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< Gearing Up For The Cold |
Helmet Laws by State >
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| 8/15/2010
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Cleaning and caring for your helmet
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Soap and water are the cleaning solutions of choice for your motorcycle helmet. Let your helmet air out and dry completely for a day after you clean it. You can try placing newspaper or unscented dryer sheets inside the helmet to absorb the moisture and odors when not wearing the helmet.
- The lining if your helmet is designed to compress and absorb shock in the event of an accident. It is relatively easy to poke unseen craters in the liner by placing the helmet onto a pointed object such as a mirror or sissy bar, so you should make a point of avoiding that bad habit. Either hang your helmet by the strap, or place it on the ground.
- Never use petroleum, meths or any other organic solvent because these can weaken the shell or the lining. For the same reason, paints or stickers with unsuitable glues should not be used on a helmet.
- All petroleum vapors tend to unglue EPS, so avoid putting your
helmet on or over any source of solvents or fuels. Bruce Porter, of Arai helmets suggests that placing your helmet over the gas tank vent on your motorcycle for just one hot
afternoon could kill the liner.
What if I drop my helmet?
There are two schools of thought on this question.
1) Replace it right away. Even if it falls from the seat there is a good chance that there are delamination cracks inside the shell. These are cracks that you can not see but they compromise the effectiveness of the helmet.
2) You can continue to use the helmet because it's (the shell and liner) are designed to compress between the ground and your head. As long as your head isn’t inside the helmet the liner will not compress. Check the shell for any visible cracks. Stick one hand inside the helmet and with the other hand, squeeze the shell over the impact point and check for any softness in the shell. Tap over the surface of the helmet and compare the sound over the impact point with areas surrounding it.
Replace your helmet every two to five years
The five year replacement recommendation is based on a consensus by both the helmet manufacturers and the Snell Foundation. Glues, resins and other materials used in helmet production over can affect liner materials. Hair oils, body fluids and cosmetics, as well as normal "wear and tear" all contribute to helmet degradation.
Additionally, with advances in technology there will likely be noticeable improvements in the comfort, functionality, and protective characteristic of helmets over a five year period due to advances in materials and designs.
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Helmet Laws by State >
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