At what rate do helmets degrade?

I went to our local big-box style motorcycle shop today, and the guy was telling me my "brand-new" 10 year old Shoei helmet is like wearing no helmet at all, because the foam inside degrades after 5 years.

Now, while I realize there is some truth to this, one of this place's main business' is selling helmets. He obviously wants me to buy a new helmet.

My Shoei is indeed about 10 years old, but it also barely used and has been indoors in storage for 9 of those 10 years.

I know, I know, I only have one head and all that and people will say "why risk it," etc., but I'm looking for the truth here.

What's your opinions on helmet degradation?

 

If the helmet is still tight and fits well, you don't need a new one. Unless it's starts to get sloppy and move around, the lining is not delapitated yet.

 

ive had the same helmet for 4 years. i still trust it. if wearing that helmet is like wearing nothing, you should be able to take out the pads and press down on the foam and itll just decintigrate. sounds like hes blowing some smoke up your ass. do they get commission on your sale? go to the mfg's website and see what they have to say on the usable life of their helmets.

 

here's a piece from shoei

The life of a helmet depends on how it is used. A helmet should be replaced if one or more of the following points apply:

1. There was a fall that resulted in an impact on the helmet.

2. The helmet fits looser than when it was purchased due to frequent use.

3. The EPS liner has come away from the helmet shell.

4. The EPS liner shows signs of wear and is beginning to break up, or if it has been exposed to heat or a solvent and has melted.

they say they have a 5 year warrantee, but they never mention just age as a reason to replace a helmet

 

If the helmet fits, wear it.

 

There you go. Helmets today don't have the problems helmets 30 years ago did; for one, very few are made of old-school fiberglass any more. Those old fiberglass helmets DID dry out with age; but any helmet made after about 1984 or so isn't going to have that issue.
Once the liner foam and padding start to crumble away, I'd replace it; but as long as the EPS (styrofoam) is intact, it's at least safe.

I'm sure your Shoei is fine.

 

Great. This is what I thought. It's a great helmet and still fits like a glove!

 

I saw something recently saying even mega buck helmets should automatically be replaced every few years (I think it was 4),but I can't imagine anyone throwing away a perfectly good helmet just because it's 4 years old,especially when some of them cost several hundred dollars.

That's total insanity to me,the only time I've bought a new one was when I gave away the old one because I hadn't had a bike in several years

 

I just bought a new HJC to replace the one that saved my face when I dumped last year. Here's from the manual:

"Even if your helmet has not been damaged, it needs to be replaced every 3 to 5 years depending on how much you use it. Over time, UV rays and adhesive and component aging will damage your helmet. Wearing a damaged helmet may increase your risk of serious injury or death in an accident."

Which tracks with what I'd heard previously, too. I know that some manufacturers offer testing of their helmets; they'll perform tests of some sort (ultrasound, maybe?) to determine if the lining has been compressed or degraded. I would assume that's only cost-effective if it was a pretty expensive helmet to begin with...