When should you change your motorcycle helmet?

Motorcycle helmets are compulsory by law and a critical part of your riding gear. It protects your think tank, makes you visible to other drivers/riders and saves you from dust, heat, wind and even insects. It is vital to your rides and when it comes to changing your helmet, remember it is not a forever thing. Your motorcycle helmet has a life too. So when you ask, when should I change my motorcycle helmet, the answer can be summed up after considering the following points.

1. Age: Your helmet has an age, just like everything else around you. There is a limit to your helmet’s life beyond which it must be changed. This basic and common rule applied across industry is to replace your helmet after every five years. This is applicable only till your helmet shows no visible sign of deterioration before completing 5 years.

2. Deterioration: If you are amongst the daily riders who use their helmet regularly then the chances of your helmet showing signs of deterioration is higher. Your motorcycle helmet needs to be replaced when there are visible signs of cracks, broken straps, and deep scratches. These signs indicate that the integrity of your helmet has been compromised and thus it’s time to buy a new one. Loosening of padding is another sign of deterioration, but just the change of padding can help get the snug fit back for your helmet.

3. Fall or Accident: If you have been in an accident where your helmet has faced impact, even if there are no visible signs of damage, it is highly possible that the integrity of the motorcycle helmet has been compromised and thus it is recommended to remove the internal padding and check the EPS lining of the helmet thoroughly for any such signs of damage or cracks. The similar is the case when you drop your helmet from a height. The sudden impact caused due to an accident or dropping of the helmet can cause damage to the helmet shell which makes your head vulnerable in any future incidents.

4. Heat or Fire: If due to any reason your motorcycle helmet has been exposed to direct heat or fire, it is time for a change.

5. Change of riding style: This might sound awkward but it’s true, your change of riding style does need a change of helmet. Think over, will a sports helmet work for your adventure rides too? Adventure riding or off roading is done in an all together different terrain and thus such helmets need to have more breathing space & wider visibility for the rider. The helmets are designed as per the riding conditions and thus if you plan to change your choice of machine and thus the riding style, the same motorcycle helmet that you’ve been use might not be useful anymore.