helmet or no helmet

[supervfr]

Originally Posted by Mainjet

I live in California where it is mandatory. As much I as a hate government intrusion (we have plenty in Ca.), I think the helmet law is good. I know almost all the sport, & touring riders would wear them anyway, some biking segments probably need the helmet law. I personally wouldn't ride 10 feet without one. Keep your brain safe.

It is common sense to wear one. about the law...

It seems to me that it is impeding on our freedom to require people to wear a helmet. The only laws that I agree with thinking "democratically" is one that protects one citizen from the actions of another.

For example having a drivers license protects citizens from somebody not having the proper training to safely drive.
Requiring insurance protects citizens from someone that does happen to get into an accident.

What are your thoughts on this concerning wearing helmets?

[Molsan]

For the law. Maybe under 25 you need to have a helmet...
because kids are dumb.

you are right, the goverment is to protect people from pther people...but where do you draw the line at protecting them from themselves without becoming a nanny state.

PS

I am 25

[waldrm]

I supose we draw the line when (a) We get tired of cleaning up road pizza or (b) when the inflated insurance rates caused by the shorts and sandals crowd start to affect the ATGATT crowd. What do you think our KIA stats in IRAQ would look like if we made helmets and other gear "optional"?

[Maliboost]

I have always worn one & cant even drive around the block w/o one. its like driving w/o my seatbelt. I just feel like something is not right w/o it. besides, with ears as big as mine, I would go airborn if they were not pinned back w/the helmet. LOL.

Bob

[drewl]

Thank you Dr John and Cyborg and all of you who posted photos.
These points are all well made. And yet people still go to Washington to preserve their right to go without. Live and let live. But as pointed out earlier...we all pay for other's stupidity. If it truly were strictly a personal decision then have at it. But our decisions(large and small) effect others all the time.

My soap box...brainbuckets. They are not called this because they are buckets that go over our brains. They are called this because of the potential to shear off the top of your head and be a bucket in which you brain is left sitting. The brunt of an impact with the ground is taken by the mid portion of the skull, which breaks when struck. Physics allows this force to be distributed when the head is completely surrounded by a full helmet-much like the safety cage in a race car.

More info on brain injuries: as Cyborg pointed out, brain injuries change people. His story had a nice twist of an ass turning nice. Most stories go horribly the other way. Bodies heal, brains rearrange. A very normal looking person can turn into an evil, hating, disgusting being that is NOTHING like the person before the injury. For an eye opener ask for a tour of a brain injury rehab unit. Or check out the web for brain injury support groups. So much tragedy from one person's right to ride unprotected.

I am glad to see that for the most part we are preaching to the choir here. That is one of the main reasons I stick around here. And the length of my reply(verses my usual stupid retorts) shows my feeling on the subject.

Thank you all.

[Knife]

Originally Posted by waldrm

I supose we draw the line when (a) We get tired of cleaning up road pizza or (b) when the inflated insurance rates caused by the shorts and sandals crowd start to affect the ATGATT crowd. What do you think our KIA stats in IRAQ would look like if we made helmets and other gear "optional"?

How about "accident with no ATGATT, insurance is void (collision, medical, and liability)"? Shouldn't there be consequences to one's actions, or has that concept totally gone by the wayside in this ever increasingly nanny state we live in?

[supervfr]

From my experience, Most of the people in the hospital from bike accidents are there because of lack of helmet.

One specific case, a guy was wearing a helmet, but did not strap it down. When he lost control he hit his helmet, then it flew off and he hit his head.

[vfourbear]

Originally Posted by KingTito

I bought a scooter to buzz around town and run errands. Not worth parking the VFR in some of the places I go to. After the first few times not wearing a helmet, I bought a half helmet. Rode a mile, returned it. Now, I wear my Arai RX-7 Corsair which is probably worth more than my scooter. I am sure I look like a tool but I didn't feel comfortable without a full-face.

Don't worry about it, I probably look like more of tool with my helmet OFF. Sometimes I see little girlies checking me out at the gas station or store and then my helmet comes off and all the gray hair pops out and its over. (My hair's kinda long usually). I'm thinking about just walking around with my helmet on all the time, at work, in the house, at the diner, library, whatever. Then next time somebody gives me grief I'll helmetbutt them. No I dont like helmet laws, and my state doesnt have one. I notice football players wear them. Maybe risky activities require a little protection. Uh oh, better just stop now.

[46alpha]

Originally Posted by jonboymd

oh yeah, thanks to my jacka$$ friends who took pictures of me in the hospital.

Pricless

[jonboymd]

Originally Posted by 46alpha

Pricless

The funny thing is, I would do the same thing to them. My phone takes pretty good video...

[OldPueblo]

Helmets are not required in Arizona, but if I am going more than "around the block", mine is firmly attached...
My Mom dates a guy who is prez of a local HD club and none of those guys wear buckets. I constantly make jokes about the perceived value of their heads..
Of course they try to return the favor by offering me packets of soy sauce and telling me my bike is low on oil, but they tend to clam up when my 20+ year old 750cc bike can walk past their new 1340's (and bigger)!

On another note, I will say that I do not support mandatory helmet laws. Although I use one, I do feel that it is my choice and my choice only if I want to go without. If someone wants to ride without a helmet, just like if they want to drive without a seat belt, the only person they are endangering is themselves, and that is their business. This choice does not belong to the government.

[kevcov]

i just crashed about 2 hours ago. just got some new boots last week and a new helmet about 2 months ago and well im looking for a new one now but will all my gear im just a little sore and i know i will be feeling it alot more tomorrow but well as i went down after i slid off the road my helmet hit a nice rock and well lets just see if it was not for ATGATT it would be a closed coffin. befor i would ride with jeans and well i will now only ride with everyhting

[Stranger]

Say's it all

[fotodaddy]

Originally Posted by Stranger

Say's it all

nice quote for "Proficient Motorcycling".

[Stranger]

In 2006 we marshalled the local Frozen Butt run, which is a winter run that we do here starting at 11:00 PM and get to the end venue for midnight.

There was an old guy on a V-max who had on one of these chinese 3/4 helmets. No chin bar just a peice of perspex that slides down. He went down on a corner and hit the armco barrier. By the time I got there, the ambulance and tow truck was there. One of my marshals came up to me and gave me a plastic bag and said " I think this is the old guy's denture's" I duly took them to the paramedic on site. We both had a look and confimed that they were not denture's.

These were his real teeth, must have been 20 of them. Blurg.

[PorscheBob]

In 1989 we had a very strong earthquake in northern California (7.0) and some strong aftershocks.

During the aftershocks we wore our motorcycle helmets in the house.......Snell approved of course.

[300shooter]

Originally Posted by midias

I would like to answer that with pictures

Now who can say that a picture isn't worth a thousand words...........

[Bubba Zanetti]

Since Delaware has no sensiable helmet law. I hear many of the same statements about "choice" and "freedom". When someone states it should be a choice I can handle their statment better than when I hear the word "freedom" in its place.

The reason is BZ became curious and did some reseach. I could not find anything in the U.S. Constitition or in the Supreme Court or lower court decisions anything about an individual having the 'right' to wear or not wear a MC helmet. I did find the court would often discuss what a "reasonable person" would do when confronted by a case that involved someone who was trying to argue ignorance or was just plain dumb. And since a "resonable person" who rides a motorcycle is aware of the risks of riding; wouldn't a reasonable person wear the approprite helmet? This leads me to that fact that most MC helmet laws, or lack thereof, are battled out in State legislative bodies, not in Judicial bodies. Therefore, its apparent that wearing a MC helmet is a choice only and not the percieved freedom many claim it is. After all, if wearing a seat belt was unconstitutional there would have been legal suits filed all over the country at the local and State levels upon those laws being signed into effect. I couldn't find any...

I bring all this up becasue it appears many people think we have rights to goods and services that are actually choices. Like the time I heard a moron stating it was his constititional right to own a cell phone. Change the word cell phone for MC helmet, and he would have fit right in with the rabble in DE that claim its their right to explode their head on the tarmac.

Just some thoughts I wanted to share with the class.

BZ

[Lgn001]

Originally Posted by Bubba Zanetti

I did find the court would often discuss what a "reasonable person" would do when confronted by a case that involved someone who was trying to argue ignorance or was just plain dumb.BZ

And to further muddy the waters, the only time that a person is considered "reasonable" is when the reasoner deems them to be, which only happens when the reasoner gets their way, or at least part of their way.

Damn, Bubba. I think you and derstuka just enjoy having me get an attitude...