Helmet Useful Life

[leeines]

I have been told by a sales person that motorcycle helmets have a useful life of five to seven years because the materials, fiberglass or polycarbonate, lose their strength.
Anyone seen any articles on this one?
Thanks,
Lee

[RTTommy]

That's why the are called salesmen.

[LT_Pilot]

See page four for the MSF recommendations:

http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/helmet_CSI.pdf

[dukey33]

The sales person was half right. There is a recommended replacement life for helmets approximately 5-7 years but it is more for the internal EPS foam energy absorbing material than the outer hard shell materials. Remember the EPS foam is about the same as a Styrofoam ice chest. It won't last forever.

Besides, if you use your helmet daily, you may probably want to replace it after 5-7 years anyway. They get to being pretty gnarly even with regular cleaning. YMMV.