I feel its a personal choice but to me it's a no brainer if you don't wear 1 you might not have any brains if you go down.I have raced everything from MX,enduros, road race, hill climbs etc its not a matter of if you crash it's when you'll crash! Not wearing a helmet is like riding with flip flops, tank tops and a speedo. Now you have to excuse me I have to go buy some cigarettes an a bottle of Jack and go for a ride NOT !