Topic 06 of 06
Care and upkeep
Clean the shell and visor with mild soap and water, wash or replace the liner, keep an anti-fog insert in the visor and store the helmet away from heat and fuel fumes. Replace a helmet after any significant impact, and follow the maker's age advice.
- Common advice
- replace about 5 years after first use
- Always replace
- after a crash or a hard drop
Wash the shell and visor with lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth. Solvents, fuel and many glass cleaners can damage polycarbonate visors and some paints. Most comfort liners and cheek pads come out for hand washing; let them air dry.
Fog forms when warm breath meets a cold visor. An anti-fog insert sealed to the inside of the visor works best; some helmets come ready for one with pins on the visor. A breath guard and a slightly cracked visor help too.
The EPS liner is designed to absorb one impact by crushing, and damage may not show from outside. Replace a helmet after a crash or a hard drop. Many makers and the Snell Memorial Foundation suggest replacement about five years after first use because liners and padding age; check your helmet's manual.
Common mistakes
- Hanging a helmet on a mirror, which can dent the liner.
- Storing a helmet in a hot garage near fuel or solvents.
- Buying a used helmet with an unknown history.
Pages on this topic
- When should you replace a motorcycle helmet?Why helmet makers say replace every 5 years, where that guidance comes from, and the signs that mean you need a new motorcycle helmet sooner.Explainer
- Photochromic and transition helmet visors explainedHow photochromic and Transitions motorcycle visors darken, how fast they change, why temperature matters, and what to know about tint legality.Explainer
- Motorcycle helmet visor fogging up: fixesStop your motorcycle helmet visor fogging: Pinlock inserts, breath guards, vent use and anti-fog sprays, ranked from most to least effective.Fix
- Should you replace a helmet after a crash or a drop?Why a helmet's EPS liner only absorbs one impact, what manufacturers say about crashes and drops, and how to decide whether your helmet needs replacing.Explainer
- How to store a motorcycle helmetHow to store a motorcycle helmet: avoid heat, sun and fuel fumes, skip the mirror perch, and pick a helmet bag or wall holder that will not dent the liner.How-to
- How to lock a helmet to your motorcycleHow to secure a helmet to a motorcycle using the bike's helmet lock, a cable lock or a carabiner lock, why hanging by the D-ring matters, and mistakes to avoid.How-to
- How to replace a motorcycle helmet visorHow to remove and fit a motorcycle helmet visor, with the general method for Shoei, Arai, HJC and Bell shield mechanisms and tips to avoid breaking the pivot.How-to
- How to install a Pinlock insertFit a Pinlock anti-fog insert to your helmet visor, adjust the eccentric pins for a tight seal, and fix fogging, gaps and distortion around the edge.How-to
- How to clean textile and leather motorcycle jacketsStep by step cleaning for motorcycle jackets: remove the armor first, wash and reproof textile jackets, and clean and condition leather jackets without damage.How-to
- How to clean a motorcycle helmet inside and outClean a motorcycle helmet shell, visor and removable liner safely, get rid of helmet smell, and avoid products that damage polycarbonate, paint and visor coatings.How-to