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I believe in it's the riders choice. My state does not require a helmet for those over 21, but I do wear a helmet. I have a couple 1/2 helmets, a 3/4 and a couple full face. I normally wear the 1/2's. The full face is good in the rain.
Like the others have said, don't worry what others think, it is not a contest to see who is "The real Biker". Be your own person.
If anyone is worried about your head and what's on it while you ride, then THEY have a problem, not you.
The helmet was invented for a reason.
The fact is, nothing will guarantee anything. If you wear a helmet or not, your chances of survival are the same....according to the stats here in Florida. Me personally? I used to ride without a helmet, not anymore. I have always had helmets but did not wear them. Like I said, I do now. It's a personal choice and if someone is judging you over your wearing of a helmet, then they are just dumb. I don't go around saying real bright stuff like "no brain, no bucket", but I still reccommend wearing one when asked.
I wear a half helmet - but I live in Missouri and we have a mandatory helmet law. So - no choice. Went to Arkansas last summer and they don't have a helmet law. Rode some without it - but that felt odd. Don't worry what others think. I DON'T !!!!
I don't think anyone even notices that you have a helmet on.
There are some things that have come up here that to me are very misleading. Yeah, if you get in a crash you are better off with a helmet than without. Yeah, you are even better off with a full face than a half shell or 3/4. Yeah, the original FF helmets were a problem as the view was only 120 degrees an Bell even had the Star 120 which I had and did get a ticket for using on the street. No, your hearing isn't reduced at all by using a FF helmet. In fact, it is improved simply because the frequency of noise you are trying to hear isn't reduced; hazard noise. Rather, all the wind noise that is generally associated with an open face or half shell is dang near eliminated. I am a switch rider so street and dirt are my playground. I have cruisers, a sportbike and dirt bikes. I wear FF, half shell and MX style helmets. To me there are advantages and disadvantages to them all. Point is, who cares, get one that fits well, is comfortable and serves the perpose you want it to serve. Aside from this, anything else is meaningless.
While I have chosen to alway ride with a helmet, it goes back 40 years when my Dad bought me a motorcycle and said, if you want to ride this, you will wear this. Or something to the sort. As with any reinforced habit, I still wear it.
The above chart was from this site: http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm
I don't know of the validity of this site, or the chart (if it posts), but may help you decide.
As for waving: If you wave at me, I will return it, if you don't see it, it may have just been a nod or a mental, backatcha. RockOnDude
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Everyone just keep in mind that generally, the helmet is a good thing. It has been argued that they can cause neck injuries but this is probably a rare occurence. If my wife and I had been wearing half helmets when we got hit by that drunk, I may not have cracked my scull, but my wifes face would have hit the back of my helmet instead of my head. That would have been far worse for her so I'm kinda glad we were not wearing one at that time for that reason.
On the flip side, my wife no longer rides....yet, so that is no longer an issue for me.
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