Helmets

[Bob Ledford]

Is BD??

Did anyone beside me catch BD's post up a few posts where he actually posted a blank post!! He must have been dreaming about his '14 coming in sooner them later???

 

[ArsonInvest]

Not only do I wear a helmet, I wear a full face and live in Texas. Its on my head 24/7/365, evertime I get on bike. I enjoy tieing my own shoes, feeding myself, knowing who my kids and grand kids are.... and having the skin on my face. I was glad the first time I went down and slid across the pavement that I had a full face. Once I stop tumbling you could poked your finger through the face shield....I would not have the face I do now, not without being placed in the hands of a plastic surgeon. What statistics don't show is the close calls where a helmet did save someone. Most of those helemts are on a shelf somewhere and make a great crash story. If, helmets don't saves lives, then why do your professional motor sports wear them.....if you don't wear a helmet, please put me in your will....I can always use the money....

 

[ARtraveler]

After reading some of these posts, I have decided to always wear a helmet from now on.

Good for you! I did say this was a hot button subject--but its always good to hear the latest about helmets. :thumbup:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Good for you! I did say this was a hot button subject--but its always good to hear the latest about helmets. :thumbup:

Thank you. Sometimes not avoiding hot button topics actually does save people from injury.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Amen

After reading some of these posts, I have decided to always wear a helmet from now on.

Great choice, with the ventilation systems these days you can get all the fresh air you need. Ryde Safe!

 

[Dan_Ashley]

True... but some have at least the DOT sticker... somewhere between the :cus:load of stickers they have on it!

i have one of those novelty helmets. I wear it when riding my mountan bike (15 speed bicycle) in the wash near my house. I fell once, got sand in the helmet. It sure did itch.

 

[CurtG]

Wife is still with me!

Two weeks ago this coming Saturday Linda and her Ural had an accident (side car wheel off the side in a RH 90 over corrected and went off the left side) She had her Vega Summit II on and after seeing the bruise on her forehead and the one on the back of her head we're pretty much convince that helmet saved her from more serious if not fatal injury. Maybe if it had been white the bruises would have been less noticeable. (I still don't get the white helmet thing after the accident occurs, or do white helmets ruduce the number of accidents for the wearers?)

She continues to mend and plans to be back on her machine in the spring. She figures it'll be too cold to ride by the time she's released.

And just to stay on topic all the HD riders I ride with wear helmets. I see more of the "young and dumb" types on the crotch rockets riding down the road with their helmet strapped to the seat instead of their head. Just don't get it.

Ride and ride safe,

 

[Dan_Ashley]

I still don't get the white helmet thing after the accident occurs, or do white helmets ruduce the number of accidents for[\QUOTE]

White helmets don't help AFTER the crash, they only help prevent multi-vehicle crashes. This is apparently due to increased visibility. 38% of motorcycle crashes are multi-vehicle crashes occuring at intersections. (Intersection being the junction of at least two roadways, or the junction of a roadway and a driveway)

A reduction of 63% in these type of crashes was observed in New Zealand, with similar results reported from a European study. This equates to an overall reduction in motorcycle fatalities of 24%.

The emerging theory of this measued phenomena is increased visibility. So far, I've not found anyone who has been able to construct an experiment, or a set of measurements, to prove or disprove this theory--and I have no idea how to do it myself.

An alternate theory has to do with driver's mis-perception of motorcyclists being bicyclists, and hence, traveling slower than they actually are traveling. This theory has also not been tested. A counter-point to this theory is the bicyclist crash data, for white vs non-white helmets. For bicyclists, it does not matter what color the helmet is. Also, bicyclists don't usually drive with headlights on in the daytme.

A third theory states that a motorcyclists head bobbles around as the motorcyclist is driving. This movement, that is of a bright white head, causes the human mind to perceive the oncomming motorcyclist. This theory has also not been tested. It seems more plausible than the bicyclist-based theory, though.

In short, we don't know why white helmeted riders have a 24% lower fatality rate. But we know they do have a significantly lower fatality rate.

We can describe why a lot of seemingly silly measurements reflect the real world. For example, did you know that kids with bigger feet consistently perform better on IQ tests? The reason is IQ tests are administered at usually only one time a school year, and all the kids are not the same age. But in the case of lower fatalities and white helmets, we don't know why. We only have theories.

 

[dangme55]

It's the machismo

First I am biased - I am an ATGATT type of guy. 8 years USAF active duty flying fighter jets - I always wore a helmet, nomex suit, strapped in and had a parachute - if I knew when I was going to crash I would have left it all on the rack except for that day - enough said?

I think this is an image issue - my best guess is that given the choice more HD riders would go helmet-less than others. Riding the HD is as much an image and 'culture' thing. HD culture is generally retro, and bad boy. Not a judgement just an observation. It's your thing do what you want to do. In a crash IMO no helmet you better ray:

Before my new Spyder (2 weeks) I had a Victory Vision Tour and got all kinds of ribbing from my fellow AMVET Riders about it being a spaceship/hovercraft. My counter was I had no problem finding 'my bike' at a ride amongst the sea of identical black HD's

Can't wait to see what gas I get tomorrow night when I show up for the first time with the Circuit Yellow RTS-SE5 hyea:

 

[billrob71]

Ive always worn my helmet while out on dirt bikes and ATV's , my wife said that was a condition on getting my Spyder, guess she loves me still .

I know a quit a few of HD riders as well as other bikes and the younger riders are 25% ride with and 75% without, that what they say the cool kids are doing

It seems to take one lay down and they seem to wise up. The guy I work with has a big Harley and had a real bad crash couple years ago and went from one of those cheap brain bucket to one that covers over his ears better but, i'll keep my modular scorpion for now with the Air Jordan pump in the back keeps it nice and snug.

 

[Motorcycledave]

If you live in California.....

In California you will use a helmet or pay a huge fine.. a helmet is not an option,
having been T-boned by a drunk driver and run over (not fun) 2 years ago I will
tell you I am sure glad I had all the proper riding gear on... you should see my
helmet I saved it to remind me how well it worked .... scrap your 1/2 helmet and
get a modular or full face unit because if you have a crash you will wish you had one on...
just saying....

I was at my dealer on Saturday to get my recall done on my RT-S. This dealer is primarily HD but they also have Can-Am and Suzuki. They were having a memorial ride for a club member. It was all HD and 1 Ninja. I noticed that not one single HD rider was wearing a helmet. It has been my experience that when I see someone on a HD, they are not wearing a helmet. Could someone please explain, is it an unwritten rule that if you ride a HD, you can't wear a helmet? I myself wear a half helmet when it's warmer and a full helmet with face shield when it's cooler. For just riding around town, I usually don't wear a helmet. My wife always wears a helmet, no matter where we're going. I'm not judging anyone. I just want to get some different viewpoints and opinions. Thank you.

 

[OldCowboy]

The Springfield News-Leader publishes their paper online and comments to articles can be left by subscribers. Anytime an accident results in a fatality, the article notes whether the individual involved was wearing a seat belt or in the case of a motorcyclist, a helmet. In those cases where appropriate safety devices were not used and a fatality resulted, I always comment something along the line of, "Another prospective winner of this year's Darwin Award." I've been called on it a couple of times. My response has been, "When someone does something stupid and it costs them their life, they should be held up as an object lesson for the rest of us."

 

[crazyspyder]

No helmet here!

by choice ; been riding for over 30 yrs with out a helmet ,a few incidents and scrapes, but always got back on as fast as I could! I have this attitude of respect toward my bikes and every time I throw my leg over...I take a pause to think that no matter what I do or wear when its time to go, its my time to go -there's nothing I can do for that. SO, yea I wear, shorts, t-shirt, light tennis shoes, and okie mirror sun glasses....I prefer to live out side the box sort of life!:doorag: cheeeers..:cheers:

 

[prmurat]

by choice ; been riding for over 30 yrs with out a helmet ,a few incidents and scrapes, but always got back on as fast as I could! I have this attitude of respect toward my bikes and every time I throw my leg over...I take a pause to think that no matter what I do or wear when its time to go, its my time to go -there's nothing I can do for that. SO, yea I wear, shorts, t-shirt, light tennis shoes, and okie mirror sun glasses....I prefer to live out side the box sort of life!:doorag: cheeeers..:cheers:

If this is the only rebel attitude you have... We can all sleep safe and sound. Hope you have a good medical insurance! This must be why all dummies are complaining about *****care: I'd hate to have to pay your medical bills when you take a spill . This being said: we need donors, so thank you!

 

[Bob Denman]

by choice ; been riding for over 30 yrs with out a helmet ,a few incidents and scrapes, but always got back on as fast as I could! I have this attitude of respect toward my bikes and every time I throw my leg over...I take a pause to think that no matter what I do or wear when its time to go, its my time to go -there's nothing I can do for that. SO, yea I wear, shorts, t-shirt, light tennis shoes, and okie mirror sun glasses....I prefer to live out side the box sort of life!:doorag: cheeeers..:cheers:

It IS your choice to make! :thumbup:

I really hate ot bring this up pps:...
Have you fully considered what the needs of you and your family will be if this decision goes, "pear-shaped" on you? :shocked:

If you have: :2thumbs: :clap:

 

[Trickie Dick]

by choice ; been riding for over 30 yrs with out a helmet ,a few incidents and scrapes, but always got back on as fast as I could! I have this attitude of respect toward my bikes and every time I throw my leg over...I take a pause to think that no matter what I do or wear when its time to go, its my time to go -there's nothing I can do for that. SO, yea I wear, shorts, t-shirt, light tennis shoes, and okie mirror sun glasses....I prefer to live out side the box sort of life!:doorag: cheeeers..:cheers:

It's your choice. I choose to wear a helmet everytime I get on my Spyder. Do I think I'm smarter than you............well, yes I do.

 

[03hdjill]

helmet

I was at my dealer on Saturday to get my recall done on my RT-S. This dealer is primarily HD but they also have Can-Am and Suzuki. They were having a memorial ride for a club member. It was all HD and 1 Ninja. I noticed that not one single HD rider was wearing a helmet. It has been my experience that when I see someone on a HD, they are not wearing a helmet. Could someone please explain, is it an unwritten rule that if you ride a HD, you can't wear a helmet? I myself wear a half helmet when it's warmer and a full helmet with face shield when it's cooler. For just riding around town, I usually don't wear a helmet. My wife always wears a helmet, no matter where we're going. I'm not judging anyone. I just want to get some different viewpoints and opinions. Thank you.

Well, I can tell you that I recently sold my 2003 Harley Davidson FLHTI that I bought new and am selling my husband's 1998 Harley FLHRCI that he bought new. We both wear Scorpion Transformer Helmets which are basically the convertible full face helmets. We have never gone without a helmet.

 

[Bob Denman]

It's your choice. I choose to wear a helmet everytime I get on my Spyder. Do I think I'm smarter than you............well, yes I do.

You're NOT actually smarter; but you might be better prepared, if things get .:shocked:.. interesting! :yikes:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

If this is the only rebel attitude you have... We can all sleep safe and sound. Hope you have a good medical insurance! This must be why all dummies are complaining about *****care: I'd hate to have to pay your medical bills when you take a spill . This being said: we need donors, so thank you!

There should be special health insurance riders for people who don't care about their own safety. They charge more on the health exchanges for smokers--whether that is a good idea or not, I don't know, and really don't want to discuss. However it is an example.

They should have special health insurance riders for people who don't wear helmets or boots. That way the rest of us wouldn't have to pay higher insurance rates to cover their preventable injuries.

 

[Bob Denman]

Figuring out the differing factors, the rates for each of them, and THEN having to find a way to keep folks from cheating on it would be a real pain... :shocked: