View Poll Results: Helmet or no...
Yes
95
90.48%
no... never!
5
4.76%
no.. but on highway yes
5
4.76%
Voters: 105. You may not vote on this poll
How many of you would wear a helmet ALL THE TIME, if it were'nt a law.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 406
From: Trussville, Alabama
Good point about whacking your head in a crash.
I went down on the track years ago and man did I ever smack my head on the asphalt! I'll never forget imagining what that would have done to my head, and I was only going 30 or 40 mph when I lowsided.
I believe to this day, it would have split my mellon right open.
I simply can not imagine why one would not wear a helmet.
I went down on the track years ago and man did I ever smack my head on the asphalt! I'll never forget imagining what that would have done to my head, and I was only going 30 or 40 mph when I lowsided.
I believe to this day, it would have split my mellon right open.
I simply can not imagine why one would not wear a helmet.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 442
From: 58 miles from Deals Gap
I would wear one, if you want to see what happens to your head without a helmet take a Cantaloupe and throw it out of your car window at 20mph, you'll be amazed at what happens to it.
Besides getting hit in the face by a june bug on a warm summer day/night would hurt
Besides getting hit in the face by a june bug on a warm summer day/night would hurt
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
From: Phoenix, AZ
Law says I don't need one here in AZ, but the only time I ever go without is if I end up somewhere without a spare and have to give someone a ride, then the passenger gets the lid and I go without. Otherwise I always have a lid on, and if a planned ride, so does the passenger. My brain is worth the extra 10 seconds to put it on.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 223
From: Las Vegas, NV
I always wear a helmet and if I am leaving on a ride I am covered from head to toe with gear. I have had my one accident and walked away sort of. I ended up with a compression fractured L3 vertabrae, hurt like hell. Anyway wear a helmet!
If you do not wear a helmet then drive your car without a seatbelt!
If you do not wear a helmet then drive your car without a seatbelt!
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 295
From: Seattle
My lid is my friend.
The Hiway thing is total BS..
Try and scrape your head on some 25 grit sandpaper on an industrial belt sander, think about it.
If you go down on the hiway and are geared up, you have a great chance of walking away as long as you don't hit or get hit by something solid.
Think about getting hit in the face by a big rock or a chunk of rubber at speed. That helmet sure looks good now ehhh.
Nothing but a full face for me, always and forever.
The Hiway thing is total BS..
Try and scrape your head on some 25 grit sandpaper on an industrial belt sander, think about it.
If you go down on the hiway and are geared up, you have a great chance of walking away as long as you don't hit or get hit by something solid.
Think about getting hit in the face by a big rock or a chunk of rubber at speed. That helmet sure looks good now ehhh.
Nothing but a full face for me, always and forever.
Thread Starter
Post Whore Junior
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,825
From: Triad, NC
This is true. Probably the only completely true unbiased thing anyone said here.
I tried just to find out my answer without starting something. I guess I underestimated the "heat" of this issue. I was in no way advocating going without a helmet, nore was I trying to make ones that don't wear them feel ignorant. I want to opologize the anyone who may have been inadvertantly offended by this poll.
Now, that being said. I do not believe that all information given to the general public to be unbiased or un-skewed. For instance:
This is true, but it may be because MOST DRIVING OCCURS in this range. And yes.. I have been down, around town at around 60+, wearing my gear and it DID save me. BUT I was "F"ing around like I shouldve been... It was my fault and no one else was involved, so it should not go towards the "close to home" statistics.
This would fall under the "on the highway" option. I wouldnt think anyone to try to "stunt" with no gear. (Except those guys on the videos.... )
In closing, I would like to state that I just wanted to state my opinions on some of the issues expressed here. It was not my intent to single anyone out for criticism with my quoting, I just used what was said to illustrate my point. I think helmets are a great idea, but I am on the fence about the laws things. I feel like every time there is a new law a little bit of freedom is lost, and THAT is never a good thing. But sometimes the stupid need protecting, and somone has to do it for them....
I tried just to find out my answer without starting something. I guess I underestimated the "heat" of this issue. I was in no way advocating going without a helmet, nore was I trying to make ones that don't wear them feel ignorant. I want to opologize the anyone who may have been inadvertantly offended by this poll.
Now, that being said. I do not believe that all information given to the general public to be unbiased or un-skewed. For instance:
In closing, I would like to state that I just wanted to state my opinions on some of the issues expressed here. It was not my intent to single anyone out for criticism with my quoting, I just used what was said to illustrate my point. I think helmets are a great idea, but I am on the fence about the laws things. I feel like every time there is a new law a little bit of freedom is lost, and THAT is never a good thing. But sometimes the stupid need protecting, and somone has to do it for them....
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 406
From: Trussville, Alabama
I don't think you started anything other than an interesting discussion.
Nothing wrong with that
Regarding not wearing a helment on the hiway because you're a "goner" anyways if you go down on the hiway.
I disagree. The best correlation I can see to the hiway is the racetrack. I watched Jamie Hacking crash at Barber and then Geoff May T-bone his bike and go airborne.
Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nhTR6CXJYI
Geoff May was getting up before he even got stopped good.
Think he'd have done the same without his helmet?
Proper gear - with a helmet being the FIRST piece - is critical to surviving a crash.
Hiway of driveway, concrete is harder than our skull.
Nothing wrong with that
Regarding not wearing a helment on the hiway because you're a "goner" anyways if you go down on the hiway.
I disagree. The best correlation I can see to the hiway is the racetrack. I watched Jamie Hacking crash at Barber and then Geoff May T-bone his bike and go airborne.
Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nhTR6CXJYI
Geoff May was getting up before he even got stopped good.
Think he'd have done the same without his helmet?
Proper gear - with a helmet being the FIRST piece - is critical to surviving a crash.
Hiway of driveway, concrete is harder than our skull.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 104
From: LaFayette, Ga
Im just 23 i have a 1year old son and wife that i love. Its just the idea that a dear (thay are bad around here) or dog runs out in frount of me. say i am only runing 15m to 20mh. If my face hits the the black top my son will have to look at pic's to see what his dad looked like when we gets older. Its like inda lary hit his hes run 20 and killed hem
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3
From: INDIANAPOLIS, IN
High Priced Head
Someone once told me that if you have a cheap head then buy a cheap helmet. I wear my Shoei everytime I ride. If you don't wear a helmet at all then what are you saying about the price of your head?
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,315
From: Richmond, Virginia
Nice discussion. No reason for anyone to get offended, though.
Freedom or not, if you crash without a helmet at almost any speed, there's a good chance you will have brain damage or be dead. Just listen to the people who posted up that have had real experience with people who crashed w/o a helmet.
I sometimes ride my bike up my dead end street w/o a helmet after adjusting the chain, etc. After reading this post I realize that wasn't smart. Lesson learned.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,631
From: Montreal
In terms of the freedom issue, I guess some just value the freedom of being able to splatter their brains all over the pavement.... I can't say I understand but.... I personally will reserve my battles over freedom for more significant things than what I consider a common-sense issue such as this. Of course, to some ideologues/crusaders,.... this is a a "significant" issue so to them I say, splatter away my friend, please, indulge youself and live your freedom to the max (however short-lived it may be)!
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 17
From: Wittmann, Az
moved from Tn to Az
in tennessee we have a helmet law in Az we don't, i've ridden a couple of times about block from house after tightening the chain or adjusting carbs, it's hotter than all get out out here and I'll wear a helmet
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 224
Next Question
Hey Folks..
Another question might be..what kind of helmet? It's interesting to see that just about all the motorcycle mag. testers..even in Cruiser wear expensive full face helmets. I have ridden Cruisers at various times..shifted to shorty open face helmets...Yeah it does feel good to be out in the wind a bit..But I always wondered what would happen to my face... Being back on sport bike and back in a full face.. I really like it...People can't see how ugly I am.. and they can't tell what I'm thinking when I look at them..eyes only..you know they wonder is he making fun or is he looking at my wife...yuk.. Gear and helmets for sure...full face only makes sense...
Dave..
Another question might be..what kind of helmet? It's interesting to see that just about all the motorcycle mag. testers..even in Cruiser wear expensive full face helmets. I have ridden Cruisers at various times..shifted to shorty open face helmets...Yeah it does feel good to be out in the wind a bit..But I always wondered what would happen to my face... Being back on sport bike and back in a full face.. I really like it...People can't see how ugly I am.. and they can't tell what I'm thinking when I look at them..eyes only..you know they wonder is he making fun or is he looking at my wife...yuk.. Gear and helmets for sure...full face only makes sense...
Dave..
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,631
From: Montreal
I saw an ad in a local paper last weekend by a company that was openly promoting the sale of the "smallest legal helmet". While this scant bucket would protect the top of your head, it would do nothing for any other part of it. However, this company thought it important to highlight this fact to the image-obsessed paint mixer crowd..... That, to me, speaks volumes about the mindset of this group of folks. Mind you, it would fit in nicely with the rest of their riding attire which typically consists of shorts and tank tops (wonder if they are Kevlar reinforced? hmmmmmmm... then again, maybe they are high-tech and expand on impact, similar to a car's airbag....)
Josh
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 278
From: Spokane, WA
i still think it is totally crazy that many states dont require it. So stupid! I live next to idaho and see riders without helmets all the time over there. Yes it looks cool, but i really would like to live
Josh
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 278
From: Spokane, WA
Hey Folks..
Another question might be..what kind of helmet? It's interesting to see that just about all the motorcycle mag. testers..even in Cruiser wear expensive full face helmets. I have ridden Cruisers at various times..shifted to shorty open face helmets...Yeah it does feel good to be out in the wind a bit..But I always wondered what would happen to my face... Being back on sport bike and back in a full face.. I really like it...People can't see how ugly I am.. and they can't tell what I'm thinking when I look at them..eyes only..you know they wonder is he making fun or is he looking at my wife...yuk.. Gear and helmets for sure...full face only makes sense...
Dave..
Another question might be..what kind of helmet? It's interesting to see that just about all the motorcycle mag. testers..even in Cruiser wear expensive full face helmets. I have ridden Cruisers at various times..shifted to shorty open face helmets...Yeah it does feel good to be out in the wind a bit..But I always wondered what would happen to my face... Being back on sport bike and back in a full face.. I really like it...People can't see how ugly I am.. and they can't tell what I'm thinking when I look at them..eyes only..you know they wonder is he making fun or is he looking at my wife...yuk.. Gear and helmets for sure...full face only makes sense...
Dave..
I always ride with my visor up, i am looking for a nice pair of clear glasses so i can ride at night also. Guys have suggested safety glasses, i have thought about yellow safety glasses, i think they actually help vision at night. I havent tried it yet though. Anyone have any thoughts on yellow glasses?
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,132
From: Phoenix, AZ
One trick if you will be riding in summer is to soak your tee shirt in water and wear that under a mesh jacket. Also a bandanna soaked and put around your neck helps a ton. I even know some people who do it with "beanies" under their helmet.
The heat can be beat.. the road, not so much.. so wear your gear.
Thread Starter
Post Whore Junior
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,825
From: Triad, NC
lol... and I go without it sometimes... isnt that ironic?
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 134
i wear one always. i think they are sexy. however i do disagree with helmet laws. it is a "no brainer" to wear one or is that a "no organer" cause those guts are what they will be droolin over. anyone need a liver? how about a kidney?
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,631
From: Montreal
"I found an article I believe by a large motorcycle magazine.. Enthusiast or Rider, maybe? Anyhow the cheapest helmet (Z1R) actually outperformed all of the helmets in all the tests.." I believe the magazine you're referring to is Motorcyclist
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,517
From: Boynton Beach, FL
Okay I'll chime in my 2 cents. After having been down more than once I only ride in full gear. I always thought you had to be a moron to ride w/o a helmet HOWEVER I also thought that it should be YOUR CHOICE since the only melon you're going to squash is your own, and once the government starts telling you what's in your best interests watch out-next they'll say you can't eat bacon or eggs anymore 'cause it's no good for you. However when talking to my brother he brought up a good point. What if a truck throws up a stone on the highway and it whacks you in the head and you cause a 5 car pileup and kill a couple people? Not just your melon anymore...And sadly enough sometimes people NEED to be told what's in their best interests because they're too stupid to figure it out on their own. Yes I rode a Harley in the keys once w/o my helmet on and yeah it felt great...I also know a guy who doesn't bag it when he sleeps with hookers too...sure that feels great too but that doesn't mean it's worth it.
evil man of nothing
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,517
From: Boynton Beach, FL
And all the statistics about street/highway, etc are b.s. They haven't much bearing on where YOU might get into an accident. At a burger place/bike night by me a guy was waiting to pull in on his harley, STANDING STILL, and his foot slipped and he tipped over and hit his head. GOODNIGHT, he was DEAD! Personally I think people should have to wear helmets in cars too as most fatalities are head injuries. Problem is everyone would really drive like lunatics then...Nice to see the number on here so high. I'm sure if you went to some other squid sportbike/douchebag chopper site it wouldn't be.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 105
From: Elgin, Illinois
I never use to wear on, but the moment I found out I was going to be a
daddy, It went on for good. Besides it's fun when you walk into a store carrying your helmet and some dumbass asks you "are you riding a motorcycle?" You can say "No, I'm just accident prone"!!!
daddy, It went on for good. Besides it's fun when you walk into a store carrying your helmet and some dumbass asks you "are you riding a motorcycle?" You can say "No, I'm just accident prone"!!!
Administrator
MotoGP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,402
From: Kempner, TX
I've spent my adult life jumping off of things and out of things, from 10's of feet to many thousands of feet above ground level.. I've been riding and racing bikes, Motorcycles, snowmobiling, skiing, and snowboarding from a young age to 40 something.. I've raced off road vehicles in Australia and elsewhere. Helmets have saved me from serious injury three times I can say for sure... Helmets have never caused, or been the prominent cause for an accident I’ve been in for that same time frame. Your mileage and injury rate may differ.
I'll keep mine on thank you.
With all do respect to the poster,
The same theory of argument is used by many, for whatever it is they do not want to do, wear a helmet, drive only sober, never haveing a few drinks for the road, wear a seat belt, wear a helmet, and many more such things. I think it's less about what makes sense, what can be gained, and more about not liking to be told what to do. So long as you have a choice, do what you want.
We have a choice to ride.. So we do, 
others out there would be just as happy if we did not have a choice. I have been threatened with charges of child abuse by a well meaning doctor, because my son rides dirt bikes.....In his world, that was a crime. In mine, it is a parental choice.
Oh, and loud pipes save lives too, just ask most any guy how rides a bike with loud pipes, he'll tell ya...
Same as the folks that ride without helmets will tell you the virtuous of riding without a helmet (and to be fair, if asked, those who only ride with helmets will be happy to tell you why it is a better way also... it goes both ways) 
I'll keep mine on thank you.
With all do respect to the poster,
The same theory of argument is used by many, for whatever it is they do not want to do, wear a helmet, drive only sober, never haveing a few drinks for the road, wear a seat belt, wear a helmet, and many more such things. I think it's less about what makes sense, what can be gained, and more about not liking to be told what to do. So long as you have a choice, do what you want.
We have a choice to ride.. So we do, others out there would be just as happy if we did not have a choice. I have been threatened with charges of child abuse by a well meaning doctor, because my son rides dirt bikes.....In his world, that was a crime. In mine, it is a parental choice.Oh, and loud pipes save lives too, just ask most any guy how rides a bike with loud pipes, he'll tell ya...
Same as the folks that ride without helmets will tell you the virtuous of riding without a helmet (and to be fair, if asked, those who only ride with helmets will be happy to tell you why it is a better way also... it goes both ways)
