Have you heard any of these myths? Bret Tkacs backs up his myth-busting stint with hard data and research from brands, experts, and governing bodies.
The first question tackled was “How long do helmets last?” Tkacs digs through the internet and cites Shoei and Snell. Shoei recommends five years as the lifespan of a lid, however, there is no definite replacement date according to Dr. George Snively’s tests with the helmets used by the California Highway Patrol which is posted on the Snell Memorial Foundation’s website. Instead of saying that a helmet is “dead” when it reaches the five-year mark, Snively states that “replacing helmets every five years is a judgment call.” Previous to this statement, however, it depends on the use as quoted: “Unused helmets stored in good condition do not automatically expire after five years.”
