I rode with no helmet for a long time, in fact the whole time I had my first K8 from new. That was after my "big one", I got broadsided by a green AMC Hornet Lic# GBC 008, funny the things you remember, cause that was the last thing I noticed before he hit me, there is a red curb in my honor there now cause I couldn't see around a box bed truck that was parked at the corner and was leaning way forward and pulling out slowly. I flew like a bird and landed hard. Lotsa lost skin, a cracked skull, and multiple contusions. I was 16 then and was riding my first bike, a 68 CL175, fixed the bike after I healed and continue to ride it without a helmet.......young and dumb. But that was a different world back then.