Just curious....how many of you ride without helmets? - Page 4

Tobacco Road · 02-20-2013, 02:28 PM

Don't really care what you wear....

Critter · 02-20-2013, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motohorseman

When I lived in Flagstaff, there was a vendor rep who would come up. His name was Sloniker and used to play football.

We end up at the local bar, "Bunhuggers", and consumed massive quanities of alcohol.

For whatever reason, we head butted each other, and I'm talking HARD.

That was in the nineteen nineties, and I still have the fricking bump on my head to this day, in fact, it seems to be growing.

Hey, to my credit, I learned a lesson and don't do that anymore - any of it!

LOL, who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Maybe you should have worn your helmet

distantThunder · 02-22-2013, 09:19 PM

Never.
I've got two kids.

dT

Atarii · 02-27-2013, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedracer51

Why would you not wear a helmet? I don't care if you smash your skull on the pavement and die. What happens if you don't die and your loved ones are stuck with your care for the rest of their lives? Its a pretty selfish decision not to wear a helmet if you ask me.

I wear 100% of ride time.

That seems paranoid to me. The very act of riding a motorcycle could be prevented, if we applied your logic to the decision: "You are deciding to forgo the enormous metal protective cage just so you can feel the engine beneath your bum and fingertips quivering on the grip throttle? Mere enjoyment is not sufficient to justify such a risky decision!"

If it concerns one, he can just leave instructions on his bike to "pull the plug" if he ever vegetables himself.

VirginiaKZ · 03-11-2013, 02:34 PM

Hmm. Never rode in a state that didn't have mandatory helmet laws. Either way, riding on any DOD installation requires a host of PPE, long sleeves/pants, helmet, over the ankle shoes/boots, and gloves. It is interesting that while seat belt use is mandatory, helmet use isn't. I'm too used to helmets. Ditched all the half helmets, use only full face, but there are so much better helmet selections now than in the 80's when I first started street riding. That and my finances are better. Interesting point Hijacker made about insurance rate increases for everybody in Mich once the law changed. Typical, I suppose. Anyway, Exhibit A on the helmet debate: Gary Busey. He sin't been right since.

catseye · 04-29-2013, 12:51 PM

Not only will I never ride w/o a helmet, but I learned the value of a full face helmet last summer. While navigating a series of curves out in the country, I blacked out and ended up face-planting in a ditch (I was told by those behind me I looked like a lawn dart). I ended up compressing 3 cervical vertebrae and suffered mild bleeding on the brain (along with 8 cracked ribs, a broken collarbone and a collapsed lung). If I had not been all geared up, I would have died. I am a big believer in all the protection I can get.

Tobacco Road · 04-29-2013, 03:32 PM

It's called freedom, and being able to make a choice. We're not looking for anyone's approval. The right to ride with no helmet should not center around how huge the risk is. Many of us feel that the helmet contributes to causing accidents because they impair hearing, increase fatigue and impair peripheral vision. When an accident occurs, the additional weight increases the risk of spine and neck injury. Most motorcycle riders have attested that helmets are an unsafe obstruction to vision.

Wearing a helmet decreases the chances of getting brain injury, but increases the impact of the incidence on the thoracic and cervical spine fractures, which are sustained in motorcycle crashes. Helmets have been said to increase the risk of spinal fractures. Comfort also plays a big part. Wearing a seatbelt is painless for most but wearing a helmet is not. The helmet is heavy and it covers most of the rider's head. It is especially tiring in hot weather, very sweaty and when sitting at a stop light with the sun beating down riders have been known to pass out. A lot of us happen to believe that wearing a helmet or seatbelt should be a personal decision and should not be a state mandated law.

LWRider · 04-29-2013, 04:14 PM

I agree it should be a choice, but I don't agree with your conclusions. I invite you to ride 500 miles without a helmet and then 500 miles with a full face or modular helmet and then tell me which fatigued you more. In all reports which I've read indicate that helmets do not increase the chance of neck injuries and where neck in juries did occur, the damage was bad enough to the body that death would have resulted anyway (Hurt Report says this IIRC). You would have to have exceptional peripheral vision to exceed most helmets' view opening. I am all for people doing what they want to do, weighing the risks, and then accepting whatever level of risk they accept. But anecdotal hearsay is far outweighed by research when it come to the safety advantages of wearing a helmet.

Cheers,

Mike

ReconLdr · 04-29-2013, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catseye

Not only will I never ride w/o a helmet, but I learned the value of a full face helmet last summer. While navigating a series of curves out in the country, I blacked out and ended up face-planting in a ditch (I was told by those behind me I looked like a lawn dart). I ended up compressing 3 cervical vertebrae and suffered mild bleeding on the brain (along with 8 cracked ribs, a broken collarbone and a collapsed lung). If I had not been all geared up, I would have died. I am a big believer in all the protection I can get.

What caused you to black out???

catseye · 04-29-2013, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReconLdr

What caused you to black out???

No one knows. It may have been a mini-stroke, but it was never determined. Needless to say, that's a bit "disconcerting", to say the least...

DavidBMWRT · 04-29-2013, 05:26 PM

I have a friend who hit a curb with his head in one of these Half Helmets. It took half his face off. He looks horrible. His wife divorced him and he has spent years in surgery trying to look normal.

When I was young I never wore a helmet. They were not required and not many people wore them. Even now when I go to Florida sometimes I don't wear it all the time but I know I am taking a horrible chance and I don't recommend it.

Tobacco Road · 04-29-2013, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LWRider

I agree it should be a choice, but I don't agree with your conclusions. I invite you to ride 500 miles without a helmet and then 500 miles with a full face or modular helmet and then tell me which fatigued you more. In all reports which I've read indicate that helmets do not increase the chance of neck injuries and where neck in juries did occur, the damage was bad enough to the body that death would have resulted anyway (Hurt Report says this IIRC). You would have to have exceptional peripheral vision to exceed most helmets' view opening. I am all for people doing what they want to do, weighing the risks, and then accepting whatever level of risk they accept. But anecdotal hearsay is far outweighed by research when it come to the safety advantages of wearing a helmet.

Cheers,

Mike

I'm not here to agrue but I have ridden a lot more than 500 miles over two or three days and I can tell you with a helmet on, my neck and shoulders were killing me. The same without a helmet was the antithesis or riding with it. I did not say that I never ride sans helmet, it just depends. Nor am I saying one should or should not wear one. All I am saying is let me have my choice. You've made your choice, why can't I make mine? Or is it because it may not be what you think is the correct choice? In this state it is my choice to make, so let me make it.

markk53 · 04-29-2013, 08:43 PM

Your neck and shoulder issues have to do with not having the muscles in tone to wear the helmet. It's kind of why a rider needs some saddle time to get their butt conditioned for longer riding. Especially if they are a bicycle rider.

It's like any exertion beyond normal, it takes conditioning. It has less to do with the helmet than the person not taking the time to become conditioned to wearing one.

But as for the argument here, it's each person's choice, that's all.

Sigma.40 · 05-05-2013, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markk53

Your neck and shoulder issues have to do with not having the muscles in tone to wear the helmet. It's kind of why a rider needs some saddle time to get their butt conditioned for longer riding. Especially if they are a bicycle rider.

It's like any exertion beyond normal, it takes conditioning. It has less to do with the helmet than the person not taking the time to become conditioned to wearing one.

But as for the argument here, it's each person's choice, that's all.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Tobacco Road · 05-05-2013, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markk53

Your neck and shoulder issues have to do with not having the muscles in tone to wear the helmet. It's kind of why a rider needs some saddle time to get their butt conditioned for longer riding. Especially if they are a bicycle rider.

It's like any exertion beyond normal, it takes conditioning. It has less to do with the helmet than the person not taking the time to become conditioned to wearing one.

But as for the argument here, it's each person's choice, that's all.

There is probably some validity to my neck muscles not being in the best of shape for long distance riding but that hasn't been a problem for some time. I'm not a touring kind of guy. Haven't been for years. I'm a sport rider and mostly ride the back country roads with the curves and twisties and if I ride 60 or 75 miles, sometimes less, on a ride that's enough for me. Knocking off miles at 75 - 80 mph all day long is not my preference on my bike.

markk53 · 05-05-2013, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krakhed

If I didn't wear the helmet, I think my wife would divorce me.

That's foolish on her part... she should just increase your life insurance policy.

markk53 · 05-05-2013, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobacco Road

There is probably some validity to my neck muscles not being in the best of shape for long distance riding but that hasn't been a problem for some time. I'm not a touring kind of guy. Haven't been for years. I'm a sport rider and mostly ride the back country roads with the curves and twisties and if I ride 60 or 75 miles, sometimes less, on a ride that's enough for me. Knocking off miles at 75 - 80 mph all day long is not my preference on my bike.

The more rural and wider the road the less the risk.

shiroun · 05-06-2013, 12:38 AM

Just fell today, and was reminded of why I'm MTGATT (most of the gear all the time... I don't have pants).

I will NEVER ride without a helmet. Someone could be bleeding out and I would rather help them then go on a bike without a helmet and risk becoming a liability aswell.

Had I not been wearing a helmet today, I'd be in the hospital. I have a chunk and a scratch missing from my helmet, and god damn that's scary.

UBERK · 05-06-2013, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiroun

Just fell today, and was reminded of why I'm MTGATT (most of the gear all the time... I don't have pants).

I will NEVER ride without a helmet. Someone could be bleeding out and I would rather help them then go on a bike without a helmet and risk becoming a liability aswell.

Had I not been wearing a helmet today, I'd be in the hospital. I have a chunk and a scratch missing from my helmet, and god damn that's scary.

On that note, I ride with a helmet, jacket, gloves, jeans and boots all the time...even when it's 110* here in AZ. I actually have 3 jackets, depending on weather conditions.

Anyway, I just added 2 small stickers to my helmet. Placed on each corner of the visor: O NEG...... just in case.

frozenhawaiian · 05-11-2013, 09:55 PM

yes, always.

catseye · 05-12-2013, 01:25 PM

Because of my gear, I ended up with this:

instead of a headstone.

JustOneDean · 05-12-2013, 02:45 PM

Holy hell, catseye. Glad you're still with us.

EddieMac · 05-17-2013, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobacco Road

Many of us feel that the helmet contributes to causing accidents because they impair hearing, increase fatigue and impair peripheral vision.

My full-face helmet does not impair my peripheral vision one iota, nor does it limit my hearing. Neither have I ever felt the slightest bit of fatigue due to a helmet. Of course, cheap helmets are heavier than the premium ones, so someone else's experience may vary.

I'm dismissing these claims as nonsense until I see hard data from multiple independent vision and hearing tests showing otherwise.

Quote:

When an accident occurs, the additional weight increases the risk of spine and neck injury.

My helmet weighs under 3 lbs. If there is any increased risk at all, it's more than offset by the reduced risk of brain trauma.

Ask this guy if he regrets wearing a helmet:

+ YouTube Video

Anyone can high-side, don't care how good you are. Whether you walk away from it with a crack in your helmet or your skull depends on you.

Badlands-4-2 · 05-19-2013, 10:15 AM

I was in Missouri all last week at a conference. They must have a helmet law there. Everyone was wearing a helmet, even the shirtless guy riding in flip flops and board shorts. It is funny to see a rider in a full face helmet and very little else.

MONI · 05-19-2013, 09:35 PM

We do have a helmet law...every one has to wear one that is DOT approved. It can be 1/2 to full face.

Don't know where in MO you were but I hope you enjoyed your time here.

heyimjason · 05-21-2013, 04:44 AM

I wasn't sure when I first started riding, but thanks to everyone on this forum, I never ride without a helmet. There's just too much information that shows why it's a bad idea.

I could hop on the bike to hit the gas station a half-mile down the road, and I'll have a helmet on.

Full-face is safest, but for in town, I stick with a half helmet.

04-29-2013, 04:14 PM	#128
LWRider Challenged Mechanic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lake Wales, FL Posts: 2,338	I agree it should be a choice, but I don't agree with your conclusions. I invite you to ride 500 miles without a helmet and then 500 miles with a full face or modular helmet and then tell me which fatigued you more. In all reports which I've read indicate that helmets do not increase the chance of neck injuries and where neck in juries did occur, the damage was bad enough to the body that death would have resulted anyway (Hurt Report says this IIRC). You would have to have exceptional peripheral vision to exceed most helmets' view opening. I am all for people doing what they want to do, weighing the risks, and then accepting whatever level of risk they accept. But anecdotal hearsay is far outweighed by research when it come to the safety advantages of wearing a helmet. Cheers, Mike __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-29-2013, 08:43 PM	#133
markk53 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 3,284	Your neck and shoulder issues have to do with not having the muscles in tone to wear the helmet. It's kind of why a rider needs some saddle time to get their butt conditioned for longer riding. Especially if they are a bicycle rider. It's like any exertion beyond normal, it takes conditioning. It has less to do with the helmet than the person not taking the time to become conditioned to wearing one. But as for the argument here, it's each person's choice, that's all. __________________ KLX650C, Zephyr 550 SR500, Bultaco Sherpa T

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

02-20-2013, 02:28 PM	#121
Tobacco Road Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 331	Don't really care what you wear....

02-22-2013, 09:19 PM	#123
distantThunder Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,243	Never. I've got two kids. dT

03-11-2013, 02:34 PM	#125
VirginiaKZ Verified Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 26	Hmm. Never rode in a state that didn't have mandatory helmet laws. Either way, riding on any DOD installation requires a host of PPE, long sleeves/pants, helmet, over the ankle shoes/boots, and gloves. It is interesting that while seat belt use is mandatory, helmet use isn't. I'm too used to helmets. Ditched all the half helmets, use only full face, but there are so much better helmet selections now than in the 80's when I first started street riding. That and my finances are better. Interesting point Hijacker made about insurance rate increases for everybody in Mich once the law changed. Typical, I suppose. Anyway, Exhibit A on the helmet debate: Gary Busey. He sin't been right since.

04-29-2013, 12:51 PM	#126
catseye Probably Old Enough to be Your Dad Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 175	Not only will I never ride w/o a helmet, but I learned the value of a full face helmet last summer. While navigating a series of curves out in the country, I blacked out and ended up face-planting in a ditch (I was told by those behind me I looked like a lawn dart). I ended up compressing 3 cervical vertebrae and suffered mild bleeding on the brain (along with 8 cracked ribs, a broken collarbone and a collapsed lung). If I had not been all geared up, I would have died. I am a big believer in all the protection I can get.

04-29-2013, 03:32 PM	#127
Tobacco Road Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 331	It's called freedom, and being able to make a choice. We're not looking for anyone's approval. The right to ride with no helmet should not center around how huge the risk is. Many of us feel that the helmet contributes to causing accidents because they impair hearing, increase fatigue and impair peripheral vision. When an accident occurs, the additional weight increases the risk of spine and neck injury. Most motorcycle riders have attested that helmets are an unsafe obstruction to vision. Wearing a helmet decreases the chances of getting brain injury, but increases the impact of the incidence on the thoracic and cervical spine fractures, which are sustained in motorcycle crashes. Helmets have been said to increase the risk of spinal fractures. Comfort also plays a big part. Wearing a seatbelt is painless for most but wearing a helmet is not. The helmet is heavy and it covers most of the rider's head. It is especially tiring in hot weather, very sweaty and when sitting at a stop light with the sun beating down riders have been known to pass out. A lot of us happen to believe that wearing a helmet or seatbelt should be a personal decision and should not be a state mandated law.

04-29-2013, 05:26 PM	#131
DavidBMWRT Verified Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 20	I have a friend who hit a curb with his head in one of these Half Helmets. It took half his face off. He looks horrible. His wife divorced him and he has spent years in surgery trying to look normal. When I was young I never wore a helmet. They were not required and not many people wore them. Even now when I go to Florida sometimes I don't wear it all the time but I know I am taking a horrible chance and I don't recommend it.

05-06-2013, 12:38 AM	#138
shiroun U.S. Army Infantry Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Syosset NY Posts: 133	Just fell today, and was reminded of why I'm MTGATT (most of the gear all the time... I don't have pants). I will NEVER ride without a helmet. Someone could be bleeding out and I would rather help them then go on a bike without a helmet and risk becoming a liability aswell. Had I not been wearing a helmet today, I'd be in the hospital. I have a chunk and a scratch missing from my helmet, and god damn that's scary.

05-11-2013, 09:55 PM	#140
frozenhawaiian Master At Arms Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 101	yes, always.

05-12-2013, 01:25 PM	#141
catseye Probably Old Enough to be Your Dad Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 175	Because of my gear, I ended up with this: instead of a headstone.

05-12-2013, 02:45 PM	#142
JustOneDean Verified Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 92	Holy hell, catseye. Glad you're still with us.

05-19-2013, 10:15 AM	#144
Badlands-4-2 Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Badlands of North Dakota Posts: 9,703	I was in Missouri all last week at a conference. They must have a helmet law there. Everyone was wearing a helmet, even the shirtless guy riding in flip flops and board shorts. It is funny to see a rider in a full face helmet and very little else.

05-19-2013, 09:35 PM	#145
MONI Female Rider Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Missouri Posts: 3,447	We do have a helmet law...every one has to wear one that is DOT approved. It can be 1/2 to full face. Don't know where in MO you were but I hope you enjoyed your time here.

05-21-2013, 04:44 AM	#146
heyimjason Hooker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 325	I wasn't sure when I first started riding, but thanks to everyone on this forum, I never ride without a helmet. There's just too much information that shows why it's a bad idea. I could hop on the bike to hit the gas station a half-mile down the road, and I'll have a helmet on. Full-face is safest, but for in town, I stick with a half helmet.