I know that there has been a lot of discussion, and there are many differing views, on replacing helmets. My question has a slightly different twist to it. What do you do with you old helmets once you have replaced them with a new lid? There are two of us in the house who need lids. My son, as pillion passenger, and me. Meaning that eventually we end up with quite a few old helmets in the house. Right now there are four, not counting the two that are in regular use. There's nothing wrong with them, no falls, or even scratches, just their "age" of between 6 and 10 years. They are not special, so not worthy of a display case and besides there is not really space for that anyway. MOH is already quite tolerant of motorbiking gear all over the place, but a display case for unremarkable old helmets may just be a bridge too far... So here the question. Do I render the old lids unusable by cutting off the straps and removing the visors and some padding, or, given that Vietnam is still a relatively poor country, give these to someone less fortunate, on the basis that an old lid is still better than no lid... I'm not looking to start any arguments, just would be interested in some views on the topic. Cheers, Jac.
I think there was talk of dropping them off at local fire stations, here in the UK, where they are used in recreation accident drills. I’m not sure how or how many are used though.
Recently gave my old one to my local Biker Down course. Are helmet-less riders, in places such as where the OP is living, more of a cultural or weather related thing? Though I'm sure there are some that would like one but can't afford/justify the expense.
Old motorcycle helmets can be disposed of by donating them to emergency services for training purposes, checking for manufacturer recycling programs, or recycling components like the plastic shell and metal parts. If these options are not available, they can be disposed of as general waste after removing the straps and potentially cutting the inner lining to prevent unauthorized reuse. (Copy & pasted from t’internet)
Thanks all for your inputs. I will 'donate' these to some of the cleaners and gardeners in the village where we live. @Bumpkin Here in Vietnam, helmets were only made mandatory around 2004 or 2005. Initially enforcement was very strict, but over the past 10 years or so it has become less so. People will wear almost any head covering in lieu of a proper helmet; hard hats, bicycle helmets, and so on. While this is not legal, the police generally won't stop you if you have something on your head. The temperature does play a part in this, but for many it is a cost issue and they will happily buy any old thing to use if it will avoid the attention of the police. @Carr01 @mike willis @Helmut Visor et al, I've seen the emergency services training here on a number of occasions, but I've never seen them using helmets as part of the training materials.
Think @Sambighair used to take them from forum users to pass on to em servs training, but he hasn’t been on in a while.
Memories are coming back so fast these days I wonder if it's dementia. In 1980, working at a sawmill in the sticks - no running bike at the time - a workmate bought an XS750 Yam. Turns up at work on it and insists on giving me a lift home. I say I haven't got a lid. He finds a plastic football from somewhere and cuts it into the approximate shape of an open face helmet. I half-heartedly object, but I'm supposed to be daring, and eager to stick my fingers up at the Law, and not someone who'd turn down any opportunity to go on a fast bike. So I went about 15 miles on the back of this Yam, almost entirely on the A30, with half a football on my head. Never again.
Test them to destruction and pull them apart. Hit them from various angles with a blunt object and see what happens. Strip it down to the shell and see what information is written or stamped on the insides. Break the polystyrene liner apart, see how dense it is. Se all the plastic vents come out, and the size of the little air vents - what they actually look like under the little plastic air scoop.. I find it interesting.
It is difficult with helmets. When I got home after my Gloucestershire hospital tour, my stuff was waiting for me. One motorcycle boot, one sock, one glove and my Arai. It looked perfect apart from a missing visor. I know that I got a good thwack on my head and my brother used to have one of the x-ray pics on his phone just for entertainment! I had a massive brain bleed and dislodged an optic nerve so I know that the helmet got a good impact, so I junked it. However, it looked fine and if I had bought a new visor, you would never know.
Your local hospital may take them for training ambulance crews or paramedics who need to learn how to handle/move helmeted injured riders who may have spinal injuries.
I’ve taken several to our local volunteer fire station in Tisbury, they have said if they get too many they will give extra to another volunteer station.
Given the restrictions on visits to the local recycling centre (tip) this is becoming a very viable alternative.
True! Getting access to my local tip is like trying to access The Royal Mint. Permits, registration and only 1 trip per month permitted… and they wonder why ditches are full of people’s shite.
