I wear a modular most of the time and a half during the summer around town. A 3/4
saved my brothers life a year ago. A helmet is a must for me.

 

Been riding for decades and have gone down. Helmet has saved my life - period. Would never ever pull out on my bike without a helmet. My state is "helmet optional". My thought is that if you think your brains are worth $100 or so it's a pretty easy decision. I figure that if you don't wear one, either your brains aren't worth that much or the math is too tough. Riding is dangerous enough, and I owe it to my family. I couldn't expect any sympathy or help if I got a head injury after now wearing a helmet. I would have done it to myself so I should take complete responsibility. To each his own.

 

Lots of good comments and I've enjoyed reading them all. Personally, I can't get on the bike without the full-face helmet. It's similar to putting on my seat belt in the truck. For me, I can't allow that level of separation between me and certain injury to go unattended. All cagers present potential collisions. It's impossible to predict just when my actions and their actions will combine to create a crash. The "when will I crash?" crystal ball doesn't work very well for me. Since I can't predict when I'll need the gear, I can't afford not to have it at all times. I'm a pretty big risk-taker, but not that big of a risk taker. I'll be the first to admit it's a lot more comfortable without a helmet in the heat of summer here in SC, but my position is that if it is too hot to wear PPE, then it's too hot for me to be riding. Here in Myrtle Beach, I've ridden in the rallies and I have seen first hand the damage the road or other non-movable objects can do to an unprotected skull or face. (not to mention unprotected skin, feet and toes, hands, drinking and riding, etc.) It's a real sobering and humbling vision to see a rider unconscience and bleeding, from the head, on the asphalt, his wife or gal bleeding and unconscience, frantically being cared-for by those good EMT folks. We all know the helmet is not the only PPE that we as riders can use to help shield us from certain injuries. But since roughly a third of fatalities involve head injuries (depending on the study you read), we really should investigate proven ways to protect the brain and face. I agree that we don't need any legislators telling us what to do (helmet law) because that erodes our liberties. All that said, we still have responsibilites to our families in the event something bad happens on the next ride. They want us to come home OK, every time.

It's my hope that we as motorcyclists will continue to educate ourselves on the benefits of PPE, accident avoidance, and skill building. We need all this on our side to help tilt the odds a little more in our favor. Ride often, ride sober, and ride safe!

 

I agree whole heartedly Joe!
I always ride with a full face helmet. To me , it's not worth the risk to ride without one. Just look at some of the other posts on here, and see how they have protected the rider when they have gone down.
I alsothink that it should be your choice and not a government mandate.

 

I personally prefer no helment.About 85% of my riding is with out one. Below 50 degrees or raining I will wear one.I own a 1/2 and 3/4 my opinon on the 1/2 shell is your just kidding yourself if you think it is going to do you any good. An example being a ride I was on this summer with a large group. A newbie took a tour out into afield on a big sweeping turn. First thing that happen when he came off the bike was the 1/2 shell came off on his first contact with the ground.

One thing I have not seen mentioned in anyof the above post is what about family.
Even though I prefer and do ride most of the time with out a helment. Ultimately the ones you leave behind or have to give you long term care or the ones who will suffer the most.

It is really about personal choice and enjoying the moment. For 32 years I was the guy who responded to thewrecks and on occassion had to deliver bad news tosome ones family. Yet I am so hard headedI still want wear one all the time. Just hope that hard head will bounce once or twice and keep on ticking.

 

To each his own,

full face for me no mater what....

 

I moved from Calif. with a helmet law, to Idaho with no helmet law. Prior to the law being passed in Calif. very seldom wore one. After 12 years in Idaho where it's my choice I find myself more and more wearing one, my full face to boot. It is awful nice on some occasions to go without and am very glad it's my choice. I guess what I'm saying is 90% of the time I wear one but still enjoy going without too.

 

I vote for a full face, it can't hurt. just in case.

 

I am pro Helmet choice, I wish it were as simple as that. But to many people justlike to impose their views and valueson others. Me, I wear half helmet 100% of the time. Does not mean someone else should alsohave to...

 

Don't mind wearing one, keeps my hair well groomed and the sun out of my eyes.

Hack