rodgerd

I live somewhere where bike helmets are cumpulsory, and for my own peace of mind, I'd want one anyway. So I could have a piece of mind left.

I've started riging with a full face helmet, armoured jacket, gloves, and boots. I'll be adding armoured pants in the near future.

At the other extreme, there are places (like some US states) where you don't need a helmet, and wear no gear.

Does anyone at tfp lean that way? Why do you scorn full protective gear?

rockogre

For casual riding around my small town and in the country I only wear boots and levis for protection. I do have a full face helmet and a leather jacket if I expect to be in a lot of traffic or at high speeds, and I wear gloves. Around here I seldom see the high side of 55.

Helmets are not required here, Oklahoma, if you are over 18.

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Charlatan

I just can't imagine not wearing at least a shorty when riding my bike... that said I forgo the protective clothing when I'm just cruising around town -- jeans, boots and a t-shirt.

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supgbi21

Im the same rogerd, i wear armoured jacket, pants, gloves, full helmet all the time.

Can be a pain when going to a function but, id sooner be hot for an hour then go through the procedure for removing gravel from my body. I guess i just really like my skin, the way it is, all attached to me and stuff.

Keep the shiny side up.

Cynthetiq

i love the feeling of the wind in my hair... but I also like the feeling my brain has inside my skull....

when I rode I wore as much as I could afford and stand...

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tfin

In town just jeans and shirt. On the road (over 40 mph) Heaving riding jacket, gloves, helmet, boots, jeans. I had a friend tag a deer at 65 right in front of me. If he would not have been wearing a helmet he would be missing his face right now.

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kod

People that scorn proctective gear are soon to be scorning skin grafts. Around here (texas) it's a matter of wearing as much protective gear as you can tolerate in the heat.

rockogre

I had a friend die two years ago because he wasn't wearing a helmet, but, I have had friends die in cars while wearing seatbelts. One friend died of sleep apnea, he just died during the night. And on Monday of this week an old friend died because a truck fell on him while he was working on the brakes.

I'm sure that helmets save some lives yet there are reports out there that occasionally the helmet may have resulted in a broken neck.

Life occurs and you make your choices. I don't like wearing a helmet but I ride as safely as possible otherwise. I don't think that there should be laws requiring helmets once you are over 18. If you are old enough to die in some god forsaken sand covered country you are old enough to decide for yourself.

Sorry, kind of got on a rant there.

And I love wearing my leather jacket but Oklahoma summers are bad enough without a coat.

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GSRIDER

There is no helmet law in Kansas, but in missouri there is (I only tell you this cause i live in missouri but work in kansas so i cross state boards twice a day.

I think it breaksdown to choice and riding style. If I'm on a 2 lane country highway just strolling along then I don't wear protective gear. If I'm city bound, I gear up, interstates traveling over 70 miles an hour and I'm locked up tighter than a virgin at prom... nothin is getting in.

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tfin

I agree 95%. But there should also be some kind of no-helmet-sign-off. If you chose not to wear a helmet, fine, bu if you get hurt or killed it wont affect others insurance rates. I just hate having to pay for other peoples choices. I have a clean driving record but it wold cost me $2k a year just to insure a 600cc crotch rocket. Why? Cause a bunch of stupid people made choices to get them and trash them. I just don't like having to pay for others fuck ups.

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WarWagon

Always a helmet at the minimum, and no one will ever convince me otherwise, as seeing a young man's brains smeared on the ground in front of my house tended to have a substantial impact in regards to safety equipment for me.

It doesn't matter how careful, loud, or watchful you are. I've been in a fender bender in my pro street wagon, which can be seen and heard from about 2 miles away, doing about 15 mph. They're called "accidents" for a reason, and they DO happen.

Imhotept

I mainly just ride hard in the mountains on the weekends, So I always wear full leathers, gloves, boots and HELMET. Ive seen so many people get hurt that I dont feel safe with out full gear now. But wear what you want! It helps thin the moronic herd of society.

deverell

Wear the lot, and ride as if every one else on the road will try as hard as they can to kill you. (especially white van drivers). The coolest dudes of all are in the mortuary freezers. "The better man she walks witk still, tho' now 'tis not with Fred. A man who lives and has his way is better than one dead." (Spot the poet)

neddy65

just one dink with his/her head up the old whazoo and you eat pavement.....been there and thank GOD for the gear i was wearing cause i took a beating. All the gear all the time.

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art

your a touh guy hu?? HARRRRRDDCOOOOOOREEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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art

ive taken a motorcycle course and loud isnt better, yes its louder but its Mostly noticed from behind. rice fueled crotch rocket.... plastic..... what are you talking about....... japanese/european bikes are far better than american bikes.


that broken neck thing is a false rumor during my motorcycle course our teacher talked about that, infact there have NEVER been any cases of a helmet Hurting someone All they do is protect you.

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Sion

"that broken neck thing is a false rumor during my motorcycle course our teacher talked about that, infact there have NEVER been any cases of a helmet Hurting someone All they do is protect you."


your teacher was lying to you in order to impress upon you a fear of riding without a helmet. I have friend who t-boned a woman in a station wagon at about 35-40 mph. he was passing a mall and the bimbo just pulled out right in front of him. he was launched over her car and (fortunately) landed in the grass about 30 feet away. he landed pretty much head first. he was not wearing a helmet. he survived with only minor injuries, cuts and abrasions and a major headache. the doctor who treated him at the ER said that had he been wearing a helmet, he would most likely have suffered a broken neck, which could have left him dead or paralyzed. he also said he has seen LOTS of broken necks from riders who wrecked while riding with helmets. it is NOT an urban legend, my friend.

now, that being said, I DO strongly recommend wearing a helmet. in at least 80% of all motorcycle crashes, a helmet is going to do much more in the way of protecting you than not.

on the other hand, though, if you always wear a helmet, you are missing out on one of the bigger thrills of motorcycling, which is the feel of the wind on your face/in your hair.

for me, it is a matter of what kind of ride I'm on and how aggressive I'll be driving. 95% of my riding is back and forth to work (about 1 mile, edge of the city, low speeds no more than 35) and thus I usually dont wear my helmet on these rides. Its a short ride, I know where EVERY danger spot on the route is and I am comfortable with my ability to avoid trouble. However, on the highway/at higher speeds, or in heavier traffic, I do wear my helmet.

and another thing to remember is that NOTHING in life, let me repeat that: NOTHING IN LIFE, is risk free. every time you set foot outside your front door, you are at risk for something. because I look at life this way, I am always assessing any activity I engage in as part of a risk/reward scenario. I weigh the risk versus the rewards of anything I do and utilize safety gear/measures as I see appropriate. on my bike, that means sometimes I wear my helmet, sometimes I dont.


btw, I'd like to ask all of you who so vociferously advocated wearing a helmet at all times (particularly art) if you ALWAYS wear your seatbelt in your car? the same argument about helmets applies to seatbelts. most of the time, they save lives, but there have been (and will always continue to be) situations in which seatbelts are partially responsible for deaths as well.



and finally, seatbelt laws and helmet laws are bad legislation. the ONLY reason they exist is to save the insurance companies some money, not because any politician or insurance company gives two shits about you or your safety.

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Atomic Pinkie

Bones, i used to live in IL

The mayor of our town rode a harley, when he could.

Hit gravel coming around a corner, there was some light gravel, the thing slid out from under him, they had to take both arms and legs.

Just a thought.

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GSRIDER

WTF!?!?!?!

I drive a white van!!

Is there some statistic I don't know about?

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mtsgsd

Same here! No desire to kill that I know of.

Not that a wholllle lot of Harley riders don't deserve it mind you.

I'm completely against the helmet law. The cops have got better things to do than to try and make you take care of yourself. Shit, it's like we're all 5 yrs. old or something.

Still, when I can afford a bike, I'll be wearing the gear. Guess that makes sense though 'cause i'm obviously not cool.
I'll be riding an Indian.

rockogre

Bullshit! What could be cooler than an Indian? Post us a pic in Tilted Motors/Post a Pic of your Bike, It's Riding Season.

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rockogre

I thought you might notice the rookie.

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hrdwareguy

Same here. In the summer, I'd wear a helmet, but most of my driving was interstate. Didn't wear the rest of the gear though. Come winter, it was a helmet, leather jacket, chaps and gloves. Not so much for the protection, but for added warmth. Occassionally a long ski mask under the helmet to keep the neck warm as well.

Oklahoma summers are hell. Yeah I know I should wear the leathers all the time but if I did they would shrink from all the sweat and heat they would be getting.

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mtsgsd

Thanks, but it will be a long while before I can buy one. Especially since I'm out of a job on the 25th. Shit.

Anybody looking for a VMS RDB DBA?

I love how stupid that sounds.

rodgerd

One of my cars is a bright yellow four dour sedan. It's picked up a heap of damage over the years from people who've run into it and subsequently claimed not to have seen it.

You can be lit up like a Christmas tree and some arsehole won't be paying attention....

rodgerd

And how do they save money?

art

Also by not wearing a helmet and gear when you get in a accident and get killed you not only raise insurance for the rest of us but you also make responsible motorcyclists look like irisponsible bafoons

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MSD

I'll bet he's from England. White Van men (I think they're a delivery company) are notorious for their terrible driving and risks to anyone not driving a tank. A heavily armored tank.

GSRIDER

don't depend on the driver to see you. sure you may get lucky and there could be a commercial on their dashboard LCD or maybe they're on hold or not cleaning the jelly off of their shirt from breakfast... but really don't assume shit.

I get sick of hearing people bitch and moan about how THEY need to watch out for us... well guess what, they're not. So pass fast, watch their tires and make sure they can see you... and never assume.

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limebo

Helmets are for those with brains to protect.

even getting off at 35mph could crack your skull wide open. that being said, bones is right, it's about choice.

smoking has been proven to cause all kinds of bad things to you, people know that and still choose to smoke. that's their choice.

i chose to wear safety gear. i've got draggin jeans, with kevlar in the knees and seat, a leather jacket, and whent it's hot, i wear an armoured mesh jacket. i always wear a full face helmet and gloves, i'm way too pretty to worry about leaving 1/2 my face on the ashpalt.

3zos

mm, im potentially a newb rider, wondering if i could get some questions answered?

thinking of getting a suzuki sv 650: http://www.suzukicycles.com/sr_03/sp...t/fs_sv650.htm

first off, would that bike, in your guys opinions, be a good starting bike? also, where/what kind of instruction would i want to take prior to getting a bike.

ive been mulling it over for some time now, obviously there are risks with riding. actually if anyone has any advice on what some high quality protective gear is, id be all ears. if feasible, id go for kevlar all around.. is there much of a safety increase from that over an old school heavy leather jacket? obviously full-face helmet, gloves, boots..

aside from the fun factor, seems as though gas would be infinitely more economical, and what sort of driving (mostly low-volume country, some city) id be doing would be equally suitable.

if anyone has any thoughts, id be much obliged to hear them

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3zos

also, wondering if anyone would happen to ride one of those suzukis.. the design and the new model revision have been garnering praise (from what ive seen), what are your takes on it, being riders yourself? suitable for longer trips in the saddle, or more of a sport bike hybrid?

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Moonduck

It's a choice. I'm an insurance adjuster. I get to see what happens when people don't wear seatbelts and helmets and such.

I ALWAYS wear a seatbelt.

That said, it's your arse if you choose not to. As to seatbelt laws saving money, it's pretty much a given that seatbelts help to prevent injury, same with helmets. If an injury is prevented, or at least ameliorated, that is less money that the insurance company pays out. Seatbelt/helmet laws do save money.

The bottom line is that you might be a perfectly safe driver, but the why trust the other guy?

Like I said, I ALWAYS wear a seltbelt, and ALWAYS wear a helmet and at least heavy denim when riding. Still, I dislike being told to. I'd rather see an opt-out clause. Something like a hard limiter that limits how much you can claim injury if you choose not to wear a seatbelt or helmet. That'd be nice. Never happen though.

Vogad

Well put. But lets not forget the secret....Defensive driving!!!!

Vogad

Damn, sounds like somebody made the right choice...twice...Ride Red!!!

RemyLebeau97

I always wear my full face helmet and riding leather when out on my bike, I also have a Joe Rocket Phoenix textile jacket that I wear in the summer, it's light weight and has tons of ventilation. Go check out Joe Rocket.com, you can find all your riding gear there. Some things on there are pricey but well worth ur $$.