Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Used Motorcycle Helmet


If you need to buy a motorcycle helmet, you may be shocked by how expensive they can be, with some nice helmets costing up to 400 dollars. With prices like those, should you buy a used motorcycle helmet?

The answer is no. When you’re riding, the helmet is one of the more important safety protections that you have. This is why most states and towns have passed laws requiring that a helmet be worn.

If you buy a used motorcycle helmet, you are taking a huge risk with your health in the event of an accident. There are several different reasons why you should never purchase a used motorcycle helmet.

One of the major reasons is that you have no idea if the used motorcycle helmet has ever been damaged. A helmet is designed to only withstand one impact. After one impact, its internal shock absorbers are rendered worthless.

You may think you can tell if a helmet has been damaged in a fall or accident, but this is often not the case. Most of the changes happen internally, to the inner shock absorbing layers, and cannot be seen.

A separate issue is the age of the helmet. Even if it has never been dropped or damaged, its shock absorbing layer, made of expanded polystyrene, will break down over time. This means you will not be adequately protected.

You can also never know if a used motorcycle helmet has been left in the sun, or too close to a gas tank. These can both lead to breakdowns of the helmets lining, which you cannot see.

Buying a used motorcycle is a bad idea. There is no way to know what has happened in the life of your helmet, and any helmet after wear and age will not be able to protect you as well, leaving you vulnerable.

Government Car Auctions

Posted under Motorcycle Auctions

This post was written by Frank Medley on February 15, 2009

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