Help!!! My helmet fell off my handle bars?

[Wicked808]

My helmet fell off my handlebar and it has a few scratches. Is it ok or do I HAVE to replace it?
http://s1118.photobucket.com/albums/...1327305900.jpg
http://s1118.photobucket.com/albums/...1327305888.jpg

[loz944]

They do say tat if you drop your helmet or have had an accident you should replace it ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,maybe you could get it checked at a Helmet store

[sousuke86]

Don't ever put helmet on the handle bars...they slide off.
Put them over the mirror.

[SteveL]

Provided its not damaged the shell ie no cracks it should be OK

Steve

[Mr.E]

I had my helmet fall off from the seat and freaked out too. No cracks or scratches up top. I also felt inside for softness in the inner material, the foam like stuff, not the cheeck pads. It felt just as good as the rest, so I still use the helmet. You should check too. Also, when I leave my helmet on the bike, I turn my handlebars completely to the left and place my helmet on the tank pushed up to the left side of the bars, it acts as great support. got that idea from saxnbass

[Wicked808]

Originally Posted by sousuke86

Don't ever put helmet on the handle bars...they slide off.
Put them over the mirror.

Lesson learned! Thanks

[Skippii]

I'd listen to the experts at the Snell Foundation:
http://www.smf.org/helmetfaq#aDroppedHelmet

"I dropped my helmet! Do I have to go buy a new one?"

Generally the answer is probably not. Helmets are one-use items, but are quite durable otherwise, at least the ones we certify. Frequent dropping or spiking a helmet on the ground, or other hard surfaces may eventually degrade the helmet's performance. Similarly if the helmet falls to the ground at highway speeds unoccupied, the owner must be aware that some degradation may have occurred. In general, the real damage comes when the helmet contacts an object with a head inside. The Foundation recommends that if you are participating in an activity that requires that you wear a helmet, you avoid hitting stuff with your head. It can be difficult to readily determine if a helmet has been damaged, and the protective capabilities compromised without a thorough inspection by a trained professional. Some manufacturers may provide this service or direct you to these others that can perform these inspections. The Foundation recommends that if you suspect your helmet may be compromised, then replace it. If the helmet has been involved in an impact while in use, replace it.

[Wicked808]

I thought my handlebars were turned all the way to the left....little did I know it wasn't! Checked the helmet inside and out, no hairline cracks on the shell, inside feels safe too..no soft spots or cracks, just the little chips you see in the pictures if you can see it.

[Mr.E]

hm. Anything inside the helmet when it fell? If not, I'd say your considerably safe.

[Wicked808]

Originally Posted by Mr.E

hm. Anything inside the helmet when it fell? If not, I'd say your considerably safe.

Nothing inside. Just put helmet on handlebar and boom...it fell down.

[gfloyd2002]

There was a thread on this when Mr. E dropped his helmet from the whopping height of one foot. Here is what I said then, which echoes @Skippii post above. Key point is that it is probably fine, but you need to check it for damage to be sure, and if you have any doubts, you can send it to the manufacturer for a free check. Any cracks in the outer shell or, after removing the liner, in the foam inside, and its done for:

Should not be a problem at all from that very low height, I wouldn't sweat it. If you are concerned, you can check the shell for damage (easy), then pull out the liner and check out the foam (harder). Impact damage to a helmet is for a loaded helmet, with the weight of a head inside crashing against it in a collision. An empty helmet doesn't suffer the kinetic energy that compresses the impact foam of the liner or harms the protective structure of the shell. Check for shell cracks and for mushy spots or cracks in the foam liner (if so, replace helmet). It takes some real height to get that kind of energy built up, probably more than a simple drop even from 3 or 4 feet.

I dropped my old Shoei from my seat, even to the point of damaging the air vent, sent it to Shoei for inspection and it passed with flying colors. Not that I would recommend wearing a helmet dropped from a motorcycle without checking it thoroughly yourself or sending it to the manufacturer for a free test, but from 1 foot I wouldn't hesitate for one second continuing to use it without further thought. Here is what the Snell Foundation has to say about it:

If an empty helmet is dropped a few feet from a table top or the back of a bike onto a hard floor or pavement, the impact management is likely unaffected. The shell may be marred, even chipped but, in our experience, there would be no detectable effect in test results. Unless the manufacturer advises otherwise, one such simple fall is no reason to mistrust a helmet. Even so, such mishaps are to be avoided. Helmet damage is cumulative. A history of clumsy handling will destroy a crash helmet eventually.

[Wicked808]

Originally Posted by gfloyd2002

There was a thread on this when Mr. E dropped his helmet from the whopping height of one foot. Here is what I said then, which echoes @Skippii post above. Key point is that it is probably fine, but you need to check it for damage to be sure, and if you have any doubts, you can send it to the manufacturer for a free check. Any cracks in the outer shell or, after removing the liner, in the foam inside, and its done for:

thanks everyone for your input on this. Now I feel alot better and now I can explain to my wife that I DON'T NEED TO BUY ANOTHER HELMET! lol...

[saxnbass]

If the helmet was empty, you're fine. I've dropped mine twice. Hell, someone on here actually had an accident, sent their helment in to have it checked and was told it's still perfectly safe to use. People tend to over react with helmets dropping. If it's empty and wasn't from like 6feet or higher, you are 99% of the time fine.

[ForceofWill]

Originally Posted by saxnbass

If the helmet was empty, you're fine. I've dropped mine twice. Hell, someone on here actually had an accident, sent their helment in to have it checked and was told it's still perfectly safe to use. People tend to over react with helmets dropping. If it's empty and wasn't from like 6feet or higher, you are 99% of the time fine.

I agree it's probably fine, but I definitely don't think people over react about something that protects your dome. It's always good to be cautious about something that important. And just because you looked at it and "felt" the inside doesn't mean it's good to go lol. I'd say empty from the handle bars I'd feel ok. Down some stairs or weighted and I'd get it checked personally.

[Wicked808]

Originally Posted by ForceofWill

I agree it's probably fine, but I definitely don't think people over react about something that protects your dome. It's always good to be cautious about something that important. And just because you looked at it and "felt" the inside doesn't mean it's good to go lol. I'd say empty from the handle bars I'd feel ok. Down some stairs or weighted and I'd get it checked personally.

Shoots. Thanks guys!

[Mountain Dew]

If a standing fall from 3-4 feet would damage a helmet, you'd think it wouldn't be too effective at speed.

You should be safe.

[massacremasses]

mine fell off my trash bin. I still rock it. and that ish bounced.. lol it was two days old so it wasnt getting replaced...

[zilaniz]

Not sure what make yours is but I know with ARAI and SHOEI you can sent it to them and they will check it out for free.

[Wicked808]

Originally Posted by zilaniz

Not sure what make yours is but I know with ARAI and SHOEI you can sent it to them and they will check it out for free.

Mine is HJC.

[loz944]

For sure in the days i used to race Karts if we dropped the helmet or it had a bad scratch we would replace them but that was 30 years ago. Helmets have changed a lot since then better materials and manufacturing processes.

[n4mwd]

If cracked or has the appearance of a crack, replace it.
If just scuffed, wear it anyway because it makes you look tough.

However, helmets have a tendency to break other things besides the shell when dropped. Look for problems with the visor hinges and any other mechanical parts.

[Mountain Dew]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

However, helmets have a tendency to break other things besides the shell when dropped. Look for problems with the visor hinges and any other mechanical parts.

Truth. I dropped my Icon helmet from 2 feet up in the supermarket, and a hinge on the plate the visor attaches to broke. Had to ride home FAR without a visor :<

But yeah, definitely check the visor mount.