Topic: Wearing a helmet?

[DammitDan]

Knowing me, I'd forget the lanyard, step off the bike at a gas station, and blow myself up! 

I never considered the fact that protective gear might be a hazard...  But it sure as hell would be funny to see   

[johnny-from-bel]

Helmet mandatory in Belgium.
I have only needed it once and am glad I had one.
I would never ride without one

[spitfire]

Have always worn a helmet, even before the UK fetched in the helmet law, would feel naked without it, landed on my head twice in accidents and walked away from them both. Have had quite a few patches of "gravel rash" in my youth as well, so riding gear is also a must.

Cheers

Den

[Rushoid]

Anyway, the funny thing is the pic at the top of their page http://www.abateonline.org/default.aspx If I figure right, that bike is going about 135 MPH!    Yeah, that's safe on a public road. 

I think the speedo is in KM/H, so thats not too too bad.  My next lid will be a flip lid.

James

Look again. That speedo reads almost 220 KM/H. Is my math wrong? I get 136.701 MPH

[Einyodeler]

Here`s an old helmet I keep out in the barn right next to the bikes to remind myself.



I like my face just where it`s at ...thank you

[clarkjh]

Anyway, the funny thing is the pic at the top of their page http://www.abateonline.org/default.aspx If I figure right, that bike is going about 135 MPH!    Yeah, that's safe on a public road. 

I think the speedo is in KM/H, so thats not too too bad.  My next lid will be a flip lid.

James

Look again. That speedo reads almost 220 KM/H. Is my math wrong? I get 136.701 MPH

E-gads, your right.  Way to fast for me.

James

[canyon750]

Ride without a helmet?!?!?!      I would never think about doing it.  Just the thought of taking a rock in the head at 60MPH is enough to want to wear it.  I can't imagine taking the risk of bouncing my head down the road at any speed while not wearing one.  I don't understand the people who consistently advocate against wearing helmets.  I guess too many rocks to the head will do that to you...

[hopterfixer]

In Indiana you must wear a helmet if you have your learners permit or are under the age of 18.  The funny thing was watching all of the guys show up for the driving test to get the motorcycle endorsement with their helmet strapped on the back.  Guess where the helmet was when they left too.  I personally prefer to wear a Full Face (Arai Astral) White helmet, armored jacket, gloves, long pants, and a solid shoe or boot when I ride (see avatar).  Hot out or not.   Some days I wish the voices in me head would let me ride with shorts and no helmet on when it is hot, but I would feel plain stupid if that happened to be the day I went down.  I can't even bring myself to wear an open faced helmet, I just feel comforted with that chin bar in front of my face.   

[nickjtc]

If you have no brains, then I guess there is no need to wear a helmet.

I never cease to be amazed when I see riders wearing open face or beanie helmets when it is tippling down with rain. Man that must be uncomfortable.

Do I wear a helmet? All the time. Full face. No discussion. Should there be laws? Absolutely.

[S-Dog]

Do I wear a helmet? All the time. Full face. No discussion. Should there be laws? Absolutely.

2 out of 3 right aint bad.... As much as I am adamant about wearing a helmet I dont think it should be law.... unless you are under 18...

The same holds true with seatbelts.... it should be your choice.... I choose to.

[firecracker]

...I dont think it should be law....

                                         Vote Ron Paul

[S-Dog]

...I dont think it should be law....

                                         Vote Ron Paul

WOWOWOW..... I like this dude....

[SD750F]

In South Dakota helmet law only for minors. Our ABATE group here has been very active to keep the helmet law from "impacting" adults and their rights...

I personally wear a 1/2 helmet for local urban riding keeps my ears open and increased scanning area for other vehicles. But when I am out at speeds above 40MPH riding highways etc., I wear a full modular.

Scott

[nickjtc]

I personally wear a 1/2 helmet for local urban riding keeps my ears open and increased scanning area for other vehicles. But when I am out at speeds above 40MPH riding highways etc., I wear a full modular.

Open question to everyone who wears one kind of helmet for 'urban' riding, or 'speeds up to.....', and a different kind for everything else.

If you hit your head on the pavement/another vehicle/an immovable object after an accident at 30mph, is it any different than the same scenario at 40mph.....?

Just curious.

[Gordon]

2 out of 3 right aint bad.... As much as I am adamant about wearing a helmet I dont think it should be law.... unless you are under 18...

The same holds true with seatbelts.... it should be your choice.... I choose to.

Have to disagree on the seatbelt point.  Wearing a seatbelt is not just an issue of your own safety.  If you hit something, or something/someone hits you and your vehicle continues moving, a seatbelt will hold you in the driver's seat where you are much more likely to be able to either step on the brake pedal or steer the vehicle away from other cars or people. 

So I do feel there should be laws requiring the use of seatbelts for car drivers, but I think helmet-wearing should be up to the rider.  Of course there are people who argue that non-helmeted riders cause insurance rates to be higher, but that's a pretty slippery slope that I prefer not to venture down. 

[Gordon]

.I personally wear a 1/2 helmet for local urban riding keeps my ears open and increased scanning area for other vehicles. But when I am out at speeds above 40MPH riding highways etc., I wear a full modular.

Scott

Let me preface this post by saying I am in no way trying to enter into any kind of argument.  Just bringing up points for discussion.

In my experience, at any speed over about 20mph without a full face (or at least 3/4) helmet on, I can't hear anything around me due to the wind rushing over my ears.  On the other hand, with a full face helmet on, I can hear a car in my blind spot, without even looking, at speeds up to about 70mph.

How much does your full-face helmet restrict your vision?  The last two full-face helmets I've owned have only restricted my vision in the vertical plane.  With my current helmet on, I have to strain really hard to see the sides of the face shield, so it does not affect my peripheral vision at all. 

Last point (I swear ).  You're much more likely to be involved in a wreck while riding around in the city, no matter how much slower you're going, than out on the highway, so if you're going to prefer one type of helmet for one situation over the other, I'd think it would be the other way around. 

[nickjtc]

What Gordon said, ditto.

[BobbyR]

.I personally wear a 1/2 helmet for local urban riding keeps my ears open and increased scanning area for other vehicles. But when I am out at speeds above 40MPH riding highways etc., I wear a full modular.

Scott

Let me preface this post by saying I am in no way trying to enter into any kind of argument.  Just bringing up points for discussion.

In my experience, at any speed over about 20mph without a full face (or at least 3/4) helmet on, I can't hear anything around me due to the wind rushing over my ears.  On the other hand, with a full face helmet on, I can hear a car in my blind spot, without even looking, at speeds up to about 70mph.

How much does your full-face helmet restrict your vision?  The last two full-face helmets I've owned have only restricted my vision in the vertical plane.  With my current helmet on, I have to strain really hard to see the sides of the face shield, so it does not affect my peripheral vision at all. 

Last point (I swear ).  You're much more likely to be involved in a wreck while riding around in the city, no matter how much slower you're going, than out on the highway, so if you're going to prefer one type of helmet for one situation over the other, I'd think it would be the other way around. 

I think you make some valid points. The modern full face allows you to see everything you need to see. The only issue I have with my Shoei is looking down when I am walking. I also have to tilt my head a touch to see the speedo and tach. Left to right vision is not different than not wearing a helmet.

[canyon750]

Tilting your head to see the speedo is a minor inconvenience.  Having the top of your head sheered off by grinding it along the pavement can ruin your day.  If people choose to not wear a helmet fine; but i don't want my insurance premiums and hospital service to go up because the guy before me needed major brain surgery because a 15MPH crash made him a vegetable.  Just like the seatbelt law in California; the people will get over it and wear the helmet or they won't be able to ride.  It has nothing to do with freedom, hearing and sight lines.  You're either dead or your not dead, period.

[DarkRider]

Like a lot of you i will not even venture out of the driveway with out my fullface lid on. I only risked it without a jacket twice and paid for it the second time. Hence more then likely among my purchases for next season will either be a textile jacket or a vest..or both. Main reason for the textile is to  make it more comfortable in hotter weather and still be protected...either way i would rather sweat then bleed....

[okie]

Yep, sweat wipes off.  Road rash doesn't.

I looked at EVERYTHING on that ridetodie.com site and I feel a lot better about always wearing my full-face Shoei helmet.  I destroyed a new Bell Star full coverage helmet back in the 70's when I backflipped shifting into 3rd while doing a wheelie.  The nurses in intensive care wake you up in the middle of the night to rub coarse sand and salt in your roadrash.  They claimed it was a salve, but it sure as heck didn't feel like it.

[333]

Last point (I swear ).  You're much more likely to be involved in a wreck while riding around in the city, no matter how much slower you're going, than out on the highway, so if you're going to prefer one type of helmet for one situation over the other, I'd think it would be the other way around. 

This is true.  A majority of accidents happen when cars pull out of blind alleys, driveways, run stop signs or lights.

And I just never walk with my helmet on.  It doesn't go on untill I'm ready to pull away, and comes off when the engine rolls to a stop.

[BobbyR]

I see a big change. In the past when helmets came up all hell broke loose. I guess we are becoming older or more responsible - maybe both.

[333]

I shouldn't mention oil, should I?

[Bob Wessner]

I shouldn't mention oil, should I?