Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Never Buy a Used Motorcycle Helmet

By Frank Medley

If you're buying a motorcycle helmet, you may be worried about how expensive they can be. A high quality new motorcycle helmet can cost as much as 400 dollars. So why not 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.

When you make the decision to wear a used motorcycle helmet, you are taking an irresponsible risk with your health. There are countless reasons why it's not a good idea to buy a used motorcycle helmet.

A main reason to never buy a used motorcycle helmet is that there is no way to know if it has ever been dropped or involved in an accident. Once a helmet has been in one impact, it can no longer protect you.

You may be thinking that you would be able to tell if the helmet had been dropped or in a crash, but this isn't true. Many helmets are scratch and dent resistant. Just because a helmet looks safe doesn't mean it is.

Even if the helmet is not damaged, you can never tell its age. This means that it could be quite old. As the expanded polystyrene which absorbs shock in a crash ages, it breaks down, giving you less protection.

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.

It is never a good idea to buy a used motorcycle helmet. Any older helmet can have a variety of problems with it, all of which lead to problems in safety. You are therefore putting your health at risk. - 16887

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