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You Crashed, Helmet in the trash?
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Posted by: Masterphil---------------------

What happens with your helmet after you have a crash?

So you just dropped about $400 on a new Shoei or Arai. Your first time out with it on and you crash. This crash is a little harder than your normal get up with a bruise or two crash. You might have broken something weak like a collarbone, but your head feels fine. What do you do with your helmet?

Posted by: Papakeith---------------------

We all know that you are supposed to trash it. The reality of it is I don't have that much extra cash to throw around.
I'll take a look at the shell and then look at the foam for obvious signs that it has been crushed. At that point I'll make a determination on whether or not I'd spring for a new lid.
More often than not, the answer has been no. Once the answer was yes though. Depends on the crash and how much of an impact the helmet absorbed for me.

Posted by: cnielse5---------------------

send it to me. I need more helmets.

Posted by: Patman---------------------

I crashed (several times) last year at DW. One particular crash didn't seem that bad, I actually was spread out on the ground laughing about it. I went back to the RV and checked the outside and inside of the helmet over. Narry a scratch on the outside, inside the foam was slightly dimpled and fractured. As much as it would suck I'd be inclined to by another helmet after a significant impact even if it didn't look like I needed to. Prior to that happening I might have blown it off.

BTW some manufacturers will inspect your helmet if you send it in.

Posted by: cnielse5---------------------

I am not a manufaturer but I will inspect it, just don't plan on getting it back.

Posted by: jaction125---------------------

I use relatively cheap THH helmets, so better safe than sorry. $129 can get me a new (last year model) helmet.

Most higher end helmet manufacturers will xray them for free and give you advice on what to do.

Posted by: mtk---------------------

Manufacturers won't examine them any longer, for liability reasons. Arai used to, but quit years ago because they didn't want to get sued.

As for the original question, I buy a new one, period. Brain injuries are no laughing matter. I've seen folks go from normal to drooling down their chin for the rest of their life and it's not pretty. If you want to risk it, you're stupid in my opinion. Broken bones heal; brain injuries are forever.

And yes, I've done it. I've got two helmets I wore roadracing for ONE trip on the track. Both of them got crashed and both of them are now shelf decorations. Each one was nearly $250 and got less than an hour of use before it was destroyed. Yeah, it was a bummer to buy a new lid after one weekend at the track, but that's life.

This is also the reason you don't buy $400 helmets. You're much, much better off to buy a pair of $200 helmets and protect your single most important organ (the brain) than use a damaged $400 helmet so you can look good right up until you become brain damaged.

Posted by: Senior KX Rider---------------------

If it is a hard crash and I take a good hit in the head......................it goes on a shelf in the garage with 6 or 8 other mostly expensive lids.

Posted by: CaptainObvious---------------------

I use the bounce rule. If my head bounced, I'm buying a new lid. Then again, if I just wanted a new helmet, I might make the crash look worse then it really was

Posted by: oldguy---------------------

Spider went thru 5 helmets this year due to headfirst landings. He actually had 2 result in concussions(3 months apart) and after the first one (knocked goofy for the day and some loss of memory which eventually returned a day or 2 later) there was extensive visible damage both inside and outside.
The 2nd was by far more serious with him being unconsious for over 3 minutes on the track and memory loss about the entire day that lasts to today and the helmet actually shows no sign of any damage other then the visor being cracked off. After that any head impact (at least for him not me) results in a new bucket- he is goofy enough already.
By the end of August the girl at M2R that handles the sponsorred riders knew my voice and had our address handy

Posted by: Masterphil---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainObvious

I use the bounce rule. If my head bounced, I'm buying a new lid. Then again, if I just wanted a new helmet, I might make the crash look worse then it really was

I like that method. Obviously, If I crash hard enough to have a concussion or a major headache that lasts the rest or the day, A new helmet is in order. I've probably crashed 100 times on the helmet that I'm using now, but not one was what I'd call major.

Posted by: KiwiBird---------------------

If I smack my head - it's new lid time.

I only buy the white Arai as they are the cheapest model of one of the best helmets.

Posted by: MrLuckey---------------------

Be very very careful with those concussions, they come easier and easier and the effects are cumulative!

Posted by: ChopperDave---------------------

What kinda freak buys a $400 helmet anyway???? And then crashes it!

Posted by: 2stroke---------------------

Hmmm, Happily, Ive never been faced with that one yet. A few broken bones here and there, but never really whacked my noggin. I think if it took a good shot, Id replace it.

You know what trips me out? 700 pound harleys blowing down the road, and the big biker guy has one of those war helmets that covers about 20 percent of their skull. Yeah, ok. dump it over and yer brain will be lying 20 feet further down the road than the rest of your body. Or your face gets ripped off as you skitter down the hiway.

When I was a kid, I had a friend whos brother wrecked big time on the street. He was in full leathers and a full face helmet. Tore the ass completely out on one side, and the front of the helmet scraped down badly... I mean 1/2 an inch from disaster, as he explained it, he hit face first, and slid that way for a bit before tumbling over. He had that helmet on the mantle. I cant even imagine what would have happened without the full face protection. Other than a square foot of road rash on his ass cheek, he came out pretty good.

Posted by: MikeT---------------------

It depends on the crash. Ivan will tell you that when I hit my head a few years back, I had a concussion and cracked my mouth piece. Got a new helmet.

For a light crash with no big impact, I'll keep the helmet. I think anytime you get a concussion minor or not, it's new helmet time.

Posted by: mtk---------------------

The problem with that plan is that it assumes you can identify a "big impact." It is very possible for the helmet to do its job, preventing the big impact to your noggin, and not be too visibly damaged. Hit it again on the same spot and it is no longer capable of preventing said imact from reaching your cranium.

Posted by: Woodsquest---------------------

If the helmet shows signs of impact or I show affects of the crash, such as any pain or disorientation, then not only do I toss the helmet, I cut the straps so the trash collector isn't tempted to use it or sell it to some unsuspecting kid.

Posted by: MXGirl230---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLuckey

Be very very careful with those concussions, they come easier and easier and the effects are cumulative!

That is true..I had 3 concussions within two months time. First two were pretty mild. The 3rd one though...4th gear pinned, being bucked off and landing head first. That one hurt me. I had to have therapy for two months to learn balance again. I couldn't (and still) can't really remember that day. The only thing I remember is thinking "I'm going to crash". Then everything was black...I still have problems from that crash, and that was 3 yrs ago.

To answer the original question...After the really bad crash landing on my head, that helmet was gone. That is really the only time I have had to get rid of a helmet. If I were to land on my head I would definitely get rid of it.

Posted by: Chili---------------------

Concussion or hard enough impact we are concerned about a possible concussion = new helmet.

Posted by: Thump---------------------

This thread got me thinking.... I have had some pretty good get offs on my Henry replica Shoei over the past 4 years so I figgured it was time to get a new one. Ordered a Troy Lee Designs SE Henry Replica from MX South. Got here yesterday and it rocks!

Posted by: Masterphil---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thump

This thread got me thinking.... I have had some pretty good get offs on my Henry replica Shoei over the past 4 years so I figgured it was time to get a new one. Ordered a Troy Lee Designs SE Henry Replica from MX South. Got here yesterday and it rocks!

Pimp that thing!! I want to see some pics!

Posted by: Moto Squid---------------------

I retired my nice shoei, that was less then a year old, on the shelf after getting knocked out for 5 minutes. I sent it back to Shoei, they inspected it and said it was ok. I bought a HJC AC-X2 and have had that since. It sucked retiring the shoei for light duty work but its not worth risking it with that helmet again. I'll still wear it occassionally, but not for racing, and not for serious practice or big jumping.

Posted by: schwen_108---------------------

I ONLY throw my helmet out if I fall hard enough so the styrofoam in the inside is cracked or broken. But, if you fall over on your head in the pits parking your bike, keep the helmet. I recently broke my old helmet at Washougal Mx Park at the Top Gun Team Shootout on the Chuck Sun jump. I guess I landed on my head, I walked away from it with a mild concussion and a cracked helmet. Now I have a 2006 Thor Force helmet. Never been used yet. Still waiting to get back onto the bike. Although I did have 1 small ride with my old helmet before I threw it away. The whole time I was riding I was hearing styrofoam bouncing around inside the helmet. Than I said that's enough with it and threw it away.

Posted by: Danman---------------------

Dealing with this very issue today. I realy don't want to spend the cash, but the idea of spending time in a wheel chair or drinking my meals through a straw does not appeal to me either. I think I will be spending the money. I passed out, but don't know the cause. Wack to the head or lack of air. I knocked the wind out of myself.

I might just buy a new one and send the old one back to HJC for testing. If they deam its good to go then I will put it back. Until them it just might a momento to remind of some serious pain!

I've yet to remove the liner, but I will say that I had a red lump on my head that corresponds with the scratches on the outside of my lid. I assume the foam is crushed to its limits. I have doubts about the lid so I would feel all warm and comfy if I just spent the money.

Its hard to take as I want a new bike bad!

Posted by: Danman---------------------

BTW This the response to the letter I sent to HJC. I asked if they had any kind of " Safety assement program".

The response.

Dear Sir,

First and foremost, we are truly sorry to hear about your accident. We pray
for a speedy recovery!

Secondly, thank you for purchasing with HJC.

In response to your inquiry, because I was not there to witness the
accident, I cannot determine the relative safety of the helmet since the
accident. However, there could be unforeseen hair-line fractures near the
graphics/decals and/or on the inner-side of the outer shell; hence, my
recommendation is for you to replace the helmet.

Unfortunately, we do not offer a "buy back program," where we
credit/discount your next purchase of HJC helmets. We apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause.

Once again, we pray for a speedy recovery! Thank you.

We appreciate your business and contributions in making HJC Helmets North
America's number one helmet selling company for the past decade. Thank you.

Please visit http://www.hjchelmets.com as we introduce to you our new and
exciting product line (AC-X3, AC-X3 Carbon, CL-15, CL-SP, CL-X5) alongside
its predecessors. There are still more new models to come very soon in the
future!

Sincerely,
HJCA Customer Service Rep

Posted by: tx246---------------------

L-I-A-B-L-I-T-Y!!!! when in doubt.....throw it out. take the fabric liner out and you can see where your head compressed the styrofoam. lots of times they paint them black so cracks show up easily (white styro).

Posted by: MikeT---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by schwen_108

I ONLY throw my helmet out if I fall hard enough so the styrofoam in the inside is cracked or broken..

Remember, the styrofoam can also compress and not be cracked or broken. If the Styrofoam compresses it has done it's job and has lost most of its effectiveness for the next crash. On my original Moto-7 helmet, I was able to remove the cheek/ear foam pieces and see the difference in thickness between the two sides. The side I crashed on was signifigantly thinner than the non crash side.

Posted by: AssistSuper---------------------

When I raced BMX I had retired a number of helmets after wacking the noggin' pretty good.

If I wack my head enough to even daze me or where it hurts my head, I'm going to scrounge up my change and pick up a new one. You only get one brain. From what I can tell, I'm stuck here with half of one, so I have to be extra careful.

Posted by: MikeT---------------------

Yep. Just check out my signature line down there
I
I
I
V

"You can have many helmets but only one head. Protect it!" -MikeT

Posted by: yo its matt!---------------------

IVE HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF CRASHES! and i felt like i had to buy 2 new helmets, in 40ft double faceplant (seeing double for 5 minutes and cracked the helmet) and last thankgiving went riding on saturday, woke up in the hospital with a nurse shining a light in my eyes sunday! i wont wear that helmet ever again but im keeping it i think i owe that one something! i think if i land hard on one spot and compress the foam it would be just my luck to land on that same spot again! ride safe!

Posted by: GETMETOCA---------------------

Well, since my mother drove over mine recently, I've decided that it looks kinda cool all mangled and bent in. I put it up on my shelf in the garage. But no worries, I couldn't get my head in it if I tried.

Shopping for a new one now.

Posted by: rickyd---------------------

I voted too retire the helmet.. SO i just retired a 2 year old HJC clx4

Heres my new HJC ac-x3 modeled by my niece

Posted by: riderdadof4---------------------

so all this talk about about trashing helmat after a get off. I know there is snell ratings and dot approved. just bought the older kids (younger have newer hand me downs) new hats since they were using old ones of mine moto 3 & moto 4. Is there really any differance from 1 to the next as far as safety is a concern? Is a $50 THH as good has a $400 arai?? no racing we just trail/desert ride and the ones I got were dot but didn't say anything about snell.

Posted by: robwbright---------------------

I suspect the answers to this poll are directly related to the answers over at the gross income poll . . . +/- 4%. LOL

I had a really bad get off in my first attempt at a triple. As far as I know I landed flat on my back and the helmet did not take any significant impact. I looked it over inside and out and it looks good as new.

So, as I'm in one of the lower tax brackets (till I get my law licence - just found out I passed the MPRE, so I'm just waiting on the background check to clear), I'll be using it for awhile longer . . .

Posted by: mxgirl118---------------------

depends on the helmet i just threw out my old one. if its a good brand i will see if it has any holes or dents if it dose i will replace it. i got a thor for like $50 it came in yesterday from dennis kirk

Posted by: Avena Quaker---------------------

Helmet to the trash ? Noway, I repair mine with duct tape, works like magic, and makes my head shine in the night.

Posted by: *KISSofDEATH*---------------------

Sure i'd throw it away after each crash...if I had a money tree growing in the back.

Posted by: robwbright---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterphil

100??!! Wow. Any serious injuries?

I can't afford either the medical treatment (no insurance) or the helmets for crashing 100 times. I guess that's why I'm so slow. . .

BTW, I had a really nasty get off last fall, but my back took pretty much all of the impact. I didn't really hit my head, didn't get a headache and the inner parts of the helmet looked brand new. So . . . Still using it.

Posted by: alligatorbling---------------------

i keep mine as medals lol, i have one with scrapes on the top from where it grazed a tree.... talk about close. that was a bad year and a long recovery. i keep that one hanging up on the garage wall as a reminder. but i dont recommend using one after a big impact, yeah they will still shield you from the elements, but not impact. do the research.

Posted by: YamaB---------------------

If it was a really hard impact, I would probably replace it... Otherwise I'd be buying like 5 new helmets per week...

Posted by: BSWIFT---------------------

This LINK is relative to this discussion. Here is a quote for those who don't want to read all of the CFR.

Quote:

One common misconception is that hard hats have a predetermined service life--this is not the case. Both the 1986 and 1997 ANSI standards address service life under maintenance and care of the hard hat. Those standards state that all hard hat components should be inspected daily for signs of dents, cracks, penetration and any damage due to impact, rough treatment, or wear. any hard hat that fails the visual inspection should be removed from service until the problem is corrected.
In addition to everyday wear and tear, ultra violet (UV) radiation can pose a problem for hats constructed of plastic materials. Damage caused by UV radiation is easy to spot: the hat will lose its glossy finish and eventually take on a chalky appearance. Further degradation could cause the shell to actually start flaking away. Once the effects of UV radiation are detected, the hard hat shell should be immediately replaced.

Motorcycle helmets are NOT hardhats but lets face it there has been significant testing on both and I would imagine that these rules would apply equally.
BTW, Capt. Obvious and Oldguy's evaluation techniques sound good to me. As for Spider being "goofy", he gets that from Dave.

Posted by: Kav---------------------

If I lose any memory in a crash or take a solid soil sample I get a new lid. Case in point, I came to DW'03 with a brand new lid. I crashed *hard* and blacked out on the last day. the helmet was about 4 or 5 days old. The next day it was in the dumpster.

Posted by: xsnrg---------------------

There was a device...in fact, I think I read about it on here first. It was a thing you stuck on your helmet and if you had a crash, it told you if your helmet was jarred enough to warrant a replacement. Have they been deemed useless? I'm surprised no one has mentioned it yet in this thread. BTW...I hit a branch hard enough to leave some nasty scratches in the graphics of my AC-X2... most of you were talking about get-offs or head plants...what about hitting tree branches?

Posted by: Kevin003---------------------

Heres a few shots of my helmet. You see i have this thing that everytime i fall off the bike i always land on my head for some reason

Well anyways i don't have the funds for a new helmet so i figure something is better than nothing right

Sorry for the abnormaly large pictures i didn't fell like resizing them

Helmet 1
Helmet2
Helmet3
Helmet4

Posted by: Rubey---------------------

[QUOTE=xsnrg]There was a device...in fact, I think I read about it on here first. It was a thing you stuck on your helmet and if you had a crash, it told you if your helmet was jarred enough to warrant a replacement.[QUOTE]

The device you are referring to is called a Shok-SpotR. It is not a gimmick. The basic device has been in use for more than 30 years. My son and I both race motocross and I have them on all of our helmets. I actively encourage others to use them as well.

The primary device used in the Shok-SpotR was originally developed for the large Main-Frame computer systems removable disk-drives. Like helmets, most of the times the damage to these components was not visible. And like your head, the real damage did not occur until the system crashed due to the use of a bad component.

The device, while it looks very simple, is a precision indicator to register if an impact has exceeded a level that may have caused damage to the helmet. If your head has impacted the ground hard enough to cause the device to turn red, then your helmet has absorbed an impact severe enough to warrant a detailed inspection before you use it again.

Posted by: wirefryer#85---------------------

After getting back into it this year, I unpacked my gear bag and wore my tried-n-true Bell Moto 4 ONCE! I felt like a bobble-head doll! The damned thing was all over the place and I wondered why I wore it racing.

Then I remembered that a new lid cost as much as ft.-n-rear tires plus brakes and a clutch, so those times sitting on the side of the track countin' stars must have been worth it. That poor Bells' foam is compressed and cracked beyond belief and it was K-Y Tight when I bought it.

So now a top shelf HJC sits on my head these days and it'll go the first time we crash and the 'ringing tone' is in my ears.

Has anyone noticed that the new composite lids don't go "thunk" when you whack a tree branch?

They sound more like someone popped off a .22 short in your ear.

And don't throw them away! Either save the washable liners and the visor for your next same brand lid or put them up on the wall so you can tell the grandnippers how ya' almost got wasted but the HELMET saved your ass!

Posted by: Masterphil---------------------

I got a new lid!!

Posted by: mdkuder---------------------

I agree with the bouncing head comment, haven't had that happen yet, must not be riding hard enough!

Posted by: mtk---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by wirefryer#85

And don't throw them away! Either save the washable liners and the visor for your next same brand lid or put them up on the wall so you can tell the grandnippers how ya' almost got wasted but the HELMET saved your ass!

Very true. I've got a half-dozen ex-roadracing helmets that have rash all over them, all of which happened with my head inside it.

If those aren't conversation pieces, I don't know what is.

Posted by: oldguy---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by trial_07

I crashed hard on my head at the beginning of summer and had only a minor concussion so I guess it's all right.

That is almost the most stupid statement I have ever heard

. When would you decide it wasn't any good anymore? Once you have sufferred a head/brain injury?
That helmet has done the job it was designed to do (hence only a minor concussion) and needs to be replaced. I know it is expensive but not nearly as much as the citizens of Canada paying for someone to sop up your drool and change your diapers the rest of your life.

Posted by: Octane250F---------------------

It depends how hard of a crash it is. If I just layed the bike over in a slow speed corner I might not. However, if I know that I bashed my head on the ground and it took me a while to regain my senses and get up, Id throw the helmet out.
You can always buy another helmet. Its only money and you can always make more. However, if you scramble your brains there is no fix for that. I find it kind of interesting that people will buy a bike and spend $1000 for an aftermarket pipe but will try to cut cost on safety gear. Its kinda sad, really...

Posted by: Josherichy---------------------

save it to pass down

Posted by: VintageDirt---------------------

I don't know about modern helmets but back in the day we had an SOP for new helmets. Before you ever wore it you would put good size scratch on it. That way you wouldn't crash on your first ride with the new helmet.

Posted by: lefty20---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterphil

What happens with your helmet after you have a crash?

So you just dropped about $400 on a new Shoei or Arai. Your first time out with it on and you crash. This crash is a little harder than your normal get up with a bruise or two crash. You might have broken something weak like a collarbone, but your head feels fine. What do you do with your helmet?

shoei's are tanks,ive had 2 before in the past,im currently on a thor force carbon...id just check the shell and padding and stuff

Posted by: splatt---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterphil

If it takes an impact it's trash if it doesn't take any impact in the crash I'll keep it.

Steve

Posted by: CRASH39---------------------

according to the manufacture the helmet requiers to be replace once it has been involved in a crash no matter what. well when I go down mostly it is laying it down in a turn ( don't do road racing, just MX riding ) other than that a body blow. I do inspect the helmet, it is usally always in good shape. How ever during a toss if I hear a noise because the helmet thumped a rock or got thumped by the bike. I don't care how good it looks a get a new one. Most of the time I am the one who gets thumped.
If the helmet survives the season, It gets replaced anyway. I always buy new ridding gear every year, including the chest protector. I only had to replace the helmet outside the Thumping range cause My bike dug in the sand and tossed me. head first i went and broke the visor. I Even had a small headach. I figured since it was enough to give me a headache was enough to go get a new one..

Posted by: Aryain---------------------

I had a serious concussion and cracked my skull a couple of years ago in a freak accident.. And had to have a piece of my skull removed, so if I crash, I don't have a choice but to get a new helmet. Unless my head never touches the ground. My parents will buy me one if I can't afford it, because if I hit my head hard in the back again I could get another blood clot...

Posted by: Solid State---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thump

Congrats on your new lid. I just can't buy anything from Troy Lee. I think he stays up at night calculating just how many more times he can write his name accross anything he sells!

Posted by: rod g---------------------

I treat many patients at races (from my ambulance) have never seen anyone trash one that did not have a crack. I trash mine with a hard crash.

Posted by: uh_oh---------------------

unless theres signs of major damage, no.

Posted by: rickyd---------------------

I just trashed a hjc. No more hjc's for me. I'm all about SHOEI now

Posted by: rift_zone---------------------

I'd check over it pretty closely. Can't be too careful.

Posted by: digifox---------------------

when i wrecked my bike for the first time (3 weeks ago)
i checked my helmet (took all the padding out and inspected the foam)
And from the looks of it i NEVER hit my head.
i think a 35-40MPH fall would have caused some indention's in the foam, but not a single dip.

But when/if i fall again and leave indention`s in the foam i`ll go buy a DOT/Snell 2000 Helmet,since mine is a 3 year old Vega Helmet(Twas cheap and we thought i`d fall a lot)

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