Topic: Wearing a helmet?

[nickjtc]

I shouldn't mention oil, should I?

 

Popcorn and beverage time...................

[firecracker]

Good question.  So, what type of oil do you use on your guns?

                            

[Rushoid]

Good question.  So, what type of oil do you use on your guns?

                            

Helmet oil.

[nickjtc]

Good question.  So, what type of oil do you use on your guns?

                            

Tut, tut, get it right Sam.....guns have wheels.

[CrisPDuk]

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

This may be true of the US, but the statistics do not bear it out in the UK. Over here over 70% of all motorbike accidents had no other vehicle involved, and when you look at fatal accidents, that figure rises to nearly 85%


Back home in the UK I wouldn't even consider going out without a helmet on.  Here in Bangkok I very rarely wear one, on the grounds that avoiding a crash is the best option, and to avoid one over here you need all your senses on full unrestricted alert.

I do wear full MX style body armour over here though, the number of times you catch your extremities on wing mirrors and other things is unbelievable
At home draggin jeans and an armoured leather jacket suffice.

[Chris Liston]

I shouldn't mention oil, should I?

Oil kicked my butt about a month ago.  I was on my brothers 99 VFR that he just got the day before, only 2800 miles and brand new and as I was coming to a stop, I wasn't stopping and the bike high sided and I went over it into on coming traffic.  Luckily I wasn't hit and my full face helmet protected my chin as there was a tiny nick in the helmet and not on me.  That and a 1000 bucks later for new plastic for the bike and its running like a champ again.  Had to replace the front nose piece, left side plastic and rear section.  As for gear, I didn't have my leather on, just took it off before I went out for a 20 minute ride because it was too hot.  Wound up with very little rash on both arms.  My gloves ripped on a palm seam but did their job. 

From now on its leather jacket all the time regardless.  I normally use it 95% anyway, now its 100%.  Always full face Arai Quantum and race type gloves with full gauntlet so they stay solid on the hands

[DammitDan]

Did you get a new helmet or are you still riding with the chipped Arai?

Replacing that helmet would be quite a chunk of change!

[hopterfixer]

I always figure replacing my Arai will be cheaper than the co-pays and the rest of the bills incurred if I didn't have it on. 

[DammitDan]

Oh of course...  it would be stupid to spend $700 on a helmet and then not wear it.  That's like buying a beautiful classic motorcycle and refusing to ride it to "save it from wear and tear".

[ofreen]

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.

Or else a lot of people have better things to do right now than engage in yet another fruitless debate on mandatory helmet laws.  Try again in the winter, probably will get more action.

[nickjtc]

Or else a lot of people have better things to do right now than engage in yet another fruitless debate on mandatory helmet laws.  Try again in the winter, probably will get more action.

..........but the popcorn will be stale by then!!

[333]

Good question.  So, what type of oil do you use on your guns?

                            

Depends on the game.  If I'm going after the pro-life crowd, it really doesn't matter, but if I'm going for the pro-choicers, they prefer to be shot with guns lubed with something not bad for the environment.

[firecracker]

As I recall, your wife prefers to be shot with something lubed with cherry flavor...

 

(wait, did I just smart off to a gun owner?  )


Sorry, it was too easy.    Like your wife!

(d@mn, I gotta quit drinking caffeine!)

[Chris Liston]

Did you get a new helmet or are you still riding with the chipped Arai?

Replacing that helmet would be quite a chunk of change!

I'm still using is as the chip is quite small, about 2mm under to the left of the face vent.  The whole go down happened so fast that I don't even know if I actually hit my head and chipped the helmet or it rolled when I got up and took the helmet off and placed it on the ground. 

At $500 I just can't go for another right now.  Aside from that the helmet is perfect.  Even a slightly chipped full face is better than a half shell or nothing at all.

[333]

LOL,& LMAO!

Seriously,
Where's my rifle?

[Ichiban 4]

I've ridden for over 45 years..before there were helmet laws..and before there were many helmets!   I've seen what happens statistically when bikers do and don't wear helmets [fatalities, serious injuries go up to about 70% without].  Coming from California where they're mandatory..it just seemed like common sense to use a helmet.  But here in Colorado I see all kinds of bikers without..as others have said here..most sport riders wear them..most cruisers don't.

I've kinda come to the conclusion that if you ride long enough..you're gonna wish you are/were wearing a helmet.  Over the last 10-15 years..since all the boomer-age riders have finally gotten their dream Harleys..it seems like we see more and more riding without.  The fatality and "maimed for life" statistics have also gone up exponentially.  It's a sad fact..but those that ride without helmets are being culled out because they don't live long enough to realize the difference.

I wonder what it's gonna look like in another 10-15 years?   But like it or not..I think we're gonna eventually see helmet laws again (look at what Denver has passed recently regarding "open"-loud pipes) in Colorado..and probably in more states.  Personally it seems like a small price to pay for sanity.

Ichi

[74cb750]

Well the US NTHSA (national traffic and safty administration?) just said they reccommend all states be required to have helmet laws. These are the same people that forced all states to have seatbelts etc etc.

[DammitDan]

Well considering how many more people are riding motorcycles these days, I don't think it's such a bad idea to require helmets.  And there still is some choice in the matter; I CHOOSE to wear a full-face.  Some people can choose to wear a half-helmet or vintage.  The most stylish idiots can choose to wear brain buckets.  At least they'll have some semblance of a chance if their head hits the ground...

[BobbyR]

As there are more bikes on the road, the long arm of the law will pay more attention. We have noise laws in NY and it is ignored. That will come to an end. Dan is right. In Fla you want to ride without you need to show proof you have a long term disabilty policy and you sign a waiver absolving the State from providing long term care. That to me is a good option. You maintain freedom and protect the taxpayers.

[ofreen]

In Fla you want to ride without you need to show proof you have a long term disabilty policy and you sign a waiver absolving the State from providing long term care. That to me is a good option. You maintain freedom and protect the taxpayers.

Why single out just motorcyclists?  Lots of motorists out there with no health insurance driving without seatbelts.  Shouldn't they have to sign a waiver?  How about smokers?  They should be waiver candidates.  What about fat people?  Make 'em sign.  What about people who have unprotected sex?  Drug abusers?  Beer drinkers?  The list goes on.  Again, why single out motorcyclists?

[BobbyR]

In Fla you want to ride without you need to show proof you have a long term disabilty policy and you sign a waiver absolving the State from providing long term care. That to me is a good option. You maintain freedom and protect the taxpayers.

Why single out just motorcyclists?  Lots of motorists out there with no health insurance driving without seatbelts.  Shouldn't they have to sign a waiver?  How about smokers?  They should be waiver candidates.  What about fat people?  Make 'em sign.  What about people who have unprotected sex?  Drug abusers?  Beer drinkers?  The list goes on.  Again, why single out motorcyclists?

This is a very good point and I would agree with you. The one place they have you with Motor Vehicles is that it is considered a "privelige" to operate one and not a right. It is essentially the same for any activity that requires a license. So when you are driving or riding they you are exercising a privalge. They could make you wear a helmet while driving a Car if they wished.  I did some Highway Patrol for a couple of years and that question came up when the seat belt laws came up.

[ledbetter]

The way I look at it ,if you don't wear a helmet,you are helping thin the heard some and providing me with parts for my bike's,so ride on with out that helmet because I could allways use the parts,and plus it means one less dumb a$$ on the road causing problems

Ledbetter

[333]

Well the US NTHSA (national traffic and safty administration?) just said they reccommend all states be required to have helmet laws. These are the same people that forced all states to have seatbelts etc etc.

I don't want to sound like I'm defending the government, but those seatbelt laws SAVED LIVES, by basically protecting stupid people from themselves.  We, as a species, will almost always do what's comfortable over what's smart.

[ofreen]

The one place they have you with Motor Vehicles is that it is considered a "privelige" to operate one and not a right.

This comment is not a knock against you, but any time I hear the "it's a privilege, not a right" spiel it annoys the hell out of me.  So we have "privileges" subject to the whims of government bureaucracies?  An activity like driving is licensed to try to ensure the vehicle operator is competent, but that doesn't make it a "privilege."  We are citizens, not subjects.  The bureaucrats may think differently, but they need to be set straight.  Trouble is, too many people these days don't know the difference between being a citizen and being a subject.

Again, no offense meant toward you.

[BobbyR]

None taken, it is just how somethings are, we have rights and we have privleges. I don't like it either Driving legally falls under privilage. Licensing seems to have very little to do with competency these days. We have some real knucleheads out there. Ride safe.