First Time Without a Helmet

[Pirate looks at --]

Just to be clear

Walter,

So you know I personally respect your right to wear a helmet or not. The "RIP", was in jest! I can't imagine why anyone would want to not wear a helmet just to protect the old between the ears computer! My brother was just running down to the parts store to pick up a part when he was hit head on by someone in a VW bug, no helmet, big hole in his skull, and he was lucky, several weeks in the Hospital, and a lot of prayers and he survived, and he has worn that "Brain Bucket" ever since, and so do I. I would Ryde with you anytime helmet or not! I also respect your right to wear what you see fit to wear!

Peace

 

[900Dave]

:agree: Get yourself underneath some mesh gear, and THEN tell us that you're cooler without it! :thumbup:

We wore our mesh gear on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Saturday afternoon we said this is enough. Stripped it off and we were both far cooler and more comfortable in T shirts. We wear it when we can but when it gets too hot!!!! It comes off.

 

[900Dave]

Walter,

So you know I personally respect your right to wear a helmet or not. The "RIP", was in jest! I can't imagine why anyone would want to not wear a helmet just to protect the old between the ears computer! My brother was just running down to the parts store to pick up a part when he was hit head on by someone in a VW bug, no helmet, big hole in his skull, and he was lucky, several weeks in the Hospital, and a lot of prayers and he survived, and he has worn that "Brain Bucket" ever since, and so do I. I would Ryde with you anytime helmet or not! I also respect your right to wear what you see fit to wear!

Peace

I am Ok with this. I just believe your other comment is out of line IMO.

 

[900Dave]

But now you've been indoctrinated, INCLUDING being told to "rest in peace". :cheers: There are only two subjects that get this sort of reaction here. You've just hit upon one of them, as you can see. The other, well... I'll just say that I hope you don't stumble upon that one unaware. :shocked:

Actually I won a bet. When I shared my note before publishing to another person with, shall we say, experience on the site warned me that I was entering a buzz saw and that the militant ATGATT folk would descend upon me without mercy. I countered that the short time I was on here there would be others who would at least understand if not rise in defense. That is exactly what happened. I like the folk on this forum.

As I noted in my initial note, I am still ATGATT on two wheels (which I also have) but I will indeed relax from time to time on the Spyder. Never on an expressway, never for very long. I once drove a friend's 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang convertible with V-8 engine on twisty North Carolina mountain roads. Lots of fun and no protection, just a lap strap and no safety in case of a roll over (yes, had that baby on two wheels several occasions, I took it too fast, but I was younger then). Also an accident where a BMW SUV went airborne and crossed lanes, crushed a couple of cars on the Taconic Parkway Saturday which I also rode but not near the accident. Several killed in a terrible crash where a helmet would not have helped me (which I was of course wearing in New York State). I am not cavalier and have no plans to go soon but I will go sooner or later. I figured that out. And yes, I am an organ donor, thanks.

So chatter away, be respectful, I respect all of you and appreciate your advise. Won't follow it all but I will always listen.

Now about my upcoming oil change...



Thanks...
SpyderWalter

And what brand of tire are you considering?:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[wyliec]

And what brand of tire are you considering?:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

kenda, kenda, kenda

 

[MrBones]

Your not to old Phil I started riding 2 wheels in 1945 on a Cushman. Had to get to work! Was 12 and we were building track houses for the returning Vets. I have had 3 major mishaps in the riding time. And do have to wear a helmet. But the other gear people have to wear is in my mind a negitive mind set that they are going to crash this time. I wear the helmet because I was racing a car with no helmet and a corner came up and had to lay it down Took off both sides of my face and broke my skull from the right eye socket to my upper jaw bone. But I was so drunk I got up and rode the bike home! Also scraped off my knee down to the joint. This was in 1965 and haven't rode drinking since then. But still see no need for body armor as I like the feeling of freedom I get from the wind. So those that do and those that don't enjoy it your own way.

 

[sandeejs]

...I highly recommend a lovely ride without the lid once in a while, as long as your local laws allow.
SpyderWalter

My local laws allow it, but my hair blowing around drives me crazy. It's such a habit by now, it feels weird without the lid.
~Sandee~

 

[flaggerphil]

My adjacent state has no helmet law so when I ride there I sometimes shed mine. I'll say this, having ridden two wheels for years always with the bucket on...riding without a helmet is a totally different sound experience on the Spyder. With a helmet I get all exhaust noise and without it's mostly engine sounds...very mechanical..you can really hear the cams and clatter from the valves.

I wouldn't ride on an interstate without but it's my thought that if you crash a Spyder, unless you're at a low speed, it's not going to be pretty because there's no siding this thing...you're likely coming off and as the Blood Rock song went, "we were flying along and hit something in the air."

Has anyone here come off one and walked away?

I'll relate an incident I witnessed two years ago.

I was riding my Spyder near my home and going past a local strip mall. A man (at least my age...maybe older...I was 62 at the time) was on a Spyder RT wearing t-shirt, shorts, flip flops, and sun glasses when he pulled out of the shopping center in front of a car going down the road. The car swerved away from him, but he still hit the car going less than 20 mph...the car was going about the same speed. His Spyder was knocked into a ditch and he went flying...in his sun glasses, t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops. He hit the road and tumbled into the grass next to the road.

He did not walk away.

I got off my Spyder (and took off my helmet) and stayed with with him until the police and ambulance got there...less then 10 minutes. He was badly scraped up and was bleeding from a couple of places on his scalp. The woman who'd been driving the car was distraught, though she had done nothing wrong. When the police got there he kept telling them he had a helmet on but didn't know what happened to it. Which was not true. They took him away in an ambulance and I have no idea what happened to him after that. I do know if he'd had a helmet on he would have avoided the visible head injuries, and the EMTs there thought he had other closed head injuries.

At 20 miles an hour.

I always ride with a helmet.

If someone wants to ride without a helmet and it's legal, more power to them. But I think it's stupid.

 

[GunDoctor]

3 days in a coma and a Moto3 split in half has kept my helmet on since.

 

[Robertsepolen]

After 30years working ER, I will ask you to wear it. We are vulnerable enough as it is. Protective gear works quite frequently.


2015 RT-S

 

[Bob Denman]

This is a REALLY fun topic! nojoke
But nothing that any of us says; is going to change the minds of anyone else... :shocked:
DEAL WITH IT! :roflblack:

 

[Robertsepolen]

True Bob true.


2015 RT-S

 

[wyliec]

This is a REALLY fun topic! nojoke
But nothing that any of us says; is going to change the minds of anyone else... :shocked:
DEAL WITH IT! :roflblack:

Yeah, like getting poked in the eye with a sharp stick, or hung with a new rope.

 

[Peter Aawen]

HUH??? Why should a person not skinny dip? :hun:

:shocked: Because it frightens the neighbor's pigs...

But, if you are going to do that, please sign the organ donor permission on your driver's license.

:yes::yes::yes::yes::2thumbs:

For those of us who don't get to see the post titles, this ^^ is just too much!! :roflblack::roflblack:

Does everyone else reading on their phone see the post titles all the time? Or is it just my phone that doesn't show them?





As as for the helmet thing, for my 2 cents worth, it comes down to $5 brain, $5 bucket - your choice, you wear the consequences. :sour:

 

[missouriboy]

Does everyone else reading on their phone see the post titles all the time? Or is it just my phone that doesn't show them? :sour:

When you "Reply With Quote" the quote does not include the title, so starting a sentence in the title, and concluding it in the body, results in an oxymoron. Or at least an incomplete statement.

Let titles be titles and posts be posts, and ne'er the twain shall meet!

 

[sandeejs]

Now you've done it! :shocked:
I just HAVE to post this video again!

Every time I look at the clip, I have to laugh out loud.
Thanks, Bob. It's the only exercise I got all day!
~Sandee~

 

[pegasus1300]

From the first time I went on two wheels I have been ATGATT follower, full face helmet, riding jacket with Kevlar panels.

Bought a 2014 RT S SE6 about a month ago in New Jersey and breaking it in as I prepare for an epic long ride this fall. Really having a good time. Already I have shed the riding jacket in this summer heat. In my wanderings yesterday I drifted into Connecticut.

Decided to take advantage of their no helmet law as an experiment. Stopped at a gas station as I realized I need some eye protection without my Shoei helmet. Rode down Route 7, which is a fine road in any mode.

At first it was disorienting and felt strange but I quickly got used to it and it was grand. Discovered the rear speakers for the first time as they are not evident with the helmet on. Surround sound, cool. Really enjoyed the experience and loved the ride. Had no problem putting back on the helmet as I pulled back into New York State.

On my epic trip I may do it again on scenic routes but will keep the helmet on Highways. A few years ago I had a low side that broke my shoulder blade. My full face helmet had three scrapes in three different directions which meant it likely saved me from more serious issues. Luckily I healed from the shoulder blade and didn't experience brain damage didn't experience brain damage didn't experience brain damage.

I know many here are religiously ATGATT and I've observed several local riders who ride in shorts, but I highly recommend a lovely ride without the lid once in a while, as long as your local laws allow.
SpyderWalter

Glad you enjoyed the experience. Utah doesn't have a helmet law either and sometimes it is nice ride around with the helmet off.

 

[kngfsh27]

No helmet law in ajoining states

I live on the west side of Missouri about 15 miles from Kansas and about 120 miles from Iowa. I ride in both of states often. Missouri has a helmet law. People have asked me many times what I do with my helmet when I cross the state line. Since I don't like to just carry my helmet on the bike, I have certain spots that I cross the state lines. There are crosses where someone has been killed just across the line. I set my helmet on or at the cross so I don't have to carry it. Good story isn't it. Truth is, I keep it on my head. :roflblack:I don't care what anyone else does. Whether you wear or not that is your choice. Have fun riding.

 

[Ben Burped]

One word answer

HUH??? Why should a person not skinny dip? :hun:

Shrinkage.:yikes:

 

[Peter Aawen]

When you "Reply With Quote" the quote does not include the title, .....

That might be so missouriboy, but even before you get to the quoting stage, I've just checked a few other phone type devices, and NONE of those we had handy even displayed the titles of posts when we simply viewed the the thread & posts!! :yikes:

So for those people who think they are conveying a message to everyone by starting a sentence in the title & then continuing in the text - I'd guess that there's a fairly significant portion of your potential reading population who will never get to see the first bit!! (unless they go to a PC or iPad etc later like I've just done?!)

That means that a lot of the posters who do that 'title continued in text' thing tend to look more than just a bit.... hmmm, is 'silly' too harsh a word? The others here who've looked at it used far harsher comments, but they aren't Spyder riders or members on the Forum, so I'm not sure their opinion counts for much!! But you are right missouriboy, everyone should leave the title right out of anything they want to convey to all their readers! :thumbup:


Of course, that's all got nothing at all to do with wearing helmets or not, so I apologise for that bit of a thread hijack - but you should be able to see how it can make many threads read as being either silly, annoying, funny, or a combination of all those - the last of those earlier posts I linked & quoted was one of the more 'entertaining' incidences! hyea: