Do you wear a helmet or not?

[jmac]

We had not had any polls for a while.So here goes.

I ask cause I just got a new helmet.I got a HJC CL-15.I know not a high dollar unit like some have,but it fits me well and fells pretty comfy.In the past I have not wore a helmet,and not sure how much I will wear this one.I'm a volunteer fireman,and first responder.I have seen the results(up close)of bike crashs with and with out helmets.I will say at highway speeds,and contact with a vehicle,I don't think it matters.but it might give a slight chance.

I have put about a 100 miles on wearing the new hat.On the highway I kinda like it,and think any trips I will have it on.Plus I stole the wifes I-pod,and like riding with tunes.Riding in town and riding with groups I don't know how much I will wear it.

I just wondered what you guys thought,and did.I'm not for or aginst helmets.I belive it is a personal choice.

 

[Don Fonzarelli]

Down here you HAVE to wear a helmet.
Besides that, it gives me a more safer feeling.
I always ride with a Evil Knievel replica helmet and never use earplugs or i-POD's when I drive.
Once you've driven in my area you know why I don't want anything to disturb my hearing.

 

[SO CAL ZL]

Just an observation........

We all know what an independent and cantankerous bunch that bike riders can "sometimes" be; that's a given that's understood by all. Therefore, it was astonshing to see thus far in the polling, the high percentage of "voluntary" helmet wearers, as well as the high count of full face fans as well. I make that comment from the position of presuming that many folks do not reside in a "must wear a helmet" state.

Hoping the trend is consistant, as I'd like to see all you guys be around safe and sound for a long...long time...I'm enjoying the camaraderie....great bunch of folks. You guys are growing on me....Ha ha ha.

 

[edd]

this is my crashhat,

just like Fonz said, you have to put on a helmet here.
i think its safer, and good to keep warm too,

been trying an ipod, and like it, but if traffic gets busy i turn it off.
can't put volume up or down with gloves on.

Edd,

 

[hassethehen]

In Sweden it's a law issue. You must a wear helmet.
I would wear it (Fullface, Nolan) anyway. I even wear a helmet when i pedal to work on my cycle (Bicyclehelmet) and when i take a trip on inlines.
(About 5% of all which are involved in a bicycle accident get injuries which give disability in a bigger or lesser degree.)

The main reason for that is my work; I work with rehab for persons which are in for rehabilitaton from head injuries and stroke. I don't want to learn to walk, speak or in worse case learn everything from the beginning again.
It has taken me a little more than 40 years to learn this much and there are still so much i wanna know...


Ride safe!
/H

 

[Blagadán]

We have to wear helmets by law.

I wear a full face flip up helmet but I went through a phase of wearing a half shell DOT approved helmet.

 

[zlMark]

Good poll, I wear a full face modular style or a half shell. Lately I wear them most of the time, I like the feeling of security. Always gotta fight with the GF to wear them, she doesn't like em. Tried the ipod and didn't like the distraction.

 

[CHRIS]

i wear a fullface helmet when it's cold, rainy, on long trips, & when riding it states that require it by law. usually when riding around town, i do not wear it. CHRIS

 

[DSBeav]

No offense to those of you who choose not to wear helmets. I have taught my children from a young age that not wearing a helmet is good. There are a lot of people out there that need organ transplants. Those organs have to come from somewhere! Please if you don't wear your helmet make sure to check the box where it says _ Organ Donor. Personally I have checked the box, but I always wear my full face!

I like the following website: http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/swisher.htm

Our state has given people the choice of whether they wear helmets or not. But when I drive my car, I must wear a seatbelt! : What's with that?

BE SAFE!!!

 

[wuputt]

I wear a Fulmer flip up style. I wear glasses and the modular style is much more friendly suiting up. For a sunday ride I may leave it on the bench but more often than not it is on my head! I also wear my jacket, boots and gloves most of the time!

 

[kawboy]

I checked "Sometimes", but it's actually about 95% of the time. I will occasionally take off without it - if I'm working on the bike and want to be able to hear anything irregular, or sometimes just for a cruise in the 'hood. I don't go very far without it, but that's really a poor excuse because you never know when some idiot's gonna get you.

 

[markus56]

I checked "Sometimes", but it's actually about 95% of the time. I will occasionally take off without it - if I'm working on the bike and want to be able to hear anything irregular, or sometimes just for a cruise in the 'hood. I don't go very far without it, but that's really a poor excuse because you never know when some idiot's gonna get you.

+1 kawboy........but then there's another big factor for me........Critters!!!! We have lots of bumble bees, june bugs, ect. around here and from the sounds of them hitting my full face viser, I sure don't want 'em hitting my bare face!! If you're around the century mark and you catch a bumble bee in the face, you'll probably be off the roadway by the time you'll recover and normally, that's not going to turn out well at all!!! I had a sparrow hit me at highway speed before as well. That would've been real ugly without my helmet on!!

 

[Wstar425]

I live in a no helmet law state. I wear a HJC C-12 full face, but mostly because I wear contacts, and to keep the wind off my eyes. If I did not need the wind protection I would be inclined to not wear a helmet. If I am on the Shadow with the big fairing, and just bopping around town, I don't wear one. We used to have a 550 LTD with a Quick Silver Vetter that blocked a lot of wind, and I could get away without one. I am sort of the opinion that a helmet just allows an open casket funeral, but I realize that is an extreme viewpoint. Also, riding around town is probably more dangerous than on the highway, but maybe not in my town. I might hit a horse and buggy! I wear a helmet about 99 percent of the time, I don't ride the Shadow much.

 

[justin jackson]

When I was younger I had a pretty bad crash and landed face first on the pavement. I was wearing a full face helmet but I impacted so hard that the "shatterproof" shield shattered right into my face. The helmet just fell off my head, it looked like it had been run over by a truck. My eyelid was hanging straight down-just barely connected at the corner of my eye along with alot of other small cuts around it and I could stick my tongue through my cheeck in one spot. The surgeon that I had did spectacular work on me-it took him 6 1/2 hours and 300+ stitches but you can't really see any scars on my face now. I probably wouldn't be here right now if didn't wear a helmet. I never leave home without it.

 

[Waynan]

It is the Law in SA to wear a helmet, but I have ridden without out it in some small towns, where there are no traffic police and we were traveling at low speed 35kph max. But I wear a flip face, just make thing easier, with the sun glasses and filling up the bike at the pumps, we have a language barrier issue here with the attendants so making sure they can hear you clearly is mandatory, or you may get diesel in the bike

 

[Wyldstreak]

Kansas doesn't require you to wear a helmet, and many of my rider friends & I have had this conversation recently. The majority of the riders wear a hat of some type, even if it's just a skullcap. Strictly in the FWIW column, most of these are Harley drivers. There are 3 exceptions who ride something other than HD's: a Honda VTX, a Yamaha Dirt/Street, & me with my ZL. All of the Harley drivers wear hats, whether in town or out. A few commute a fairly long distance on the Interstates, so I can see that need. The Honda guy carries a skullcap but is bare-headed most of the time, but the dirt rider always wears a full-face.

Personally, I go back and forth - but not because I'm immortal. Far from it. As a former Paramedic, I've seen the results of confrontations between cars and bikes all too often. I've also seen it from a personal view - way back in the '70's, I had just purchased a brand new HD. Picked it up on a Tuesday after work, totalled it on the following Saturday, courtesy of a drunk cage driver who didn't understand red meant stop. At that time Kansas required helmets and it was a good thing - my head hit the curb after flying over her car, and destroyed my helmet. Had a huge headache along with the broken bones, but I'm still here. . .

In cooler weather, I'll wear my open-face with shield, and on a highway ride, I probably would wear it then as well. Since the weather's been getting a little nicer here lately, I've been wearing my half-hat more, though yesterday, I didn't wear one in the afternoon. As was mentioned, wearing one is a personal choice, and I appreciate having the choice be mine. I guess I wear one more than I had realized, though, and would advocate wearing a hat most times.

And as Beav said - if you don't wear one, make sure your Donor box is checked!!

 

[SandstoneSmitty]

After my crash in 1979 I always wear FULL FACE. I have been covering my handsome face with Shoe for many many years.
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When I was younger I had a pretty bad crash and landed face first on the pavement.

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Thanksgiving 1979 I hit a dog on my KZ-750. Front wheel locked up and I thought that I had learned to fly. My flight time from the saddle to a 3-point landing (face and both wrist) on the asphalt was very short.

Like Justin implied... Kissing the ground is not recommended!!! Many stitches and face scars, arm scars, and missing teeth later … I never leave home without a full face.

 

[WillyD]

Interesting....

When it is cold I wear one...When I am gonna be a good distance from home and rain is possible I wear one....Every other time I ride, I go without...

I know it is probably better to wear one...I have been wearing a seatbelt religiously for years....The wind in my eyes (with no helmet) is ferocious and I have a hard time sealing it out...

I guess if I was gonna come off the bike at ANY speed and someone asked if I would rather have a helmet on or off, I would opt for one 100% of the time...I really wish I could get in the habit of jeans, boots, jacket, gloves and helmet all the time.....but I usually wear boots and jeans and not the other probably 90% of the time...

I have an HJC full face and if I was not wearing full face it would be none..I think if you are gonna wear one, get full face..

Willy

 

[furchin]

If its below 40 degrees I will wear my helmet. Above those temps almost never. It's my choice I know. I've been down 2 times and had a helmet on both times so guess luck was with me.

 

[jmac]

Very cool results,and interesting comments.I was surprised that this poll had not come up before.

Luckily where I live there is no helmet law.I like choices.Like I said before I got a new helmet a few weeks ago.It took a while to find one that fit me good.I figured if it fit good,I would were it more.I was amazed at the choices when it comes to helmets.It is weird that there is no standard sizes though.I have a big head so I tried on quite a few.I wanted a full face.I found several that fit,but I felt like the shield was smashing my nose.I found out that HJC is one of a few that actually has 3 different shell sizes.It makes a big difference(for me any way).So far I do like it on the highway,not so much in town.I like listening to the radio on the way to and from work,(10 miles one way)and the helmet makes that possible.kinda relaxing after work.I live in a rural area,on the edge of a small town.So not a lot of traffic and such.Any way I hope none of you guys ever have to test your helmet,and for the ones of us that don't always wear one,I hope we don't ever have the need for one.