No helmet but jacket withs pads

[zeus661]

I am not trying to start anything but lately I have seen a lot of rider with no helmets but they are wearing a leather or padded motorcycle jacket. Just seems odd. I am wondering if they thinking they can protect their heads in a crash.

Last September I had a crash at about 35 mph. It involved a pothole and curve. What I learned from it is I sure am glad I had a helmet on plus my jacket that I don't always wear. My helmet took most of the hits.

So you helmetless riders, what are your thoughts?

[stroguy]

I see about 70/30 here in Houston area. 70 without, 30 with. Incredulous but it's their eggs to scramble.

[opas ride]

It is about 60/40 here in Michigan around where I ride/live. Used to be mandatory to wear a helmet but laws changed a while back..(For the worse in my opinion)...I have family members, in others states besides Michigan, who are emergency room nurses who maintain a certain level of job security trying to patch up riders that are in accidents riding without a helmet.....Most of the HD riders I see go without a helmet...Guess they think it is part of the HD culture...As they get older they wonder why they cannot hear anymore???...Duh!!

[jm21ddd15]

It is about 60/40 here in Michigan around where I ride/live. Used to be mandatory to wear a helmet but laws changed a while back..(For the worse in my opinion)...I have family members, in others states besides Michigan, who are emergency room nurses who maintain a certain level of job security trying to patch up riders that are in accidents riding without a helmet.....Most of the HD riders I see go without a helmet...Guess they think it is part of the HD culture...As they get older they wonder why they cannot hear anymore???...Duh!!
About the same here in Wisconsin. The great majority of H-D riders go without. Like most of us, I have friends that ride H-D and go without. Definitely part of the culture. But, it is their choice. What cracks me up is when I see a biker smoking while riding. Hot ash up the nose , or in the eye wouldn't be fun.'popcorn and coke'

[ratsass]

I'm a “snowbird” living in Massachusetts (a Big Brother state) in the summer and Florida (a Free State) during the winter. I much prefer to ride free. I know that each time I throw a leg over my motorcycle I'm taking a risk with or without a helmet. I know the risks associated with motorcycles and I'm willing to accept them.
It's nobody’s business but mine.

[Steve 0080]

I'm a “snowbird” living in Massachusetts (a Big Brother state) in the summer and Florida (a Free State) during the winter. I much prefer to ride free. I know that each time I throw a leg over my motorcycle I'm taking a risk with or without a helmet. I know the risks associated with motorcycles and I'm willing to accept them.
It's nobody’s business but mine.



Plus One !!!!!!!!! Mine your own business......LOL

[Steve 0080]

For me...I have taken to wearing a helmet 98% of the time...On a long haul my Schubert , med ride my 3/4 helmet...short trip my half helmet...all of this is what I chose to do... bear in mind here in FLA temps can reach 115 with the heat index...is it better to sweat than bleed ? Absolutely ...did anyone ever wake up and chose to die today...maybe not so much..... I don't think you should have to wear seat belts either

[wjduke]

Here's a question that maybe someone here can answer. How many guys have gone down without one, lived to tell about it, sustained a head injury and still won't wear it?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I got hit April last year broadside at about 35mph, had full gear and went down in a heap, helmet hitting the road. I never rode without, but respect what each individual decides on their own. Just curious if they'd do it again.

[bob109]

For many "Ego" and "Image" outweigh "Common Sense"! It's as simple as that:shock:

[53driver]

I'm a “snowbird” living in Massachusetts (a Big Brother state) in the summer and Florida (a Free State) during the winter. I much prefer to ride free. I know that each time I throw a leg over my motorcycle I'm taking a risk with or without a helmet. I know the risks associated with motorcycles and I'm willing to accept them.
It's nobody’s business but mine.

I agree - as long as it remains your own business.
When you make it my business by imparting the costs to me....that's an issue.
Brain salad surgery ain't cheap.
Many uninsured/underinsured motorists/motorcyclists leave medical bills behind that "law-abiding" Americans must cover indirectly.
Not cool.

[bob109]

I agree - as long as it remains your own business.
When you make it my business by imparting the costs to me....that's an issue.
Brain salad surgery ain't cheap.
Many uninsured/underinsured motorists/motorcyclists leave medical bills behind that "law-abiding" Americans must cover indirectly.
Not cool.

+1 Picking up the tab for someone else's stupidity is not my cup of tea. When one chooses to become a "Ward of the State" at my expense it is my business:no:

[Paul B Blues]

It's the law here in the UK, no helmet, no ride..'gw-smiley':motorcycle2:

[Steve 0080]

I agree - as long as it remains your own business.
When you make it my business by imparting the costs to me....that's an issue.
Brain salad surgery ain't cheap.
Many uninsured/underinsured motorists/motorcyclists leave medical bills behind that "law-abiding" Americans must cover indirectly.
Not cool.




Sooooooo you did not vote for Obumma care?

[seadog]

The statistics say 70% of the death of helmetless riders would have survived if they had had a helmet on when the crash occurred. That's a pretty large percentage of accident victims.

[shooter]

Here's a question that maybe someone here can answer. How many guys have gone down without one, lived to tell about it, sustained a head injury and still won't wear it?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I got hit April last year broadside at about 35mph, had full gear and went down in a heap, helmet hitting the road. I never rode without, but respect what each individual decides on their own. Just curious if they'd do it again.
Don't know if you saw it on the other forum. Jeff FL07LE went down with a beanie on. Pics look bad. Lots of facial lacerations and jaw broken.

[hiflyer]

Don't know if you saw it on the other forum. Jeff FL07LE went down with a beanie on. Pics look bad. Lots of facial lacerations and jaw broken.

What forum would that be?

[wjduke]

Don't know if you saw it on the other forum. Jeff FL07LE went down with a beanie on. Pics look bad. Lots of facial lacerations and jaw broken.
Saw that shooter...it looked bad, but there was a follow up pic of him leaving the hospital. He came through pretty good. Half helmet and looked like he did a face plant over the bars...lucky

[shooter]

What forum would that be?

Flyer that was the M109R forum.

[wjduke]

Here's a before and after...
1420914210

[hiflyer]

Here's a before and after...

Ouch!

[wjduke]

A bicyclist cut in front of him and he slammed the brakes I guess. It didn't speak of any other injuries, so I guess it was just him and the bike, which I heard is totaled. It doesn't take much to total an M109...mine was too.

[zeus661]

Here is a picture of my helmet from a crash last September. I was doing about 35 mph a side swiped a curve while avoiding a major pot hole. Bike went down on the left side.

14254

Picture of bike.

14255
14256
14257

Insurance fixed the bike and I had it back in three weeks. $10k in damage.

For me a fractured tibia platue, torn ACL and meniscus. 6 months off work.

[bob109]

Here is a picture of my helmet from a crash last September. I was doing about 35 mph a side swiped a curve while avoiding a major pot hole. Bike went down on the left side.

14254

Picture of bike.

14255
14256
14257

Insurance fixed the bike and I had it back in three weeks. $10k in damage.

For me a fractured tibia platue, torn ACL and meniscus. 6 months off work.

Wow! You are really fortunate to have been wearing a helmet! Hopefully you are fully recovered physically! That is the most important thing. It stories of incidences like yours that go a long way in waking people up to what can happen even at a low speed.

Regards and Safe Riding

Bob109

[zeus661]

just about fully recovered. My knee is still an issue as far as doing a squat. Can't kneel on it also. Very little pain even when broken and healing. In order to fix the ACL the doctor used my own tendon from the knee area. When I hit the curb I can tell you there would have been no way to protect my head had I not been wearing a helmet. in my case I have excellent health insurance and receive most of my pay while off.

My hospital bills with one overnight stay were just short of $105k. I paid less than $3k.

[wjduke]

just about fully recovered. My knee is still an issue as far as doing a squat. Can't kneel on it also. Very little pain even when broken and healing. In order to fix the ACL the doctor used my own tendon from the knee area. When I hit the curb I can tell you there would have been no way to protect my head had I not been wearing a helmet. in my case I have excellent health insurance and receive most of my pay while off.

My hospital bills with one overnight stay were just short of $105k. I paid less than $3k.

BCBS sux....my hospital bill was $76k....they're taking back $30k when I get a settlement. I got hit by an 83 year old. They wouldn't even pay for the ambulance...out of area. I'll stop now before this becomes a rant.

[Wmorgan2k]

To wear or not to wear is a choice is some states and for those of us who choose not to wear that's our business. I see idiots in 115 degree heat wearing full leather and a full face helmet on a GOLDWING! While you might be safe "IF" you fall down your probably gonna scramble your melon anyway due to heat exhaustion. At the end of the day riding a bike is dangerous business and you take a risk every time you get on one. In many cases a helmet helps, in some it just keeps the big bits in place. If it's your time, it's your time.

I've wrecked a more than a few times in my riding career, the last 2 low sides my helmet never touched the road, my high side (hit a curb, to much speed) just landed me in the grass so in all of those helmet wasn't a factor aside to make my neck sore. Does that mean it will be that way the next time, no, does it mean it's that way for everyone, no. But people survive who don't wear helmets and people die who wear full gear. it's a crap shoot.

That poor guy in the picture a helmet wouldn't have probably done much more unless it was a full face. So should we all only wear full face helmets now? Ride whatever level of gear you feel you need. When I'm on my Wing or the B I don't wear one very often, on the Valkyrie I do because it has less protection and I tend to be more hamfisted with it, ride a little faster, corner a little quicker. I'm taking it easy on the others so I accept that level of risk. When I'm going no helmet I have a very very different riding style then when I do.

To each there own no reason to bash or hate on the other... Oh and I smoke Cigars on my Wing all the time, been doing it for years, never had an issue with Ash up my nose or anywhere else. It's one of my favorite things to do, a comfy backroads ride, no helmet with a nice stogie and some good tunes. That's freedom to me and the hell with anyone who wants to argue that with me!

[shooter]

I agree that you shouldn't have to wear a helmet if you don't want. Too many regulations as it is. I also think my insurance premiums and tax dollars should not be used to save your azz due to lack of good judgment. Its like "we can save him if he has this expensive operation but his premium won't cover it". Let's call Shooter and see if he will chip in. " Nope".

[Wmorgan2k]

I agree that you shouldn't have to wear a helmet if you don't want. Too many regulations as it is. I also think my insurance premiums and tax dollars should not be used to save your azz due to lack of good judgment. Its like "we can save him if he has this expensive operation but his premium won't cover it". Let's call Shooter and see if he will chip in. " Nope".

I agree... Luckily Most folks on our style bikes don't crash as much or as often or as badly as those that tend to ride sport bikes. Hence our premiums are much cheaper which I like. My CB1000R was $1000 a year my Goldwing is $300 Big difference...