Let us know what you get next.Yours was a good call on that one. I like it a lot as a winter helmet. I just wish it was vented, but very few are, at all. I bought some Bell closable vent covers for the front in order to do a DIY vent job, but the flip up shield prevents that even with the shield removed.

My cheap summer half helmet is vented which keeps my head dry, but is 8 years old and they don’t make them anymore. I’d love to replace it. Super Seer makes one, but actually getting one involves ordering with unknown ship dates, and I just can’t deal with that.

 

I have but it’s so hot. I take the padding out and wash it occasionally. On long trips I wear a Wick away Doo rag but it’s still hot. Depends on the time of year. My upcoming trip up north to Michigan in September might be cool enough to not worry about the heat too much. I also have used a helmet spray like a Febreze in the past. It helped a bit.

 

I replace my helmet every 3 to 4 years. The combination of mileage, desert sun, and heat, I have to imagine, deteriorates everything.

 

I replace mine on my head every time I take a ride. If you were told that helmets were good indefinitely unless damaged how often would you buy a new one. Not often I bet and the helmet companies know that, so....

 

While I admit that I am not a chemist and know little if anything about EPS, I do know a thing or two about airplanes. Some airplanes are made of carbon fiber and many of them sit outside in the UV and elements all the time; they still fly when they are more than five years old and haven't been known to deteriorate such that they become unairworthy. Mind you, this has nothing to do with EPS, helmet liner or foam degradation and may not even have much to do with the carbon fiber shells on some helmets - just my head scratching ramblings on a Sunday afternoon.

I do agree that if dropped onto something hard, crashed or otherwise compromised - replace it.

I do most often wear a dew rag and rinse/wash that frequently - especially on a helmet without a removable liner, which fortunately I do not have many of.

Does anyone know of a simple way to check the integrity/functionality of the energy absorbing inner materials?

 

I have a Shoei GT Air II which I really like. I will be retiring it at the end of this season, after 6 years of use.

 

My helmet looks and smells good, fits perfect, and the liner looks almost new. This thread piqued my curiosity and I found the date stamp on the chin strap- 08/99. It's an Arai Signet and when I'm not riding it sits indoors on the corner of the couch. Maybe I'll think about replacing it in another 5 years...

 

Went with another Pitt Boss, I like the way the helmet fits and rides. Hunted around, they go on sale somewhere for $100 pretty regular. Thought that flip down visor was just a gimmick till I used it a few times, damned handy now.

 

I was going to replace my GT Air 2 today with a GT Air 3. After I added up the new helmet and new shield I was $800.00 or better.
My GT Air 2 is 3 years old, so I decided it was going to get upgraded with a new interior and visor. This cost me about $175.00 and I can ride on for another year or so!

 

DUDE! The helmet is 25 yrs old! Lol Might be time for a new one.