Not sure how ya can do it?

[Sabre093]

In Florida on a mini vacation and I see bikers riding without helmets. ..wow not me there is no way I'd ride without a helmet. My wife's cousin is a nurse in Tampa and she told me they call those people organ donors...but hell ya love to live here to be able to ride everyday!

[Steve_in_Florida]

In Florida on a mini vacation...

Really?? Whereabouts?

Lemme guess. DISNEY? Universal? Sea World?

If so, I'm in the area, and have more than one RUNNING FJ!

How long are you here?

Let me know, I'll make time if it'll fit your schedule and you're close enough.

Steve

Oh, about the helmet thing. Yes, Florida gives you a choice. The idea is to MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE! Some don't.

[FJmonkey]

When I visit Illinois a few times a year I see the few riding with no helmet. Many do wear them, I just try to remember that Darwin almost got it right. These guys and gals have most likely already had children.

[TexasDave]

When I visit Illinois a few times a year I see the few riding with no helmet. Many do wear them, I just try to remember that Darwin almost got it right. These guys and gals have most likely already had children.

Texas also gives you a choice. Most without helmets are young male Hardley riders so there is a good chance to improve the gene pool.  Dave

[FJmonkey]

When I visit Illinois a few times a year I see the few riding with no helmet. Many do wear them, I just try to remember that Darwin almost got it right. These guys and gals have most likely already had children.
Texas also gives you a choice. Most without helmets are young male Hardley riders so there is a good chance to improve the gene pool.  Dave

Thanks, that gives me a little hope for humanity. However I am not advocating against free choice. I just think we need to remove all the warning labels and let the chips fall as they may....

[fj johnnie]

I was in San Diego last Saturday and was surprised at how many guys on Harley's actually wore full face helmets. In Pennsylvania last summer we didn't see a single Harley rider with a helmet of any kind. Funny how in different parts of the country you see different things.

[Sabre093]

Steve we're in Tampa near Whiskey Joe's we are flying out Monday

[1tinindian]

With Iowa still not having a helmet law, I grew up not wearing, much in the same way we never wore seat belts before there was a law, it was looked on as "unnecessary".

Times have changed, lessons learned, accidents happened, laws have changed and I have grown up just a little and now ride with a helmet 100% of the time. Seat belt law now has made it second nature to buckle up. ( That and very stiff fines!)

Part of it has to do with the style of motorcycle I'm riding, but more so, I realize the obvious protection a helmet provides, whether its is protection from wind, rain, bugs, or in the event of an off motorcycle tumble, a helmet just makes sense.

And with this knowledge, it kills me that when I see friends of mine here in Iowa, out on their cruisers with their wifes taking
a cross state ride for the weekend with nothing more than their do-rags, I just hope they learn their lesson before it's too late for them.

Leon

[Steve_in_Florida]

...My wife's cousin is a nurse in Tampa and she told me they call those people organ donors...

Steve we're in Tampa near Whiskey Joe's we are flying out Monday

I've also heard "Muder-Cycle(s/ist/r)"

Timing!

Hope you had a nice visit. Catch you next time.

Steve

[Burns]

There were no helmet laws when I started riding and very few street riders wore them. Then the insurance companies got in the act and failing to protect yourself adequately became a criminal act.  Texas backed-off on that when HD became a status symbol of the well-to-do. The "cagers" still have to buckle-up but the bikers are free to expose themselves as they see fit - up to the public lewdity level.

The statistics on neck-injury vs head injury make the helmet choice a bit less one-sided than you might think, and from time to time I do enjoy a naked-noogin ride. But law or no law my default would be  to wear head, hand, and foot/ankle protection.

I just don't think it should be a crime not to.

[Capn Ron]

Well put, Burns!

I think if we manage to survive our youth...and develop a sense of mortality along the way, wearing a helmet is the obvious choice.  When I was young and had the option in California, on rare occasions I'd ride without a helmet.  I would justify it with the heat and/or humidity, I could turn my head to look around easier and I could hear better in and around town at slow speeds.  Even then, I was known to state, "When my head hits the pavement, it had better be a day I chose to wear the helmet!"

We've gone too far with making things compulsory...we're at the point where it's difficult to get through a day without breaking a law and wearing a helmet or not should be a personal choice.  That being said, I ALWAYS wear a helmet...and on my long trip, I would cross into states where people still had a choice.  That always put a smile on my face...inside my helmet!   

[anson45]

I live on the Pa border and ride down there often. Once or twice a year I'll tie my helmet on the back and ride a few miles remembering my youth. I don't do it often or go fast, the noise is too much. And only on my 650.
Anson

[giantkiller]

In Wisconsin helmets on a Harley is illegal. Or so it seems probably one in 200. But it's their choice. A helmet has saved my life more than once. One time still fractured my skull in 2 places, and broke my nose, and a tooth, also impacted the vertebra in my neck.( full face arai) But I still once in awhile enjoy a ride with out one.

[ribbert]

There were no helmet laws when I started riding and very few street riders wore them. Then the insurance companies got in the act and failing to protect yourself adequately became a criminal act.  Texas backed-off on that when HD became a status symbol of the well-to-do. The "cagers" still have to buckle-up but the bikers are free to expose themselves as they see fit - up to the public lewdity level.

The statistics on neck-injury vs head injury make the helmet choice a bit less one-sided than you might think, and from time to time I do enjoy a naked-noogin ride. But law or no law my default would be  to wear head, hand, and foot/ankle protection.

I just don't think it should be a crime not to.

We have free health care, so if the government's picking up the tab, it feels it has the right to forceably minimize the risk and that means compulsory helmets.

Much and all as I hate over regululation, I think this is a good idea.




This bloke was one of Australia's best known, non racing, motorbike identities with a string of amazing rides behind him. One message he always flogged was safety and under circumstances that those that knew him just cannot remotely comprehend, he had just taken his helmet off and was only doing about 35mph.
The attending doctor confirmed that there were virtually no injuries other than the blow to the head and had he been wearing his helmet in all likelihood would have just dusted himself off and kept riding.

Noel

[scarylarry]

Here in PA, I'd say 90% of the cruiser riders (hardly and others) do not wear more than a do-rag on their coconuts.
I've even seen  them, shirtless, cutoff shorts and flip flops.  WTF? I just don't get.   that's just asking for it