Helmets?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Judy on February 7, 2009 at 9:44pm

We have a no helment law too. But Mike and I always wear ours. I value my head.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dion Liphart on February 8, 2009 at 6:48am

We here wear yours most of the time when riding in a group always have them on but if I go riding solo then sometimes I wont put it on.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Larry Walther on February 8, 2009 at 11:45am

Iowa has no helmet law at present, so it's up to the individual here. I own one, and usually wear it in cold weather because it's about the best head-warmer in the world, but in the summer I often ride without it. I resisted wearing a seat belt in the olden days, because I felt it was not the right of the state to dictate personal safety issues - so it was more protest that a deeply held conviction that seat belts didn't help. In fact, in my younger days I used to drag race at sanctioned tracks, and never gave a thought to not "strapping in" - it was just the thing to do when you knew ahead of time you were going to go very fast, very fast.

There is NO doubt in my mind that at any speed above 10-15 mph, I am safer wearing the helmet, than not.

Which brings up another question: What do you guys think of the relationship between the right helmet, and the rider's willingness to wear one at all? For instance, if I am riding without a windshield, the wind tries to pull my half-helmet (above the ear) off my head ... in a strong headwind, the chin-strap nearly decapitates me (slight exaggeration). So I might be more inclined to wear mine if I switched to a full-face model. Any thoughts on that issue? Thanks.

Sorry, Robin, I didn't mean to hi-jack your thread but it didn't makes sense to put an issue so closely related on a new and separate thread.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim Corban aka Two Wheels Tebo on August 6, 2009 at 6:24pm

With the half-helmet the wind catches it and pulls it up so the strap nearly slits your throat, and with the full face helmet if you get that kind of wind, it still catches it. Only this time it will nearly break your neck from trying to twist your head off. So, if you are concerned about the safety of wearing a helmet, choose the one you like and wear it. There are pros and cons to all of them. I wear a 3/4 helmet in States that have stolen my freedom, and don't wear one at all in states that are more freedom friendly that my State of Oregon.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rdcnslr on February 8, 2009 at 1:29pm

Idaho does not have a helmet law, therefore many riders do not wear one. However, I have noticed more riders are wearing helmets than not. That has to be by choice, and that is the whole arguement regarding madatory helmet laws. Personally, I wear a helmet even if I am just going to the club house in our development, maybe two miles. Larry, I know what you are saying about the half helmet trying to pull your head off without a windshield!! I tried it a couple times before the windshield. Also, I find the side winds tend to shut off one nostril or the other with the half helmet. I found that I wore the full face more last riding season and the half got left behind, especially on the long trips, even in the heat. They certainly cut the noise and the side wind effects on the breathing. Ear plugs are still a must on the long trips!! I have a friend that has been riding probably close to 50 years and two years ago a deer did not use the 'deer crossing' area and nearly cost him his life if was not for the full face helmet he was wearing. Before he ever got back on the bike, he was at a cycle shop in Boise to buy a new helmet!! It is the only real protection the old noodle has in an accident!! Oh yah, there are the June Bugs at 60+ that really can do some damage to the face!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robin Willey on February 8, 2009 at 7:54pm

All of these disccusions are very good, but it still won't get my 19 year old to wear it. It makes me nervous to see him without it

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rdcnslr on February 8, 2009 at 9:30pm

Robin, From my perspective as a former counselor, you will probably not have any success MAKING him wear that helmet. What you can do is be consistant in letting him know that you would like to see him wear that helmet for his own safety, but honor the fact that it is his decision. I am not one to say that parents should demand compliance but 'request' because you care about his safety. Refer him to articles about the pluses of the safety factor helmets provide. In the end, the decision has to be his!! Your reassurance that you care about his safety is what will make the impression, not today or even tomorrow, but maybe somewhere down the road he will honor your wisdom, and love. He is 19!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robin Willey on February 9, 2009 at 6:58am

Thanks, I know he's a young kid and he thinks is indestructable. But you would have thought that when he auto tech teacher got hit by a car last fall on his bike that the incident would have made him think harder about the subject. The shop teacher got t-boned by a cadillac. His helmet made a dent in the fender of the car. I don't harp on him all the time, quit that long ago. Still worry though

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Larry Walther on February 9, 2009 at 9:27am

Rdcnslr, I completely agree with your (professional) comments. To supplement your thoughts, I wonder if it wouldn't be most productive just to see that their peers have adopted a point of view that makes the helmet "cool" instead of "nerdy". No matter how much they might love and respect their parents, the greatest determinant is usually peer pressure, especially in the young. Scratch that, age has little to do with it - peer pressure affects all ages equally, I think.

The thing that changed my own perspective on helmets was being invited to, and taking part in, organized runs in which a large percentage of the participants wore helmets. It got me thinking, "There sure are a lot of people with helmets on this ride, so maybe they don't see me as cool without one - maybe they see me as the Village Idiot without one".

How to find group rides in which the majority are safety conscious? I'd play the odds and invite him on rides sponsored by local dealers, or other groups with a vested interest in rider safety. If your state has an active ABATE organization as we do in Iowa, by all means join those rides because their entire purpose is rider education and safety. And finally, try pointing out that your state legislature is dying to put a helmet law on the books, or tighten the existing law - they love new controls over your life ... and wearing a helmet gives them one less opportunity to say you need big brother to protect you from yourself.

Good luck, Robin. I have the same worry with my two sons, and they are both waaaay past adolescence - but still into "cool". ;^)

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robin Willey on February 9, 2009 at 9:42am

Wasn't it ABATE that got the helmet law off the books in Illinois. that's what they tell me here.
And peer pressure has NEVER worked with my kids, any of them. They are independent to the core. They have never cared about what other kid think.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rick Lynch on May 28, 2009 at 11:58am

My best friend and I never wore seat belts but that was in the 70s and 80s . Times have changed , there are more cars on the road than ever , and more people driving without a License , people from other countries who have no license and have never learned how to drive. My friend and I both had sons the same age, and at age 19 his son Jeremy was ejected through a car window landing on his head. Jeremy was a bright kid , not he can barely speak and had to learn to walk all over again . Now this boy was in a car , how much more likely is this to happen to motorcyclist with no helmet. I think everyone should wear one, I feel like for some they would have to experience this type of tragedy for them selves to see we need to protect our heads. I know a helmet will not save every one who puts one on , but if Jeremy had a seatbelt on he would be better off today. I wear a helmet always, no matter what state I Ride in. Please be safe out there Peace Rick

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dion Liphart on February 9, 2009 at 8:53am

I should wear mine all the time too four years ago my nephew Chase was out riding with a friend . And needless to say he did not check over his bike wery well before leaving the house. Here he had low air pressure in his front tire when he went to apply the front brake the wheel got out of control. The haddle bars started to slap the tank and next thing you know he was down broke his collar bone . Good thing he had his helmet on he had road rash all over his one shoulder and scrap marks all over the front of his helmet the full face helmet most definitely saved his face from having road rash to.

▶ Reply to This

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page