to expire. Generally,
a helmet should be replaced four to five years after that date.
You
should also replace your helmet if it has been in a crash. Helmets are designed for single impact use and once they have absorbed
the impact of a crash, they cannot be trusted to protect you against another one.
What
about dropping it, do I need to replace it? According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, dropping a helmet does not necessarily
require replacement. Inspect the helmet for cracks or other damage and if you find any, then it should be replaced.
The
rigid foam lining in the helmet will be lined with a soft fabric lining. This lining will be secured to the inside of the
helmet, and eventually will start to pull loose or come apart. When this happens, as it has in my helmet, you should replace
it.
You
also need to periodically inspect the chinstrap and the buckle. If there are tears or frays in the chinstrap, or if the buckle
has any stress fractures, the helmet should be replaced.
So what do you look for in a helmet? I’ll cover those details
in next month’s article, but if you must buy one before then, look for the most important part of a helmet: That is
the DOT and SNELL certifications. All helmets will bear one or both certifications if it has been properly manufactured and
tested.
Until
then, remember, ride your own ride, ride safe, and arrive alive.
