Pinkbike Poll: How Many Crashes Before You Replace Your Helmet?

Aug 5, 2016 at 15:06
by Richard Cunningham  
Huge crash on the chute at Windham WC Round 6


Helmet makers usually say that you should send in your helmet for "evaluation: after one blow to the head. A good DH helmet can cost upwards of 350 dollars, with a good half-shell starting around 125, so there is a financial incentive for riders to downplay the severity of their crashes in order to stave off a new helmet purchase, or to avoid the long turn-around to send the helmet to the maker for a look-see.

Many (if not most) riders keep a mental inventory of their crashes and arbitrarily choose a point where they believe it should be replaced. If hanging around the chair lift line at Whistler provides any indication of average helmet usage, a lot of riders don't buy a new helmet until the stink becomes too overwhelming. Take a moment and consider where you stand among those extremes, and weigh the lifespan of your helmets against the number of times the two of you have hit the dirt.

Inspecting a helmet for internal damage is not easy, because it's the foam liner that does the lion's share of dissapating the impact, and the part that compresses permanently is under the hard shell, not near the head where the deformation can easily be seen. Sometimes, the damage can be located as a "soft spot" in the flexible shell of a half-coverage helmets, but there is no chance of determining damage to the liner of a hard-shell, or full-face helmet.
Kali Road Warrior - Peru Helmet Exchange Event
Too cheap to replace a damaged helmet? Kali's "Road Warrior" booths will exchange your old lid for a new one, no questions asked, at select events.


The point is, it's difficult, if not impossible for a wearer to assess damage, so unless you manage to smack your head in a completely fresh section of your helmet EVERY time you go down, you should replace it after one whack. So, today's poll is:



How many times do you crash on your helmet before you replace it?




MENTIONS: @KaliProtectives @natedh9

Author Info:
RichardCunningham avatar

Member since Mar 23, 2011
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120 Comments
  • 127 3
 If i hit the helmet hard i replace it. If i land on my side or something and the helmet barely taps the ground kind
Of crash then I'll check it over.
If the shell is cracked or the foam is compressed it's garbage.
I've broken 2 helmets just in the foam pit, 2 at the dirt jumps, and 1 I dropped on the ground and cracked the shell(was old anyways)
  • 24 0
 'Xactly. Thats missing from the checkboxes and I suspect its what most of us do. If it hit something and i cant see if theres damage or not I'll replace. if it doesnt hit anything or just slides or whatever, no replacement. Then again my helmet is mainly koroyd so damage is in fact, rather easy to see in most cases..
  • 61 0
 Basically, if you say to yourself "wow, I'm glad I had my helmet on during that crash" it is time to replace your helmet. That is in addition to regular inspection for cracks & dents (from dropping or other accidental damage), which also necessitate replacing the helmet.
  • 9 0
 Yep I gauge the severity of the impact and look for damage. If it was a ringer, its bad. If there's visible damage, its bad.
  • 11 5
 I think we're all missing a critical point of this article which is a good half shell starts at around $125.... Richie may have been late on his last helmet change if ya know what I mean.
  • 7 0
 Any major visible damage to the foam and I'll start to look for a replacement, I can't afford to replace a $400 full face after every crash.
  • 12 1
 @scott-townes: Helmets are heavily discounted, but PB rules of engagement dictate we quote the MSRP. MSRPs of a TLD A1, POC, or comparable "enduro' style half shells, are all in that range - especially if they feature rotational impact protection.
  • 5 0
 This is exactly what I do.

I also replace my helmets if they're over 3 years old with no visible impacts. Usually by then the foam sucks and the plastic straps/holders are broken anyways
  • 4 0
 @RichardCunningham: MSRP? Icky.
  • 3 1
 The hard shell of the helmet is designed to flex and transfer the force of the impact to the foam underneath. So you might not see the compressed foam underneath an unscathed, but crashed in helmet. Once the foam has been compressed, it doesn't spriing back into shape, thus leaving an area of shock absorbing foam which is weakened. This is more applicable to full face helmets than "normal" cycle helmets. This is what I was taught about motorcycle helmets and I am sure runs over to mountain bike one. Helmets are a disposable item.
  • 5 4
 This "poll" is simply PB encouraging us to spend more through fearmongering. Replacing a lid every time you crash is complete overreaction. You want me to spend £100+ every time I crash? What utter nonsense. As with all stupid questions the answer to this poll - which is conspicuously not an option - is, "it depends".
  • 2 1
 As for the poll itself, the answers provided do not cover appropriate responses and I really don't see the point in it other than to be deliberately contentious. The answer depends on the crash, the helmet used, where on the helmet (was it a bump on the "nose" section - which is just abs and often not padded - or was it a ringer to the temple?) It depends on so many things, and of course the manufacturers say replace it after one, they don't want to be culpable if there's an issue with someone using a lid twice do they?

There are so many myths perpetuated about helmets (my favourite being that bike and ski helmets are different - hint, they're not, they're merely subjected to different tests and one has ear flaps and costs twice as much) and this poll does not contribute to a helpful discussion on the subject whatsoever. Frankly, this kind of BS serves only to put people off with engaging on the topic altogether.
  • 3 0
 @redrook, ASTM and CE helmet certification is for a single impact. You may not like that, you may think that is fearmongering, but that's what it is. Helmets are designed to pass these standards (which I will agree with many people that they need updating) and they are compromised after such tests. The vast majority of foams will not work to the same degree to absorb the same impact. That is a fact.

@rbeach: there are different tests done for winter (ski & snowboard) and summer (biking vs. skating). They are not exactly the same, and you can't just remove ear flaps from a winter helmet and call it good for summer. In order to do that, the helmet needs to pass summer impacts tests too. There are for sure winter helmets that do not pass summer impact tests.
  • 67 1
 You can get a concussion without hitting your helmet (face, chin, or whiplash), so option 3 is inappropriate, and does not fit. There is also a difference between one hit, and one hit where the helmet absorbs a significant impact.

This is a poorly conceived poll, and does not contribute to a helpful discussion on helmets or concussions.

My approach is that if I have a significant crash that involves my helmet hitting the ground (or tree or..) I will inspect it for damage. If it was a huge crash, yes, replace the helmet even without damage. Sometimes damage can be invisible to the eye, so a big impact warrants a new lid.

If it was a lesser crash, and my helmet seems to have taken the brunt (and done it's job), and there is any significant damage, then yes replace. But I won't go buy a new $150 lid every time I go over the bars. That's just ridiculous.
  • 2 0
 In my opionion it also strongly depends on what helmet you use. With that I do not mean the brand, but the way the helmet is made. There are huge differences within the helmets available.

Because of that and what @cerealkilla already said, the poll is not very helpful. If you hit your head hard, you maybe can't tell afterwards -> so how to decide if the impact was hard enough to replace the helmet.

There is no real guidleline and I guess, everybody has to decide on her/his own if the helmet needs to be replaced. I also think that there are helmets that can take multiple hard hits (if the shell is not cracked).
  • 17 1
 i didn't repond to the poul because there wasn't a suitable answer for me.
helmets is a piece of gear that i don't to much at the price because it can save me from serious injury or worst.

a few years ago, i rode my the vegas night with some litle cracks from some serious crashes, was young and i didn't give much atention to that.

i bought a d3 afterwards, had some crashes with it but nothing major, until a big crash( that i didn't remember hiting my head) only my knee and wrist got sore, was cleaning the helmet a few days after and saw a breack on the carbon from a vent to the other, at that moment i started looking to buy a new one and barely riden it while i didn't had the new one

no i simply clean and inspect my helmets, if they are good i only change them 2 years after if they are not compromised.
every thing has a shelf life, and the helmet with litle crashes, the sweat and helmets will degrade
  • 10 1
 Have a crash where my head hits ground = new helmet, even if it's a fairly light impact. Buy the cheapest helmet that fits (usually a Giro), no drama if it meets the floor on the third ride. Binning a Troy Lee after a week would offend my Yorkshire genes far too much. Waiting for the concussion really isn't worth it.
  • 12 0
 True story- the older you get the less you crash.
  • 10 2
 "you fight like a young man, all in, nothing left out. It's admirable... but mistaken"
  • 8 0
 The helmet is designed to ‘sacrifice itself’ for your head.

I had a crash where I broke my hand and put a flat spot on my brand new TLD A1. Didn’t even feel the hit (great helmet!) You only get one head. One good smack and the helmet’s gone. Plenty of inexpensive helmets out there that meet the same standards as the expensive ones if you don’t wanna’ spend the $.
  • 7 0
 I have read that on some of the upper end carbon helmets, they are good for one hit and then they are done, to the point of where if you drop it by accident and it hits the ground from a few feet, that technically your supposed to replace it. I subscribe to the idea of until I really get my bell rung, I'm keeping the helmet. Minor crashes that have little head contact I don't even worry about. If I see cracks or chips missing, I will replace it though.
  • 7 1
 For skiing I went with a POC backcountry receptor MIPS because it has an EPP liner designed for multi impact and you can reset the MIPS if it breaks away. I still think I would replace it if I has a mega hit but the EPP gives me piece of mind for lower impact head hits without replacing.

Anyone know of bike helmets that use EPP instead of EPS?
  • 10 0
 Kali has a freestyle lid with EPP
  • 6 3
 I love that EPP thing in POC helmets. Their recent DH helmet is absolute tits.
  • 4 0
 Question: how many multi-impacts is it good for? 4 small, 1 medium? 2 small, one large? This is ultimately the danger with "multi-impact" helmets- you don't know if the helmet is toasted or not, and you continue wearing it thinking that it will protect you during your next fall when it could very well be expired. It has the very high potential for giving you false sense of safety, and that's not something you should experiment with...
  • 35 0
 @RichardCunningham: Thanks RC! We also offer a Lifetime Crash Replacement Policy on all of our lids - you crash, you send us the helmet, we send you a new one - end of story.
  • 1 0
 @ka-brap: POC said after something like 24 crashes on the new Coron lid, it's still able to pass safety testing. there's a graph somewhere on their website.
  • 6 0
 @KaliProtectives: I think I'll be replacing my specialized ambush with a Kali next time I need one, can't complain at a higher initial price if you get 2 helmets out of it (unless it carries over to the replacement in which case why does anyone wear anything else).
  • 3 0
 @KaliProtectives:

This is unreal. I've got a lid i need to send you guys. Where is the information of where i need to send it?

I have nothing but positive things to say about my kali stuff
  • 3 0
 @KaliProtectives: I wish I would have known this before I bought me last lid. I know who's getting my business on the next one, which probably isn't too far off seeing how often i get quality time with the dirt.
  • 2 0
 @KaliProtectives: it is really great of the true interest you have taken in helping with safety. I was able to get a new free helmet from you guys at sea otter which I gave to a friend who is too cheap to replace his old beaten up helmet.
  • 1 0
 My next helmet will be a Kali for sure. Do you need some kind of extra money (like a separate warranty) to be able to replace your helmet?
  • 3 0
 @JoseBravo:

Nope, i found what i needed. You just need to be original purchaser and have proof of purchase. Pretty awesome.
  • 1 0
 @UtahBikeMike: heyo - sorry for the slow reply, we were riding all weekend! Here's the link: kaliprotectives.com/register

Thanks!
  • 2 0
 @JoseBravo: No sir, you just need to cover the shipping.
  • 2 0
 @KaliProtectives: Great to know, keep it up!
  • 5 0
 I've had crashes where the helmet cracked with only a minor hit and full on lawn darts where the helmet didn't show anything beyond scratches. Bottom line if you get your bell rung, first of all stop what you are doing and take a couple of days off. If you want some solid data on the topic check out the knock out project website put together by several folks including Olympic BMX medalist Donnie Robinson.
  • 6 0
 well a wise man once said "Just mark the crashed area with a red pen and next time you going to eat sh!t, aim for the other side and you are golden" - Unkown
  • 4 0
 I replace my helmet after any crash, so basically every ride. I take the discarded ones and put them in the family trophy room as a badge of honor. The door to the trophy room is now no longer closable, the helmets are spilling out of the room and are piling up all over our house, it's becoming unbearable. We now need to move, possibly into a large quonset hut.
  • 3 0
 Bikes and Beer local radio show in Fort Collins dedicated an entire show to helmets about two years ago. I learned that keeping a helmet in a hot car in summer will accelerate the deterioration of the foam and shell, and likewise keeping a helmet in a cold car in winter (talking relatively extreme temps). I've changed my attitude toward buying a new helmet since then and will buy a new helmet after a single good whack, after it starts shwoing signs of damage, or after 3 years. My question though, and this goes for all bike components, is: is there an option to recycle damaged helmets? Kali has their warranty policy and I know some LBS have a crash replacement policy as well, but what then? Landfills full of relatively new but dented helmets is a disturbing thought, especially when the majority of decent lids run between $100 and $300..
  • 3 0
 This poll is jacked.....

If I crash hard and my helmet and/or neck brace was a key factor in me walking away then I'm replacing the helmet. I ate shit hard on Dirt Merchant this past week at Whistler and as soon as I got back to the condo, tossed my helmet in the dumpster. Replacing after every wreck? Not a chance. Replacing after it was likely the only reason I'm still walking and riding? Absolutely! Visible damage? = junk. Gnarly wreck? = junk. Low speed wreck or a crash where my helmet and brace aren't impacted? = keep on keepin on.
  • 2 0
 The foam absorbs impact, dropping it from a table Or anything will weaken the foam in the contact area. Relatively speaking, the helmet is still good after a few knocks, but only if you believe you won't fall and hit spots where the impact foam has either been used before. If you think you're going to fall and hit a common area then I'd say get a new helmet, because when you really have to use your helmet, a weak foam won't be able to save your block head.
  • 3 0
 It's a tough call but getting a new helmet usually comes down to my LBS's assessment and willingness to give a crash replacement deal, rather than my own feelings on the helmets integrity.
  • 3 0
 On helmet # 3 this year. Both times left me with sustained headaches and I figure it just isn't worth risking it. Pre-existing conditions with my noggin also add to the fact that I'd rather play it safe...
  • 2 0
 I don't think you can really say one or two hits, I look at the helmet. Is the foam :compacted or cracked? I have broken two helmets, both were visibly cracked. Done. I buy sale helmets where I can. But it can get expensive for sure, three kids coming up will be interesting to see if they break many.
  • 2 0
 @RichardCunningham I'm sure many people on here also play hockey... My old Bauer/Nike 4000 has a hard shell with foam/rubber padding inside and can take beating after beating, pucks, sticks, bashing headfirst into the boards, and is not very heavy. I wonder if similar technology exists in the MTB world?
  • 1 0
 I would say it depends on how bad the crash was. If I done my best Superman impression head first into a tree I would replace it immediately, if my front wheel washed out and I got a small scrape on it then I would leave it. My helmet looks like its been beaten to shit but its all small scrapes caused by low branches, nothing that would make me replace it.
  • 1 0
 One could make a good argument for owning a very plain single colored, clean helmet for the purpose of damage inspection. I fall on just about every other ride. I wouldn't be able to afford the sport if I changed helmets after every crash. I can see how difficult it may be to thoroughly inspect a helmet that has complex graphics or even unpainted carbon. Particularly if you let it get scratched up in the back of your truck/gear bag. I have a solid grey TLD and it is a bit dirty and scuffed up now, but I used to be able to tell if my fall caused my head to make any contact with the ground.
  • 1 0
 Helmets ae made to compress on impact tosave your life
If you crash in the same spot that has been compressed the protection is no longer there
If the crash wasnt too hard or if it was a slider chances are it didnt get ruined
Only DOT / moto helmets are multy impact ready specially snell 2015
This is a dangerous sport so WORD on if you crash hard dont BS yourself and buy another one
More so if you wear a bicycle one
I wear DOT because of that multy impact feature
I know they are expensive but you only leave once protect your brain properly
  • 5 0
 depends on the crash and the resulting damage to the helmet
  • 3 0
 Purchase afordable helmets.Replace often.
After you crash on your head?
Repkace it now.
Then i look at how much cash is in the wallet.
Reality sucks.
  • 1 0
 Been reading the thread and am reminded of the old Bell helmets ad. " if you have a $5 head buy a $5 helmet." In my opinion buy a good quality helmet, check it after every fall and if you see any compressing of the foam or cracking in the outer shell replace it. While part of me hates the throw away nature of current helmet technologies the reality of paralysis or worse is simply not worth the risk.
  • 5 0
 Its difficult to know what quality actually is as there is very little information about relative crash-worthiness of helmets. All helmets that are sold have to meet certifications for respective countries - that that doesn't mean sh*t. What I would like to see helmets tested to destruction in independent labs and then come up with a safety rating.
  • 1 0
 One decent whack and I'll replace.
Slightly O/T but, my daughter in on her third helmet - she's only 5. But they've saved her head and face after a couple of OTB's.

I've clipped mine on branches and landed in mud etc. but one decent fall where it takes the impact and I'll replace - no question.
  • 1 0
 I must knock on wood, i only crashed once where the helmet needed to be replaced. But quite big chunks of it were missing that time. Otherwise i must consider myself lucky to not have many crashes, where the ones that do happen don't involve hitting the head. So the majority of my helmet thrashing involves it falling on the ground (has happened once or twice) or smacking some branches.

I ride a halfshell and i replaced the last one after about 5 years. The current one is on the path to a similar ending in about two years.
  • 1 0
 The whole idea of spending lots on a helmet is to get the best protection and ride quality.. If you drop it, or crash it hard, then its no longer going to offer the protection you've paid for, so why keep it?

I'm riding in a Cratoni Alltrack helmet which costs around £115, so its not exactly cheap! If i have a crash and slide along (which i have done) then i'll give the helmet a good look over... If i have a crash and my head strikes the ground with a force greater than dropping it from a couple of feet, then yes, i will replace it...

Dont most manufacturers offer crash replacement now anyway? Helmets are the most important pieces of MTB protection, so its not really worth the risk!

Poor poll IMO
  • 4 1
 My head means a lot to me but tossing an A1 after one good smack seems wasteful.
  • 4 0
 Until I buy new bike clothes and the colour doesn't match any more. lol
  • 3 0
 Not that easy to buy a helmet everytime u crash when u live in a country that a helmet can coust 500 dollars!
  • 5 4
 A good half shell starting at $125?? I bought my Giro Feature MIPS for half that. Is that supposed to be a substandard helmet now? God forbid I don't a have carbon fiber 3D printed laser-welded Smith lid.
  • 2 0
 That helmet retails for $170 in Canada, though better deals can be found online. Most U.S. Sites can't ship giro across the border though.
  • 3 0
 Bell Super helmets silver lining keeps the stink away. They also are my choice for a lid.
  • 5 8
 Didn't you hear that silver is bad for you? Wouldn't you prefer to stink instead of increasing your chances for cancer? I mean, I have one, I don't give a tiniest sht. But maybe you should?
  • 1 0
 @WAKIdesigns: Ever hear alcohol, sex, pot, and steak? You better stay away from it. There are black diamond trails you should avoid these as well.
  • 2 0
 @WAKIdesigns: Where did you get that silver caused cancer? Colloidal silver is actually studied for antitumor properties, dipshit.
  • 4 1
 @Ddr: that was a poor sarcasm, sorry. I live in Sweden, I'm under enormous pressure of hippie nazis
  • 3 0
 I just bought a new 1 because I couldn't get any more gaffer tape on my old 1. Basically it had fell to bits.
  • 4 0
 I find when I've crashed it's not usually on my head, so that's a plus.
  • 1 0
 Agreed. I've crashed tons. Barely tapped my head one time. If I could relate to this poll, I'd prolly get out of this sport. Multiple head injuries is a steep price to pay if you ain't gettin' paid to do it.
  • 1 1
 Not only does # of impacts make a difference, but so does the age of the helmet. All foam in helmets dries out over time which is no surprise because biking is a summer sport. Once the foam dries out it's ability to effectively reduce the force transferred to your brain is greatly diminished. To summarize, old helmets may keep your head from cracking open like a water melon but, upon impact they just transfer the energy ino your skull instead of absorbing. So while you might not be bleeding all over the place from a head wound, your brain still might be. That's not good.
  • 1 1
 Helmet? Replace?
Let those who ride decide, isn't that the saying?

In all seriousness I although you should replace your helmet after a hard fall ill put my hand up and say unless I see a visible crack I won't replace it..
I even once plastered stickers over my full face to cover cracks after an off practicing for a downhill race so the Martials wouldn't defect it... That's when I was young and stupid.. I'm just old and slow now..
If in doubt get it checked.. last time I cracked a helmet the manufacturer was awesome and I only payed cost for a replacement..
Off topic is MIPS worth the extra dosh?
  • 4 0
 I don't crash. I do random gravity checks.
  • 1 0
 Based on the comments section here, I don't crash as often as I should. My helmets usually last a while before I hit my head then it becomes a good excuse to finally get a new one...
  • 2 0
 I just replace it with watermelons. It works amazing. The seeds work better than mips to slow down rotational impacts. Trust me.
  • 1 0
 If I hit hard enough to cause structural damage to the helmet then no question, replace. But I try to ride 'smart enough now' to stop or easily bail off my bike in ANY situation.
  • 1 0
 Lol, I'm sorry, you want me to spend £100+ every time I crash? What utter nonsense. As with all stupid questions the answer to this poll - which is conspicuously not an option - is, "it depends".
  • 1 0
 I have bee told I have suffered three major concussions, but I do not remember! SO, my wife gets me a new helmet every year now and makes sure I update my life insurance whether I need it or not....
  • 3 0
 Where's the "I'm a riding God, I don't crash" option?
  • 2 0
 checking your foam shell is the only way to be sure really. Any dents in it, and its time for a new one.
  • 3 0
 thanks pinkbike for reminding me of buying a new helmet
  • 1 0
 I tend to replace them every 2 - 3 years even if I don't crash, but if the helmet hits the ground (or a tree...) it's definitely getting binned.
  • 1 0
 Shit I throw my helmet every time I'm out djing and I've been rocken the same protec helmet for 7 years lol maybe time to invest in some new head gear!!!
  • 1 0
 I've only had to replace a helmet after a crash once. That was because I hit hard enough to knock myself out for 10 minutes so replacing it was er... a no Brainer.
  • 2 0
 It's simple. Buy a Kali helmet and dont worry about it. The crash replacement program is unreal.
  • 1 0
 knocked my self out wearing my helmet about 4 years ago. still got the same helmet.
  • 5 3
 I have the same helment for 9 years
  • 1 0
 get a new one (or keep not landing on your head)
  • 1 0
 If there are any dents or cracks or if I feel any concussion... most of us look for damage.
  • 2 0
 One large hit, two medium hits and a small hit = Replacement
  • 1 0
 I examine my helmet after each crash,if it's still good I obviously don't just toss it to the wind.
  • 1 0
 Who can afford to replace after every crash?! I'd be replacing it every week?!!!
  • 2 0
 Replace helmet only when get hitted by a train hahahaha
  • 2 0
 What are these crash you are talking about?
  • 1 2
 I still have my first helmet. it's 25 years old and I bought it secondhand then. Replacing helmets when they're still in one piece is just a con. Polystyrene is not the life saver people seem to make out.
  • 1 0
 I usually replace it when the shell becomes loose but it all depends how much money I have.
  • 1 0
 I'd get through a LOT of helmets if I replaced them every time I hit the deck...
  • 1 0
 Been down that road before.... One and DONE!!!
  • 1 0
 mine is currently being held together with duct tape.
  • 1 0
 Sure helmets are cheap to replace... Unless you pay in Canadian dollars...
  • 1 0
 They're not cheap in the UK either, or anywhere else I've been for that matter.
  • 1 0
 I replace mine once I can't remember if I should replace mine
  • 1 0
 Keeping track of my crashes is way to hard. Just ride your bike!!!
  • 1 0
 stupid poll..
  • 1 0
 47...crashes
  • 11 14
 Lets see how many rich kids are gonna answer #1 Big Grin
  • 18 4
 Or how many people value their brain
  • 22 6
 @zutroy: some would argue that people who truly value their brain don't mountain bike.
  • 7 1
 Realistically its risk averse adults with responsibilities who will answer #1. We all should really... that brain thing is very important.
  • 4 3
 @Karve: ...unless someone is a retard
  • 2 1
 @RedBurn, I'm not rich by any means but if I take a big enough hit to the head you better belive I replace the helmet!!! One and done for me, you can't put a price on your melon!!! Like last weekend OTB in a rock and took a rock at 12:00 sure my visor broke and looked a little scratched but when I took the helmet apart 3 hair line cracks in the foam, so it did it job!!!! Also i didnt even get a concussion, that was $300 helmet that did its job..... gotta pay to play..... order another the day after with no hesitation....
  • 1 0
 @sourdiesel: big enough impact for sure! But a the helmet comes easily in contact with solid ground on any crash... Idk if some people really do change after ANY impact
  • 1 0
 @sourdiesel: I'm with you on that. I replaced one helmet after a concussion crash, and a second one the next season, after a bell-ringer that broke my wrist. My rule is that if I have a decent headache afterwards, the helmet goes in the bin. You can always find a decent helmet on sale, but I've scrambled my brains too often to cheap out on head protection these days.
  • 1 0
 The amount of times I crash where I actually hit my head is very low. I think the counter is probably on 3 times in 12 years (only one of them being a hard impact). To be fair, I hardly ever ride downhill, but still; I know my limits and tend to push them, but always keep it plausible based on my skills and how well things are going that day.

Your brain is one of your most important body parts that you seriously have to protect. Just wait till you get a brain injury and ruin your whole life because you were too greedy to spend €100 on a new helmet once.

Even if you'd hit your head often during crashes, I'd still recommend (next to obviously riding more according to your skills and less Jackass style) to ride a cheaper bike and rather invest the money in helmets. It's much more worth it.
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