Naked heads

[moto-rama]

Every time I visit a no helmet law state, I find myself doing a double-take nearly every time I see a naked-head rider.

I was out this AM on an early AM ride on the Hwy 47 Scenic Byway near Ashton, Idaho, and found that it was me who was getting all the double takes.

Why? Aerostich Roadcrafter, Held gloves, Shoei helmet, Sidi boots. You know, the usual, everyday gear most of us put on every time we throw a leg over.
In fact, one small group of Harley people were visibly shaken as I passed them near Island Park. As if it weren't bad enough to be passed by a crotch-rocket, but wearing protective gear at that! Of all the nerve.


And they don't do the wave in these parts, either.

 

[RightCoastBias]

When I was back east in Connecticut, I was baffled as well to see folks without helmets. I've had nightmares that I get on my bike, get a few blocks from my home and realize I don't have a helmet on.

I just do not understand how the one thing that could truly save your life on a motorcycle is something folks choose not to wear. I don't agree with laws that require them, or the AMA lobby to fight the laws, but damn if it isn't an asinine decision to go without.

 

[kurth83]

But you shouldn't ride to depend on your helmet you know - only foolish riders do that.
Same argument applies to ABS.
Same for visibility enhancements (lights and clothes).
...

(sarcasm intended)

On a more serious note, things like BARF do make a difference, if this was a no-helmet-law state I like to think we would still be ATGATT around here.

 

[louemc]

Island Park, Idaho, and the whole greater area, Jackson Hole Wyoming, Glacier Park Montana, Yellowstone
(there is no place to quit, the Whole Western USA)

Awesomeness.

 

[rodr]

It is kind of a sad statement that for many riders, the nanny state is all they deserve.

 

[moto-rama]

Island Park, Idaho, and the whole greater area, Jackson Hole Wyoming, Glacier Park Montana, Yellowstone
(there is no place to quit, the Whole Western USA)

Awesomeness.

So true, now that I am permanently unemployed, I can spend half my time here, annoying the local trout population and riding like a fucking squid all over the place.....then I can spend the rest of the year in CA, skiing, riding all Winter, and enjoying Mexican food.

 

[fast4ward]

I just got back from a 2-week work assignment in South Carolina. Came as a shock to me when I saw the first helmetless rider on the Freeway. As time went on, you kinda got used to them. Mostly on Harley and other cruisers - a few on sportbikes. TBH - most of the bikes I saw were HD's and a few metric cruisers.

Biggest shock for me was seeing a woman rider on a stretched-out 'Busa wearing a Nazi-style novelty helmet at the beach on the w/e

....I mean I get the wearing of those joke helmets in States like CA which have a helmet law but allow a loophole where you can wear a pointless hat to skirt the law, but why would someone choose to wear one in a non-helmet-law state ? I didn't see the plate on the bike - was heading in the opposite direction - so perhaps she was from a different state, but this was nowhere close to a State border (Charleston).

 

[mdbasketball24]

I was out in Colorado this last weekend for the fourth. Some guy passed me doing about 130 with no helmet and no eye protection even. I'm not entirely sure how that's even possible.....

 

[thedub]

I just got back from a 2-week work assignment in South Carolina. Came as a shock to me when I saw the first helmetless rider on the Freeway. As time went on, you kinda got used to them.

Totally. I traveled to Texas a couple years ago, didn't even realize there was no helmet law. First dude I saw on a Harley cruising on the interstate at like 80mph and thought WTF IS HE DOING!?

This is my question to people who choose to ride with no helmet, where the law allows:

Do you believe that you wont crash, or do you believe that you will somehow be able to keep your head from hitting your head if you do?

Must be the former, right? Like, they just don't think it's possible for them to crash?

 

[moto-rama]

I was out in Colorado this last weekend for the fourth. Some guy passed me doing about 130 with no helmet and no eye protection even. I'm not entirely sure how that's even possible.....

It is possible, but the interior of the braincase is scoured like an old pressure cooker, thus encouraging the rider to go 160 the next time.

 

[sanjuro]

I was mountain biking in Downieville, and I noticed all the Harley riders with sleeveless shirts, shorts, sneakers, and half shells which may not be DOT.

On the other hand, my crew were wearing leg and arm armor and protective gloves. A few wore chest protectors as well.

The reality is though is that the chances of crashing on a mountain bike is moderate, crashing on a street bike very low. But the severity of crashing at 10-20mph vs 50-70?

 

[budoka]

If you got a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet. If you got no brains, well, you don't need one.
We were in Sturgis in '01. Frist thing my riding buddies did (not me) was leave their lids on the picnic table at camp; was just too hot (106*f). We rode out towards the Full Throttle Saloon to see it. Halfway there the EMT's were loading an unconscious rider onto a stretcher (no lid to be seen) and his binned scoot was laying on the roadside. The guys wore their helmets all the time after that, duh.

 

[Ogier le Danois]

Totally. I traveled to Texas a couple years ago, didn't even realize there was no helmet law. First dude I saw on a Harley cruising on the interstate at like 80mph and thought WTF IS HE DOING!?

This is my question to people who choose to ride with no helmet, where the law allows:

Do you believe that you wont crash, or do you believe that you will somehow be able to keep your head from hitting your head if you do?

Must be the former, right? Like, they just don't think it's possible for them to crash?

I've ridden without a helmet on occasion.

I did so on the 4th of July across Billings, MT. It was out of a desire to not carry my helmet on a 5 mile walk.

I fully accept the risk and will do it in situations that suit me. I would guess that my total unhelmeted riding time over the las decade is probably 3 hours.

 

[Pking]

Mentality of non-helmet state riders per quote from a relative who lives in FLA: "If I crash and live, I'll probably wear gear afterwards. Until then..."

I told my niece to secretly take out extra insurance on him cuz it's obvious he don't give a f* about his family.

 

[rogerc]

We need to thin the herd.
Too bad that not wearing a helmet is probably after they have procreatted.

 

[Toast]

When I ride a bicycle (not often) I don't usually wear a helmet, so I guess I can kind of see their point? That said, I feel naked if I'm not ATGATT. Around town I'll "squid" it sometimes but for me that's a full face helmet, gloves, leather jacket, big ass boots and knee guards under jeans. I've ridden a handful of times for errands (no more then a mile) with nothing but a helmet but it feels so wrong... I can't imagine going on the freeway with nothing but street clothes on.

 

[louemc]

So true, now that I am permanently unemployed, I can spend half my time here, annoying the local trout population and riding like a fucking squid all over the place.....then I can spend the rest of the year in CA, skiing, riding all Winter, and enjoying Mexican food.

If You haven't skied Mt.Hood in Oregon...And can arrange it...Meadows.

OMG Lived close enough, in East Portland, and been Skiing Utah, Alaska, Idaho, California... Meadows

Timber line didn't do much for me.

 

[russ69]

I don't understand why people smoke or wear open face helmets. I can't help but think less of people that do. It's a misconception, there are plenty of bright people that smoke or wear open helmets but I can't help what I feel about it.

 

[drewcandraw]

I don't understand why people smoke or wear open face helmets. I can't help but think less of people that do. It's a misconception, there are plenty of bright people that smoke or wear open helmets but I can't help what I feel about it.

saw a dude riding 2up on his harley smoking a cigar on 101 with his posse...I was like how do u even smoke it while riding lol

While working in Colorado for a week last Aug, I saw so many riders without shirts just riding on the highways. I didn't realize some states had a no helmet law and i was just confused. Why not try to be safe if possible.

 

[thedub]

When I ride a bicycle (not often) I don't usually wear a helmet, so I guess I can kind of see their point?

You can fall off a bicycle at 10-15mph and use your hands, arms, shoulders and neck muscles to keep your head from hitting the ground. The same can't be said tumbling down the interstate at 70mph.

Of course, you could always get creamed by a car, but that's another issue.