Topic: Helmets?

[Retro Rocket]

FYI, lots of people have been killed riding motorcycles while wearing a helmet.

Do yourself and your loved ones a a big favor, LEARN TO RIDE!

A couple of guys came down on you a little bit, but I think they missed the point. You are exactly right.  A lot of people are hurt on motorcycles when they didn't have to be because their skills were lacking, helmet or no helmet.  Too many people are willing to get on a bike and ride without first concentrating on obtaining the skills and learning the techniques to ride safely.  I see it all the time. 

Thanks ofreen, I appreciate your comment, but I expected the gear Nazis to slam me, that is what they do.

Slammed.?  Really, thats NOT how I read it, or how it reads  ...  maybe a cup full of cement would help... ...

[70CB750]

It does not hurt to develop a bit of fear either.  Out there are drivers who plow into cars because they didnt see them and motorcycles are much harder to notice.

Not just for drivers, I dont know how many times I had a brush off with a vulture; in the ditch eating roadkill and they take off too late or/and in wrong direction and the result is a bird in my face or bird hit by the handlebar.

[dhall57]

This was a different day and time but if I were wearing a helmet of any kind Im sure I wouldn't of ended up in the hospital for two weeks with fractured skull after a crash and burn in the early 70's on my Honda Mini Trail 70. Because of this I always made sure my two boys had helmets on(no excuses) when they were on any of their bikes. Helmets are a must and IMO full face is the way to go. I currently have a Shoei TZ-R but getting a little age on it so I'll be in the market for another before to much longer. Member B.O.X.K.N.I.F.E a few years ago survived a crash(no helmet)but looks like will never fully recover because of the head trauma that occurred. And just recently member Digger didn't survive a crash and I think he was helmet-less also. Wear a Helmet everybody!!

[scrapvalue]

FYI, lots of people have been killed riding motorcycles while wearing a helmet.

Do yourself and your loved ones a a big favor, LEARN TO RIDE!

O.k. just to clarify something. Does it say anywhere in my post to not wear a helmet?    A helmet may or may not give you a second chance. Learning the fundamentals,(preferably in the dirt), will do way more to save you life then all the protection on the market today.
To many people put on there super hero suit and feel they are invisible.  You ain't.   
So maybe instead of hovering around the computer waiting to pounce on someone with your opinions, go outside and ride.

[scrapvalue]

Maybe you and many others should consider not jumping to conclusions.  Just saying.

Now go outside and play.

[chewbacca5000]

So it was a poorly written piece of advice, not bad advice. As I said in an earlier reply, in addition to gear, your advice is very good.

If you felt people "pounced" on you, then perhaps you should wear protective gear when reading replies to your posts in the Open Forum. Many suffer road rash, arse chewing, and worse as a result of their posts. Seem you may have inadvertently triggered a Grammar Burn. My apologies if you felt my reply was inappropriate. May I suggest a spanky new, modular full face helmet to accompany your new writing skills? 

Man this is Epic!  Maybe the moderator should restrict helmet threads from here on out.  Grammar Burn hilarious!

[vfourfreak]

FYI, lots of people have been killed riding motorcycles while wearing a helmet.

Do yourself and your loved ones a a big favor, LEARN TO RIDE!

O.k. just to clarify something. Does it say anywhere in my post to not wear a helmet?    A helmet may or may not give you a second chance. Learning the fundamentals,(preferably in the dirt), will do way more to save you life then all the protection on the market today.
To many people put on there super hero suit and feel they are invisible.  You ain't.   
So maybe instead of hovering around the computer waiting to pounce on someone with your opinions, go outside and ride.

I'd never go out feeling I was invisible. Nor invincible for that matter.

I'm going down the garage for some soda blasting and general noise making. Been away for two weeks, the neighbours will be getting complacent.

Kev

[ofreen]

O.k. just to clarify something. Does it say anywhere in my post to not wear a helmet?    A helmet may or may not give you a second chance. Learning the fundamentals,(preferably in the dirt), will do way more to save you life then all the protection on the market today.
To many people put on there super hero suit and feel they are invisible.  You ain't.   
So maybe instead of hovering around the computer waiting to pounce on someone with your opinions, go outside and ride.

Seemed clear to me.

[ofreen]

...A helmet may or may not give you a second chance. Learning the fundamentals,(preferably in the dirt), will do way more to save you life then all the protection on the market today.

Seemed clear to me.

And to me. Scrapvalue was advocating that riding skills are more important and a greater safety feature than a helmet. That's exactly what he wrote.
[/quote]

No, this is exactly what he wrote in his first post.

FYI, lots of people have been killed riding motorcycles while wearing a helmet.

Do yourself and your loved ones a a big favor, LEARN TO RIDE!

He is pointing out that wearing a helmet does not mitigate all the consequences of not knowing what you are doing on a bike.  There are plenty of severe injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents that don't involve head trauma.  Lots of ex-riders in wheelchairs or worse.  He is not saying don't wear a helmet or casting doubt on the wisdom of wearing helmets. 

Then he followed up with "A helmet may or may not give you a second chance. Learning the fundamentals,(preferably in the dirt), will do way more to save you life then all the protection on the market today."  He is absolutely right.  The most survivable accidents are the ones that didn't happen. 

The reason I am chiming in is that he made an excellent point that is being obscured by the bickering.

[754]

I see Digger being brought up again.
 I dont know the location of his injuries, perhaps others on here do.?
 But the man has passed on, and I certainly do not know if not wearing a helmet was a contributing factor.
If you dont know for sure..stop bringing it up...please...

 RIP Digger...

[Gene]

 I dont know the location of his injuries, perhaps others on here do.?

Thinking about that yesterday.  Dunno if WE know what happened.  Let the poor man go.  A lot of folks on here donated to the kids, we bury our dead and move on. Lessons have been learned, or at least contemplated.

Simply watch out for yourselves and those that would wish you ill.

[scottly]

I didn't miss the point, it was a poorly made point if his intention was to say, "I'm addition to wearing proper gear, you should also constantly improve your rising skills". Now that I agree with completely.

Speaking of writing skills and grammar, you lost a few points with this post, Cal. "I'm addition.. rising skills? 
Also, the donations to Digger's kids have dropped off over the last couple of weeks. If you haven't donated, please do so, no matter how small the amount.

[Terry in Australia]

I didn't realise we were putting the hat around for Digger's family, I'll donate directly.

As much as the concensus here is that full face helmets are the safest, I remember a time when helmet manufacturers couldn't get insurance due to a problem with full face helmets causing broken necks in crashes. I wonder if that issue has been addressed?

I don't like full face helmets, I'd prefer a good modular helmet, where I can flip the front to get some air in, or stop and have a smoke (if I still smoked) or drink a can of coke, without having to remove my helmet, especially in the rain.

I wouldn't buy any cheap schidt helmet from China like HJC etc, I've got an Italian "Nolan" brand helmet, it was inexpensive (bought online) and has served me well for the last 5 or 6 years, I must buy another one, as my current one is getting close to it's "use by" date. Cheers, Terry.

[dhall57]

I see Digger being brought up again.
 

In no way was my intent to make lite of Digger(Robert Haag) passing.

R.I.P. Your presence and input here on this forum will be greatly missed.

[chewbacca5000]

I hate it when mommy and daddy fight. 

I think we have given OP enough info to make an informed decision maybe we should leave it at that.  Ridding skills and gear are both important.  I am sure I would be dead by now without taking a motorcycle safety course.  The one I went to was more like bootcamp for riding and the instructor was like a drill Sargent.  I crushed a nut on that little tiny honda rebel 250 ridding for 8 hours a clip and had to go to the doctor to get antibiotics for the infection.

That going around in circles for hours on end taught me how to lean into a curve and latter saved my life going down a step hill side that went into a hair pin turn like waterslide.  I remembered my training and kept my speed up and am here today as a result.

Get the gear, take a good class, ride on.

[chewbacca5000]

Riding skills and gear are both important.
..and the instructor was like a drill Seargent.
...going down a steep hill side that went into a hair pin turn like waterslide.

Just so Scottly doesn't grammar check you, Chewy, I made some corrections for you. Our thumbs must be related? 

Maybe I will hire to be my editor when I get my site up.  I seem to type like a guy doing hockey without ice skates with my legs going in different directions.  Thanks for saving me from a potentially lethal gramer burn. ha,ha,ha

[Stev-o]

I didn't realise we were putting the hat around for Digger's family, I'll donate directly.

Here's the link, Terry.  Thx.

https://www.gofundme.com/roberthaag?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_content=cta_button&utm_campaign=upd_n

[scottly]

I remember a time when helmet manufacturers couldn't get insurance due to a problem with full face helmets causing broken necks in crashes. I wonder if that issue has been addressed?

Terry, the consensus was that full face helmets actually reduced neck injuries, as they transferred the force across the shoulders, rather than the neck. However, full face helmets were found to increase the likelihood of a broken collar bone for the same reason. Personally, I'd rather have a broken collar bone than a broken neck.

[Terry in Australia]

I beg to differ Scott, the problem with full face helmets is that if you land on your face with an open face helmet, your face takes the impact, whereas with a full face helmet the rigid chin guard transfers the impact forces to your neck.

When we went from open face helmets to full face helmets in the 1970's, the incidence of paralysis or death from broken necks went up exponentially, to the point where Bell helmets couldn't get public liability insurance, and almost stopped manufacturing full face helmets.

It's still a problem now, but once again, it's a risk most riders would probably take, as opposed to sliding down the road on their faces. I actually like wearing my open face helmet, but I'm not pretty..... 

[chewbacca5000]

I beg to differ Scott, the problem with full face helmets is that if you land on your face with an open face helmet, your face takes the impact, whereas with a full face helmet the rigid chin guard transfers the impact forces to your neck.

When we went from open face helmets to full face helmets in the 1970's, the incidence of paralysis or death from broken necks went up exponentially, to the point where Bell helmets couldn't get public liability insurance, and almost stopped manufacturing full face helmets.

It's still a problem now, but once again, it's a risk most riders would probably take, as opposed to sliding down the road on their faces. I actually like wearing my open face helmet, but I'm not pretty..... 

Facial scars are manly!  Why hid them.  I got a nice big one under my eye got it when I was a kid ridding my bicycle and ran into a chunk of metal hanging off a pickup truck, and no I was not wearing a helmet.  Back then kids could play in their yard without parental supervision too.  We also rode in the back of the pickup and drank coke and pop rocks! 

[BobbyR]

At 15 I had a serious bicycle accident at probably 30 mph. I went over the handlebars. I somehow got my hands out, but the side of my face did contact the pavement. I got some severe road rash from my cheek to my chin, my hands were chewed up. Full face and gloves for me.

I do admit riding without a helmet has a nice feel to it, but it makes no real sense if you look at the bigger picture. 

[754]

When I was 15 I wished I could hit thirty on a bicycle..

When I was around 40 i flipped my moped...landed in sitting position, cept my heels caught first, flipping me face first into the pavement at around 18 mph.. Hit facefirst so hard my feet came about two feet off the ground! Full face would have helped that day........ But I had no helmet on.....
 A few stitches in the face, drinking thru a straw, and on crutches for a day or two, soon i was on the mend...

[BobbyR]

When I was 15 I wished I could hit thirty on a bicycle..

When I was around 40 i flipped my moped...landed in sitting position, cept my heels caught first, flipping me face first into the pavement at around 18 mph.. Hit facefirst so hard my feet came about two feet off the ground! Full face would have helped that day........ But I had no helmet on.....
 A few stitches in the face, drinking thru a straw, and on crutches for a day or two, soon i was on the mend...

I lived on a steep hill so I could get some speed up. Once I looked human again I went back to doing the same dumb #$%*. I have a way of doing that. 

[Bailgang]

About 2 years ago my Father in law took a spill on a scooter he was "test" riding with no helmet, a car was coming up behind him so he moved over a bit to give the car plenty of room but hit loose gravel when he did and over the bars and down he went. It was a low speed incident but he did a faceplant so hard it gave him a concussion and was in the hospital for a few days. It rang his bell good because it took a good 6 months for him to get his head on straight again.

[754]

My wifes father got into an accident on his scooter, the winshield tore through his jugular....
Dont imagine he suffered long, though it would be terrifying.... A few blocks from home..test ride I think..
Ugggghhhh..