Can You Use an Expired Motorcycle Helmet?

The best rated modular motorcycle helmet – Helmetgurus will only protect you if it's structurally sound. A helmet loses its safety once it suffers enough wear, tear, or damage. Ideally, you should not use a helmet once it expires.

Why People Use Helmets

People use helmets for three main reasons. First, a helmet protects you from head injuries in an accident. For example, the helmet will protect you if you crash your motorcycle, fall off a horse, or fall while skiing. A typical helmet has a hard shell to absorb impact and a padding to cushion your head.

You also need a helmet to protect you from different weather elements. Imagine riding your cruiser bike in a light rain without a helmet. Some of the rain might get into your eyes and blind you. The right helmet (in this case, a full-face one) will shield you from such dangers. A good helmet will even protect you from falling snow and the glare of sunlight.

While manufacturers do not design helmets specifically for flying debris, a helmet can protect you from debris. Rocks, gravel, puddles, and flying insects can easily hit your face and increase your accident risk. A helmet with a face shield can protect you from such things.

Meaning of Helmet Expiry

The reviews and Helmet Gurus show that helmets suffer different forms of wear and tear in their lifetime. First, all materials intrinsically degrade, even if you don't use them. For example, some helmet shell materials expand and contract with temperature variations. The constant expansion and construction weaken the material.

Helmet manufacturers usually have an indicative expiration date on their products. The helmet's design, materials, and expected use determine its expiry. Use the manufacturer's information to gauge how long you can safely use your helmet. However, don't forget that the expiration date is not cast in stone.

Different factors affect material degradation. For example, your helmet will expire fast if:

You use it a lot in the sun
Store it in hot and humid environments
Store it alongside harsh chemicals
Fail to clean or clean it with the wrong substances

The helmet might expire long before the manufacturer's indicative date in such cases.

Dangers of Expired Helmets

Using an expired helmet is inadvisable for several reasons. For example, the degraded materials of an expired helmet do not absorb impact forces as well as they should. The helmet shell, for example, can crack and crumble on impact, exposing your head to dangerous forces.

Helmets lose their fit and comfort as they age. Parts of the helmet expand, and others (like the straps) begin to sag. An ill-fitting helmet might slip off its position and fail to protect you in case of a crash. A poorly fitting helmet can also block your view of the road. Both things increase the risk of accidents and head injuries.

Helmet manufacturers update their products regularly. Thus, an expired helmet probably lacks the latest safety technologies. The combination of degraded materials and inadequate safety compliance makes such helmets dangerous.

Do not rely on an expired helmet for protection. Check out the best modular motorcycle helmet review and buying guide on helmetgurus.com and get a new helmet. The good news is that a certified helmet isn't necessarily expensive. Thus, you can get a new helmet with adequate protection even if your financial situation isn't the best.