Wear Your Helmets!

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by Riding a 2000, Feb 29, 2020.

  1. Riding a 2000

    Riding a 2000 Member

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    Different country. Different laws. Different culture. But this man did not have to die. Maybe could have walked away when his motorbike was knocked over. But a face-plant into pavement at 25 mph can be deadly.
    Many riders in India do not wear helmets, even though it is supposedly required. There is little enforcement, and the fine is low. In many areas of the world riders have their own decisions to make about safety. My life, my brain, may not be perfect, but I am not going to make it easier to lose either one.
    ATGATT.
     

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  2. philois1984

    philois1984 New Member

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    Can’t imagine riding without a helmet, riding without one just doesn’t compute I’m afraid. Same for boots jacket and pants or at least Kevlar reinforced jeans with knee protection. Everyone is free to make there own decision though, at least in some states of the USA. Here in Oz we don’t have a choice regarding helmets.
     
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  3. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    Don't have to convince me... ATGATT... had a minor spill on a diesel fuel spill and lowsided at 10 mph, bumped my head on a curb very lightly but without a helmet....?? I'm sure I would have needed medical attention, as it was, walked away.
     
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  4. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

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    The MSF instructor way back when impressed me with the value of helmets, saying you only have to hit your head on a curb at 3 or maybe 5 (I forget) MPH to wreck your brain. The only time I rode without a helmet was when somebody stole it, and I did not have much choice.
    ATTGATT.
     
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  5. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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  6. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    Back when California had helmet optional laws, I still wore one. The only time I didn't was when I gave someone a ride, where I gave them my helmet and rode sans helmet. Maybe a few times when I was riding in the sand dunes just putting around the camp, otherwise, always wore a helmet. As for stolen helmets, one reason I will often just carry mine when I stop for food or to stretch, heard too many stories of helmets being taken off of the bike when it was left unattended.
     
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  7. Terry Smith

    Terry Smith Member

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    When I was young and stupid (now just old and stupid) I tried that helmetless, outlaw look just the once. At any sensible open road speed, your face gets turned inside out and your eyes stream, then there are the bugs...Happy to say I have always worn a helmet on every other riding occasion in the past 38 years, and have bashed my head on the ground a few times, including one where the chin bar definitely saved my good looks from an impact with a city curb.
     
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  8. Riding a 2000

    Riding a 2000 Member

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    I shot that photo with my phone about 4 days ago in Jaipur, India, through the driver's side rear window (like the UK, India has RHD cars, running on the left side of roads). Posted it during a short layover in Boston on the way home.

    City accidents between cars tend to be minor fender-benders, as vehicles are generally going at low speeds, and they are close together.
    Lane markers are just general indicators to section roads into even areas, and vehicles of all descriptions are just inserted wherever the operators think they will fit. Very common to see vehicles three-wide on a two-lane one-way road, and two-wide on a one-lane two-way road, going the same direction, with oncoming traffic. An extraordinarily large portion of the time, no contact is made, and the margin between can be inches. Like sand pouring through rocks, bikes filter through in all situations, whether TukTuks, cars, buses, or trucks are stationary or moving.

    There are small-bore bikes and scooters Everywhere. If you want to understand how Honda stays afloat, just go to India. A popular bike of that make is the "Hero". 50's, 70's, 90's, 125's, single cylinder. Very few 2-cycle engines now. Only saw a few larger bikes, never did see one over 500cc. The status motorcycle is the Royal Enfield. The photos you have seen of more than two people on a little bike are real (4 was the most I reliably saw, although I thought maybe one had 5 on it) and some are loaded with goods of every type. They are the most efficient form of transportation, able to get through traffic jams where wider vehicles like the even the pedaled rickshaw cannot.

    Helmet law compliance is maybe 50%. Women passengers often ride side-saddle, and commonly only the operator will be helmeted, while others along will not be.

    One of my friends suggested a motorcycle tour of "rural India", as they are "cheap". Um, NO. One of the last places I would want to go for a ride.
     
  9. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

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    Wow... yet here, while motorcycles are used for many commutes, they seem more for enjoyment... especially around these parts.
    Motos aren't so much a must as it is in places like you just described.

    Yet still, most folks here just choose to hobby it up without proper gear like helmets.

    Right up my street, Friday night, a guy was scraped off the ground after crashing his cruiser. No helmet. Died from severe head trauma.

    Had he a helmet on, he probably would have walked away.

    I may die on moto still, but at least I'm trying to take precautions by protecting my head.
     
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  10. philois1984

    philois1984 New Member

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    Anyone who has stood up and banged there head on something knows how much it hurts, multiply that 1 2 3 or 10 times and it’s not worth thinking about.
     
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  11. Samuel

    Samuel Member

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  12. Aced It

    Aced It New Member

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    I'm not watching the video; I hate stuff like that. When my son was 15 years old he was skateboarding around the neighborhood on the sidewalk. Casually I might add as he was chatting with his girlfriend on the phone. I know because I received a call from her that something was wrong as suddenly he wasn't talking to her but the phone was still active. She kept his call on hold as she called me, so I walked outside and around the block and found him laying on the sidewalk, coherent but really confused and complaining about his head. Turns out he hit a raised part in the sidewalk and the board kicked out from under him and the back of his head hit the ground. I took him to the ER and he had some swelling that was affecting his memory, but as it went down he returned to normal. VERY scary to say the least. He told me later that he was not even going fast, just casual, walking speed. Moral is, it doesn't take much of a hit on your head to be detrimental. Thus, ALWAYS a helmet for me while riding something 100x faster.
     
  13. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

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    This is the first time I have ever heard of such stupidity. That is just so fucking insane. Those people participating should be charged with criminal negligence causing injury if that happens. Thanks to un thought out pranks, some mother. father , brother or sister could have one of their loved ones severely injured and maybe crippled in some manner for the rest of their lives. No longer ale to go out and enjoy the things in life we take for granted.

    I now remember one time in a training exercise falling backward and hitting my head on the asphalt. I was wearing head protection but it was protection for frontal impact and the back of mu head was not protected. I was not out, but dazed for a moment or two. Severe headache for a bit. I should have gone or should have been sent to the ER but it never happened. I seemed to have survived that not too bad. I think anyway. I don't give a shit what others think that way.

    For chrissake people. Wear your helmet.
     
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  14. WiscoTwisties

    WiscoTwisties New Member

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    Last July I flipped my CBR ass over tea kettle and went over the handle bars and five into the road, still a mild concussion even with the helmet, probably wouldn’t be typing this if I wasn’t wearing one.....plus it keeps the bugs away from my face. I couldn’t imagine catching a June bug to the head at 60 mph
     
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  15. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

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    Or a rock launched off somebody elses tires.
    Could be fatal with no helmet.
     
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  16. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    Two years ago I was on a trip out west, and for some reason, I kept getting pinged by rocks on my face shield and windshield. Both were a bit pockmarked when I got home. As well, I sometimes ride with the face shield cracked open a notch and have been hit twice on the cheek by bees, and that does feel like a Junebug when you get hit, stings for a few minutes. At least I think all jurisdictions require at minimum eye protection, and for good reason I'd say.
     
  17. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

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    Even when it's hot, I wear a neck gaitor to stop the bees.
    Getting stung sucks.
     
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  18. carlgustav

    carlgustav New Member

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    Decades ago I was finishing a road trip on my old Norton, coming home on the interstate. Had just started wearing more gear; full face helmet, leather jacket, etc. Came up to an overpass (at night) where some f*cktards dumped gravel off same, and I rode thru it. Pulled off at the next exit, called the cops (pay phones back then). They said probably some kids and doubtful they'd be found. But if they were, would I actually press charges! ... uh, YEAH. Full face helmet (rest of gear too) for me from then on :D.

    ACE
     
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  19. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    I have learned my lesson too, I had a habit of flipping up my visor to enjoy the fresh air. I wear glasses all the time, but I still got hit by small bee that got up behind my glasses and stung me on the eye lid. It seems every time I get stung, my reaction gets worse. By the time got home my face was all ready beginning to swell. Loaded up on Benadryl and that brought the swelling down.
     
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  20. raYzerman

    raYzerman Member

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    I'm lucky, I didn't actually get stung, it was the impact that hurt. This stuff all happened on an FJR with a real windshield, I will have to be more mindful when riding the VFR.
     
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