Maybe you’ve purchased a brand-new helmet and left it on the shelf, or perhaps you used it briefly before setting it aside within the recommended 5-7 year replacement window. In either scenario, you might ask: do motorcycle helmets expire if left unused?
The short answer is no—unused helmets don’t expire, as long as they’re stored correctly.
For a brand-new helmet, simply place it in a breathable bag or keep it in its original packaging to shield it from dust, UV rays, and scratches. Store it in a cool, dark location with stable temperatures and low humidity. Be sure to keep it away from chemicals or heavy objects that could cause deformation. If the helmet has been used, give it a thorough cleaning before storing it under the same conditions. Adding silica gel packs can help manage moisture and prevent mildew.
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When Should You Really Replace a Motorcycle Helmet? Separating Fact from Fiction
I’ve come across a lot of advice on when to replace a motorcycle helmet, and honestly, it often seems to be driven by either overly cautious guidelines or marketing gimmicks from helmet manufacturers and sellers.
Many blogs recommend replacing your helmet every 5 to 7 years, even if you haven’t used it. But there’s no solid evidence to back this up. With the variety of materials, brands, and environmental factors involved, it is not possible to make an accurate generalized statement like this.
From a safety, comfort, and hygiene perspective, you should replace your helmet every few years if you use it frequently. In my experience, if I’m using my helmet 3-5 times a week—especially in sweaty or dirty conditions—it makes sense to replace it every 3-4 years. Most helmets don’t have removable, washable liners, so cleaning them can be a challenge. It might be more practical to simply get a new one when your helmet starts to look worn or becomes very dirty.
But these are all subjective opinions and not based on any hardcore scientific data. It’s like deciding when you should change your underclothes. It’s really something that each individual must decide on their own.
6 Key Factors That Impact the Lifespan of Your Motorcycle Helmet
Based on my over 50 years of riding experience and my roles in leading and consulting for several reputable helmet manufacturers, I have observed six main factors that contribute to the lifespan of a motorcycle helmet:
1. Impact of Usage Frequency
One of the main factors is the amount of use the helmet gets in simple terms. It’s like an hour meter on a piece of equipment how many hours the helmet has been used. This is one of the most significant things that will affect how long a helmet will last.
2. Personal Chemistry Effects
Another important factor which is rarely mentioned is the personal chemistry of the rider. I have seen helmets we’re not only the comfort padding but the vinyl covering on the straps was totally deteriorated in less than 2 years use because of the chemical reaction of the owners sweat with materials used in the manufacturer of a specific model helmet.
This is something that’s impossible to know in advance and only affects a small number of people. One would have to know this from their own personal experience.
3. Environmental Influences
Heat and/or Humidity won’t affect the shell or EPS liner of a helmet, but it can have an effect on the comfort padding, glue, graphics, trim, and any rivets or other metal components of the helmet including the buckles. A helmet that is exposed to a lot of humidity will probably have a much shorter lifespan than a helmet that is kept in a dry environment. Humidity could influence the lifespan of a helmet that has never been used.
As with everything in life there’s always exceptions to the rule and it is possible that a motorcycle helmet could expire if not used if it was exposed to a lot of heat and or humidity over the years.
4. Chemical Exposure Risks
It is unlikely that any chemicals will have any detrimental effect against a composite shell of a modern motorcycle helmet. That would include shells made of fiberglass or various mixtures of other fibers like Kevlar and carbon fiber. However, helmets manufactured in thermoplastic shells whether it’s polycarbonate or ABS can be affected by many chemicals including gasoline, which is the chemical most likely to come in contact with a motorcycle helmet.
As with heat and humidity this could create another exception to the rule for a helmet never used. If a motorcycle helmet was exposed to certain chemicals, especially solvents like gasoline, even if it was never used it could be degraded and therefore could be considered that it had expired. This would be an unusual situation but not impossible, which is why the general answer to the question of motorcycle helmets expiring if not used is almost always no, they don’t.
5. Sunlight and UV Concerns
Extreme cold and extreme heat will probably cause damage to the comfort pad and the glue holding it together. This is also true for the trim. Cold temperatures will not degrade the shell of a composite helmet or the EPS liner. It’s unlikely that any motorcycle helmet would be exposed to temperatures low enough to degrade the shell of a thermoplastic helmet.
A general rule of thumb is to always keep your helmet someplace where you or your clothes would be. In other words, within a reasonable temperature range not outside in the rain or snow and certainly not in the fog of some chemical mist. If your helmet is in an environment that is comfortable for a human being it will be fine.
I noted that many articles say that sunlight will damage the outer shell of the helmet due to harmful UV rays as well as other elements like rain and that this could seriously shorten the life of the helmet. First, unless your helmet is made of paper mache and has no paint and clear coat on its rain should not have any ability to seriously shorten the life of your helmet!
If your helmet has a composite shell, it is not going to be affected by sunlight, maybe the paint will fade, or the graphics will fade but the structural strength and integrity of the helmet shell will not be affected by the sunlight from you riding your motorcycle.
Theoretically, the shell of a thermoplastic helmet, like those made of polycarbonate and ABS, could be affected by sunlight. However, most modern thermoplastic helmets are painted and have graphics on, and I doubt in a real-world application that in any period of realistic use the helmet shell would actually be damaged by sunlight just from riding your motorcycle.
Now, if you were in the habit of taking your helmet off and leaving it outside, for instance, on the mirror of your motorcycle day after day, month after month, I could see where that could be a problem with a thermoplastic helmet.
Another reason to care for your helmet is like you care for any of your clothing or personal possessions, you wouldn’t leave them laying around outside, keep them indoors, and all will be fine. In theory if you had a brand-new motorcycle helmet that was never used, and it had a thermoplastic shell but was left out of the box and in direct sunlight over a long period of time it could sustain damage.
But this is such an unusual circumstance, and it would be misleading to say that a motorcycle helmet expires if never used because of this very unlikely situation.
6. Advancements in Helmet Technology
The biggest reason why you might not want to use a helmet that is many years old even if it has never been used is because in all those years, helmet technology has gotten better. You might have a brand-new helmet in a box that might be perfectly safe, but the similar model today is lighter, has better ventilation, a much better face shield mechanism, a better retention system, more up-to-date styling, and the paint and graphics are probably Superior.
Michael’s Summary and Conclusion
So, it really depends on your use; if you had a brand-new off-road helmet in a box and you hadn’t used it in many years, and you just got a dirt bike on ATV to ride around locally, then probably that would not justify buying a new helmet. But if you had a nice full-face street helmet laying around for years and decided to really get back into riding, and we’re going to be spending a serious amount of time doing it would probably be a good idea to consider at least looking at what the market now has to offer and how helmets have changed over the years.
And so, when answering the question “Do motorcycle helmets expire if not used?” you should understand it’s not such an easy question to answer in a black or white way. From my more than four decades in the motorcycle helmet industry, I can point out some factors that would change the answer to this question.
Even if two model helmets or different brands from different manufacturers are made from the same materials, generally speaking, it doesn’t mean those materials have the exact same physical or chemical properties, especially over a period of time. Composite helmets like fiberglass can be manufactured with many different types of resin. Thermoplastic helmets that are made of materials like ABS and polycarbonate come from various raw material sources and can have other properties they’re not all identical.
I have more than 300 helmets in my personal collection. About 80% of them are composite made of fiberglass, carbon fiber, Kevlar, or some mix of these materials, and the remaining 20% are made from thermoplastic, mostly polycarbonate with a few ABS models.
Even within the same brand over the years different models have stood the test of time differently. I have seen thermoplastic helmets have serious degradation after years of just sitting on display.
Composite helmets do not easily see any difference, but just from common sense and understanding of manufacturing, I would doubt that all of them would have the same performance since different chemical companies supplied many kinds of resin over the years to produce. There’s simply no way for the consumer to understand how these materials would perform many years after their production.
The most obvious degradation that happens in older helmets, even if they’re not used is that the comfort padding loses its resilience and may even completely disintegrate. Comfort padding is essential in assuring a good fit of the helmet and helping to prevent it from coming off in the event of a crash.
I have helmets that are 20 years old that the comfort padding has completely decomposed, but I also have helmets that are 50 years old that the comfort padding is fine. Again, it all comes down to the original material and components used in the construction. Unlike the shell and EPS liner it’s easy to visually see and feel when the comfort padding has become damaged and useless due to time.
At the end of the day, it’s a personal call if you have a new and unused helmet that’s five years old or less, it’s probably fine. If it is 10 or more years old and the comfort padding is still firm and flushed, it’s probably good, too, especially if it is a composite moment. However any helmet more than that it’s going to be your decision, and it’s probably better to air on the side of safety and just get a new helmet.
Helmets today have gotten so good and inexpensive that it’s always better to be safe. The difference between a very expensive helmet and a moderately priced helmet is not safety; it is bells and whistles and name recognition and graphics. I would rather wear a $200 brand-new helmet than a $600 old helmet. The question is how old is old, and only you can make that decision.
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FAQs — I Have The Answers!
Q: Do Motorcycle Helmets Expire If Not Used?
Yes, motorcycle helmets can expire even if not used when exposed to sunlight, moisture, or extreme temperatures, or if not properly cleaned after the last use, as these conditions cause the materials to degrade over time; however, if properly stored, helmets do not expire.
To ensure longevity, clean the helmet thoroughly inside and out, and store it in a breathable bag or its original packaging to protect it from dust, UV light, and scratches. Keep it in a cool, dark place with stable temperatures and low humidity, and avoid exposure to chemicals or heavy objects that could deform it. Using silica gel packs inside can also help absorb moisture and prevent mildew.
Proper storage can help prolong the helmet’s lifespan, but it’s important to remember that most manufacturers recommend replacing helmets every 5-7 years, regardless of usage to ensure maximum safety by staying updated with the latest helmet advancements and standards.
Q: Do Unused Motorcycle Helmets Expire?
Generally speaking, unused motorcycle helmets do not expire if properly stored. However, there may still be good reasons to consider buying a newer model, as advancements in safety features and standards continue to evolve. Ultimately, it’s a personal decision
Q: How Do I Know If My Helmet Is Expired?
You can know if your helmet is expired by checking for signs such as excessive fading, a cracked shell, compressed EPS liner, detached EPS liner, damaged comfort liner, loose chin straps, base plate issues, damaged base trim, compromised face shield, impaired visor seal, or damaged vent covers.
Q: How Long Does an Unused Helmet Last?
An unused helmet can last for more than 20 years, or even longer, if it’s stored in a helmet bag and kept away from sunlight and moisture.
Information for this article was partially sourced and researched from the following authoritative government, educational, and nonprofit organizations:
MS/M
