Topic: Helmets (Read 8100 times)

Cabo · « **on:** January 09, 2004, 08:44:55 AM »

What are your thoughts?? (keep it nice everyone!)

http://www.sasnet.com/bro/states/50state.html

ashcraft · « **Reply #1 on:** January 09, 2004, 09:23:16 AM »

In Kentucky helmets are optional, as is Indiana just across the river. Tennessee requires them, as well as Nevada [but trikes in Nevada don't.] I usually wear a helmet, but not always. I almost always wear one in heavy traffic around cities and at rush hour.
I think they should be optional everywhere, as long as you accept the risk. Isn't part of the allure of m/c that they are more 'free' and 'dangerous' than cars?

JCZ · « **Reply #2 on:** January 09, 2004, 09:29:51 AM »

This is going to be an interesting poll Cabo. Being from California we love helmets.........like hell. Never wore one before the helmet law and I don't wear one traveling through the states that don't require them.

Black_Dog · « **Reply #3 on:** January 09, 2004, 09:33:25 AM »

I wear a helmet on long trips, it keeps my head out of the direct sun and I feel cooler, otherwise it's just a cap.

naitram · « **Reply #4 on:** January 09, 2004, 09:53:45 AM »

we have to wear them in MA, when traveling outside of my state i wear one on the highway and go without on side roads

fxr4 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 09, 2004, 01:47:27 PM »

It's the law in TN. so I wear one. If not required I don't wear it.

psycho · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2004, 11:31:03 PM »

Regardless of state law I wear them. Spent a year at Franciscan Chilidrens Hospital doing Neuropsychological evaluations on helmetless/seatbeltless young men. Not pretty. A friend of mine didn't make it around a turn, drove his bike off the road and hit a tree. He lost a small chunk of his brain in the right parietal region (Front forehead & right temple side). He lived and recovered. Remember, although you might hear that people recovered, you don't always learn about their quality of life. I visited my friend a few months after his accident in order to assist in trying to bring more of his memories back. He knew that he knew me but he did't know why. We sat on a picknick table along a beach, and some 8 & 9 year old girls walked by and he started saying "Hey babe, nice body, hey hey hey...etc." Again, it wasn't pretty. A collegue neuropsychologist of mine worked mostly with adults for many years and motorcycle closed/open head injuries were all too plentiful. I've got no problem with personal choice and I respect peoples choice to decide how they might want to live.

rturn2mow · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:27:48 AM »

Not required in Florida. I make my decison to wear on many factors...weather for one (rain and or cold is a yes). Long journey, yes. I have a couple bikes and when on my crotch rocket, it is a definte yes. Local rides on the Harley (which is 95% of my riding) I do not, even on some longer rides. I like to have the choice but would not raise a huge protest if it were required. It was for a while and it didn't bother me (only when sitting in traffic in Daytona during a bike event when its 90 plus degrees, it does get kinda hot)
On a note about injuries, I suffered a very serious head injury in 1996, not on a motorcycle, so I know all to well what it is like and what the costs and reprocusions can be, having gone through that I still think it should be up to the rider.
On another note (you would think that this would really convince me) let me tell you about how a helmet law indirectly saved my life. I was going to Atlanta for the Harley 100th kick off party. I had been riding with the flow of traffic up I-75 for a quite a while, even had a few thumbs up from some people in cars I had been cruising with for many miles. The guy who I was riding with realized and notified me about 10 miles into Georgia that they have a helmet law. We quickly pulled over to the birm and put on our helmets, back riding immediately. About 10 miles later up ahead of us we see a huge fireball rise into the air. It was a very horrible accident involving 2 semi trucks, 4 cars and a church van. Several people were killed, most of them were burnt. It was the same group of cars that we were riding with earlier. Had we not stopped to put on our helmets, I am convinced we would have been right there in that tragedy as well. I personally will never forget what I saw there the rest of my life. Hopefully none of you will ever have to witness that.

psycho · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2004, 11:39:40 AM »

Quote

(only when sitting in traffic in Daytona during a bike event when its 90 plus degrees, it does get kinda hot)

I've never been to a bike rally but I've seen the pictures of bikes lined up as far as you can see just inching along. I would have thought that in those situations the helmets come off (mine would) and the authorities wouldn't mind?

mr_magoo · « **Reply #9 on:** January 13, 2004, 08:38:31 AM »

Only wear it when the law requires it, nothing better than a helmet in 80+ heat HA HA

Buffy · « **Reply #10 on:** January 13, 2004, 10:59:15 AM »

Helmets are required in Georgia and riding home yesterday I passed a new subdivision that they were building and a dump truck was going the other way on the main street.

Well, I guess that the truck's tire picked up a rock and threw it up and hit me square in front of my helmet. I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT!

Needless to say, I was SOOOOOOOOOO glad I had it on.

HD2NV · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2005, 09:23:47 PM »

Have to be worn in Canada,once we hit U.S. border off they come just my .02 worth

Loose_Goose · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2005, 09:31:43 PM »

I always wear my helmet. When I ride to work is the only time I don't. I only ride to work about ten times a year. I don't ride it to work very often because when I hop on the beast the last thing on my mind is work. I just want to keep on cruising. [smiley=helmet.gif]

70_GTX · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2005, 09:35:34 PM »

Just about always wear one. Dad was a state cop and kind of preached it into me. Sometimes if I take a quick trip across our small town, I'll ditch the helmet.

Cannibus_Man · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2005, 10:01:54 PM »

take a look at Indian larry,,,yea he was performing a stunt and all but do ya suppose that if he had a helmet on he might have survived his accident? what are the speeds that a D.O.T helmet protect you up to? i believe it's something like 30 mph..
I wear a helmet because it's protection, part of my gear,, just like a leather jacket I wear to prevent road rash.

yellowsedeuce · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2005, 01:07:49 AM »

When riding crotch rockets, definitely because if you don't you can't see when going so fast. Also, back in '96 I was on my way home from an early am ride & luckily it was cooler on the Southern California coast that particular day because I had on long pants, leather jacket & gloves. I was 5 minutes from home when I came to an intersection with a van making a left turn travelling in the same direction as I was, blocked my view of any oncoming traffic. I tried to look around the van, slowed down and thought I've done this a thousand times carefully and flicked the throttle to accelerate.............then a little blue Mazda GLC made a left turn in front of me & the last thing I remembered was flying through the air, doing a front flip and landing on my back on the other side of the intersection. Luckily, the Honda Interceptor had the front of the seat meet the end of the tank like a skateboard ramp and I launched instead of being a passenger into the side of the little car. Needless to say I was sooo lucky to walk away but, I still have that Shoei 100 full face helmet with the little dots from the asphalt pavement making a faint racing stripe across the top of the brain bucket as a reminder of what can and will happen even if you're careful. Needless to say my guardian angel was with me that day because the guy at the dealer was shocked when he asked " who was the pilot on this bike?" and I answered "I was" and he said "and you're still walking?".

Anyways, full face for off-road and cold nights on the H-D, half helmets in states that require them & off when we're in beautiful scenic country and just enjoying the cruise where they're not required.

May your guardian angels always be with you!

Yellowsed

WFP · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2005, 05:55:02 AM »

Beanie in state...off as I cross the border from MA to RI, CT and NH

hd-dude · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2005, 09:59:49 AM »

I wear mine because we are required to. [smiley=thumbsdown.gif] If it was not the law I would chose to wear it or not, depending on where I was goping and what I was doing.

HUBBARD · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2005, 02:59:16 PM »

Required in WV--Hopefully about to change--View WV Helmet Law Reform under "In The News"---Later--HUBBARD

neanderpaul · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2005, 09:54:53 AM »

I wear it...and of course it's DOT legal

because pavement beats skull.

I have a rather large skull, and the DOT lids all look like a friggin' mushroom on my head,....and catch air when I'm riding, so I'm constantly feeling it flip up. Full-faces restrict my peripheral vison and hearing too much. Plus, tough to find one in a "fat head" size.

But...I figure something is better than nothing if I go down.

I've never not worn one...so I guess I don't know the "freedom" of not wearing one. Maybe this year while rolling thru Laconia.

On a related note, I have to learn to braid my hair, or put the ponitail holders on myself. These rat's nest knots are killing me

JCZ · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2005, 10:57:41 AM »

Quote

This is going to be an interesting poll Cabo.

spydglide · « **Reply #21 on:** March 24, 2005, 11:23:22 AM »

JCZ.......couple of questions on the chinbar flip helmet. Can you ride at night w/ the blue tint faceshield? And will eyeglasses fit in the helmet and allow the chinbar faceshield to flip up while wearing them? thanks, spyder [smiley=confused5.gif]

Tonys · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2005, 11:53:23 AM »

They are required in Cal. I think 18 and under should be required..otherwise personal choice. I did not use to wear helmets but I have seen too many bad accidents where the rider would have made if he had a helmet...along with personal experience. Saw a kid...17-18..loose control, go off his bike and slide on his back about 50 feet. I stopped my car to protect him and as I ran up, I wondered what the fluid smear on the ground was...unfortunately for him it was his brain...the whole back of his head was gone. That stays with you for a long time...still I am for personal choice.

JCZ · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2005, 01:01:51 PM »

Quote

JCZ.......couple of questions on the chinbar flip helmet.

sailordb · « **Reply #24 on:** March 24, 2005, 01:58:29 PM »

I wear my helmet for several reasons, some of which have been so elequently stated here. The main reason is because I stole it from a CHP in 1986 when he left it on his mirror. It is as much a "battle trophy" as head gear....and it is a damn good helmet.

spydglide · « **Reply #25 on:** March 24, 2005, 02:11:26 PM »

Hmmmmmmmmm. Wonder what the statue of limitations is on that? [smiley=confused.gif]

Johnny · « **Reply #26 on:** March 26, 2005, 02:44:20 AM »

Have always worn a helmet because it was required. I used to wear a 3/4 but since deciding to get off the bilke doing 55 & sliding across three lanes of the freeway in Nashville a couple years ago I dicided to upgrade to full face. Took a little getting used to but now it is natural and I realy enjoy it on colder days. I wear glasses with the helmet and switch between clear and mirrored shields. Most of the time I will ride with the shield up except rain, other bad weather, cold or on the interstate. Dont leave home without it!!

RedFXR2 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 26, 2005, 01:03:36 PM »

I've always lived in states that require helmets but I'd wear one, law or not.

JCZ · « **Reply #28 on:** March 27, 2005, 01:56:09 AM »

Quote

Hmmmmmmmmm.

LETS_ROLL · « **Reply #29 on:** March 27, 2005, 08:21:48 PM »

Required in Washington state so I have to. When riding outside the state, it just depends if I wear one or not. Sometimes I do sometimes I don't. Let's Roll

Jock · « **Reply #30 on:** March 27, 2005, 08:55:22 PM »

Given my experience in this matter, thoughts and the fact that I can not read long threats of information...A.D.D.? I will keep it brief.

On my first bike, I had what could be classified as a serious accident with a girl on the back at the age of 14 years old. I had over 30 sitches in my head(plastic surgery included), which is why I part my hair in the middle (as seen on the home page), a broken arm and leg...the kicker was neuro damage that took several years to recover. Bottom Line - the ER Team thought I was a goner.

As for the girl, I did not know her, she was the girl friend of some one I knew. She suffered with a 5 sitch scar to her chin, skin graphing to assist in some other issues. Interesting enough, we later went to school together and today their is little to no vision of her scar.

It should be noted that we were NO wearing any protection at the time. The accident occured due to a dog running from behind some brushes near the road. I went over the bike head first, Reba was tossed off the back.

I was rushed to the hospital and I did not even know her name. My parents were forced to contact my friends parents to gain information regarding Reba's status.

I stayed in the hospital for over a week, my parents refused to let me ride the bike for several months. After all that, we purchased a helmet and utilized it when they were around.

I live in a state that requires a helmet, however given everything that I posted here believe it is a matter of choice. As a matter of fact, when I ride it is with a novelty helmet and when in states that do not require one, I take it off.

I would like to think that I have suffered my fatal blow already, however I recognize this may not be the case.

I guess it boils down to personal freedom, responsilbility, knowledge, understanding, willingness. I do not expect others to pay for my decisions...(other insurers, non-ms owners, etc.) If I am willing to accept that process, I must be willing to pay that price (insurance premium).

Keeping it short, I will end it here....

hd2003-se2005 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 27, 2005, 10:17:42 PM »

I wear one cause I want to.
But sometimes in SC I don't.
Given the choice I probaby will even if not required by law.

LBI-DTW · « **Reply #32 on:** March 27, 2005, 10:25:43 PM »

Michigan is a must wear State.
The law has been in effect for so long that it just natural to put on the lid.
However, I have the understanding that may change this year. We will see.
In any case,
If it does change I will still wear the lid. If others don't that's ok with me.
Freedom of Choice.

Author Topic: Helmets (Read 8100 times)

RedFXR2

hd2003-se2005