On Jul 25, 2010, at 8:58 AM, Eric Norris wrote:
I still see guys using Bell Bikers here in Davis. I'm sometimes tempted to let them know that 20-or 30-year-old styrofoam won't do a thing to protect their brains if they crashed.
There's little reason for those helmets to be any less effective now than they were back when they were purchased.
"The Snell Institute recommends replacing your helmet every five years. "There will be a noticeable improvement in the protective characteristic of helmets over a five-year period due to advances in materials, designs, production methods and the standards," SI explains. Manufacturers put UV inhibitors in helmets to prevent structural degradation. If colors are fading, the UV inhibitors are failing and the structural integrity might be compromised. Replace faded helmets as soon as possible." When you read that, bear in mind that the Snell Institute and other such industry groups exist to help sell helmets.
The Bell Biker shell just about completely covers the styrofoam, so UV degradation should be a very minimal issue with those helmets. These helmets should probably not be any less effective than they were when they were bought. Whether they provided much protection to begin with is a conversation for another forum.
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