One Impact Rule for Helmets

[unswift]

I had a high speed low-side in the carousel at MSRH. As I was making full-frontal love to the pavement and pushing the bike away from me with my feet, it looks like the lower front of the helmet in the chin area bumped and scraped. See the photo below.

It was not a concussion force impact, but my jaw was a bit tender afterward.

Shoei is pretty harsh on this. Warning labels and manuals say the helmet is designed for one impact, and at the least I need to send it back to the manufacturer for inspection, and at worst I need to trash the helmet.

So, the question is, do you think the "impact" I had (more of a glancing blow/scrape than a direct hit) means is is "time to trash" a $450 helmet?

[bluewave18]

I would keep wearing it if there are no cracks

[sunday_rider]

check the condition of the EPS inside the helmet to see any signs of damage.....

[unswift]

check the condition of the EPS inside the helmet to see any signs of damage.....

Interior looks great, but Shoei manuel says you might not see the damage but that the "impact absorbing liner" will have been compressed and will have used up its "one impact."

[sunday_rider]

Interior looks great, but Shoei manuel says you might not see the damage but that the "impact absorbing liner" will have been compressed and will have used up its "one impact."

you can usually see if the EPS has been compressed or not once you take it apart.

[unswift]

you can usually see if the EPS has been compressed or not once you take it apart.

I'll give it a look. I've pulled out the liners, but I'm not sure how the other stuff comes out.

[Lokati]

One impact. Your head isn't worth the chance

[sunday_rider]

I'll give it a look. I've pulled out the liners, but I'm not sure how the other stuff comes out.

Is it glued to the shell? Mine snaps off pretty easy.

[unswift]

Is it glued to the shell? Mine snaps off pretty easy.

Might be glued in. Does not seem to snap out with moderate force.

[Gigolo Jason]

I would keep wearing it if there are no cracks

+1

GJ

[jakeg]

I low sided at TWS last year.. Needless to say this one is sitting on the shelf now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/03slvrfokuz/DSCF0067.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/03slvrfokuz/DSCF0069.jpg

[zman45]

Don't take a chance...trash it. I know $$$ is tight but it's not worth your health!

[GAU-8]

I would keep wearing it if there are no cracks

NO.

"no visible cracks" is NOT insurance against the helmet being bad. It can have hidden cracks, or minute hairlines. EPS material can be compromised. Retention systems may now be faulty.


the helmet has seen an impact, it protects your brain.



stick it on a shelf, make it look pretty and REPLACE IT.

[plummer]

That little smidge??? I'd still use it.

[StewRat]

I'd probably wear it still.

[unswift]

I've looked over the interior shell. The styrofoam lining near my forehead is slightly crinkled, but that would not surprise me with the (now I tell you guys), the two high speed low-sides this helmet has seen. The rest of the interior lining is pristine, with virtually no sign of trauma or impact.

The first lowside saw no real "hard" impact. I went tumbling in the grass at about 70mph and there were very slight scuffs from that. This most recent highside (85 mph?) actually had an "impact" on the helmet, as pictured in the photo in the first post, but no real "slamming" of the helmet into the ground.

My thought is, "hey, that wasn't a serious impact, more of a glancing blow, and it wasn't in the upper cranial area of the helmet, so I should be good to go."

So now you have more information. Part of me is with the "just trash the helmet, your brain is too important" crowd. The other is wondering if I'm giving up on a high quality helmet that has not yet seen it's true life ending "impact."

[Stang Man]

Errr...two accidents? Shelf it!

[StewRat]

My vote changes to trash it if there is visible damage to the interior. This also might make you consider a mouth guard for trackdays if you haven't already.

[Patrick]

Shoei will inspect the helmet for free if you send it in to them.
I've bounced my head off more concrete than I care to remember.
Imo if the helmet hits the ground with my head in it then there's a good chance it's lost some of it's ability to protect my brain from another impact. The way I look at it I'd rather spend the cash than spend the rest of my days having someone wiping up my drool.
My 2 cents ymmv.

[GAU-8]

Imo if the helmet hits the ground with my head in it then there's a good chance it's lost some of it's ability to protect my brain from another impact.


Exactly! :thumb:

What most people forget is the EPS stress against the head, during an accident. Even if the impact is minimal to the ground, the internal stresses slammed against the skull is what matters then. It has been crushed. Maybe even the slightest minimal amounts, but it has been compromised in some way.

This is why helmets are recomended to be replaced every few years by the manufacturers. Daily wear and tear builds up, thus decreasing the safety "net" of the interior. (I had a few coworkers over some years who dont ride, and as a "joke" slam thier hand against my helmet, as I was about to leave work. I assure you, I ended up with a long ANGRY conversation with them, and in the end, a brand new helmet, purchased by them. and a little wiser on helmet safety :D )

Can they still be "safe"? Yes. But to what extent? Unlike football, and other sport related helmets, they are not meant to be consistenly banged up. In essence, a motorcycle helmet is a "crumple zone" (like a car has) but, for your head. And we cant tell what direction the next impact is going to be from. I would hate for the compromised area, to be hit again (and possibly with a lot more force: :sad:)


I would follow Patrick recommendation. Send it back. Some companies may not inspect, and send back...but at least it serves an evaluation purpose for that helmet company. I did this with my Scorpion EXO 400. It did it's job, and doing a secondary one, by letting them (Scorpion) R&D thier end product, to produce better helmets. WIN WIN, as I see it. :nod:

[Perf_White_GT]

+1 I wouldnt fuck around with something that protects my dome.

get a new one.

[unswift]

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts. My plan now is to buy a new ("spare") helmet and wear that, and then I'm going to give Patrick's advice a try, and send it back to Shoei for inspection. With luck, maybe I can have two good helmets.

My vote changes to trash it if there is visible damage to the interior. This also might make you consider a mouth guard for trackdays if you haven't already.

I'm definitely in the market for a mouthguard. Anyone have any thoughts on brands?

[StewRat]

I just got the cheapo boil in water kind from walmart. I did some googling and it seems people think it will help with preventing concussions. It also eases my mind about breaking teeth or biting lips and shit if I hit my head.

[Houstonbussa]

I'd do as the manual says and send it back.. Because it's the part you can't see that's taking the impact.. Next time, there may be no give and then you might as well have had nothing on. the one impact rule isn't when you drop your helmet, but from when there is weight inside the helmet (like your head). So again, I'd head the warning. You probably spent a lot of money on your shoe and probably might be pissy if it didn't help the second spill. Of course you may be at the pearly gates looking down cursing the helmet out.

[yumbeef]

i'd say you got your money's worth out of it already (kept your face from getting ground up). i'd buy another helmet.

[Joshua42007]

You may be reluctant to replace a helmet that looks almost as good as new, but if you did hit, you don't want to take chances on where you will hit next time. If the foam is cracked under the thin shell, it will be more likely to fly apart in your next crash. Many manufacturers will replace crashed helmets for a nominal fee, and most will also inspect crashed helmets to see if they need replacement. Call them if you are in doubt...


I would be shopping for a new helmet.

[bumblebee]

I've looked over the interior shell. The styrofoam lining near my forehead is slightly crinkled, but that would not surprise me with the (now I tell you guys),

^^^ this right here means you should trash it. The crinkling indicates the EPS liner was compressed. It is only good for one compression.
I was with you on when it was a glancing blow by the chin, but crinkled EPS near the forehead is a "NO GO".
You should buy a new helmet, what you do is your choice, but you been told.

[Squid Killer]

Give it to me so I can cut it in half and use as a training aid!

Thats a good plan to get another and send this one to Shoei. I would like to know what they say about the damaged chin bar.

The chin bar is different from the rest of the helmet because your head isnt touching the inner shell. It depends on the outer shell more for protection than the inner shell for the rest of the helmet. It looks like a minor hit but you cant be sure how brittle the shell is now.