The pleasure of riding without a helmet?

[mclintoc]

First, I'm against helmet laws because I'm against the government trying to protect me from myself.

Second, I almost always wear a helmet, but for years I was helmetless for a few reasons: (1) I rode a Harley and the aesthetics of the whole Harley experience dictated leather jacket and gloves but no helmet. I'm not condemning that. Were I to buy a Harley tomorrow, I would probably often go helmetless again. (2) There is certainly a greater sense of freedom and expanse helmetless, a sense of connection to the elements, which is one reason why so many of us ride.

Third, I wear a helmet now because (1) I'm older now with two children and so much more safety conscious; (2) bugs, rocks, cold, etc. mean that I'm more comfortable with a helmet; (3) a number of years ago I became really intent on improving my riding rather than just enjoying my riding--better riding goes with better gear; and (4) just as Harleys look nice without helmets, so BMWs look nice with Cordura suits and flip-up helmets--I am still passionate about the aesthetics of the riding experience.

 

[K1600_gtl]

First, I'm against helmet laws because I'm against the government trying to protect me from myself.
.

Problem is it costs us ALL money... medical bills that go unpaid, higher insurance rates, wives without husbands earning a paycheck needing government assistance.. etc..

 

[mclintoc]

Problem is it costs us ALL money... medical bills that go unpaid, higher insurance rates, wives without husbands earning a paycheck needing government assistance.. etc..

so do owning motorcycles, drinking alcohol, driving after dark, etc. Life is dangerous.

 

[ANDYVH]

Even as a rider who wears a FF helmet 100%, and as a MSF instructor, I am against mandatory helmet laws only because the states use the law as a band-aid/easy fix rather than to address the real problems: lack of rider training, lack of rider skills, lack of mandatory rider skill updates, lack of addressing rider attitude through training. I would more support mandatory rider training and updates over mandatory helmet laws. But most states won't or cannot fund the programs required for the training if it was made mandatory.

The mandatory helmet laws are an easy "fix". It placates the non-riding public, it placates the insurance industry, it placates the Feds who try to grab state highway funds with penalties for not having mandatory helmet laws.

Mandatory helmet laws in themself, do not make for safer riders. Only rider training, rider skills, traffic strategies, and attitude can produce a safer rider.

 

[K1600_gtl]

Mandatory helmet laws in themself, do not make for safer riders. Only rider training, rider skills, traffic strategies, and attitude can produce a safer rider.

I am very happy to see that Oregon has now instated a mandatory "Team Oregon" training to get your endorsement.. for this year, it's anyone under 41, next year it's 51 and the following year 61, etc..

 

[marchyman]

But no real helmet? Still don't get it.

Do you get folks who like to skydive? How about those who enjoy running marathons? People do both for the fun of it. Perhaps riding without a helmet is the same kind if thing. Maybe you'll never get it... just as there are people who will never get why we ride. After all, you don't have to put on any gear, can add heat or cooling to taste, and never worry about getting wet if you take a car instead of riding a bike.

 

[ANDYVH]

Certainly, just like I understand people who Bungee jump, scuba dive with sharks, fireman, stunt professionals, etc, etc.

My response about rider safety, meaning mandatory helmet laws, pertains to the way our government approaches it, that is take the easy route and slap helmets on everyone's noggin and that's all the needs to be done.

People should be left to do things as they see fit for themselves, without the Feds making it legal or illegal, or telling them how to watch out for themselves. But what about at least having standards that define how you earn the right to do what you want to do? You don't fly a helicopter without training. I read somewhere, riding a motorcycle effectively, takes about the same mental loading as flying a helicopter.

You don't go scuba diving 150 feet deep just by slapping on an air tank, goggles, weight belt and fins. You might make it down to 150 feet ok. But without training if you come up like you do for a free dive 10 feet deep, you aint gonna be comfortable with the results.

 

[jnrugg]

How is mandating a helmet any different then seatbelts, air bags, etc?
I am not trying to fan any flames I just want to know what gives the gov't the right to do one thing and not the same to another group.
The less gov't the better, to a point.

 

[AKsuited]

How is mandating a helmet any different then seatbelts, air bags, etc?

Or building codes, vaccinations, etc., etc.

I get very tired of hearing cry-baby bikers whining about wearing helmets.

Harry

 

[K1600_gtl]

Or building codes, vaccinations, etc., etc.

I get very tired of hearing cry-baby bikers whining about wearing helmets.

Harry

Very well said! +1

 

[WalterK75]

Is not wearing a helmet an example of the Darwin principle in action? Unfortunately, if so, most riders who don't wear helmets have already bred and passed their genes on to the next generation.

 

[SeabeckS]

It's a matter of choice in some places, in my youthful days (when dinosaurs roamed) I never wore a helmet while riding in the deserts of Nevada. But now can't even imagine riding without a quality noggin protector.

And when I see a helmetless rider, or one of those beanie helmets, I have a similar response to when I see someone smoking a cigarette. But it's their choice...



Cheers..

 

[marchyman]

Certainly, just like I understand people who Bungee jump, scuba dive with sharks, fireman, stunt professionals, etc, etc.

But my questions were for BCKRIDER who said he didn't get it. There are riders who claim to enjoy the ride more without a helmet. I don't know why. Unless BCKRIDER is trying to get helmet-less riders to change their mind there isn't any particular need for him to "get it", either.

 

[BCKRider]

But my questions were for BCKRIDER who said he didn't get it. There are riders who claim to enjoy the ride more without a helmet. I don't know why. Unless BCKRIDER is trying to get helmet-less riders to change their mind there isn't any particular need for him to "get it", either.

You're right, I don't need to "get it." But I was curious and thought someone might have the answer to my original question. I have never gone skydiving and I have never run a marathon, but I certainly can envision the thrill of the former and the satisfaction of completeing a marathon. Didn't see anything wrong with asking the question. Guess there is nothing wrong either in getting pretty unsatisfactory answers.

 

[Rinty]

What is the pleasure...BCKrider

I rode my airhead without a helmet once (at the 1998 Missoula National Rally, actually). I got an earful of valve train noise.

 

[MOTOR31]

I really don't care if a rider wears a helmet or not. I will never tell a rider over the age of 18 that their head is worth the price of a helmet if they themselves do not think so and demonstrate that opinion by not wearing one while riding.

All I ask is that those who ride without a helmet be organ donors, have a good living will and a healthy sized insurance policy to cover their medical expenses without having to be supplemented by financial input from others should they become a veg or otherwise fully incapacitated and unable to support themselves and family because of a head injury.

 

[_Mark]

I always wear a full coverage helmet, feel naked without it. A few years back a car ahead of me kicked up some road debris that peeled a chunk of fiberglass out of my helmet. Could've gotten ugly, but on a brighter note I got to buy a new helmet!

Mark

 

[PittsDriver]

Actually, I'd rather hooligans and helmet less riders have no insurance so that they have no negative effect on the rest of us that ride responsibly.

 

[jnrugg]

As I was waiting to pull out onto a main road the other day a gaggle of American motorcycle brand riders came from the left. The first one pulled into oncoming lanes and blocked the lanes for the others. The first thing I thought was how arrogant these people were to think they are more important than people coming the other way.
Then I saw how dangerous what they were doing was. There were two bikes either not with the group or leaving the group passing in the right lane (4 lane rd.). If the car in front of me had been turning right he probably would have pulled out in front of these riders assuming they were turning as well.

Then my thoughts turned to this thread and how people who don't wear helmets have a sense of arrogance that they are better than the rest because they don't wear a "stupid" helmet because "the man" says they have to. They are arrogant because they don't think about their friends and families they will either leave behind or have to who will have to take care of them for the rest of their vegetative life.

Any passengers on my bike wear helmets, long pants, gloves and ankle length boots. I would have a hard time living with myself if someone got hurt while riding with me.

I am going to unsubscribe from this thread so flame away.

 

[ANDYVH]

It seems too, that the ones spouting the loudest about their choice/right to not wear a helmet, are often also the ones who claim "I hadda lay er down!" when talking about some crash history they are relating to others.

I was part of some casual conversation at a steering committee meeting with a local volunteer group recently. I showed up carrying my riding jacket and helmet, had my riding boots on. One lady in the group commented about riding in general, she also works administration at a local hospital, but she also commented about the hazards/risks inherent in riding.

Yup, to that I could only totally agree. But then she went to recall a story about someone she knew who claimed "had to lay it down to avoid hitting a car!"

Biggest freakin lie/myth in motorcycling, and it makes me cringe every time I hear it. In my opinion, those making the claim most likely did not have the right riding skills, had lousy traffic strategy skills, weren't paying attention, and got themselves in trouble, only too exclaim "hadda lay er down" as some lame decision/skill relative to riding. Argh!