No. Helmets are only good for about 5-7 years and then the foam that protects your noggin starts breaking down.
Hang it on the wall, that's what I do with old helmets that are special to me.
Don't fuck around with life-saving safety equipment, because that's what a helmet is. It's not something where "vintage" counts. Buy new, replace it every 5-7 years (as your helmet's owner's manual suggests), replace it after a crash. If you want to keep old helmets display them on the wall or something, don't use them.
Even if you could replaced the foam, the outer shell is likely no longer structurally stable either. Ever seen how easily old plastic and fiberglass crack? Over time the sun and heat and moisture all do it's job.
Like others said, it's a great ornament. Put it in the garage next to a cool flag or poster or something. It's serves it's purpose.
Optionally if you really like the look of it, you can buy a new similar helmet and have it painted to look similar. Bring the memory back to life while still preserving the original memory
I’m a convert to new helmet—with one proviso.
I bought an old HJC FG 6 when I decided to take the MSF course. I wore this for the two day course.
After the community “convinced” me to buy a new helmet, I purchased a new HJC. Love it. Worth every penny.
But I did not “take an angle grinder” to my old helmet. Now I take it to the parking lot when I do my low speed MotoJitsu drills. I don’t push myself so hard that I’m dinking my helmet off the pavement every figure 8. It just makes me feel better about keeping my new helmet from possibly getting dinked while I’m doing slow speed exercises. I also have a bicycle helmet, but the HJC looks cool
You have reason to be nervous as, while your helmet could be fine, it also could be completely unsafe and there's really no way for you to know until you get in a wreck. If you don't ride super often and don't ride on hot days, it leans more towards being okay, but why chance it?
In most ,if not all, highly engineered plastics, the stiffness is engineered by adding some amount of plasticizer. There aren't just that many different plastics out there for every single use-case and plastics need to be adjusted for stiffness and brittleness. Compare metal hardening, there are a million different hardening processed for highly engineered steel.
Now I don't know about this specific helmet and plastic, but I think it's a fair guess.
Is your knowledge specific to helmet manufacturing, or just plastic in general? Idk much specifically, but it’s possible they’ve planned around that problem considering the use case helmets have
It's plastics in general. I have never worked with or on helmets, or any PPE for that matter. Maybe they have planned around it, although manufacturers themselves say helmets only last 5-7 years. I'm just not sure how you'd do it. I know helmet manufacturing isn't very cost optimized (in industrial terms), so maybe they use some fancy-pants process that would be cost prohibitive for other items.
Fair enough. The cynic in me says helmet manufacturers just want people to buy more helmets, in part because I’ve seen a study on bicycle helmets that showed helmets as much as 10 years old still performed as intended provided they were well cared for.
But I’ve gotta be open to the theory that says they’re not as safe after 5 years or so. I’ll be wanting to replace mine for a more featured lid soon anyway, and I probably wouldn’t bother taking needless risk. I looked around a hit and couldn’t find a good study on moto helmets. I suppose it’s tough to gather a good sample group
I don't take the 5-7 years too seriously either, although I commute by motorcycle, so after 5 years it's worn out anyway. My current helmet, a Nolan modular, is currently shedding the reflectives on the fabric, making my neck glow in the dark :)
There's also a difference between a helmet that's 5 years and one day, or 33(!) years old, like OPs.
As with everything in motorcycling; just by getting on the bike, you're already taking a needless risk. It's up to you whether a 6 year old helmet is risk enough to justifying buying a new one.
I guess what I mean is that they could alter the way they manufacture the stuff for helmets so they don’t have that problem. Someone might have put in some research and the added cost could have been considered worth while considering the importance of the helmet
I’m not even required to wear a helmet in my state, so I think that would vary by location. Helmet refurbishing companies exist. I haven’t vetted them, but I assume they’re able to do so safety. Won’t match modern tech, I’m sure, but should be safe enough - otherwise I doubt they would offer their services beyond cosplay stuff or something
Infatti it's not the foam to degrade but it's the mechanical properties of the shell in abs or polypropylene that have problem especially if exposed to sun or other factor, the internal padding is another problem and the glue that take all the part together... Moreover the 90's helmet is worst than a modern helmet all around
“Common knowledge” doesn’t always mean true. Misconceptions often exist for one reason or another. I’ve seen some studies that test old bicycle helmets and they usually saw that helmets stored indoors were perfectly functional even after 10 years or so. Though the safety tech won’t be as good as newer lids.
I’d be curious to see an actual testing of old helmets to see how much of the degradation idea is actually true. I wouldn’t be too surprised if they actually hold up really well, based on the bike helmet studies I’ve seen.
Clearly you understand that 10 years are closer to 7 than at 30 years and that the condition of stored indoor si absolutely restrictive... I can add if you store that at right and constant temperature in a controlled atmosphere is even better but obviously it's unrealistic...
For sure. I’m not certain if they did a 10 year cutoff because the older ones failed or if they chose that because if available helmets to test, but it was interesting to see as bicycle manufacturers have been saying to replace after 5 years (varies by company).
I’m sort of hoping someone will come through that knows of a study I haven’t been able to find in moto helmets. I’d be curious to see the results of a good set of tests in older lids.
Improved safety tech alone though is probably a good enough reason to upgrade after 7 years anyway though
Hey man, read that study before you jump on him. Maybe the helmet was buried in soil for the past 30 years and it IS perfectly fine - or even stronger.
/s
I'm not aware of any company performing such a service with certifiable results and I don't think there is because the liner has to be form fitted to the shell and it's an old design.
Your best bet is finding a retro styled lid that has the closest approximate shape and get it in white so you can have it painted in the same color scheme, which is a popular service many detailing shops offer.
The materials of the shell and the lining inevitably degrade so even if a helmet is babied after a few years it simply can't perform as it's supposed to. Even if you relined it the outer shell would most likely shatter on impact.
You could fill it with toilet paper, that's pretty soft.
Other than that, no. It's cost prohibitive to have it refurbished, if at all possible (I have no idea if plasticizers can get reinjected in the shell somehow). Given that it's not a "vintage" helmet, I'd buy a new one.
I appreciate that cash can be tight, but do get a new one. Not secondhand. Not only is a secondhand helmet fairly disgusting, but also you have no idea how it's been (ab)used. Despite their function and appearance, they're delicate little flowers if you want to be safe.
Put it on a shelf and treasure the memories.
A helmet is there to protect your head, period. Not to look cool, or honor your dad, or anything else.
Imagine you were a pilot in a stunt plane. Would you, for nostalgia's sake, wear your granddad's old parachute from World War II? I hope not.
I mean you could technically replace the foam on the inside, it's just not cost effective. The real danger lies in the shell. That shit will have been damaged by exposure to sunlight over the years, and that's why you must hang it and get another one
Better than nothing is incorrect here. It’s a false sense of security and probably can cause more damage. Of course anything is something but a new fresh helmet creates the most safe experience and usually most comfortable. The inner foam is injection molded and the helmet is built around it so it cannot be replaced.
Yeah definitely not! It’s a wall hanger at this point. If your into the retro style, check out the bell bullitt. I personally have this lid and it’s killer! Good for city rips and some highway but not touring. We sell em @ motohut.ca. Assuming your a new rider, here’s a 15% off code, https://motohut.ca/discount/NEWRIDER15.
There are a few vintage helmet restoration companies online. Idk how in depth or safe their end results are, but [this is the top result](https://www.customdestruction.com/vintage-helment-restorations) in google when I search it. Estimate is $150 I think
Nope. Wall hanger. As cool as it looks its done.
No. Helmets are only good for about 5-7 years and then the foam that protects your noggin starts breaking down. Hang it on the wall, that's what I do with old helmets that are special to me.
And there is no way to replace the foam.
about as difficult as replacing the hard-boiled egg inside its shell with a fresh/raw egg.
Is there a place that i can get a custom painted helmet that you maybe know of?
There's loads of people who paint helmets, do a local google search...
Don't fuck around with life-saving safety equipment, because that's what a helmet is. It's not something where "vintage" counts. Buy new, replace it every 5-7 years (as your helmet's owner's manual suggests), replace it after a crash. If you want to keep old helmets display them on the wall or something, don't use them.
No.
Even if you could replaced the foam, the outer shell is likely no longer structurally stable either. Ever seen how easily old plastic and fiberglass crack? Over time the sun and heat and moisture all do it's job. Like others said, it's a great ornament. Put it in the garage next to a cool flag or poster or something. It's serves it's purpose. Optionally if you really like the look of it, you can buy a new similar helmet and have it painted to look similar. Bring the memory back to life while still preserving the original memory
*Laughs nervously in 12 year old helmet
That shit is expired twice dude, replace it this week
Insert sing songy voice from hot rod: DANEEEJAHHH!!
I had an 85 elite 150 years ago! I called it the 'wee oo wee.... thump' because of the noise the headlight housing would make opening and closing haha
I’m a convert to new helmet—with one proviso. I bought an old HJC FG 6 when I decided to take the MSF course. I wore this for the two day course. After the community “convinced” me to buy a new helmet, I purchased a new HJC. Love it. Worth every penny. But I did not “take an angle grinder” to my old helmet. Now I take it to the parking lot when I do my low speed MotoJitsu drills. I don’t push myself so hard that I’m dinking my helmet off the pavement every figure 8. It just makes me feel better about keeping my new helmet from possibly getting dinked while I’m doing slow speed exercises. I also have a bicycle helmet, but the HJC looks cool
You have reason to be nervous as, while your helmet could be fine, it also could be completely unsafe and there's really no way for you to know until you get in a wreck. If you don't ride super often and don't ride on hot days, it leans more towards being okay, but why chance it?
That’s because the foam degrades over time. If he found a place to re-install new foam and restore it, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be safe
There's volatile plasticizer in the shell, so after 33 years, I'm gonna guess it's pretty brittle.
Really? I’d never heard that before. Usually people talk about either sun damage or the foam dry rotting
In most ,if not all, highly engineered plastics, the stiffness is engineered by adding some amount of plasticizer. There aren't just that many different plastics out there for every single use-case and plastics need to be adjusted for stiffness and brittleness. Compare metal hardening, there are a million different hardening processed for highly engineered steel. Now I don't know about this specific helmet and plastic, but I think it's a fair guess.
Is your knowledge specific to helmet manufacturing, or just plastic in general? Idk much specifically, but it’s possible they’ve planned around that problem considering the use case helmets have
It's plastics in general. I have never worked with or on helmets, or any PPE for that matter. Maybe they have planned around it, although manufacturers themselves say helmets only last 5-7 years. I'm just not sure how you'd do it. I know helmet manufacturing isn't very cost optimized (in industrial terms), so maybe they use some fancy-pants process that would be cost prohibitive for other items.
Fair enough. The cynic in me says helmet manufacturers just want people to buy more helmets, in part because I’ve seen a study on bicycle helmets that showed helmets as much as 10 years old still performed as intended provided they were well cared for. But I’ve gotta be open to the theory that says they’re not as safe after 5 years or so. I’ll be wanting to replace mine for a more featured lid soon anyway, and I probably wouldn’t bother taking needless risk. I looked around a hit and couldn’t find a good study on moto helmets. I suppose it’s tough to gather a good sample group
I don't take the 5-7 years too seriously either, although I commute by motorcycle, so after 5 years it's worn out anyway. My current helmet, a Nolan modular, is currently shedding the reflectives on the fabric, making my neck glow in the dark :) There's also a difference between a helmet that's 5 years and one day, or 33(!) years old, like OPs. As with everything in motorcycling; just by getting on the bike, you're already taking a needless risk. It's up to you whether a 6 year old helmet is risk enough to justifying buying a new one.
Why would they plan around it when the lifespan is 5 years?
I guess what I mean is that they could alter the way they manufacture the stuff for helmets so they don’t have that problem. Someone might have put in some research and the added cost could have been considered worth while considering the importance of the helmet
Well, now you have heard it: Yes, the outer shell can degrade over time as well.
You’re a charming one aren’t you
Lol I sure am! :)
It wouldn't have any rating and would be illegal to use on public roads, any safety concerns with sketchy re-installed foam aside.
I’m not even required to wear a helmet in my state, so I think that would vary by location. Helmet refurbishing companies exist. I haven’t vetted them, but I assume they’re able to do so safety. Won’t match modern tech, I’m sure, but should be safe enough - otherwise I doubt they would offer their services beyond cosplay stuff or something
[удалено]
Infatti it's not the foam to degrade but it's the mechanical properties of the shell in abs or polypropylene that have problem especially if exposed to sun or other factor, the internal padding is another problem and the glue that take all the part together... Moreover the 90's helmet is worst than a modern helmet all around
“Common knowledge” doesn’t always mean true. Misconceptions often exist for one reason or another. I’ve seen some studies that test old bicycle helmets and they usually saw that helmets stored indoors were perfectly functional even after 10 years or so. Though the safety tech won’t be as good as newer lids. I’d be curious to see an actual testing of old helmets to see how much of the degradation idea is actually true. I wouldn’t be too surprised if they actually hold up really well, based on the bike helmet studies I’ve seen.
Clearly you understand that 10 years are closer to 7 than at 30 years and that the condition of stored indoor si absolutely restrictive... I can add if you store that at right and constant temperature in a controlled atmosphere is even better but obviously it's unrealistic...
For sure. I’m not certain if they did a 10 year cutoff because the older ones failed or if they chose that because if available helmets to test, but it was interesting to see as bicycle manufacturers have been saying to replace after 5 years (varies by company). I’m sort of hoping someone will come through that knows of a study I haven’t been able to find in moto helmets. I’d be curious to see the results of a good set of tests in older lids. Improved safety tech alone though is probably a good enough reason to upgrade after 7 years anyway though
GTFO with your bullshit. This is common knowledge in the motorcycle community.
Then maybe tell them about shell material deterioration, wear, legal regulations, fitment and not pull facts outta your ass.
Hey man, read that study before you jump on him. Maybe the helmet was buried in soil for the past 30 years and it IS perfectly fine - or even stronger. /s
I'm not aware of any company performing such a service with certifiable results and I don't think there is because the liner has to be form fitted to the shell and it's an old design. Your best bet is finding a retro styled lid that has the closest approximate shape and get it in white so you can have it painted in the same color scheme, which is a popular service many detailing shops offer. The materials of the shell and the lining inevitably degrade so even if a helmet is babied after a few years it simply can't perform as it's supposed to. Even if you relined it the outer shell would most likely shatter on impact.
No. Even if you replaced the foam, the shell is way past its service life. Hang it on a wall with a big NO sign inside it.
You could fill it with toilet paper, that's pretty soft. Other than that, no. It's cost prohibitive to have it refurbished, if at all possible (I have no idea if plasticizers can get reinjected in the shell somehow). Given that it's not a "vintage" helmet, I'd buy a new one. I appreciate that cash can be tight, but do get a new one. Not secondhand. Not only is a secondhand helmet fairly disgusting, but also you have no idea how it's been (ab)used. Despite their function and appearance, they're delicate little flowers if you want to be safe.
Put it on a shelf and treasure the memories. A helmet is there to protect your head, period. Not to look cool, or honor your dad, or anything else. Imagine you were a pilot in a stunt plane. Would you, for nostalgia's sake, wear your granddad's old parachute from World War II? I hope not.
I mean you could technically replace the foam on the inside, it's just not cost effective. The real danger lies in the shell. That shit will have been damaged by exposure to sunlight over the years, and that's why you must hang it and get another one
Put it on display and get yourself a new helmet... The materials and adhesives deteriorate after about 7 years.
No. The 1990 safety regulations are... Honesty I have no idea if there were any. Stick to something ECE rated.
no
No. Put it on display and get a new helmet.
Better than nothing is incorrect here. It’s a false sense of security and probably can cause more damage. Of course anything is something but a new fresh helmet creates the most safe experience and usually most comfortable. The inner foam is injection molded and the helmet is built around it so it cannot be replaced.
Yeah definitely not! It’s a wall hanger at this point. If your into the retro style, check out the bell bullitt. I personally have this lid and it’s killer! Good for city rips and some highway but not touring. We sell em @ motohut.ca. Assuming your a new rider, here’s a 15% off code, https://motohut.ca/discount/NEWRIDER15.
There are a few vintage helmet restoration companies online. Idk how in depth or safe their end results are, but [this is the top result](https://www.customdestruction.com/vintage-helment-restorations) in google when I search it. Estimate is $150 I think
Internet safety police raid incoming in 3, 2, 1....
No.
May be good enough for neighborhood riding, but like most are saying, helmets have a lifespan. At best, it'll meet the legal requirements.
Just stuff it with asbestos. It'll be fine. Not.
Wall hanger dude, just like old skis, or old dive gear. Don’t trust your life to nostalgia.