Do Motorcycle Helmet Expire? – (Safety Checks)
A helmet is the utmost safety equipment and essential gear for every motorcyclist. It protects us from serious head injuries, road gravel, debris, and dust particles. 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? Every helmet manufacturer recommends replacing the helmet after 3 to 5 years because the material used for the helmet loses its strength after a certain period. 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 if you replaced your motorcycle helmet from time to time to ensure your safety. If you haven’t replaced your helmet for more than 5 years, you should replace it.
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 5 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 box of a helmet, but if you don’t have a box, you can check inside the helmet for the manufacturing date. All safety helmet has a circular sticker that indicates 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. If the story foam is compressed or the outer shell becomes brittle, you should immediately replace the helmet. 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 5 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 save 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.
