Just to break the trend and to give you "others" something else to p&m about. I have been riding since I was 18 (OMG 32 years), I have been down hard 3 times:
- drunk ran a stop sign, then stopped - T-Bone at 35mph - crushed foot, 50 foot superman flight
- lost front end on tight corner at 50mph - broke arm in 7 places - yes I was stupid.
- ice road slip and slide at 40mph (yeah it looked dry) - knee bunged up.

I almost never wear a helmet, I have never even scratched my head.
I also have a living will that is enforable in Colorado.

All my bikes have had windshields so I can't comment on noise without one, but the difference a helmet makes is dramatic, Especially in traffic where I am certain that idiot behind/next to/in front ofme is going to run me down.

So there, I have been fairly badly injured three times and hospitilized twice. No I still do not wear a helmet unless I the state law requires one.

Oh yes, this is supposed to be a pros-cons note - funny I did not see much of that so...

Pros:
- head protection to reduce injury during/after an accident.
- bad weather protection
- accessories (intercom, radio, etc.)
- sun protection (me a baldy, kinda important to not burn the globe to badly)

Cons:
- Helmet induced injuries to neck (statistically not as significant as the protection, but then...)
- Helmet induced crashes do to poor vision, poor hearing, over heating (not as bad as before vents)
- Helmet weight fatigue, those damn things are heavy.

From my point of view, I have yet to find a comfortable, well fitting helmet. I have tired dozens from all makes/models. They either are trying to squeeze my head like a pimple or rattle around so much that I can't see well straight ahead.

I would like one for bad weather riding. But my biggest worry is vision and hearing. Fix those so I can avoid more paint swaping and I will get one.

Speaking of avoiding - take a riding course, then take another one. I used to know, but I believe the statistic is 90%+ where the rider had no formal riding training prior to the wreck. The more you are in tune with the machine and have a riding grasp of your suroundings the less paint swapping will be done.

...gene

 

I always wear mine!
Full face.
Question-- If you wear a helmet, do the people you ride with regularly, wear one too? If you don't wear one, is your group lidless as well?

 

Genedjr, quite a record. I see a pattern developing with you. Question. Would you be offended if I took some insurance out on you? Just funning.
Gary

 

Yeah... helmets are part of what I do when I ride.....

 

When I started riding you did not have to wear one then they past the law so had to wear one. Did not like it in summer sweat running down my head. Then they changed law and the choice was yours, did not wear one for many a year and many many miles. Then a couple of years ago I got to thinking[sm=confused06.gif]I is getting older and the ole bones done mend as fast as they use to so I ordered me a Shoie full face. Never wore one before. Said this is going to take some getting use to. Took it on our trip when we went up to Glacier National Park cause we wear going thru some states that had helmet law. My son got on my *** when we wear packing the bikes in the mornings cause I was taking to long to pack the helmet. Told me why don't you just wear the damn thing. So I did and I got use to it on that trip about 3500 miles we put on. I was not even sweating when it got hot, the new ones with the vents work.

After my son had his wreck on 8-19-07 50 yr ole drunk SOB turned in front of him on the highway. When we got to hospital and I saw him laying in emergency room head was swollen from road rash plus other things--well that was a eye opener for me. Knowing what could of happend. He did not wear a helmet when he rode. So now I wear my full face all the time and you know what it ain't so bad. There light, air vents work. And yea it is your choice. You don't know what it is like till you go thru a dad accident or someone close to you does. There are all kinds of people riding bikes now just like driving cars/trucks some of them are just plain stupid idiots. You got to be watching. Some people need a slap in the face to bring them down.

 

- what statistics are these that you are referring to?

.

 

lschultz, might as well save yer breath. While I agree, you'll never sway some from going lidless. It should be their right either way, but when going without, imho, they should be prohibited from any insurance coverage concerning a head injury they might receive if in an accident.

 

Some observations here.

1 - Anyone notice there isn't a single post of somebody that didn't wear a helmet, got into a bad wreck, and is here to say they are glad they didn't wear one? I wonder why.


I hit an old farmer in a 63 Chevy p/u in Iowa. Landed in a coirn field and walked away. No helmet!

Fact. Most accidents over 55mph are fatal! helmet or no helmet.

 

dont want to hog the thread or soap box, but i like the idea of being able to decide when i want to wear one. when its cold and windy i wear a full face. when its hot and just gonna be riding in traffic i wear a half helmet. when i just want to run around local, no helmet. i got into the ABATE thing in the 70's when states were getting into mandatory helmet laws. i like the freedom to use my own judgement.
Hell, wasnt that what the viet nam war was about, so america could be a free and independent country....or not, i never was good with history.....

 

In Illinois, helmets are optional. My wife, daughter, son-in-law, and I all wear full face helmits. We all agree that it cuts down the wind-noise and allows us to hear behind us better. We do not believe it reducesour peripheral vision and with a shaded visor helps us see better andgives us privacy from the stares (maybe even intimidates 4 wheeler idiots). Sometimes we sweat and we know it may not save usin a catastophic accident, but it will help us if we have a minor mishap. I love the previous comment about a helmet only provides for an open casket funeral. That is not much of a benefit, but it is one.

Here is something to ponder. Why do insurance companies not offer discounts to helmet wearers?
The answer: They do not want youand your rider alive in a wheel chair, they want you dead.