Topic: Helmets?

[krusty]

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!

Many, many more would have been killed if they weren't wearing.
So you're saying all those guys that come off in the motogp, for example, need to learn how to ride?  See thread re B.O.X.K.N.I.F.E, no helmet, slammed from behind by a drunk. Get real.

[chewbacca5000]

After getting my chin busted open in the Dominican republic it was full face for me.  I have a Scorpion and it has some nice vents to keep me cool and relaxed.  It your not seating you will feel less jammed up.  I think mine was under $200 DOT and Snell approved.  My first one was a cheapo from China and had the same wonderful smell that blast you in the face when you go into Harbor Freight.

Also make sure you can take the liners out and wash them.  Clean helmets are much more comfortable.

[ofreen]

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. 

[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!

Except the indisputable facts are helmets save lives. Learning to ride properly is a must, but proper protective gear should never be overlooked. Luck and skill can not replace safety gear, because once you come off the bike, it's just you and the asphalt.

Yep, I had a crash when I was 17, I was hit from behind in the rain, speared off into a concrete drain ditch, it sent me flying into a tree head first, all the initial impact was on my helmet, it was actually torn off, breaking my jaw and fracturing my skull in the process, if i wasn't wearing a helmet, it would certainly have been a fatal accident...

[calj737]

A couple of guys came down on you a little bit, but I think they missed the point.

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.

[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!

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.

[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.

[calj737]

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.
Too 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.

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? 

[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!

[calj737]

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

Sorry, my helmet didn't come with Clairvoyance Pills. So you would have us understand what you think not what you write? Nobody jumped to conclusions, people clarified their impressions of what you wrote.

Perhaps instead of playing with your GI Joes, you should spend more time hitting the books. Just saying-

[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.

[calj737]

...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.
[/quote]
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. This is absolutely untrue. Riding skills are important, but they do absolutely nothing to save your life or increase your chances of survival once you encounter a crash. That is indisputable.

If Scrap wants to refer to advocates of helmets and protective gear as "Nazis" who pounce upon his opinion, then I am guilty as charged. I would agree with him, except then we'd both be wrong.

As I said in an earlier follow-up post, "If he's advocating riding skills in addition to protective gear" then that is something with which I believe EVERYONE would agree. But what he wrote is grammatically and factually incorrect.

Thus endeth the lesson.

[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.

[calj737]

"In addition to wearing proper gear, you should also constantly improve your riding 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? 
[/quote]
Well that is clearly the dangers of using a Smartphone to type with large thumbs. Nonetheless, thank you for the editorial corrections. I've fixed my spelling errors herein. Although, I must say that I am astonished you could read such a lengthy  post without your lips becoming overly tired. Wonders never cease. 

[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.