These are the three helmets I want to get rid of.
There is the ideal world and then there is the real world we actually live in. I’m considering something we’ve all heard for a long time is not good, and I’ll tell you why. Ideal world vs. real world.
We have a bunch of helmets we no longer use. I have an old Bieffe that I never liked and never wore much. Judy has her original AGV helmet, which we have replaced with a new Shoei. And we have an old Shoei that was Charley’s. None of these has been in a crash, they’re just old.
Common wisdom says you should discard helmets once they reach a certain age. I was going to do that but then I got to thinking.
What if I gave them to a thrift store? The thinking being, anyone who buys a helmet from a thrift store is probably not someone who has the money to go buy a new helmet at a motorcycle shop. And while an old helmet may not give the protection a new one will, if it is a difference of them crashing in an old helmet or no helmet, even an old helmet has to be the better option.
This is really not even theoretical. I’m drawing from my own experience.
When I first started riding the only helmet I had was a Bell hang-gliding half helmet, from my days as a hang-glider pilot. And that helmet went through a crash with me, though considering the results, my face may well have taken more of the impact than the helmet did. Not once did any one of my hang-gliding buddies suggest I needed to trash that helmet and get a new one.
I eventually gave up hang-gliding and bought a motorcycle. I had a helmet so that was the one I used–when I wore a helmet at all. Back in those days I rarely did.
When I got my first full-face helmet I did not go to Vickery or Fay Myers, I was passing a yard sale and saw a couple motorcycle helmets offered. I stopped and bought one for $25. Used, of course, who knows how old or if it had been in any misadventures.
The point is, this was what I could afford. Heck, I couldn’t really afford the motorcycle; I had to borrow money to buy that for the grand sum of $800.
I never had a crash wearing either the Bell or Bieffe but if I had I’m sure they would have offered me some protection. And if I had only had the option of buying a new, much more expensive helmet, I would not have.
Am I wrong to think that there are people out there today who are just like me way back when?
I’m just sitting on these three helmets for now. I’d be very interested to hear your thoughts, particularly if you strongly disagree with me. Thanks.
Biker Quote for Today
You might be a Yuppie biker if everyone on your last group ride works at your law firm, or plays golf with you.