Ms_Schuberth

Great news, so happy to hear it!

Hi PittsDriver, I'm glad to hear you were able to break the cheek pads in - and even more glad that you went with the smaller size L and not the "instantly comfortable" XL. While it does take longer than some other helmets to break in an SR1, the snug fit is what you want and a too loose helmet will never tighten up. That said, another tip for breaking in a brand new helmet is to remove the cheek pads (and crown liner if necessary) and wash them - that will help soften them up a bit faster. Also, I've heard stories of people taking the cheekpads out and sitting on them at their desk for a day - funny but effective. Enjoy your SR1! Sarah

Oh yes, I brought this up before. This is very important because every time you hang your helmet on the mirror, the mirror compresses the EPS (Expanded Poly Styrene) and it doesn't bounce back (just like teeth marks in a Styrofoam cup). This means that with every hang, the helmet's ability to absorb energy and protect your brain is compromised a little, over time this will add up to critically altering the helmet's shock absorbing capability. You CAN hang your helmet on the mirror without bashing in the EPS lining by either securing the strap around the mirror post and letting it dangle that way, or by putting the mirror through the view port - in both cases nothing is pressing on the EPS. Bad helmet mirror hang: Good helmet mirror hang: Hope that helps!

These are some really great questions and insightful answers already. Eirik, I hadn't heard of that Motorrad test, I'll have to look that up! Stroker, you are right about the 5 year period, that is pretty much the industry standard but we consider it a good rule of thumb. Sure some helmets, if cared for properly, will retain their protective value past that 5 year period - we just had an example of this come in the office the other day - while we were happy to know that the old Schuberth had protected the rider in his crash, we were still concerned about someone riding in a helmet that old because helmets don't always show their age and so you just don't know if it will be there for you when you need it - which is why the recommended max 5 year replacement period. What T-McKeen says is important too, the materials (both shell and inner linings) will naturally break down over time - partly from use and partly from exposure or type of use. When you're talking about protecting your brain you aren't messing around, you want to know your helmet will have full impact-absorbing capability. Here are some good tips to for keeping your helmet in top shape: • Follow the manufacturer's directions on caring for your helmet. • Clean with mild soap or shampoo. You know that your shampoo doesn't bother your skin so it is a good option for washing your helmet, I've even heard stories from people who just take their helmet into the shower with them to wash it. Of course with our helmets you don't have to do that because you can take the liner out and wash it that way. • Avoid any petroleum-based cleaning fluids - Not only do you need to be careful about the shell (harsh chemicals can cause it to delaminate/ break down) but also the EPS (Expanded Poly Styrene - the "styrofoam" layer that is the most important component for protecting you from brain trauma) is a sensitive material. • Clean your faceshield the same way, warm water and soap is the best and make sure not to wipe it when its dry because dried bugs or track grit can scratch it. I like to take a wet paper towel and drape it on the face shield for a few minutes and then use it to wipe it up - or I remove the face shield and let warm water run on it before I apply a drop of soap to do some gentle scrubbing. Phil recommends Plexus for Schuberth face shields, just be sure to do a little research because the folks at Plexus warn that it is not good for all faces shield plastics! • A helmet looks tough and sturdy, but should be handled as a fragile item. We had a guy send in a helmet because he was walking around carrying it and accidentally whacked a doorknob with it. Phil disassembled the helmet (we provide this service for Schuberth helmets for a fee) and sure enough, you would never know by looking at the helmet but held up to light, there was a small area where we could see light coming through the shell! • Don’t let your helmet drop onto hard surfaces. Its not like if you drop your helmet it is necessarily done, without a head in it, its unlikely the EPS will crush, but just think that every little drop and ding is contributing to compromising its integrity... • Do not store helmets near gasoline, cleaning fluids, exhaust fumes, or excessive heat. Just like the harsh chemicals, these can affect the integrity of the shell and the EPS. So think about that next time you set your helmet on the tank or store it in the garage. • Be careful about painting, decorating, pinstriping, or applying decals. • If you plan to use a radio or intercom when you ride, find a model that doesn't require drilling speaker holes in your helmet's structure. • And do NOT hang your helmet on your mirror! I know this is convenient, but everytime you slam that helmet down on the mirror, it is compressing the EPS in that spot - think about if you bite into a styrofoam cup, your teeth marks stay indented, the styrofoam doesn't expand back out - that's what's happening inside the helmet too. I like to hang my helmet on the mirror too, I just make sure that the mirror is sticking through the eye port so there is nothing pressing against the EPS. Hope that helps, let us know if you have more questions! PS - Cobie, I think we have a fix for that

Seriously Cobie? "The helmet guys"??