To wear a helmet or not

[spyder3]

This thread looks kind of like the usual to me.

The OP had a very valid question. A few of the earlier posters answered the question.

Then...a bit of over the top answers, then...the comebacks, then...the rebuttals.

Now...unhappiness with the thread.

helmet threads never die, whether you wear one or not....can we all agree on that?

[Bob Denman]

You haven't seen anything yet...

Wait 'til we get started on:
Speed Traps
Tire Pressures
Oil Brands
Firearms Ownership
DWI/AI Checkpoints

rock-em-3.jpg

[ARtraveler]

You haven't seen anything yet...

Wait 'til we get started on:
Speed Traps
Tire Pressures
Oil Brands
Firearms Ownership
DWI/AI Checkpoints

rock-em-3.jpg

It does appear we have learned a bit about political subjects though.

[Bob Denman]

Yes; we have...
AVOID them; like you'd avoid the in' Plague!

[Dan_Ashley]

AS long as we are free and are law abiding citizens, its nobody business period. I would be ok and abide by my state law if it would to pass a mandatory helmet law. until then
I'm liken to ''free willy'' .

"Free willy" on a motorcycle? Do you really ride naked? Make sure you wear sunscreen. But don't put any on your butt. It's slippery, and I'd hate to hear of you slippin' off the seat.

[Motorcycledave]

Only a complete fool would ride a motorcycle 2 or 3 wheeled with a seat belt on.....
I wonder what NON RIDER thought that WAS A GOOD IDEA....

Here in Holland, we can drive a Spyder without a helmet provided you are buckled up.
I would agree it is a strange rule but riding without feels absolutely great
Assume in New Hampshire one can drive without a helmet anyway.
Perhaps together we can prepare an overview in which states/countries one can drive without a helmet (including if a safety belt is mandatory in that case).
So as far as i am aware in Europe:
Holland - No Helmet but safety belt
Germany - No Helmet but safety belt
Belgium - Always helmet

Look forward to have this list completed

[ChasCS]

Yes; we have...
AVOID them; like you'd avoid the in' Plague!

Don't laugh too loud, or so soon.
EBOLA DISEASE has entered the USA...
No laughing matter any more Bob.
Nothing to Have "Chuckles" about.

I know you meant well, lol here too. Just saying.

Chas

[PistonBlown]

You haven't seen anything yet...

Wait 'til we get started on:
Speed Traps
Tire Pressures
Oil Brands
Firearms Ownership
DWI/AI Checkpoints

rock-em-3.jpg

In my case its the royal family that's my big red button so as long as we avoid that subject we'll be ok:-)

[Bob Denman]

Don't laugh too loud, or so soon.
EBOLA DISEASE has entered the USA...
No laughing matter any more Bob.
Nothing to Have "Chuckles" about.

I know you meant well, lol here too. Just saying.

Chas

Funny... Did you see a single "Smiley Face" in my post?

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

Only a complete fool would ride a motorcycle 2 or 3 wheeled with a seat belt on.....
I wonder what NON RIDER thought that WAS A GOOD IDEA....

Is that the same fool who would ride without a helmet? Nothing wrong with that, give them a choice.

[Rockwall]

I have not worn a helmet for a long time. Sunday my RC was on a ride and a member went down. He had a helmet that wound up with a giant bang mark on it. This would have been on his head. I immediately ordered a new helmet which is coming Friday. No more riding without one for me.

[Bob Denman]

There's an old saying; "Nobody finds God on Prom night."
I'm sorry to hear that a riding buddy of yours took a spill , but I'm glad that it wasn't you that hit the pavement.

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

I have not worn a helmet for a long time. Sunday my RC was on a ride and a member went down. He had a helmet that wound up with a giant bang mark on it. This would have been on his head. I immediately ordered a new helmet which is coming Friday. No more riding without one for me.

you sure you don't want to get a seat belt instead?

[CasN]

Going back to my original question, very little response on European countries but a full overview on the USA.
Does surprise me though that only 20 states have it by law for all drivers, think in Europe for motorcycles it is simply mandatory everywhere. In some countries also clothing has been specified.
Having read all your comments, I can only say that I do not understand why in some countries in Europe an exception is made for trikes, in some countries in combination with a safety belt. The latter absolutely making no sense at all. So in principle we have no argument on that. I am just the "idiot" that really likes to ride without. For all that never tried it, find a private area and try it out. At least you understand what brings us "idiots" to go for this style.
In the end it is everybody's own choice. Discussing about insurances and all does not hold, that can be managed within the rules of the premium to be paid. Fact that this does not happen, is a clear statement. Nobody get on its bike/trike to get hurt. Apart from some daredevil accidents, most of the time we are hit by morons on 4 (or more) wheels who do not pay attention. They should pay a higher premium for causing more accidents?
So let's leave it up to society and most importantly to the individual to manage the choices.
Now back to the first line of this message, here is the current list
Europe
Holland No Helmet but safety belt
Germany No Helmet but safety belt
Belgium Always helmet
UK No Helmet


USA
Alabama All riders
Alaska 17 and younger
Arizona 17 and younger
Arkansas 20 and younger
California All riders
Colorado 17 and younger riders and passengers
Connecticut 17 and younger
Delaware 18 and younger
Columbia All riders
Florida 20 and younger
Georgia All riders
Hawaii 17 and younger
Idaho 17 and younger
Illinois No law
Indiana 17 and younger
Iowa No law
Kansas 17 and younger
Kentucky 20 and younger
Louisiana All riders
Maine 17 and younger
Maryland All riders
Massachusetts All riders
Michigan 20 and younger
Minnesota 17 and younger
Mississippi All riders
Missouri All riders
Montana 17 and younger
Nebraska All riders
Nevada All riders
New Hampshire No law
New Jersey All riders
New Mexico 17 and younger
New York All riders
North Carolina All riders
North Dakota 17 and younger
Ohio 17 and younger
Oklahoma 17 and younger
Oregon All riders
Pennsylvania 20 and younger
Rhode Island 20 and younger
South Carolina 20 and younger
South Dakota 17 and younger
Tennessee All riders
Texas 20 and younger
Utah 17 and younger
Vermont All riders
Virginia All riders
Washington All riders
West Virginia All riders
Wisconsin 17 and younger
Wyoming 17 and younger

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

i believe in the u.s. the reason some states don't require a helmet is their residents are more thick headed.
perhaps i am wrong & they are just stupid.

[Bob Denman]

But the flaw in your theory: New York DOES require helmets...

[Flanker]

I'm completely opposed to mandatory helmet laws, and was very pleased to see my state's (MI) helmet law repealed in 2012 (I think).

I always wear a helmet though; have thought it is profoundly foolish to not wear one. In August of 2012; I took a direct hit from a small bird flying across my path of travel, to the face shield of my helmet, directly in front of my right eye. If I hadn't been wearing a helmet with shield, I almost certainly would have lost my right eye, and likely would have crashed the motorcycle I was on; maiming or killing me.

I also took a very hard hit from a stone thrown by a tire of the truck ahead of me. It impacted my helmet on my left eyebrow. sounded like a gunshot when it hit! I likely would have gone down with my bike on that one too.

I have ridden without a helmet (wore goggles though) around my one horse village a couple times; never exceeding 25 MPH...............99.9% of the time I wear a helmet for that also.

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

But the flaw in your theory: New York DOES require helmets...

we are pigheaded

[Bob Denman]

I've SEEN one of them...
Give me a little time, and I can show you "PiG-Headed"!

[PistonBlown]

Ok I'm going to try and give CasN a little bit more info on UK and NZ legislation when it comes to trikes but I must admit my knowledge is a bit rusty on this so others may correct me:

UK
In the UK you could register trikes as car or bike based. Trikes below 450kg can be registered as either but are normally registered as bike based trikes. Trikes over 450kg have to be registered as car based trike. Car ones must have a reverse gear, so if it's under 450kg and has no reverse then it has to be registered as a bike based trike.

In both cases you don't have to have to wear a helmet. However if it's over 450kg (i.e. car based) then it must be fitted with 3 point seatbelts.

Because of the last bit about seatbelts my guess is you'd have to register a Spyder as a bike based trike even though it's got a reverse gear.

Obviously the way the trike is registered affects the type of licence you need to ride it and even things like type of insurance, WOF (Warrant Of Fitness or MOT as it's called in the UK) etc.

New Zealand
In New Zealand all Spyders are registered as cars. You do have to wear a crash helmet but fortunately don't need a seatbelt. This is to do with the compliance document drawn up to allow Spyders on NZ roads. Apparently there was quite process to get this compliance without stupid rules like 'must have seatbelts because its registered as car'. Strangely though its registered as a car, and you need a car WOF, you have to get motorbike insurance for it and the insurance company will hit you for a bigger excess if you don't have a motorcycle licence.

[srwilli]

As like many, I always wear my helmet. It's not about the dying, it's all about becoming a vegetable and becoming a burden on my family or the state. The question I have always pondered and really never gotten an answer.. "Why does the government enact laws for all to wear a seat belt in a car, but doesn't enact laws for helmets?" Both are safety devices. Not saying I want the law, if you want to ride and take the chance its, ok with me as long as I or my tax dollars are not the one who takes care of you when you are laying in the bed, just a question regarding the logic behind safety laws.

SRW
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[ttc]

In Australia, helmets are compulsory.

I used to work in a motorbike shop and the amount of helmets I've seen that were damaged, and the amount of people who thanked them for saving their life was huge. One guy in particular, he got hit by a truck, and the truck ran over his head. He was one incredibly lucky guy, he was perfectly fine, can't say the same for the helmet.

I suppose the people who don't wear one but needed to won't get the option again.
Too much of the it won't happen to me mentality, unfortunately it does happen.

[Dan_Ashley]

i believe in the u.s. the reason some states don't require a helmet is their residents are more thick headed.
perhaps i am wrong & they are just stupid.

Not more thick headed....more rubber headed.