To wear a helmet or not

[ARtraveler]

:yikes:

D,
Tell us what could have happened, if it had been a 500 pound Black Bear... :yikes:
:cus: happens, and you'd better be prepared for it...
Glad that you're okay!

Yes, if it had been a bear or a moose, the story may have had a whole different ending. Spyder can be fixed. Almost 24 hours later, I am still a bit shaken up by the whole thing.

 

[ARtraveler]

Sorry to hear this and glad your ok. Sad for the dog though....

Me too about the dog. I am a pet lover and shed a few tears over the incident.

 

[claychaser]

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:clap:
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

I have worked in health care for two decades and done many rotations through the ER. How many stories I can tell of people, that if they would have worn a helmet, would still be here for their spouses and children. I have made many a walk back to the gurney with the patient on it, head smashed in (we have some very clever ways of making this look good for the family), and crying with them over their loved one who wanted to "live free and ride without a helmet, consequences be damned". And he did.
It is your choice.
Also, I have seen guys walk away with a smashed helmet, a hell of a headache, and walk accross the parking lot into the car with their family. That brings a tear too.
Make your own choice.

 

[Bob Denman]

We can feel REAL glad for you, that this didin't work out to be a whole lot worse... :thumbup:
...And still beel bad about the dog. :shocked:
One; needn't diminish the other.

 

[ChasCS]

Define Helmet?

There are some very cool looking head gear out there.

And some that Even I would be embarrassed to even be seen holding, let alone wearing in public.
See if I can bring up a few good ones I like, as example...

This last one has does have great air ventilation out the back, but it appears to be a weak spot in the otherwise awesome design.


Chas

 

[Bob Denman]

And then... :shocked:

...There are also these! :yikes:

 

[ChasCS]

Spared the jibes

Oops, that wasn't right... ;-)

Anyway...



They make them big and small...

Chas

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

What you or I choose to wear, or not wear, is no one else's business.

True, IF you are totally self insured and will not be placing a demand on an insurance pool, nor on a family member for your care, if you are are disabled in an accident while not wearing appropriate gear. But as soon as your decision has the potential of being a cost to a pool of money into which others pay into, or placing a burden on others to care for you, those people can be affected by your decision. Then your decision DOES become the business of others.

Personally, I think a state should pass a law that states a helmet is not required, but if the rider is injured or killed because he/she was not wearing a helmet, the first $50,000 of medical care should come out of the estate of the rider, and not from an insurance pool, unless the rider was paying a special premium to cover the extra cost incurred because of no helmet. That way the rider has a choice, but also has to pay the consequences of a bad choice. Just as age and driving record are part of the the risk assessment for an insured, wearing a helmet should be also.

 

[crazyspyder]

last passage for me -moving on

True, IF you are totally self insured and will not be placing a demand on an insurance pool, nor on a family member for your care, if you are are disabled in an accident while not wearing appropriate gear. But as soon as your decision has the potential of being a cost to a pool of money into which others pay into, or placing a burden on others to care for you, those people can be affected by your decision. Then your decision DOES become the business of others.

Personally, I think a state should pass a law that states a helmet is not required, but if the rider is injured or killed because he/she was not wearing a helmet, the first $50,000 of medical care should come out of the estate of the rider, and not from an insurance pool, unless the rider was paying a special premium to cover the extra cost incurred because of no helmet. That way the rider has a choice, but also has to pay the consequences of a bad choice. Just as age and driving record are part of the the risk assessment for an insured, wearing a helmet should be also.

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'' .

 

[Bob Denman]

Tha'ts cool; ride safe, Bro! :thumbup:

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

True, IF you are totally self insured and will not be placing a demand on an insurance pool, nor on a family member for your care, if you are are disabled in an accident while not wearing appropriate gear. But as soon as your decision has the potential of being a cost to a pool of money into which others pay into, or placing a burden on others to care for you, those people can be affected by your decision. Then your decision DOES become the business of others.

Personally, I think a state should pass a law that states a helmet is not required, but if the rider is injured or killed because he/she was not wearing a helmet, the first $50,000 of medical care should come out of the estate of the rider, and not from an insurance pool, unless the rider was paying a special premium to cover the extra cost incurred because of no helmet. That way the rider has a choice, but also has to pay the consequences of a bad choice. Just as age and driving record are part of the the risk assessment for an insured, wearing a helmet should be also.

i very much agree but $50k does not cover the expense, more like $500k for the lifetime expense of someone
changing your diapers. I very much believe in personal freedom but it should never impede on someone else's
wallet since that is their personal freedom.
I too think if you want to ride with no helmet, have fun but if s**t happens don't cry, just pay and remember
your kids were hoping you would leave them something when you pass away but i am sure a hospital bill was
not on the list.

 

[Bob Denman]

Is it just me... :shocked:

Or is it getting a bit "Holier than Thou" in here?

Guys...
Relax; the State will come in, and take all of the accident victim's real property anyway... :yikes:

 

[Fat Crip]

Helmets aren't mandatory on a trike in the UK (they are for bikes), but, despite being a believer in individual freedom, I wish they were! My son likes to ride pillion, but it's a fight to get him to wear a lid. He's 22, so really it's up to him, but I don't want his blood on my hands. I'm forced in to saying 'I know you don't have to by law, but Dad's rules say you do!' - every single time!!!

 

[Bob Denman]

That's right; it's your bike, and your rules... :thumbup:
You can even tell him that it's HIS fault...
If you didn't love him so much; you wouldn't care what he did...

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

Bob with that boyish face you can't get preachy

 

[Bob Denman]

I can fix that...

 

[Dragonrider]

Last post on this:

Indeed, your life, your bike, your rules.

Riding is a choice, using ANY gear is a choice, driving is a choice, living where you do is a choice. In our great country, you get to make these choices (as well as others). No one who suggests we change any of these choices deserves a vote.

 

[blacklightning]

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This is a picture of my fulmer hement after a 15-20 mph crash on my zzr1200 trying to avoid the rear of a car. I decided that I might not be able to stop, so I hit the shoulder of the road. That is when the front tire slipped out and down I went. Messed my foot and ankle up (not broken), and broke one rib. But you can see the helmet is cracked. I am a true believer in wearing a helmet.

 

[spyder3]

amazing how helmet threads just keep on going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going and going

 

[ARtraveler]

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.