Topic: Another reason people SHOULD wear helmets

[Klark Kent]

I am helmet shopping right now to replace my open face helmet.  Sidney, what is this flip up full face helmet with good side view you speak of as that is what i am looking for?

-KK

[Egil]

Did he crash whit a bird 

[Egil]

Kan jo ikke kjøre med hjelm vøttø, ingen som hadde kjent han igjen da, samt en hjelm tar jo fokuset vekk fra Superbowlringen på hånda.
(Freely translated from another Net-site)

Cant drive whit a helmet "you now"
Nobody wood have"now`n"  him on the bike 
And a helmet takes away his focus on the Superbowlring on his finger(hand) 

[Egil]

There is only one undisputable fact when it comes to the helmet issue, and that is:

You will NEVER change anyone's mind about whether they should or should not wear a helmet, especially over the internet.  Everybody has their reasons, and to a large extent, those reasons are based on valid points.  Doesn't matter which side of the argument you're on. 

This argument has probably been going on since the middle ages when knights were wearing full armor and helmets.  Some would say, "it limits your vision and hearing, and gets really #$%*ing hot!".  And others would say,"but if/when you do get hit in the head with a mace, you'll live to tell about it!".   

Some people just have thicker heads 

More likely there are  now brain to protect 

[Orcinus]

Klark,  I'm not sure what Sidney is wearing, but check this out... http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/flip_face_helmet_comparison/

[Terry in Australia]

Back in the 1970's, Shoei couldn't get insurance to cover being sued  for accidental deaths caused by broken necks  due to the additional weight hanging off a riders head when wearing a full face helmet, but I guess that's been resolved considering that helmets are lighter than back then?

I also was interested in the statistics mentioned on the science program I watched about the "Reevu" helmets last week, about accidents involving full-face helmet wearers due to negligable peripheral vision. Very interesting.

I've got both full and open face helmets and I always wear one or the other, they're good to have for sure, but they certainly won't stop you from getting killed. When you're spat down the road at more than 20 miles per hour, your chances of survival are poor, and if there happens to be other vehicles in your vicinity, "Murphy's Law" states that they'll be involved too, which will lessen your chances of survival even more. Cheers, Terry.

[Orcinus]

Many years ago, when I'd only been riding for a short time, I was travelling a road that had a long sweeping curve that dipped down into a small valley then curved back up the other side.  It was only about a 1/4 mile long and dipped down maybe 200 feet.  As I started down one side of the sweeper, I noticed another biker already heading down the other side at a pretty good clip, as he reached the bottom he hit some gravel and went down at the apex of the curve.  He went flat on his back and spread eagled and slid to a stop.  I immediately pulled over but wasn't too worried since he wore full leathers and a full face helmet.  From what I could see, he did everything right.  So I was terribly surprised to find him dead as a doornail.  Now I don't know if he just landed wrong, or had a heart attack while still upright, I never did hear what the answer was concerning this guy, but I decided then and there that all you can do is take the best precautions that you can and when your numbers are up, their up.  Whether you're leaving it up to God, Fate or Karma when it's your turn, you're gone.  I still wear the best safety equipment I can, there's no since pushing your luck.  Frankly, if it's my time, I'd rather it happen while doing something I love than while walking down the street.

[merc2dogs]

but I decided then and there that all you can do is take the best precautions that you can and when your numbers are up, their up.  Whether you're leaving it up to God, Fate or Karma when it's your turn, you're gone.  I still wear the best safety equipment I can, there's no since pushing your luck.  Frankly, if it's my time, I'd rather it happen while doing something I love than while walking down the street.

 Been my belief for a long time, Known a lot of people who did everything by the book, worried more about a long life than Living life, while I was and am the one people said would die young from all the chances I took and take.
 
  Personally I am not a fan of helmet laws, I want the option to jump on the bike and take a long liesurely ride on the backroads without the helmet, or want to be able to ride home if my helmet gets stolen, or the choice to buzz up to the store without having to suit up. Here in Kent county though the fine for going helmetless is only $35. so it's not a bank buster if you get realy fed up with it.

ken.

[Klark Kent]

Klark, I'm not sure what Sidney is wearing, but check this out... http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/accessoriesandgear/flip_face_helmet_comparison/

great link thanks
-KK

[Weatherman]

This was all too familiar to me. In August of 1976 I was involved in a similar accident east of Macomb Illinois. Except this was on a two lane rural highway and I was traveling way faster than Big Ben was. I WAS wearing a helmet too. The vehicle that made the left turn in front of me was a Chevy pickup driven by a 76 year old woman. This happened so fast I barely hit the brakes before I hit the truck right inside of the drivers side headlight. I flew clear over the truck and landed in the gravel along the shoulder of the highway, bouncing like a rag doll so said those who witnessed it. My helmet was cracked and clothes torn up a bit but I got right up and walked away from it. The worst of my injuries was a bruised shoulder.

Dennis

[eldar]

It is all about if you hit something I think. OR if something hits you. If you can land and not fly into a car or tree or something equally hard and some dumb car doesnt hit you, You have a half decent chance of living. But I suppose if you land really bad, well then times up.

[Chris Schneiter]

Ok, I know it's stupid to ride without a helmet, but you can bet that the second I crossed the border into Ohio from Michigan, my helmet was off..I just enjoy it once in a while....
But...I think it has everything to do with how people ride...I'm a total pussy, and my friends complain that I slow them down...I'm very careful...
Buy remember that that butt head was riding THE FASTEST PRODUCTION BIKE IN THE WORLD, which no doubt meant that he was riding too fast, AND not wearing a helmet! I think crotch rockets attract a type of person who is headed for disaster! I have found it to be common for those riders to not have cycle endorsements, and many have very little riding experience and just jump on a bike and ride. When I got my insurance from AAA, I found out that they don't insure Crotch Rockets, and I had to give them a picture of my bike to prove that it wasn't one!
I recognize that unepected things happen when we're riding, but if you exacerbate the danger by being a stupid rider, you'll pay whether you wear a helmet or not!
Michigan is in the process of repealing our helmet law (might get vetoed by the Gov.)...not that I'll go without a helmet very often, but I'd at least like to once in a while.

[Bob Wessner]

But...I think it has everything to do with how people ride...I'm a total pussy, and my friends complain that I slow them down...I'm very careful...

If circumstances were entirely under our control, we might all be able to get by without one, but unfortunately when riding we're exposed to other's actions, deer, that low flying bird, you name it, and we might not have the opportunity to call the shots. Just a thought.

[Chris Schneiter]

Ok..once again you're right....I stilll like the wind in my hair..specially on hot days..

[Egil]

I wondering way people should protect they heads , can it com something good out of these , Or

[mennedy]

I find it hard to get too upset with someone who gets on a motorcycle without a helmet. How can you speak to the obvious? The risk we take is already high and if one does not see logic or wisdom in trying to reduce that risk then how can you communicate at any level. Did anyone hear the latest? He had no motorcycle license either!!!!

[Terry in Australia]

Like I said, we've had mandatory helmet laws here in Oz since the early 1970's, so I've always worn one, and I gotta say it feels weird not wearing one, but I can understand why, if you're not required to wear one, you don't all the time.

In Vietnam, most Aussie soldiers were issued helmets of a different kind, but found them to be more of a hindrance than a help, so chucked them in favour of just wearing their bush hats. They knew the "risks" too well, but that didn't stop 'em saying "no thanks". Cheers, Terry.