Do Motorcycle Helmets Expire? – (Dark Truth Revealed!)

A helmet is the utmost safety equipment and essential gear for every motorcyclist. It protects you from serious head injuries, road gravel, debris, and dust.

According to CDC, motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% for riders and 41% for passengers and reduce head injury by 69%.

You should follow the safety standards recommended by manufacturers and replace them occasionally.

So, do motorcycle helmets expire? Yes, motorcycle helmets expire even if not used because their material loses strength after 3 to 5 years. The polycarbonate and fiberglass outer shell degrade due to UV rays and rain. Also, improper storage and frequent dropping damage the safety liner. Hence, it won’t be as protective as a newer one. That’s why you should replace your helmet after a certain period.

Do Motorcycle Helmets Have An Expiry Date?

Although helmet manufacturers don’t emboss expiry date, but it’s good to replace it as soon as you notice any damage. The motorcycle helmet manufacturing materials are generally polycarbonate, fiberglass, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, and high-density foam.

Over time, the molecular structure of these materials changed with the UV ray reaction, and they became more brittle. Ultimately, the material used for helmet manufacturing loses its strength and becomes less effective against injury.

So, it would be best to replace your motorcycle helmet occasionally to ensure your safety. You should replace your helmet if you haven’t replaced it for over five years.

Top Helmet Manufacturers Expiry Date

Manufacturers	Expiry Date
Alpinestars	5 years
AGV	7 years
Arai	7 years
Bell	3 years
Fly	5 years
Icon	3-5 years
HJC	3-5 years
Klim	5 years
Schuberth	5-7 years
Shoei	5 years

How To Check Motorcycle Helmet Expiry Date

Generally, helmet manufacturers don’t emboss or print the expiry date on the packaging. Rather, they print the manufacturing date on the package and inside the helmet.

The manufacturing year is printed or embossed in a circular form where the number in the center indicates the manufacturing year and a little dash/arrow indicates the month.

Once you get the manufacturing date of a helmet, you can match the expiry date with the above table.

The average shelf-life of a motorcycle helmet is five years, and you should avoid buying anything older than this.

How To Check Motorcycle Helmet Manufacturing Date

Generally, the manufacturing date is printed on the helmet box, but you can check inside the helmet for the manufacturing date if you don’t have a box. All safety helmets have a circular sticker indicating the manufacturing month and year.

Is It Safe To Use 10-Year-Old Motorcycle Helmet?

The average shelf life of polycarbonate motorcycle helmets is 3 to 5 years. You should immediately replace the helmet if the story foam is compressed or the outer shell becomes brittle. It will no longer be safe to use.

A 10-year-old motorcycle helmet is not completely safe to use. So, avoiding using such an old helmet while motorcycling is better.

Can You Use a Motorcycle Helmet That Has Been in a Crash?

If a motorcycle helmet has faced an accident, the foam liner could be compressed than the designed value. So, it’s unsafe to use that helmet again.

It would be best if you replaced the helmet that has been in a crash. Ultimately, it’s a matter of life, and you can not risk it for a few bucks.

Is It Okay To Buy a Used or Expired Helmet?

The average life of a motorcycle helmet is approx 3 to 5 years. However, the safety liner could be compromised once your helmet has faced a crash. After five years or any crash, a motorcycle helmet is not safe to use.

So, it’s better to invest $300 and buy a brand-new helmet to save your life.

Conclusion

The helmet technology is evolving with time, and new safety features are being introduced to prevent head injuries during a crash. So, changing your helmet every 3 to 5 years is better. The manufacturing date is embossed or printed inside the helmet; hence, you can find the expiry date.