Do you like the way I've challenged you're NEED for a premium helmet right in the title..? (lol).
First things first, ALL HELMETS ARE SAFE as long as they have a DOT sticker. I've said it a thousand times, and it still holds true today. By the way, that's a DOT sticker ONLY helmet.
Arguing about safety standards is honestly a waste of breath. Simply, they're all good, and yes, there's always room for improvement. DONE.
Premium helmets like Arai are in a league all by themselves. Handmade, human tested (4 times in the case of Arai) and only the finest materials are used. Workable if budget isn't your only concern.
Explaining the difference between an entry level helmet, and one these beauties can be a challenge. Overcoming the cost difference is never a walk in the park. Plus, comfort is unique to everyone. Combine this with the lack of Dealers with a honest grasp of the basics, many feel lost.
Then comes the fitting process...
Have you ever put on something; a pair of shoes, jacket, and thought it was tailored to you, ALONE.
I like to use the custom golf club story. Lets say you play golf every weekend, and LOVE it. It's your passion. You're not bad; shooting in the low 90's. One day you show up at the course, and your buddy, who you typically beat, pounds you into the grass by 8 strokes. On the 19th hole you find out that he spent $500 having his clubs professional fitted by the ex-PGA guy, at the swanky club you can't bring yourself to play because of the high green fee's...
That $500 knocked 10 strokes off his game.
If you're a golfer, shooting a lower score is the ultimate, frustrating, goal of golf. Less strokes (lost balls) equals more fun. Those green fees start to look more and more affordable the lower your score drops...lol
How much more fun would you have on that 40 minute commute to work, multiday ride, or the annual cross country ride, if your helmet fit amazing? No more stops to "give your head a break". No more sick feeling when it comes time to put your helmet back on.
I've been there, and speak from experience.
Once you pull the trigger and buy a premium helmet, it (properly fitted) becomes part of the ride, in a positive way. You wear it because you WANT it on your head. Your thoughts are focused of how the helmet will save you from a bug strike, not how your head is going to ache in 30 minutes.
True comfort... for which many believe is as elusive as the lower golf score, is centered on shape. If you find a helmet is the correct shape, comfort will follow.
Comfort has more to do with SHAPE than size. A square head, in a round helmet will never be comfortable. Much like fitting a set of clubs involves more than adjusting the length of the shaft. The fitting pro will watch your swing, and adjust several angles to match. Like your head, your golf swing in unique.
Matching the shape of the helmet, directly to the shape of your head, dictates what SIZE you will wear. If your head is longer oval, and you stuff it into a bowling ball round helmet, your tendency is to go larger with the helmet to compensate for the shape mismatch. This is the WRONG approach, but unfortunately the norm.
Arai has always understood this, which is why they're the ONLY manufacturer who makes multiple shaped shells. Everyone else, one.
I've fit customers, who've insisted they were a size large, into small Arai's. How? I was able match their head shape perfectly with the Arai helmet, and in turn, fit them in a smaller helmet. Smaller helmets also equal less weight. Less weight, equals more comfort. Less helmet, less surface area. Less drag, less neck strain. Oh and if you combine these, it equals greater safety if you were to crash. Every additional ounce rolling in one directing is going to be tougher to stop.
Are Arai helmets for everyone? Lets face it, not everyone can afford an Arai helmet. Most of the customers I come into contact with have purchased other products in the past, and eventually found their way to my store. The number one reason? They're simply tired of being uncomfortable. Years of wearing entry level helmets effectively pushed them to opening their wallets a bit wider.
Personally, I think it's important to take this step. How else will you know how great you have it in an Arai, unless you go through those growing pains? Of course, there are those that want to start right at the top... A word of warning. Once you wear something thats comfortable, everything else will never live up...lol.
You're forever ruined and subjected to only premium stuff..
Friday, July 13, 2012
Friday, July 6, 2012
The RESET Button, 2012
Before diving into the last 12 months, I think the only way to start is from the beginning...
In 1999 I quit my job as a Chandler police officer (10+ years) and opened The Helmet Harbor, LLC. First, from the safety of my living room, but soon out of a 600sf office I shared with another new company.
As my NAME spells out all too clear, my vision was to specialize in MOTORCYCLE HELMETS. Mainly online, but soon my local presents grew. After 6 months my wife left her job to help, after 12 months I was in a larger building and hiring my first employee.
As my company grew, so did the products I offered...
It only makes sense, right? I had super happy customers buying helmets, but they also needed jackets, pants, gloves, and luggage. I saw an opportunity to expand, and I took it. Soon The Helmet Harbor, LLC didn't match it's name when it came to the products I offered.
I lost sight of what was important. Not only to my company, but to myself.
Now don't get me wrong. In the last 12 years we've had 10's of thousands of HAPPY customers. It wasn't like our customer service went into the toilet because I brought on more products. What slipped was our UNIQUENESS...
I had grown my company into something that looked just like EVERYONE else. Sure, I had a semi-unique way of presenting product, but nothing stays unique long in ANY industry. Soon, it blends into the normal. No longer unique at all.
Where does a company, with 10's of thousands of products go once everyone starts nibbling at your heals? Well, first comes PRICE WARS.
PRICE WARS are really a sign that you've run out of other ways to sell VALUE. If it didn't register, VALUE. When uniqueness slips away, VALUE starts to take on the simplest forms. Slashing price is the easiest. Even the most brilliant minds crumple under the simple logic. "If I sell something CHEAPER than the other guys, I win."
Granted EVERYONE wants a fair price. Some (actually the minority in my view) want a STEAL. As a business owner, by nature you're competitive. If you loose one sale to someone with a lower price, it's a HUGE defeat.
The going rage right now is VIDEO. I'm proud to say that I was one of the first motorcycle companies online to embrace video, and YouTube. I published my first video on YouTube in July 2007. It had launched less than two years earlier. We all know what it is today... I started putting video on my site in early 2005.
TODAY you typically get one guy, who's comfortable in front of the camera, talking about EVERYTHING. It's obviously his main job.
HERE'S THE ISSUE TODAY. Yes, you know a great deal about the product, but what if you have a question beyond the video? Can you depend on speaking with THAT guy?
No longer is it someone who KNOWS the product. COME ON. This point can't be argued. How can you convince anyone that you honestly know a product when you're doing videos on 1000's of vastly different merchandise?
If you're looking to buy a $250,000 sports car, you going to head to a lot full of 1000's of different vehicles? Trucks $10,000 starter cars, dump trucks, hybrids, luxury sedans?
I can't speak for you, but if I'm going to spend THAT much money on something that specific, I'm going to seek out someone WHO ONLY SELLS SPORTS CARS. Better yet, ONLY SELLS the manufacturer I'm thinking at buying.
To be GREAT at something, you MUST focus on that ONE THING.
That's just me.
I mentioned PRICE WAR before. Now we have a INFORMATION WAR. A products features are rattled off into a camera, and now you, the educated consumer, are better prepared to make a purchase.
Makes sense, right? Information is power. Information allows you to hit that "Buy Now" button and spend your hard earned money.
GETTING BACK ON SUBJECT.
I had grown my company to a point where I had lost the personal connection with my customers. Yes, I did my best, but there was no way I could be everything, to everyone.
In April on 2011 I made the decision to drastically change how I did business. I had actually started in early 2010 by thinning down my product lines, but there just wasn't a way to make it work. At the core, my company was setup to be a larger company. Changes beyond simply cutting product needed to be done.
Thus The Helmet Harbor, LLC going into a mild hibernation. Plans were set into motion, and implemented slowly over the following 12 months. I took some time to not only reorganize, but also broaden my base.
I was honored to have been invited on a gold dredging operation in the out-back of Washington State.
I took a little savings and bought an investment property, taking advantage of the Arizona real estate market.
All along moving forward with hitting the PLAY button on The Helmet Harbor, LLC.
I now specialize in Arai helmets, having ALL the models on the sales room floor. If someone walks in looking for an Arai Corsair-V, or an RX-Q, I'll have it in their size.
IN CLOSING, I simply want to GREAT at one thing, not simply OK at many. That's my "not so simple" goal. Not everyone will understand. Some will prefer to go somewhere else. THIS IS PERFECTLY FINE. I prefer it this way. Those that choose The Helmet Harbor, LLC will be very like minded. Ideal for long term growth.
In 1999 I quit my job as a Chandler police officer (10+ years) and opened The Helmet Harbor, LLC. First, from the safety of my living room, but soon out of a 600sf office I shared with another new company.
As my NAME spells out all too clear, my vision was to specialize in MOTORCYCLE HELMETS. Mainly online, but soon my local presents grew. After 6 months my wife left her job to help, after 12 months I was in a larger building and hiring my first employee.
As my company grew, so did the products I offered...
It only makes sense, right? I had super happy customers buying helmets, but they also needed jackets, pants, gloves, and luggage. I saw an opportunity to expand, and I took it. Soon The Helmet Harbor, LLC didn't match it's name when it came to the products I offered.
I lost sight of what was important. Not only to my company, but to myself.
Now don't get me wrong. In the last 12 years we've had 10's of thousands of HAPPY customers. It wasn't like our customer service went into the toilet because I brought on more products. What slipped was our UNIQUENESS...
I had grown my company into something that looked just like EVERYONE else. Sure, I had a semi-unique way of presenting product, but nothing stays unique long in ANY industry. Soon, it blends into the normal. No longer unique at all.
Where does a company, with 10's of thousands of products go once everyone starts nibbling at your heals? Well, first comes PRICE WARS.
PRICE WARS are really a sign that you've run out of other ways to sell VALUE. If it didn't register, VALUE. When uniqueness slips away, VALUE starts to take on the simplest forms. Slashing price is the easiest. Even the most brilliant minds crumple under the simple logic. "If I sell something CHEAPER than the other guys, I win."
Granted EVERYONE wants a fair price. Some (actually the minority in my view) want a STEAL. As a business owner, by nature you're competitive. If you loose one sale to someone with a lower price, it's a HUGE defeat.
The going rage right now is VIDEO. I'm proud to say that I was one of the first motorcycle companies online to embrace video, and YouTube. I published my first video on YouTube in July 2007. It had launched less than two years earlier. We all know what it is today... I started putting video on my site in early 2005.
TODAY you typically get one guy, who's comfortable in front of the camera, talking about EVERYTHING. It's obviously his main job.
HERE'S THE ISSUE TODAY. Yes, you know a great deal about the product, but what if you have a question beyond the video? Can you depend on speaking with THAT guy?
No longer is it someone who KNOWS the product. COME ON. This point can't be argued. How can you convince anyone that you honestly know a product when you're doing videos on 1000's of vastly different merchandise?
If you're looking to buy a $250,000 sports car, you going to head to a lot full of 1000's of different vehicles? Trucks $10,000 starter cars, dump trucks, hybrids, luxury sedans?
I can't speak for you, but if I'm going to spend THAT much money on something that specific, I'm going to seek out someone WHO ONLY SELLS SPORTS CARS. Better yet, ONLY SELLS the manufacturer I'm thinking at buying.
To be GREAT at something, you MUST focus on that ONE THING.
That's just me.
I mentioned PRICE WAR before. Now we have a INFORMATION WAR. A products features are rattled off into a camera, and now you, the educated consumer, are better prepared to make a purchase.
Makes sense, right? Information is power. Information allows you to hit that "Buy Now" button and spend your hard earned money.
GETTING BACK ON SUBJECT.
I had grown my company to a point where I had lost the personal connection with my customers. Yes, I did my best, but there was no way I could be everything, to everyone.
In April on 2011 I made the decision to drastically change how I did business. I had actually started in early 2010 by thinning down my product lines, but there just wasn't a way to make it work. At the core, my company was setup to be a larger company. Changes beyond simply cutting product needed to be done.
Thus The Helmet Harbor, LLC going into a mild hibernation. Plans were set into motion, and implemented slowly over the following 12 months. I took some time to not only reorganize, but also broaden my base.
I was honored to have been invited on a gold dredging operation in the out-back of Washington State.
I took a little savings and bought an investment property, taking advantage of the Arizona real estate market.
All along moving forward with hitting the PLAY button on The Helmet Harbor, LLC.
I now specialize in Arai helmets, having ALL the models on the sales room floor. If someone walks in looking for an Arai Corsair-V, or an RX-Q, I'll have it in their size.
IN CLOSING, I simply want to GREAT at one thing, not simply OK at many. That's my "not so simple" goal. Not everyone will understand. Some will prefer to go somewhere else. THIS IS PERFECTLY FINE. I prefer it this way. Those that choose The Helmet Harbor, LLC will be very like minded. Ideal for long term growth.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Coupon Update
OK, wow...! How things can change in a blink of an eye.
Pass this around. When you enter something into the cart, you will be brought to a page showing the product you're interested in and the price. In the upper left corner will be a COUPON CODE section. In this field enter the MANUFACTURER NAME and hit the GO or APPLY button. The price will change if we're offering a discount. It's that simple.
Feel free to post this around, and let as many people know about it as you can.
Update:
Super OLD post guys... This no longer applies. Head to The Helmet Harbor, LLC to see if any products are on special.
Pass this around. When you enter something into the cart, you will be brought to a page showing the product you're interested in and the price. In the upper left corner will be a COUPON CODE section. In this field enter the MANUFACTURER NAME and hit the GO or APPLY button. The price will change if we're offering a discount. It's that simple.
Feel free to post this around, and let as many people know about it as you can.
Update:
Super OLD post guys... This no longer applies. Head to The Helmet Harbor, LLC to see if any products are on special.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
OK, it's time to get down and dirty with Coupon Codes...LOL
Update: Old post, sorry. Head to The Helmet Harbor, LLC to see the various specials.
I can't speak for everyone, but I HATE jumping through hoops to get a discount, or to see the final price on products. Look, I've handled this like everyone else out there. Offered the price in the "cart only", had an "email for price" button. I even went as far as a "members only" section in an effort to offer the price "I" felt was most fair. Some of these "work arounds" might still come into play, but I with any luck those days will be limited.
In the next week I will have up a "Coupon Code" section. On this page I will list the coupon codes for the various products we have for sale. Enter the code during checkout, and the price will update once it takes effect.
My goal is to make it nearly impossible to find anyone online selling various products for less. I think we've done a great job of providing a huge amount of information, so this should make our deals unbeatable. REMEMBER, if you like what you see, tell everyone that might be interested.
I can't speak for everyone, but I HATE jumping through hoops to get a discount, or to see the final price on products. Look, I've handled this like everyone else out there. Offered the price in the "cart only", had an "email for price" button. I even went as far as a "members only" section in an effort to offer the price "I" felt was most fair. Some of these "work arounds" might still come into play, but I with any luck those days will be limited.
In the next week I will have up a "Coupon Code" section. On this page I will list the coupon codes for the various products we have for sale. Enter the code during checkout, and the price will update once it takes effect.
My goal is to make it nearly impossible to find anyone online selling various products for less. I think we've done a great job of providing a huge amount of information, so this should make our deals unbeatable. REMEMBER, if you like what you see, tell everyone that might be interested.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wow, You think I would learn...LOL
Well, if you've been to my site over the last 11 years, you've seen a few changes.
When I first launched The Helmet Harbor, LLC back in 1999 few online motorcycle apparel stores existed. You actually had to do most of the HTML yourself, which made for some pretty basic sites...lol. I was lucky, and knew a friend who had just graduated for ASU in computer science. He helped me design our second site in 2002, which lasted until 2007. In 2007 I updated again, and left that alone until last week.
With as many changes as I've been involved in, you would think that each time would become easier. I wish...
The new site still has a few bugs, but all the essential functions are up and running. This new design will allow me to offer discounts in a variety of ways to new and current customers. I will also have more control over discounts, and who sees them. My main goal was to have some improvements added that would allow me to better serve my past customers. If you fall into this category, I hope you agree that the change was worth it.
It's going to take some time to hammer out all the small details, but once finished, I think the extra work will be worth it. If you have any questions, give me a call.
When I first launched The Helmet Harbor, LLC back in 1999 few online motorcycle apparel stores existed. You actually had to do most of the HTML yourself, which made for some pretty basic sites...lol. I was lucky, and knew a friend who had just graduated for ASU in computer science. He helped me design our second site in 2002, which lasted until 2007. In 2007 I updated again, and left that alone until last week.
With as many changes as I've been involved in, you would think that each time would become easier. I wish...
The new site still has a few bugs, but all the essential functions are up and running. This new design will allow me to offer discounts in a variety of ways to new and current customers. I will also have more control over discounts, and who sees them. My main goal was to have some improvements added that would allow me to better serve my past customers. If you fall into this category, I hope you agree that the change was worth it.
It's going to take some time to hammer out all the small details, but once finished, I think the extra work will be worth it. If you have any questions, give me a call.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Carry EVERYTHING on the planet?
There comes a time when you have to look long and hard at how you're doing things, and ask yourself a few honest questions. One huge question I ask myself on a daily basis is why do I sell products online that I don't have 100% confidence in? Here are some of the answers I've come up with in the past...
Really? I'm looking at this very differently than I did even as soon as 1 year ago. Here's an example, while I have Joe Rocket on my site, I don't carry it in my physical retail store. Why? Because I think Tourmaster is better made, fits the needs of more people, and is a better value. I have limited space, so therefore I have to be choosy. Online, room is endless. Should this make a difference?
Let me ask you this, and feel free to shoot me your opinion to my personal email.
If you came to my online store, and I had a single product to choose from, in each major category, would you head somewhere else? Say I had the other comparable products there and did a video explaining why I picked this single product? I compared them to each other, and had a conclusion. Would the lack of choices frustrate you, or would it take the pressure off, allowing you to make an easier decision?
Personally, I would have to have faith in the person doing the comparisons. Lets put it this way, there are a TON of other companies doing video reviews online now. Many of them have a VERY different take on products, and I would say 99% of them center on selling the stuff. Makes sense right? Why spend the time doing a video, if it doesn't help the bottom line? This makes it tough to take what they say as anything other than a selling technique. Sad, but true.
Well, I've never had this attitude, and have many comments from manufacturers to prove it. Simply, they either love me, or hate me. Sometimes at the same time...lol. I prefer it that way. However, there will always be those that say, "He's a salesman, of course he's going to point people in the direction of product where he makes the most money." I have a simple answer to these people. Buy somewhere else. What you see isn't an act, but it's America. There's ALWAYS another choice if you look.
Now I'm not saying that there isn't going to be new product that comes out, and people will have questions. What I am saying is that if I took these new products, and continued to compare them to others, would my advise be helpful? Just because something is new to the market, doesn't automatically mean it's better than the current products.
The simple truth is that out of all the winter jacket (example), 99% of them I wouldn't personally buy. However, picking the best jacket off a online page containing 1000 jackets is impossible. Sure, I could have "customer ratings" on each product, and this could be effective, but I always wonder how accurate they are... Sometimes there are just as many people who give a low rating, as those that give a high rating... Also, who are these people? Can they be trusted? Do they work for a company trying to sell the product? I know this sounds pretty cynical, but hey, there are few people I actually know, who I would trust to pick out a jacket for me...lol.
If I made this change, I'm sure there's a large group of customers who would buy somewhere else. Like I've said a thousand times, you can't please everyone. If I made this change, it would be on the behalf of my huge core of long time customers. Cut the fat, so they could get a better picture of what's out there, and what products stand out. We will see...
- Well, I don't know what everyone wants, or needs, so I have no choice.
Really? I'm looking at this very differently than I did even as soon as 1 year ago. Here's an example, while I have Joe Rocket on my site, I don't carry it in my physical retail store. Why? Because I think Tourmaster is better made, fits the needs of more people, and is a better value. I have limited space, so therefore I have to be choosy. Online, room is endless. Should this make a difference?
Let me ask you this, and feel free to shoot me your opinion to my personal email.
If you came to my online store, and I had a single product to choose from, in each major category, would you head somewhere else? Say I had the other comparable products there and did a video explaining why I picked this single product? I compared them to each other, and had a conclusion. Would the lack of choices frustrate you, or would it take the pressure off, allowing you to make an easier decision?
Personally, I would have to have faith in the person doing the comparisons. Lets put it this way, there are a TON of other companies doing video reviews online now. Many of them have a VERY different take on products, and I would say 99% of them center on selling the stuff. Makes sense right? Why spend the time doing a video, if it doesn't help the bottom line? This makes it tough to take what they say as anything other than a selling technique. Sad, but true.
Well, I've never had this attitude, and have many comments from manufacturers to prove it. Simply, they either love me, or hate me. Sometimes at the same time...lol. I prefer it that way. However, there will always be those that say, "He's a salesman, of course he's going to point people in the direction of product where he makes the most money." I have a simple answer to these people. Buy somewhere else. What you see isn't an act, but it's America. There's ALWAYS another choice if you look.
Now I'm not saying that there isn't going to be new product that comes out, and people will have questions. What I am saying is that if I took these new products, and continued to compare them to others, would my advise be helpful? Just because something is new to the market, doesn't automatically mean it's better than the current products.
The simple truth is that out of all the winter jacket (example), 99% of them I wouldn't personally buy. However, picking the best jacket off a online page containing 1000 jackets is impossible. Sure, I could have "customer ratings" on each product, and this could be effective, but I always wonder how accurate they are... Sometimes there are just as many people who give a low rating, as those that give a high rating... Also, who are these people? Can they be trusted? Do they work for a company trying to sell the product? I know this sounds pretty cynical, but hey, there are few people I actually know, who I would trust to pick out a jacket for me...lol.
If I made this change, I'm sure there's a large group of customers who would buy somewhere else. Like I've said a thousand times, you can't please everyone. If I made this change, it would be on the behalf of my huge core of long time customers. Cut the fat, so they could get a better picture of what's out there, and what products stand out. We will see...
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Helmets - Do I need a new one?
I joke in the store that if half of what's out there on replacing helmets was true, I wouldn't be working. I would be living on my private island... I'll address the "biggies" out there that I've heard...
Every five years you should replace your helmet...
Lets break this down. First, how would some lab-rat sitting in an office figure this out? I very much doubt that he came up with a magical equation that factored in what climate you ride in, how well you maintain your stuff, or how many times you'll drop, kick, or shine your helmet in a five year period.
So, where did the 5 year rule come from? Easy, from the Dealers wanting to sell you a replacement...lol. I personally think it came from the fact the SNELL (a safety standard) improves their standard every 5 years. It's easy to make the leap that every rider out there wants to be in the latest standard, even if the changes are small... Plus, it's a "number" they could belt out to keep people coming back. Also, many of the Manufacturers have a 5 year warranty period. Like the helmet will explode on impact if it's out of warranty...lol.
Answer - Look, if helmets had a shelf life, it would be printed on the box... If you take care of your helmet, there's no reason it can't last longer than 5 years. It's that simple. Now if your comfort liner is turning into dust (I've seen it), then you shouldn't need someone to tell you to replace your helmet.
If you drop your helmet, it needs to be replaced...
There are two types of shell material used in helmets. Plastic, and some variation of fiberglass, Carbon fiber, Kevlar (and everything in between).
First, plastic (thermoplastic to be fancy). This is the same stuff they make football helmets out of, and you don't see these guys tossing their helmets into the trash after every hit. Fiberglass composites are a little more tricky, but odds are that if you drop your helmet, the shell is fine.
What damages a helmet is your head inside during a crash. The Styrene inner shell is what does most of the work in a crash. As your head hits something, the Styrene compresses slowing your head (and brain). The shell does a bit of this, but is there mainly to prevent penetration and help distribute the blow over a wider section of Styrene. If your head isn't inside the helmet, no Styrene compression, no damage.
Answer -If you drop your helmet, and it has a plastic shell, look for cracks. If no cracks, it's most likely fine.
If you have a fiberglass shell, it gets a bit more tricky. The shell could have "spider web" cracks under the paint, softening the shell. This is a problem, since, like I mentioned, it's main job is to stop something from penetrating the helmet. I can say this, I've personally sent helmets away to be inspected and EVERYONE came back fine... Take that for what it's worth. The fiberglass shelled helmets are pretty tough.
Here it comes, the DISCLAIMER...
There's a MILLION ways you can damage your helmet, so there's no one on this small planet that can look at it, and say with 100% certainty, that your helmet is fine. I say use commonsense. If it was strapped to your bike lock, and the bike tips over on your helmet, the helmet is toast. If it tumbles off your back seat going 50mph, bounces down the street for a half mile, get a new helmet...lol.
Every five years you should replace your helmet...
Lets break this down. First, how would some lab-rat sitting in an office figure this out? I very much doubt that he came up with a magical equation that factored in what climate you ride in, how well you maintain your stuff, or how many times you'll drop, kick, or shine your helmet in a five year period.
So, where did the 5 year rule come from? Easy, from the Dealers wanting to sell you a replacement...lol. I personally think it came from the fact the SNELL (a safety standard) improves their standard every 5 years. It's easy to make the leap that every rider out there wants to be in the latest standard, even if the changes are small... Plus, it's a "number" they could belt out to keep people coming back. Also, many of the Manufacturers have a 5 year warranty period. Like the helmet will explode on impact if it's out of warranty...lol.
Answer - Look, if helmets had a shelf life, it would be printed on the box... If you take care of your helmet, there's no reason it can't last longer than 5 years. It's that simple. Now if your comfort liner is turning into dust (I've seen it), then you shouldn't need someone to tell you to replace your helmet.
If you drop your helmet, it needs to be replaced...
There are two types of shell material used in helmets. Plastic, and some variation of fiberglass, Carbon fiber, Kevlar (and everything in between).
First, plastic (thermoplastic to be fancy). This is the same stuff they make football helmets out of, and you don't see these guys tossing their helmets into the trash after every hit. Fiberglass composites are a little more tricky, but odds are that if you drop your helmet, the shell is fine.
What damages a helmet is your head inside during a crash. The Styrene inner shell is what does most of the work in a crash. As your head hits something, the Styrene compresses slowing your head (and brain). The shell does a bit of this, but is there mainly to prevent penetration and help distribute the blow over a wider section of Styrene. If your head isn't inside the helmet, no Styrene compression, no damage.
Answer -If you drop your helmet, and it has a plastic shell, look for cracks. If no cracks, it's most likely fine.
If you have a fiberglass shell, it gets a bit more tricky. The shell could have "spider web" cracks under the paint, softening the shell. This is a problem, since, like I mentioned, it's main job is to stop something from penetrating the helmet. I can say this, I've personally sent helmets away to be inspected and EVERYONE came back fine... Take that for what it's worth. The fiberglass shelled helmets are pretty tough.
Here it comes, the DISCLAIMER...
There's a MILLION ways you can damage your helmet, so there's no one on this small planet that can look at it, and say with 100% certainty, that your helmet is fine. I say use commonsense. If it was strapped to your bike lock, and the bike tips over on your helmet, the helmet is toast. If it tumbles off your back seat going 50mph, bounces down the street for a half mile, get a new helmet...lol.
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