Motorcycle and Scooter appreciation

Joking aside, I do actually like this.

And this is nuts.

There's something to be said for that but the quality or safety of workmanship could be suspect.

Ducati

((… fast forward to now, and dad’s current lack of speedo))

He won't be getting these until I'm dead

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Thai WiFi is not up to it.
I take it back, it is.

Multistrada clocks got water in them and failed a few times during the warranty period.

Ah the bike is used to warm weather.

That Mille looks great value are they really that cheap now? Timeless styling.

Just had a CB125F pass through my hands and it was a really good little bike. Such a great seating position, comfy yet sporty. Swingarms rust but they seem sturdy otherwise. Mine was worth sub £1000 so definitely worth considering.

That's exactly what I think he should get. I'll see where he wants to go with it when we're back home.

Yeah they're amazing value for money. I think they sold in relatively big numbers so lots about but most 90s / 00s sports bikes aren't terribly desirable these days so good value now!

Sprag clutch ;)

But lots were converted to tuonos and the engines found there way in to other aprillias that had detuned versions of the engine.

What's the general consensus on helmet shelf life?
I was looking at getting another lid and shopping around online for a deal. I'm quite keen on a Bell Race Star and came across a whopper bargain from Helmet City for a Star in white (my preferred colour)... my only concern is I'm almost certain the Star in white is discontinued and I'm not sure how long it's been since Bell made one... the spiel on the Helmet City website mentions that it's a 2016 model but that's obviously the year they released that specific model.

Do retailers in the UK have a maximum age of helmet they're allowed to sell and are there actually legitimate concerns over buying a helmet that's never been opened from the box and stored in a warehouse for a few years?

I appreciate it's a ridiculous deal because it's stock they've not been able to sell but should I skip it and spend a bit more for a helmet that's more likely to be fresher and the wrong colour?

Shelf is about 20 years unused I have heard.

It's 5 years once you start using it. I'm sure you know already but it's the UV and your own chemicals that break them down through use.

That's what I was thinking to be honest... I'm completely resolved to the argument of cheap head - cheap helmet but also conscious that if it's still in the box and never been used it surely can't have deteriorated to an unusable state as quick as that...
Also aware there's benefit to the manufacturer to tell us that we should be changing them regularly so it's just understanding the balance of reality vs marketing to make a decision on whether a bargain helmet is worth a punt for a few years vs a newer one which will "only last" a few years more?

Considering that microplastics are currently polluting even the air we breathe, it is difficult to believe a 5 year old unopened helmet is any worse than a brand new one.

However, after a season wearing a helmet you can feel the plastics aren’t the same. You see the foam inserts are all collapsing to your head shape, the lid creaks and cracks. That’s before you consider the little boops the helmet had when nobody saw you drop it.

Dirt helmets are even worse. I still wear the one that had a muddy mark along the top of it where I went sliding on the clay, and my trials lid bounced down a flight of stairs before I even got to wear it. Neither show impact damage on the internal foam areas. Neither are used at speeds greater than cycling paces.

I try to replace my road helmet every couple of years because the on-and-off gestures are stressing the plastics and internals. I probably wouldn’t buy a helmet older than 5 years unless it was a bargain just because it’s easy to get <3 year old one for cheap.

Static sag front and rear sorted for £18. If you haven't set yours I highly recommend, bike glided home compared to the way there. Great to see family run dealerships do still exist too.

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Bargain!

Shame I need shock rebuilds first

EPS foam which is the most important component of a helmet, has no appreciable degradation over time (study of bicycle helmets but it's the same material)
It doesn't harden or lose absorbtion or react to sweat or body chemicals. It is affected by UV light but your helmet's outer shell is solid plastic and doesn't let any through so providing the helmet hasn't been dropped and has no cracks, 5 years is an extremely conservative life span estimate and should be taken with a pinch of salt from manufacturers who want you to buy more helmets.
IMO

Yeah I have to agree, for all I ride with my road helmet mines is older than 5 years and doesnt sit in the sun either.

Any big knocks or that I would change.

It is my mantra, one of the cheapest ways to improve bike handling.

Helmet bargains aplenty at the moment, standards changed from .05 to .06 so all warehouse stock needs selling or skipping.

It won't even last a few years more in reality as if you start wearing it now then the '5 year' guideline will come before the '20 year' expiry.

I had a Condor that I just couldn't part with for years and stupidly I even had a crash in it and used it for a bit longer. A lot of helmets don't fit my head and I didn't want to take the punt on a new Arai. Anyway I ended up going to a few shops and found an older stock HJC IS17 and it's as safe as they got at the time and was only £100. That does make it easier to stomach if it has to be changed every 5 years.

Thought that 5 could still be sold.

Might take a punt on it in that case... hilariously the Transitions photochromic visor for it will probably end up costing more than the helmet itself.