another helmet post

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Jan 20, 2007 | 02:29 AM

#31

jca_54

Tourer

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 253

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From: Houston, Texas

RE: another helmet post

First of all, let me preface my comments by admitting that I rode without a helmet back in the seventies and eighties.It never ceases to amaze me how people have so many ill informed excuses for not wearing a helmet.I'm an MSF instructor here in Texas and I routinely see helmeted students hit the pavement at 15 -20 mph,dust themselves off and get back on the bike. As for the theory that it won't help you at higher speeds, that BS. I have afriend here in the Houston area who went down on I-10 at app. 70 mph (with helmet, boots, jacket, etc.) and came out of it with nothing more than some serious road rash on one leg. His helmet, however, had a huge chunk gouged out of it on impact. Had that been his unhelmeted head, he likely would not be alive today.I also had a relative whorecently high sided his bike at app.20 mph (with no helmet) smacked his head on the pavement and died.We all know that no two accidents are the same. When I go down,will it be a high side or a low side?Pavement or grass? Will I be hit by another car or not ? (another good reason to wear a helmet). Try this experiment at home folks. Go outside and lay down on your concrete driveway. Lift your head up as high as you can, then let it drop down to the pavement. Now try to convince yourself that you can go down at 65 -70 mph with no helmet and not split your head open like a canteloupe. Give me a break. I am not advocating mandatory helmet laws. I'm a firm believer in freedom of choice, but if you choose to ride without a helmet, don't try to justify it with unresearched BS theories. Just be a man about it and admit that you are taking a calculated risk and be willing to live(or die) with the consequences. OK, there's my opinion.

Jan 20, 2007 | 01:20 PM

#32

steelcowboy

Road Master

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 881

Likes: 2

RE: another helmet post

While I agree that there is a risk with anything. I wear helmets all the time for everything from jumping out of airplanes to combat operations so I'm not unaccustomed to wearing them and I'm aware of what they CAN do . I also happen to live in a state the requires them however when I have the option especially on the highway i don't I just don't care for them. We all know that there is a risk and that in some situations yes they may help as far as prevent blunt trauma such as a tip over or some dragging instances but by and large a 70 mph is either going to be death or some kind of long term trauma parallelization etc. It my opinion and my take on life that I've here for a good time not a long time and worrying over this kinda **** is pointless. Its your head your life your choice. If your in a state like me that makes that choice for you well I guess than your like me and SOL.

Jan 20, 2007 | 03:31 PM

#33

but Ill try 2 try

Road Warrior

Joined: Apr 2006

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From:

RE: another helmet post

I guess if you want to see proof positive that good helmets and ride geardo work, just watch any superbike race. Those guys go down in all sorts of ways at high speed and many of them just slide and stand up when the sliding stops. I'm sure some get hurt, but I've seen plenty smack the ground from an endo and get up to get out of the way of oncoming traffic.

Jan 20, 2007 | 08:15 PM

#34

steelcowboy

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Joined: Oct 2006

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RE: another helmet post

Well again I guess you need to decide will you be leaning 2" off the ground going around a hairpin at 100 mph plus hitting Apex and slingshoting out full throttle at 120? Well I hope not at least not on public roads. My point is your talking about a entirely different style of riding thats like saying everyone should wear a nomex suit and 5 point harness in a car just because John Force wears it in his funny car.

Jan 20, 2007 | 08:32 PM

#35

but Ill try 2 try

Road Warrior

Joined: Apr 2006

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From:

RE: another helmet post

What I was saying is that good gear can do good things no matter what style of riding you do. It is possible to buy the same helmets and gear as the racers, and if it protects them during extreme riding it will certainly protect Joe and Jane Croozer doing 50 mph on Anytown Blvd.

I wear a $20 fake helmet and in warm weather I just ride in a tshirt. I would feel safe in a real helmet, but I hate the way the look and fit. I've heard too many first hand stories of good gear saves lives to think that it doesn't help.

Steelcowboy, after reading your posts it sounds like me and you have almost the exact same opinion overall.

Jan 21, 2007 | 12:22 AM

#36

steelcowboy

Road Master

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 881

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RE: another helmet post

I'm not saying that if you were to wear enough gear that you couldn't be safer in some instances. Hell I could wrap you in bubble wrap and install airbags on your bike.But by and large I still think that for the AVERAGE individual riding style a standard helmet even the expensive ones is just a security blanket gives you that little warm and fuzzy. I'm not a big helmet fan I think they have alot of draw back especially full faced ones. I like to have all my senses engaged when riding and when I can't smell hear or have good peripheral vision due to helmets (yes I know some of those ultra high dollar Euro helmets have mirrors and cameras) but in the end I think that for the experienced and informed rider there should bethe option. I wear a very cheap tortoise shell helmet with a DOT sticker on it. I do tend to ride hard and sometimes in the triples when the mood strikes me.

Jan 21, 2007 | 01:48 AM

#37

KBFXDLI

Big Kahuna HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2006

Posts: 23,881

Likes: 34

From: USA

RE: another helmet post

I crashed bad in the 70's and broke two verts in my neck.......plus I broke my BELL MC helmet. But I walked away from that accident and lived........I won't ride a motorcycle without a helmet ever.....

Jan 21, 2007 | 03:53 AM

#38

HDMC

Novice

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 18

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From: Hobbsville, NC

RE: another helmet post

I'm torn...perhaps it's being forty, perhaps it's being a daddy, perhaps it's being a school teacher...who knows?

Mushroom, smushroom.

I've been riding for 24+ years now. My dad made me get a helmet for my first bike in 1982. It cost me $110. I grew-up in Boulder, Co. when there were no helmet laws there. I could've baught a helmet for $10. My dad's response "do you have a $10 head?"

There are plenty of low-profile helmets that are DOT approved. If looks are that important, consider what your family members will have to look at should you be without a good helmet.

I spent the money back then, I relaced my HD helmet in June after my accident.

http://www.carbonfiberhelmets.com/

I hit the ground at 5-7 mph. I wouldn't be here if I'd have not been wearing a helmet. Even still, I broke my wrist in seven places. Reparing that cost more than my bike, it's custom parts, and it's repairs. Thank goodness for insurance.

I hate to be the fuddy-duddy. But I thought that experiencing the ride was the important thing.

The paparotzi aren't chasing me...so who gives a fu** what I look like. I don't ride for looks anyway. Chances are good that none of you are that good-looking or famous either. If you were, you wouldn't have time to play on this website.

All the same. If you're ever in NE NC, I'd be honored to scoot a few (if you dare to be seen with a mushroom-head).

Living by chance, loving by choice, teaching by profession.
JD