"Helmets dont really help you in a crash"

[glhs837]

Said to me, with a little less than full conviction by the nice lady in the eye doctors office. I stopped in to get a set reworked with updated lenses. As I took off my glasses and removed my helmet, she asked what I rode.

I hooked my thumb towards the door, where my Vstrom was visible outside, and mentioned that it was a pain to remove the glasses to put on or take off the helmet. She said she didnt have that problem, since she wore an open faced helmet. I said I was taught to draw an imaginary line from the forehead to the forward bottom edge. My instructor then asked me how okay I was with all of my face outside that line dragging across the pavement at 40-50mph. I have a vivid imagination, that was enough to convinve me its full face or no ride.

The title line was her response, but it was halfhearted, not really said with conviction, as if she was just repeating what she was told, but wasnt sure she believed it. I then told her one saved my friends life, as attested to the three fractures in the helmet, and his face, as shown by the visor that was completely opaque with abrasions suffered as he slid across the ground unconcious.

 

[bcp]

If you drop at a high speed, chances are that the helmet wont do you too much good in the end other than maybe keeping your face in a condition that will make indentifying you easier.
However, in a minor accident, that helmet could be the difference between riding a bike again, or riding a short bus.

when I dropped mine back in the early 80s, the helmet took the hit on a curb as I slid down the gutter. Never rode without a helmet after that.

 

[Tilted]

She's an idiot. Obviously, it depends on the nature of the crash as to whether or not the helmet is likely to help you. But, since you don't usually know what kind of crash you are going to get into before you get into it, it's ridiculous to make that kind of statement.

Had my brother been wearing a real helmet 4 years ago instead of the 'just for show' one he was wearing, there's a pretty good chance he'd still be alive today and we'd have 4 more years of shared experiences to treasure.

 

[desertrat]

If I'd had a full face when I had one of my many dirt bike crashes I'd still have my real front teeth. Been lucky other than that. Just a few broken bones.

 

[Bigpops92]

people that don't wear helmets = natural selection.

 

[Woodyspda]

people that don't wear helmets = natural selection.

People that DO where helmets that don't fit properly = natural selection also.

 

[luckystar]

People that DO where helmets that don't fit properly = natural selection also.

People who are stupid enough to ride motorcycles on normal traffic roads = natural selection.

Sure it's legal, but motorcycles don't have steel cages / roll bars / several thousand pounds or more behind them. I'm sorry, but I see more stupidity in the hobby than thrill. It's asking to be crushed by some motorist. Doesn't matter how safe of a driver you are. There's always someone out there who might be drunk, texting, tired, or any combination.

That being said, safe driving

 

[itsbob]

People who are stupid enough to ride motorcycles on normal traffic roads = natural selection.

Sure it's legal, but motorcycles don't have steel cages / roll bars / several thousand pounds or more behind them. I'm sorry, but I see more stupidity in the hobby than thrill. It's asking to be crushed by some motorist. Doesn't matter how safe of a driver you are. There's always someone out there who might be drunk, texting, tired, or any combination.

That being said, safe driving

You best stay home on your couch and watch Oprah.. where you're safe.

 

[Larry Gude]

People who are stupid enough to ride motorcycles on normal traffic roads = natural selection.

Sure it's legal, but motorcycles don't have steel cages / roll bars / several thousand pounds or more behind them. I'm sorry, but I see more stupidity in the hobby than thrill. It's asking to be crushed by some motorist. Doesn't matter how safe of a driver you are. There's always someone out there who might be drunk, texting, tired, or any combination.

That being said, safe driving

Nah. These people are stupid:

 

[TurboK9]

Said to me, with a little less than full conviction by the nice lady in the eye doctors office. I stopped in to get a set reworked with updated lenses. As I took off my glasses and removed my helmet, she asked what I rode.

I hooked my thumb towards the door, where my Vstrom was visible outside, and mentioned that it was a pain to remove the glasses to put on or take off the helmet. She said she didnt have that problem, since she wore an open faced helmet. I said I was taught to draw an imaginary line from the forehead to the forward bottom edge. My instructor then asked me how okay I was with all of my face outside that line dragging across the pavement at 40-50mph. I have a vivid imagination, that was enough to convinve me its full face or no ride.

The title line was her response, but it was halfhearted, not really said with conviction, as if she was just repeating what she was told, but wasnt sure she believed it. I then told her one saved my friends life, as attested to the three fractures in the helmet, and his face, as shown by the visor that was completely opaque with abrasions suffered as he slid across the ground unconcious.

Brought back memories of my grandfather, oddly enough... Explaining to me why he refused to wear a seatbelt. "If I ever drive off a bridge into the water, and the seatbelt jams, I'd drown." Ummm, sure, gramps. Out of the 40,000+ highway fatalities every year, you're worried most about THAT?

Noggin' crates are just a good idea, period!!

 

[itsbob]

If you drop at a high speed, chances are that the helmet wont do you too much good in the end other than maybe keeping your face in a condition that will make indentifying you easier.
However, in a minor accident, that helmet could be the difference between riding a bike again, or riding a short bus.

.

Well, nowadays it's more than just wearing a helmet, at least to those intent on enjoying the sport, and reducing the risk.

I've met quite a few people that have gone down at speed, and have walked back to their bike and kicked it.

Even a story about a senior citizen rearending a (basically) stopped station wagon on an interstate at speed, and living to tell about it.

Rearended at a stop light at speed, and posted about when they got home a couple of hours later.

There's a reason when you watch the motorcyle racing on TV, that they aren't wearing wifebeaters and shorts...They can go down at >100MPH and still walk to the pits.

No matter the speed, you aren't going to fall more than three feet, than you just have to hope you're dressed right for the LONG slowly grating slide, and tumble..

It's your choice: Walk away and go home to dinner with your family, or be carted away by an ambulance or worse a hearse.. I have a wife and 5 kids, that I'm fond of.. I love the sport, but I also want to be around for a good long time for them.

 

[Floyd2004]

Sort of how I see a bunch of super bikes whipping through traffic wearing wifebeater shirts and shorts and sneakers and just a helmet.

I laugh everytime... I wont ride unless I have long sleeves, jeans, gloves and a helmet atleast. Of course im a beginner in that aspect that I dont even own a own bike.

 

[clevalley]

Nah. These people are stupid:

I never got totally messed up MX'ing.

 

[Larry Gude]

I never got totally messed up MX'ing.

You're saying this never happened to you:

 

[dustin]

You're saying this never happened to you:

that dang cornerworker wasnt even waving his flag... until the last rider landed on him

 

[bcp]

You're saying this never happened to you:

now,,, was that supposed to happen?

 

[ylexot]

Sort of how I see a bunch of super bikes whipping through traffic wearing wifebeater shirts and shorts and sneakers and just a helmet.

I laugh everytime... I wont ride unless I have long sleeves, jeans, gloves and a helmet atleast. Of course im a beginner in that aspect that I dont even own a own bike.

That long sleeve shirt and jeans aren't going to protect you much more than a wifebeater and shorts :shrug: You should be wearing real gear.

 

[itsbob]

That long sleeve shirt and jeans aren't going to protect you much more than a wifebeater and shorts :shrug: You should be wearing real gear.

AMEN!!

And of course being seen helps too!


Put HID's and MotoLights on the new BIKE.. AWEsome!!

HID's were an EASY install.. went a little too blue I think at 6000k, but it sure makes the parking lights look yellow, and I do believe I stick out of traffic..

 

[glhs837]

That long sleeve shirt and jeans aren't going to protect you much more than a wifebeater and shorts :shrug: You should be wearing real gear.

I'm still slacking on pants, but I did move up to a real CE armored jacket, after years of using my leather Navy flight jacket.

 

[Floyd2004]

That long sleeve shirt and jeans aren't going to protect you much more than a wifebeater and shorts :shrug: You should be wearing real gear.

I for one know I dont have that kinda money. Some of that stuff is down right expensive for a pair of pants and a jacket. If I got the "good" stuff id spend more on gear for me than the bike would cost!