Page 32 - Nov 2024.cdr
P. 32

Does dropping a motorcycle helmet ruin it?






                                                recommend  replacing  helmets            Glamster helmet, especially since
                                                every five to seven years, as the         there were signs of contact on the
                                                expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner         visor.
                                                and outer shell can degrade over         Although he didn't see any visible
                                                time.                                    damage  upon  inspection,  the
                                                                                         speed  of  the  accident  left  him
                                                How  Can  You  Know  if  Your            uneasy.  He  decided  to  use  The
                                                Helmet Is Safe?                          Helmet  Inspection  Company’s
                                                The  most  reliable  way  to             service to put his mind at ease.
                                                determine if a helmet is still safe is   The process was straightforward.
                                                through  professional  inspection,       After completing a simple online
                 e ' v e   a l l   b e e n
       W         there—leaving  our             using  advanced  technology              form,  he  packaged  his  helmet
                                                similar to that used in aerospace
                                                                                         carefully  and  sent  it  off.  Within
                 helmet on the bike seat
       only to see it tumble to the ground,     and  marine  industries.  This           three  days,  he  received  results
                                                method, however, is only suitable
                                                                                         indicating  that  his  helmet  had
       or  watching  it  roll  off  a  table,  or
       accidentally dropping it.                for  composite  shell  helmets  and      sustained a significant impact and
                                                n o t   f o r   t h e r m o p l a s t i c   o r   was internally damaged, despite
                                                polycarbonate  types  found  in          looking fine externally.
       O ffi c i a l l y ,   m o s t   h e l m e t
       manufacturers  recommend                 lower-cost models.                       The  inspection  provided  a
       replacing  your  helmet  after  any
       significant  drop,  both  for  your       Dropping  a  Helmet  Doesn’t             certificate  and  a  unique  NFC
                                                                                         sticker  for  verification,  though
                                                Have to Mean It’s Ruined
       safety and to protect themselves         Without  any  weight  inside,  a         Diggory wished for more detailed
       from  liability.  Unofficially,  they
       might  suggest  that  if  the  helmet    dropped  helmet  can  sometimes          insights  into  the  damage.
                                                                                         Nonetheless, he was relieved to
                                                remain intact. Martin Slowey from
       was  empty  when  it  fell,  it  could
       potentially still be okay.               The Helmet Inspection Company (          know the truth and plans to use
                                                UK),  notes  that  they  often  find      the service for his other helmets.
                                                surprising  results  in  their  tests.
       However,  the  decision  isn’t           Some  helmets  that  owners              T i p s   f o r   K e e p i n g   Yo u r
       straightforward  due  to  various        believed were unharmed actually          Motorcycle Helmet Safe
       factors: the height of the drop, the
       surface it landed on, the age of the     showed  hidden  damage,  while           To extend the life of your helmet,
                                                                                         take  care  not  to  leave  it  in
                                                o t h e r s   o l d e r   t h a n   t h e
       helmet, and whether anything was         recommended five years passed             precarious  positions.  Here  are
       inside it at the time.
                                                without issues.                          some tips:
       When  Should  You  Replace  a
       Motorcycle Helmet?                       For  example,  one  customer             •   Avoid carrying it by the visor;
                                                tripped on a ferry, and despite the
                                                                                             instead,  use  the  strap  to
       If  your  helmet  has  been  struck      helmet  showing  visible  wear,  an          prevent damage.
       during  a  fall,  it  likely  needs      inspection  revealed  no  internal
       replacing.  Scrapes  or  dents           damage—just cosmetic scrapes.            •   Don’t  stuff  gloves  inside,  as
       indicate  that  it  has  absorbed  an
       impact, which can compromise its         We  plan  to  have  The  Helmet              this can ruin the soft liner.
       structure.  Once  that  happens,  it     Inspection  Company  evaluate            •   Never  hang  it  on  your  bike’s
       may  not  perform  as  well  in  a       several  helmets  to  better                 mirror; dirt can compress the
       subsequent incident. If you have         understand  their  safety  and               EPS liner.
       insurance coverage for your gear,
       now is a good time to use it.            longevity, especially after drops or
                                                exposure to harmful substances.          •   Keep it off the tank to protect it
                                                                                             from petrol fumes.
       If  it  was  simply  dropped  without    Diggory  Rush’s  Experience  with
       any serious force, it might still be     the Helmet Inspection Service            •   Avoid  leaving  it  on  the  seat,
       usable. A store can inspect it, but
       they may not be able to check for        Diggory  Rush,  a  member  of                where it’s prone to falls.
       damage  between  the  inner  and
       outer  shells,  where  issues  can       BikeSocial,  recently  tested  this      By following these guidelines, you
                                                inspection  service. After  a  crash
                                                                                         can  help  ensure  your  helmet
       occur without any visible signs.
                                                where  he  somersaulted  but             remains in top condition, ready for
                                                landed  on  his  feet,  he  was          the road ahead. LHR
       M a n u f a c t u r e r s   g e n e r a l l y
                                                concerned  about  his  Shoei


      Editorial sponsored by Twiggy the Weed Kid                                                                         News
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