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Cruiser
Posts: 118
Spfld, IL but temp Bay area, CA | Been working in CA pretty much the past 4 years. Love the climate, the scenery, the roads, especially love lane sharing, but absolutely detest having to put on a helmet every time I get on the bike. At home in central IL, I seldom wear my helmet. Out here, no way I would commute the Bay area freeways without a helmet, but when I'm riding back roads around Yosemite or NorCal, I really miss the freedom to choose whether or not I wear a helmet. BTW, I choose to refuse wearing a seat belt unless on a long trip or after ingesting even a small amount of alcohol. I am also a die hard, gun owning Democrat. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | I agree with a few states which their law says you must wear a helmet unless you have adequate medical coverage. I wear a helmet. I currently have 6 helmets total and wear all of them depending on the bike, weather, etc. However, I do not feel that helmets should be mandatory if you can cover your own medical expenses. |
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Helmets, like seat belts, ane not for those who don't trust their own skills. They are for those who know the skills of some other drivers suck and those same suckey drivers try multitasking by using their car as a mobile office without pulling over first. I'm wearing my helmet because of them, but I'd certainly prefer not to. My hair looks much better without a helmet. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | I maintain a "high and tight" so I don't have to worry about "helmet hair" 
Edited by willtill 2013-04-12 4:24 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Yes, I keep mine much shorter in the riding season, too bad that won't fix stupid, or I'd be a genius! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | I absolutely agree with you baadawg. In the NE, deer over the years, have exponentially increased their population. I live in a neighborhood where the houses sit on half acre lots. There are always deer tracks in my backyard. Just last week, 5 minutes from my house on 4 lane road, in the middle heavliy populated commercial land a deer took out a rider. The road was shutdown for hours to allow LifeStar (Medevac helicoptor) to land and take the rider to the hospital. Between driving in an area of the country that have the worst drivers in the US (I've driven in pretty much all the states), CT, MA, NY, NJ and wildlife, not wearing a helmet isn't an option. Regarding mandating a helmet law...I would like to use the old cliche with a twist....Live and Let live...or die. NH's state moto is live free or die! Well there you have it. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 16
| No helmet requirement where I live, but I still almost always wear one and I've been riding Harley's for many years. Most folks I see are wearing helmets. I'm all for freedom of choice as long as the freedoms come with accountability. If you choose to go without a helmet you should also have sufficient health insurance coverage and life insurance if you have a family to support. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 251
Mechanicsville, VA United States | The problem I have with having to wear a helmet is during the Summer months, I have blacked out while running 70 mph on the interstate because there's no cooling of the head with a helmet on. I didn't go down only because I came too before I went down and pulled off to the side of the interstate to try and figure out what to do next. So wearing a helmet will save my life.....Right!!!!? We should have a choice!, not be forced! I live in the land of the free, and what I or you do has nothing to do with each other! |
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| willtill...I respect your opinions on helmet laws and when you go down , or one of your family or friends do, and bust their head open because they exercised their rights to not wear a helmet, you might mellow a bit...I am not controlling you in any way, you are free to choose, but I will never change my position on mandatory helmets laws.....Sorry you feel the way you do and I hope you never crash without a helmet on....... |
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Cruiser
Posts: 251
Mechanicsville, VA United States | WOW! opas ride, so you're saying willtill will go down......how do you know this??? Have you gone down? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | opas ride - 2013-04-12 6:39 PM
willtill...I respect your opinions on helmet laws and when you go down , or one of your family or friends do, and bust their head open because they exercised their rights to not wear a helmet, you might mellow a bit...I am not controlling you in any way, you are free to choose, but I will never change my position on mandatory helmets laws.....Sorry you feel the way you do and I hope you never crash without a helmet on.......
Dude!!! Please...
I am for wearing a helmet. I wear one. I hope I never crash, but if I do... it'll be with a helmet on.
I am against those whom decree to others that it is mandatory to wear a helmet. And go of their way to impose their personal will on others.
You know what opas? I think that short people should not ride big bikes. How would you feel about that? Let us enact a law that prohibits small people from riding large bikes, because it is thought that it's not safe for them. We don't think they are smart enough or skillful enough to handle a big bike. We don't really care what they want. WE know better for them.
You wouldn't like that law? ...would you?
I saw a dude smack his melon and die several years ago; right in front of my house. He was drunk; racing his crotch rocket up and down our street late at night. The chinstrap wasn't fastened; when he crashed... his helmet ripped off his head and he smacked his face and forehead firmly into the asphalt in front of my house. We ran out... nothing to do but watch him quiver, moan and die in front of us.
I get the helmet thing. I don't need anyone telling me I HAVE to wear it.
Edited by willtill 2013-04-12 6:02 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Hey willtil....As Randy Newman sang...short people have no reason to live...Never liked Randy Newman...When I read your example I LOL'd! Like me, life is too short and life couldn't be better, especially since I am taking delivery of my new VV tomorrow!
Just think of all the advantages I have  . Kids prices on everything! I can still act like a kid while being wise enough, for myself and family, to wear a helmet. The only thing I really hate is not being able to go on some of the Six Flag rides LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! On btw...I'm 5'6" and I bought boots with 1.5" heels! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | You'd have been alright in the '70s, Tom. They had platform shoes back then. |
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Tourer
Posts: 390
| I live in Texas and we have the option to go without a helmet. I wear a full face all of the time. Just as SYNSTR stated the soccer mom will be real sorry she did not see you. Every time I see Gary Busey, I am reminded of why wearing a helmet is a good idea. He suffered a brain injury in a MC accident that was his fault. No helmet....Just sayin' |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | Let me weigh in here, most everyone else already has. I hate helmet laws because they interfere with Darwin. How the heck do we cleanse the gene pool when the state insists on everyone having minimal protection? I fully support the freedom to choose but I will not even ride to the corner without at least a 3/4 helmet on my own head, in my no helmet law state. I ignore helmet laws in all states where I ride because I believe that I should survive any accident so the law really does not change my behavior.
I am now a 65 year old rider but at 22, when no state had any helmet laws at all, I got into an accident that I survived because I was wearing the terribly poor helmet that could be had at that time. It was fiberglass of all things and the impact damage on it revealed just how much damage could be done to something made of glass. The shatter pattern on the helmet was dramatic and I kept that thing around for over 10 years just to remind myself of how much damage my head might have suffered without it.
Did you get it? There was no such thing back then as a helmet law, also no such thing as lobbies like ABATE fighting them. Each person was up to their own opinion of the value of a helmet and back then most folks wore one. We were riders, not posers, and we valued our own survival, not some macho image. I personally think the HD "culture" is leading the general motorcycle population in the wrong direction when it comes to safety equipment. I also use a good quality riding jacket in summer rather than a T-shirt with the sleeves cut off. It is not very macho but it will save me from tons of road rash the next time a cager tries to kill me. The cager may well succeed but not because I fail to take appropriate precautions. If you don't think that a cager can get you, you are living in a dream world. Say hello to Roger Rabbit for me. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Don't quite remember the 70s  ...oh yeah...I hated disco! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 251
Mechanicsville, VA United States | I liked the 70's and I liked Disco........you know Staying alive.....Staying alive!lol |
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Tourer
Posts: 573
Central Illinois | I am talking 60s, not 70s. I started riding in 1968 and had that life changing accident around 1970. By then I had been riding with a helmet and heavy denim protection, nothing like I have now, for 2 years. I personally hated the polyester "DISCO" clothing that became popular in the mid 70s, but this was well before that time. A couple of years after my wreck, I had to get my first ever motorcycle endorsement on my driver's license. It was considered a big deal at the time since it had never been required before. I was a bit tense when I found that I would be required to ride my own bike through a test that was brand new at the time. I had no idea what criteria they would use to decide pass or fail for me. I took the test and passed but I must say that the unknown was itself a real challenge. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | You have to have a license to ride these things?
I've never had to take a skills test to ride a motorcycle. I started riding before the MC endorsement was required, and I was "grandfathered in" when it did become a requirement. There was no helmet requirement then either. Yes, I wear one.
Ronnie
Edited by rdbudd 2013-04-12 10:14 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | I'm surprised this is even a topic. It's a choice. Some wear 'em some don't. There's tons of data out there so you can make an informed choice. Personally, I don't care what you wear, as long as you learn to ride your bike correctly. I am so tired of encountering people who cannot ride or have never been taught to ride properly and just should not be on a motorcycle.....helmet or not. Please, learn how to ride! And that includes learning to ride with others. (Yes, there are other people on the road with you) |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Yes in helmet states, no in non helmet states............ |
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | MaddMAx2u - 2013-04-13 9:17 AM
I'm surprised this is even a topic. It's a choice. Some wear 'em some don't. There's tons of data out there so you can make an informed choice. Personally, I don't care what you wear, as long as you learn to ride your bike correctly. I am so tired of encountering people who cannot ride or have never been taught to ride properly and just should not be on a motorcycle.....helmet or not. Please, learn how to ride! And that includes learning to ride with others. (Yes, there are other people on the road with you)
I couldn't agree with you more. I watched a beginner class of rider this morning and it made me wonder: How many of these riders are going to learn just enough to pass a drivers test and think they are good riders? The skills a MSF course teaches is just the beginning. As with anything, we all need to be a life long students.
My wife and I are uncommon riders. We ride 20K+ miles a year each on our own bike and we will take at least an hour a month just practicing in a parking lot. If we are riding near a MSF course, we will go play in the box and S curves. If you have never watch an Ride Like a Pro video I would encourage everyone to do so. It will take you riding skills up a level quickly. best $35 I ever spent. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Hey Istayner..having just taken delivery of my new bike along with this being the largest displacement and weight that I've riden on, I ordered the Ride Like a Pro 5 DVD. I definately want and need to practice my slow speed maneuvering. I am planning on loading the DVD on my iPad and taking it with me to the parking. Watch, practice, watch, practice etc. And yes...I will be wearing my helmet |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | Stay off your front brake at walking speeds, especially in gravel/sand.
When you want the Vision to turn, it turns NOW. Lean the bike into the turn (high speed or low speed) and you'll be ok.
You wasted a grand on the Stage 1 kit from Vic. You could have done more with less money if you'd gone though Witchdoctors. (WDs pipes, VFCIII fuel processor and Lloydz top filter.) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Edmonton Alberta, Canada | Here in Canada, all provinces have helmet laws! Two years ago, 4 good freinds and I rode to the North rim of the grand canyon.We shed our hemets at the boarder, only donning them one day, during a rain storm. This was the first time I had the opportunity I had to ride legally with out it. It was exhilarating! Loved it can not wait to ride again. I feel it should be our choice and our choice along. But I will not berate anyone who chooses to ride with a helmet or not. If I was given the choice here, I would continue to wear one for my commutes to and from work, however weekend rides and evenings I would choose not to wear. Saying that, we do not ride on city streets, we take to the highways and byways. For you that have the choice, I recommend that you make a hazard assessment of where you will be riding and based on that make your choice.
Just sayin!!!! |
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Helmet or no helmet?
