Looking After Your Visor: Cleaning And Replacement

To browse current models when it is time to replace yours, see Hedon London.

A helmet workshop in London works on a smaller scale than a mass production line, and that shapes almost everything about how a helmet gets made. Materials are chosen and checked by hand, shells are shaped and finished in small batches, and problems are caught by people who see every stage, not just a sensor on a line.

The liner deserves the same care. A removable, washable liner keeps the inside fresh, and following the maker's washing instructions protects both the padding and the stitching around it.

Most manufacturers recommend replacing a motorcycle helmet every five to seven years even without a crash, since the internal materials that absorb impact degrade slowly with heat, sweat and UV exposure. The shell can look fine while the protective layer underneath has already lost some of its effectiveness.

A clean visor is a safety item as much as a comfort one, since scratches and haze scatter light and make it harder to judge distance in low sun or at night. Clean a visor with lukewarm water and a soft cloth, and avoid dry wiping, which is what causes most fine scratches in the first place.

To see the current range built this way, visit Hedon London.