the great helmut debate
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 7
From: Rochester N.Y.
RE: the great helmut debate
In my state (NY) we have to wear a helmet , so it's non negotiable.
In 1981 I got rear ended on 1978 Honda CB750K with a full fairing , ripped off my visor and destroyed the chin portion of the helmet.
I was wearing the Bell Star 120 series full face helmet.
Broken bones,broken butt,whiplash,back injury,minor scratches.
I was launched by the sissy bar through the windshield and over the next car in front of me.I figure that helmet saved my life.
Last summer I was stopped at a light on my Buell Lightning and got rear ended by a 18 year old girl with a suspended license and talking on a cell phone.
I was wearing a HJC full face helmet and was slapped to the pavement and pushed about 100 feet to the next light.
Luckily there was no one in front of me and the truck high centered on the rear control arm,while I was being pushed down the road.
I actually kicked the left front bumper in , while trying to stay ahead of the truck.
I thought she would run me over also.
The helmet never touched the ground...... not a scratch.
The police were wondering were the dead guy was.....
No broken bones , just minor abrasions,and messed up my back ( ya think?).
I walked out of the hospital that night.
I wear a HJC half helmet now and I probably look like a dork , I can live with that,I can say that helmets work , absolutely.
We're grown ups here , make you're own decision , you will ultimately have to live with it.
I also don't like to be told what to do , but I'd wear one myself , just for grins.
Mick
In 1981 I got rear ended on 1978 Honda CB750K with a full fairing , ripped off my visor and destroyed the chin portion of the helmet.
I was wearing the Bell Star 120 series full face helmet.
Broken bones,broken butt,whiplash,back injury,minor scratches.
I was launched by the sissy bar through the windshield and over the next car in front of me.I figure that helmet saved my life.
Last summer I was stopped at a light on my Buell Lightning and got rear ended by a 18 year old girl with a suspended license and talking on a cell phone.
I was wearing a HJC full face helmet and was slapped to the pavement and pushed about 100 feet to the next light.
Luckily there was no one in front of me and the truck high centered on the rear control arm,while I was being pushed down the road.
I actually kicked the left front bumper in , while trying to stay ahead of the truck.
I thought she would run me over also.
The helmet never touched the ground...... not a scratch.
The police were wondering were the dead guy was.....
No broken bones , just minor abrasions,and messed up my back ( ya think?).
I walked out of the hospital that night.
I wear a HJC half helmet now and I probably look like a dork , I can live with that,I can say that helmets work , absolutely.
We're grown ups here , make you're own decision , you will ultimately have to live with it.
I also don't like to be told what to do , but I'd wear one myself , just for grins.
Mick
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 1
From:
RE: the great helmut debate
The great helmet debate?
What's there to debate? There are those riders who think you should wear them and those who don't think you should have to. Arguing, or debating, one side or the other won't change anyone's mind, so what's the point?
It's a given that helmets save lives. So does not riding motorcycles.
If I let my safety totally rule my actions, I'd drive an SUV everywhere I went (and wear a helmet while I was doing it).
What's there to debate? There are those riders who think you should wear them and those who don't think you should have to. Arguing, or debating, one side or the other won't change anyone's mind, so what's the point?
It's a given that helmets save lives. So does not riding motorcycles.
If I let my safety totally rule my actions, I'd drive an SUV everywhere I went (and wear a helmet while I was doing it).
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,602
Likes: 5
From: Southern California - Palm Springs Area
RE: the great helmut debate
Live in California... Have to wear one... So 70% of the time I wear a DOT 1/2 helmet - 20% for local bar hops my non-DOT Skid-Lid & the last 10% a Full-Face Modular (flip-up) helmet (weather related)... Yea I do belive Helmet Laws S*#K
But as soon as I enter a non-helmet state... Off they come @ the state line...
But as soon as I enter a non-helmet state... Off they come @ the state line...
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 882
Likes: 2
From: gone 4 good
RE: the great helmut debate
My co-worker was just in an accident where her full-face helmut saved her life. She is banged up badly, but alive, thanks to her full-face.
I know several other guys that ride harley's. some have been riding for many decades. most of them where a skull cap, but a few wear a full-face and swear by it. I certainly understand that it looks dorky. Myself, I wear a half, but in all seriousness it probably wouldn't save my life or protect my face and jaw like a full one would. The Hells Angels president where i live not only wears a full-face helmut...he rides a BMW. LOL I certainly wouldn't call him a dork.
I know several other guys that ride harley's. some have been riding for many decades. most of them where a skull cap, but a few wear a full-face and swear by it. I certainly understand that it looks dorky. Myself, I wear a half, but in all seriousness it probably wouldn't save my life or protect my face and jaw like a full one would. The Hells Angels president where i live not only wears a full-face helmut...he rides a BMW. LOL I certainly wouldn't call him a dork.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6,913
Likes: 87
From:
RE: the great helmut debate
People who say that "it's a given that helmets save lives" have bought into the politically correct propaganda of the times. It is PC for the media and traffic cops to report that a rider was not wearing a helmet in a motorcycle fatality but not to mention it if the deceased WAS wearing a helmet. I know there are many who feel a helmet saved their lives just as there are many who think God saved their life. All may be correct, but the facts are that most motorcycle rider fatalities are not due to head injury. Hard to believe, but true ( at least in 2004 and 2005). Most fatality and severe injury results from spinal cord damage. There is considerable research indicating that a heavy helmet contributes to spinal cord injury. The added weight of a helmet also contributes to the head and face making contact with the road/ground as a body is thrown from a motorcycle. In many cases when a rider feels his face was saved because his helmet was badly scratched, his head without a helmet may have never touched the road surface.
Wear a helmet if it makes you feel safer but don't make the mistake of getting careless because you think you have extra protection.
Wear a helmet if it makes you feel safer but don't make the mistake of getting careless because you think you have extra protection.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From:
RE: the great helmut debate
i wear a half helmet and feel naked without it. it's otional to wear one in okla and choose to wear one. besides, i work on an air force base and they make you wear one if you want to ride to work. yeah you have the wind noise(with or without a helmet), and there are ear plugs for that, but never think to take any. if your helmet fits properly and have it tightened down, maybe your head doesget blown around a bit, but i feel better knowing i have it on.
i also have a full helmet that i only wear in the winter time. i think it blocks a lot of the cold wind, but can't hear the radio as good. i think i'd rather stay warm than freeze my ears off. as far as people waving or not because i wear a helmet, doesn't bother me. i always wave at everybody, doesn't matter what they ride or if they have a helmet or not. i don't feel like it hurts to be friendly, that's just who i am.
so you wear your helmet, just make sure it fits and quit worrying if they are gonna wave.
G.
i also have a full helmet that i only wear in the winter time. i think it blocks a lot of the cold wind, but can't hear the radio as good. i think i'd rather stay warm than freeze my ears off. as far as people waving or not because i wear a helmet, doesn't bother me. i always wave at everybody, doesn't matter what they ride or if they have a helmet or not. i don't feel like it hurts to be friendly, that's just who i am.
so you wear your helmet, just make sure it fits and quit worrying if they are gonna wave.
G.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 1
From:
RE: the great helmut debate
It's kind of like a seat belt. It's something you have to do several times to get used to it. I could go into all the stuff that could happen but it seems unnecessary. I use a few differant ones. My favorite one is one made be a co. named Seer. They supply alot of helmets for the police and certainy is a comfortable helmet. Like a seat belt they can be combersome but if you use it on a regular basis it just become second nature. I hope you have a safe ride as long as you ride without one but it's one of those things that just pops up on you when you least expect it.
Ride safe and enjoy
Ride safe and enjoy
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
RE: the great helmut debate
OK get ready to flame. I wear a 3/4 helmet in a choice state. I also wear glasses. My glasses vibrate and shake around.Ilooked at all the popular brands of motorcycle sunglasses but my presription would not allow me to useany of them. My wife finally talked me into getting a face shield.
I can see much better and I bought a tinted one that I love. I tried prescription sunglasses without bifocals I tried prescrition sunglasses with bifocals and I just tried contacts in the monovision format. Anyway I can see the best with the helmet and sunshield. It is hot and I don't like it but I feel that if I have an accident my chances are better of keeping what little brains I have.
I can see much better and I bought a tinted one that I love. I tried prescription sunglasses without bifocals I tried prescrition sunglasses with bifocals and I just tried contacts in the monovision format. Anyway I can see the best with the helmet and sunshield. It is hot and I don't like it but I feel that if I have an accident my chances are better of keeping what little brains I have.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 882
Likes: 2
From: gone 4 good
RE: the great helmut debate
ORIGINAL: txfxstrider
People who say that "it's a given that helmets save lives" have bought into the politically correct propaganda of the times. It is PC for the media and traffic cops to report that a rider was not wearing a helmet in a motorcycle fatality but not to mention it if the deceased WAS wearing a helmet. I know there are many who feel a helmet saved their lives just as there are many who think God saved their life. All may be correct, but the facts are that most motorcycle rider fatalities are not due to head injury. Hard to believe, but true ( at least in 2004 and 2005). Most fatality and severe injury results from spinal cord damage. There is considerable research indicating that a heavy helmet contributes to spinal cord injury. The added weight of a helmet also contributes to the head and face making contact with the road/ground as a body is thrown from a motorcycle. In many cases when a rider feels his face was saved because his helmet was badly scratched, his head without a helmet may have never touched the road surface.
Wear a helmet if it makes you feel safer but don't make the mistake of getting careless because you think you have extra protection.
People who say that "it's a given that helmets save lives" have bought into the politically correct propaganda of the times. It is PC for the media and traffic cops to report that a rider was not wearing a helmet in a motorcycle fatality but not to mention it if the deceased WAS wearing a helmet. I know there are many who feel a helmet saved their lives just as there are many who think God saved their life. All may be correct, but the facts are that most motorcycle rider fatalities are not due to head injury. Hard to believe, but true ( at least in 2004 and 2005). Most fatality and severe injury results from spinal cord damage. There is considerable research indicating that a heavy helmet contributes to spinal cord injury. The added weight of a helmet also contributes to the head and face making contact with the road/ground as a body is thrown from a motorcycle. In many cases when a rider feels his face was saved because his helmet was badly scratched, his head without a helmet may have never touched the road surface.
Wear a helmet if it makes you feel safer but don't make the mistake of getting careless because you think you have extra protection.
I personally believe it should be a riders choice, as should seatbelts. Seriously, if I can ride around on a motorcycle with no seatbelt, why should I have to wear one in a car? it is communism, I say...