German Helmets
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
A plastic chinese made helmet that only sorta looks like a **** helmet that more resembles a modern army helmet has little meaning to any one except an 80 year old veteran whod think you were vermin with your loud pipes anyway. Me I kinda like mine with my aviator googles looks bad ***. Anyway if someone want's to question folks why they wear what they wear I'd like to know why folks wear those fingerless gloves.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 525
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Who cares.
German helmets brought back from the war were used as ashtrays in our house when I was growing up. I had an uncle that used one for the body of an iron turtle yard sculpture. We used to wear German, Japanese, and US Soldier helmets and some uniform pieces when we played war and I can't remember anyone getting mad at us other than for making too much noise.
We got a chance to wear our own helmets later, but that's another story.
German helmets brought back from the war were used as ashtrays in our house when I was growing up. I had an uncle that used one for the body of an iron turtle yard sculpture. We used to wear German, Japanese, and US Soldier helmets and some uniform pieces when we played war and I can't remember anyone getting mad at us other than for making too much noise.
We got a chance to wear our own helmets later, but that's another story.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Sorry to jump in here without reading all 13 pages; but I gotta get this out now while I am still semi-not pissed off.
I am finishing up 6 years active duty Army, and I have done 2 tours in Iraq, the first one 15 months, during the surge in 2007, and the second, 12 months, I just finished up in April. I logged over 600 flight hours in 10 months, and got my *** shot at while sitting on the ramp of my Chinook. I just ordered a German style motorcycle helmet (from jafrum.com), and I bet I am 100% more "American" than you are. For 1, I am not bitching and griping about what other people are wearing; and 2, I did my time fulfilling my duty, have you?
I am finishing up 6 years active duty Army, and I have done 2 tours in Iraq, the first one 15 months, during the surge in 2007, and the second, 12 months, I just finished up in April. I logged over 600 flight hours in 10 months, and got my *** shot at while sitting on the ramp of my Chinook. I just ordered a German style motorcycle helmet (from jafrum.com), and I bet I am 100% more "American" than you are. For 1, I am not bitching and griping about what other people are wearing; and 2, I did my time fulfilling my duty, have you?
Last edited by AzMitch; Jun 2, 2010 at 07:02 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
This is the only correct answer, and no one else picked up on it. 
The vets coming back from WW2 who formed the first modern MCs decorated themselves and their bikes with all the trophies they took off captured/killed enemies. It sent a message to anyone the the wearer was a battle-proven badass.
A helmet was a sign that you had 'been there, done that'. So was any kind of **** insignia off a German's uniform.
Any German insignia that had a skull had to have come off of a captured/killed soldier in an SS division, i.e. an elite soldier.
An Iron Cross was a decoration for bravery, and so a biker with an Iron Cross was showing that he was braver than their bravest.
So, that's where the biker fascination with skulls, German helmets, and "Maltese" crosses comes from. (The "Maltese" crosses you see in catalogs are not really Maltese crosses: see one here. Something called a "Maltese cross" will sell better than "Iron Cross.")
It has nothing to do with bikers trying to send an anti-Semitic message, trying to advance a Fascist ideology, or anything of the like.
But it is kind of funny that so many here are arguing the importance of these biker symbols and have no clue of *how* and *why* they are biker symbols.
The vets coming back from WW2 who formed the first modern MCs decorated themselves and their bikes with all the trophies they took off captured/killed enemies. It sent a message to anyone the the wearer was a battle-proven badass.
A helmet was a sign that you had 'been there, done that'. So was any kind of **** insignia off a German's uniform.
Any German insignia that had a skull had to have come off of a captured/killed soldier in an SS division, i.e. an elite soldier.
An Iron Cross was a decoration for bravery, and so a biker with an Iron Cross was showing that he was braver than their bravest.
So, that's where the biker fascination with skulls, German helmets, and "Maltese" crosses comes from. (The "Maltese" crosses you see in catalogs are not really Maltese crosses: see one here. Something called a "Maltese cross" will sell better than "Iron Cross.")
It has nothing to do with bikers trying to send an anti-Semitic message, trying to advance a Fascist ideology, or anything of the like.
But it is kind of funny that so many here are arguing the importance of these biker symbols and have no clue of *how* and *why* they are biker symbols.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 1
From: S.W. Pa.
.............And......It must have worked, I'll drink to that ! ! !
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 36
From: Las Vegas
i dont think anyone is MORE american than anyone else here.
As far as wear what you like...what if you saw someone wearing exactly what bin laden wears?
but....its all ok. Most american citizens have short memories anyway.
As far as wear what you like...what if you saw someone wearing exactly what bin laden wears?
but....its all ok. Most american citizens have short memories anyway.