Can I still use this helmet?

I took a little ride at Road A on Sunday and managed to let the rumble strip meet my new Arai. I'm more upset about my helmet than my bike...

Either way, will this pass tech?

 

Doubtful, and even if it would is your head only worth $750?

 

no...

 

Be thankful it isn't the carbon fiber one.

 

hard to tell from the pics, but is the scrapes in the fiberglass? then should not pass

 

send it to arai for an inspection?

 

If you have to ask.........

 

I'm sure it will disintegrate next time you bump your head.

 

just thinking...if its good after the inspection, sell it to the squids

but yeah probably a no go for tech...

 

That has been my understanding. I have a very similar Arai paperweight like that. I sometimes wear it on street rides since it's so much more comfortable.

On the other hand, I have another helmet that took a tumble in a gravel trap. It only has light paint scratches and passed tech every time up until it's 5yr expiration.

 

Arai will do a free inspection if you send it to them.

 

Yeah, but not in time for Roebling.

 

The main purpose of a helmet it to expel the energy of an impact to reduce brain trauma. The foam inside can do that once. If the foam in your helmet has been compressed, it should be replaced.

Seems to me that evaluating scratches and scrapes on a helmet is not a good measure of it's integrity. Take a belt sander to a brand new helmet, does that directly affect it's impact absorbtion potential? No.

Indirectly? Possibly. Any damage to the outer skin can make it more susceptible to failure. However, is it likely that you will ever scrape all the way through the shell and then the foam to your bare head? Probably not.

The original question though. Will it pass tech? Depends on the inspector and how deep his evaluation goes. A by the book black and white guy will see scratches in fiberglass and say no. Someone else who believes that it hasn't taken any impact may say OK.

Is it a false start if you move in the box? How do you determine intent?

 

Personally, if there are any visible scuff (not light scratches) damage to the outer shell in the upper area (temple, forehead, back, etc.) I won't use it again. However, anything below that I would (ie. chin, lower jaw, lower cheek, etc.) but that's just me.

 

Just a point about how rules are followed. Do you follow the word of the law, or the intent? Since the jump start thing was such a debate last year in AMA I thought it was applicable. I like analogies.

I get your point that since you can't judge helmet internals easily, you err on the side of caution. History is full of examples of simple rules to protect the most people.

 

I've taken an Arai to the guy at the AMA nationals in worse shape then that, he didn't say anything lol

 

put some stickers over it..