Questions I never manage to ask but think about often...

[dugkim]

1) what is the safe "useful life" of a non-crashed or impacted helmet? It seems to me that I remember one's helmet should be replaced somewhat regularly. How often do you guys realistically replace your helmets?

2) what exactly is meant by "bedding the pads and rotors". I understand the principle of being careful until new rotors and pads "bed", but the literature makes it sound as though there is a specific process to accomplish this. By slapping new stuff on and riding, am i endangering myself or reducing the useful life of my brakes by not following some prescribed proceedure?

3) I belong to a national (USA) riding group known as HSTA, which stands for Honda Sport Touring Association - although inclusive of all brands. Each year, they publish an annual membership directory where you can choose to list the ways you can support your fellow riders if they fall prey to some misfortune while riding in your area by listing offerings like lodging, tools, mechanical know-how, parts, trailer or road knowledge, for example. After hosting a ride-in here in TN in which more than two riders needed some form of rescue, would it make sense to have one of these directories for our group? Heck, it could be a world-wide directory. What a great way to meet each other, say if I am riding in Belgium and want to look up BEF. Or if you're from California riding to the 2008 MotoGP in Indy and you break down or get a flat in Nebraska. If you wish not to be listed, you simply check a box that says "do not list". I carry my small HSTA directory in my tank bag everywhere I go. Would you guys be interested in something like this?

[RAS]

UV light is suppose to degrade the shell of helmets. I suspect no one replaces them as often as the manufacturers want. I replace about every 5 years. They're pretty nasty inside by then anyway. Washing helps sometimes, but the foam is never the same.

New pads and rotors have surfaces that don't really match each other. The bedding in process gets all the irregularities to match so that contact surface area is at a max. Until then braking potential is not 100%. I . This is true always for new pads whether the disks are new or not.

[rblue02]

1) One crash or 50,000 bug kills.

3) The AMA offers something similar.

[The Fixer]

Here's a bunch of pad bed-in info...http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/s...=breaking+pads

I've had helmets a long time...15+ years, but that's because I was younger and always had something better to spend the $ on. Helmets were pretty boring back then too. Nowadays I'd agree with 5 years being a good indicator.

The membership directory is a great idea. Maybe to make it easier there could just be a section of this website to enter the info instead of an actual printed guide that would cost $. It could be available in PDF form for downloads.

[Turbo Rob]

I usualy get a new helmet every two years. I tend to put about 10000 miles of wearage on a single helmet in that time. I allways buy Arai helmets, custom fitted to my head shape/helmet form type. Arai 's have all pads removable and size varaible to get this custom fit for each persons head. That said, the act of usage and the elements as Rick pointed out, causes wear and tear, that over time, adds up to misalignment or dimished capicity to protect as was intended at design.

None of that was earth shattering for sure..............

I think a guide book of members would be a fantastic idea for the forum. I travel a ton, over many States, on a regular basis. I really enjoyed getting to meet some of the people who participate on this forum, from all over the world at the open house party at AF1. The knowledge base from our members and our hosts, is not something one finds with many other avocations/hobbies/ manufactures of things we ride.

sign me up................

Rob H

[bobdavis73]

However most everyone knows where I live already

...... and why is my garage always full of S#@t tires.

Bob

[The Fixer]

...... and why is my garage always full of S#@t tires.

Bob

I guess a disposal fee is in order.

[beansoup]

I'm not qualified to address questions 2 and 3, but as question 1 interested me, too, I did a lot of reading on the subject and the consensus is:

- the industry would like you to buy one of its shiny new helmets every five years.

- helmets which haven't been abused, damaged or subjected to solvents retain their protective capability for more than five years. Improvements in helmet design, or the fact that your old lid stinks, may prompt you to observe the five-year guideline.

-helmets which have been dropped are OK to use unless the shell is visibly grazed or cracked. A cracked helmet should be discarded.

-helmets which have hit the ground or another fixed barrier while in use (i.e., with a head inside) should be discarded regardless of the severity of the impact.

-any helmet with a faux-Gothic death and destruction motif (eg Icon) should be removed forcibly and the wearer beaten. Unless he's actually 12 years old and doesn't know any better.

Hope this helps

[The Fixer]

-any helmet with a faux-Gothic death and destruction motif (eg Icon) should be removed forcibly and the wearer beaten. Unless he's actually 12 years old and doesn't know any better.

Yeah, but those helmets do reach a different age group of riders that normally wouldn't want to don a lid, at least in states that don't have helmet laws. Whatever works...

[JeffC]

While I realize that replacement occurs at approximately the same frequency, do you replace the helmet at the same time as the shirt or do you stagger their replacement to spread out the joy?

[beansoup]

You're probably right -- I have no way of knowing 'cause we've had a helmet law here (CA) for years, so anyone who chooses to wear one of those "skullmasterdeathmaidenkillsquad" things over here has to be a dork. Or a slightly dim child.

[beansoup]

Mister Jeff!!! Long time no see, bro. Let me know when you plan to visit the left coast and I'll cover your first pint at O'Brien's.

In answer to your question, my helmets tend to hit the deck before five years use, so it's rarely an issue for me. When presented with the option, though, I'll typically replace the helmet and wash the shirt. If the helmet is beyond safe use, I paint a few skulls on it and sell it to a 12-year-old.

[JeffC]

Wash the shirt? Hahahahahha -- surely you jest...

Trust me when I say the $300+ air fair would be worth the beer at O'Brian's -- because I miss you guys! You would have loved the company in Nashvillle! Maybe some day...