Interesting observation about non-helmet wearers.

alstensby · 05-15-2008

I don't know if this is common else where, but I've noticed something. Mind you, this doesn't happen all the time, but often enough for me to take notice. I live in MN which thankfully is not a helmet-law state (I get sick of government intrusions). Personally, I wear mine every where I go...even if I'm going to my friend's house 1 mile away on back roads. Kind of like seat belts, it's just something I'm in the habit of doing.

Anyhow, I've noticed that non-helmet wearers are always very quick to point out that they don't wear one whenever they're around someone who does. And it'll come up out of nowhere! No conversation leads to it...they just feel the need to point it out. It's kind of funny to me. Anyone else ever notice this?

A2rider · 05-15-2008

You have your stick out today, don't you?

I'm always told what a moron I am for wearing one. Go figure.

kc6wfs · 05-15-2008

I have only not worn one back in the 70-80's when there was no law.
Now I will never ride with out something. Even when I go to RL I will at least have my scull cap on. After being a few accidents way back when I just wonder how I survived!

And here I am riding again!!

alstensby · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2rider

You have your stick out today, don't you?

My stick out? Huh? Not familiar with that reference! lol. Yeah...I get looks/comments, but don't really care. 9 times out of 10, I have a nicer bike anyhow. ha ha!

B-Bob · 05-15-2008

I was asked to ride a friend's bike to a memorial, and I replied "Sure, I'll remember to bring my gear." The reply I got was "Gear? It's only a couple of blocks." My response was, "I can get in an accident just as easily at the end of the driveway as I can 1000 miles from home. I always wear my gear." The response to that? "You're right." And that was the end of that.

kc6wfs · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by alstensby

My stick out? Huh? Not familiar with that reference!

I know what was implied!!

NCDave · 05-15-2008

Haven't noticed it, but NC is a helmet state. I've had comments from SC riders that they had to buy a helmet to ride up to Deals Gap. They'd never owned one before. I've ridden in SC without one before, but didn't feel the need to explain myself to anyone.

maximum_babe · 05-15-2008

Many years ago, when Taiwan had no helmet law, my 1st hubby (RIP) would ride without one (naturally). He sure was burning up his 9 lives faster than a cat. The worst accident he was involved in, left him with massive cuts on his head, legs and arms. It was a hit&run case, the van drove off really fast, everyone around saw it happen. It's amazing that he survived, actually. He was flung far off the road. No one told me anything until he was ready to come home from the hospital stitched up and bandaged.
Other situations involved an idiot opening the truck door suddenly, in a narrow lane, etc.
(P/S: no, he didnt die in an accident. He had cancer)

Michael600r · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by A2rider

You have your stick out today, don't you?

I'm always told what a moron I am for wearing one. Go figure.

For real, someone called you a moron for wearing a helmet.

daemon · 05-15-2008

i wear one because it is part of an agreement with my family members.
they know how i ride and want me to be safe.
i could easily jaunt around town w/out one and feel safe.

having said that...i also know from what i have seen that it is better to be fully geared in full preperation for what could happen.

i lost a friend this year (budwsr) that no amount of gear could have saved him from what happened.

he was less than a mile from home!!!

ATGATT.....no questions asked

A2rider · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael600r

For real, someone called you a moron for wearing a helmet.

Too many times. Told me I've wasted my money, that if in a REAL motorcycle wreck it's not going to save me, ad nauseum.

We keep our wrecked helmets in this house, reminds to ride a little safer when we go out. And a reminder that we're still here to ride because we wore them.

wakan49 · 05-15-2008

I always wear one. I actually wear a half shell motorcycle helmet when I ride my horse. I seen a lady get thrown off her horse and it broke the helmet but saved her.

Donna

CootoronScooter · 05-15-2008

I have to wear one here in TN. But I would anyway. When I was a teenager I saw my cousin bounce his head off of a stob in the ground when he wrecked his dirt bike ( I helped him down with a stick but anyways) . Had he not had his helmet on he'd be dead. He wasn't even going that fast and with the helmet it still rung his bell. The good thing is there's no helmet laws that prevent you from wearing a helmet! If you choose not to wear a helmet that's your choice and it's your head just don't try and take mine. Helmet or head that is... I've got just enough brains to run the vital organs so no one would be getting a deal there!

texrider · 05-15-2008

And the guys who've removed the baffles always have to tell you that loud pipes save lives crap

Then, they ride off wearing a doo rag and sleeveless tee shirt!

V2K_CCTX · 05-15-2008

not wearing a helmet riding is like wearing a dear suit the first day of open season!

BikerBeagle · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by alstensby

Anyhow, I've noticed that non-helmet wearers are always very quick to point out that they don't wear one whenever they're around someone who does. And it'll come up out of nowhere! No conversation leads to it...they just feel the need to point it out. It's kind of funny to me. Anyone else ever notice this?

I've never known of or seen that happen, personally, but if you say it happens ...

I've always found it funny (strange) to see and hear people claim to be against helmet laws, but turn around in the next half-second and claim to always wear their helmet all the time. Might just be me, but it seems like being against a law for something that you (general 'you', not specific 'you') already do by free choice is just a little schitzophrenic. *shrug*

*trikebubble* · 05-15-2008

I wear my helmet all the time...........at home, in the bathroom, and in bed even. (knocking boots became the norm, so we figured that knocking helmets was funner..........)

Seriously, back in the days when I rode downhill mountain bikes a few crazy buddies refused to wear helmets. We just decided that we would refuse to ride with anyone who would not wear a helmet. You don't want to wear one, fine by me. But i'm not going to carry your poor carcass out of the woods because you thought a helmet impeded on your "freedom".
I don't mountain bike anymore, (too many injuries and my poor old knees can't take it anymore) but I hate to think what would have happened to me if I had not worn a helmet whilst screaming down a tree and rock covered hill at warp speed.
Same thing goes for snowboarding, I went out and bought a helmet long before I purchased a 'board. And I've noticed that somehow wearing a helmet while snowboarding seems to be cool............who woulda thunk it?

Jake '53 · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikerBeagle

I've never known of or seen that happen, personally, but if you say it happens ...

I've always found it funny (strange) to see and hear people claim to be against helmet laws, but turn around in the next half-second and claim to always wear their helmet all the time. Might just be me, but it seems like being against a law for something that you (general 'you', not specific 'you') already do by free choice is just a little schitzophrenic. *shrug*

I can't really support your logic there. There are things that I can disapprove of without supporting laws to make them illegal.

Couple of examples; I would never approve of defacing the American Flag but I am against a constitutional amendment that would make it illegal. I don't carry a gun but I'm against laws restricting gun ownership.

fretbuzz · 05-15-2008

I wonder how many people that bash non-helmet wearers are smokers?

*trikebubble* · 05-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake '53

I can't really support your logic there. There are things that I can disapprove of without supporting laws to make them illegal.

Couple of examples; I would never approve of defacing the American Flag but I am against a constitutional amendment that would make it illegal. I don't carry a gun but I'm against laws restricting gun ownership.

You don't carry a gun? I wish I would have known that earlier,..............or I wouldn't have agreed with everything you said back at Red Lodge last year.

05-15-2008	#1 (permalink)
alstensby Big bike goes vroom vroom Forum Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brooklyn Park, MN Posts: 2,048	Interesting observation about non-helmet wearers. I don't know if this is common else where, but I've noticed something. Mind you, this doesn't happen all the time, but often enough for me to take notice. I live in MN which thankfully is not a helmet-law state (I get sick of government intrusions). Personally, I wear mine every where I go...even if I'm going to my friend's house 1 mile away on back roads. Kind of like seat belts, it's just something I'm in the habit of doing. Anyhow, I've noticed that non-helmet wearers are always very quick to point out that they don't wear one whenever they're around someone who does. And it'll come up out of nowhere! No conversation leads to it...they just feel the need to point it out. It's kind of funny to me. Anyone else ever notice this? __________________ Adam L. Stensby '06 Mean Streak http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg315/alstensby/

05-15-2008	#2 (permalink)
A2rider Beserker biker woman Forum Supporter Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 18,602	You have your stick out today, don't you? I'm always told what a moron I am for wearing one. Go figure. __________________ I am short enough and ugly enough to succeed on my own. - Woody Allen

05-15-2008	#3 (permalink)
kc6wfs Plasma Blue Forum Supporter Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Saugus, Ca Posts: 3,637	I have only not worn one back in the 70-80's when there was no law. Now I will never ride with out something. Even when I go to RL I will at least have my scull cap on. After being a few accidents way back when I just wonder how I survived! And here I am riding again!! __________________ 2007 Vulcan 900 Custom Plasma Blue -- www.myspace.com/nitrophotos

05-15-2008	#5 (permalink)
B-Bob ... at the old, ballgame! Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Land of Enchantment Posts: 491	I was asked to ride a friend's bike to a memorial, and I replied "Sure, I'll remember to bring my gear." The reply I got was "Gear? It's only a couple of blocks." My response was, "I can get in an accident just as easily at the end of the driveway as I can 1000 miles from home. I always wear my gear." The response to that? "You're right." And that was the end of that. __________________ Bob Albuquerque, NM 2006 500 LTD S.T.K. B.R.K.

05-15-2008	#7 (permalink)
NCDave 12 yrs old at heart! BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 7,146	Haven't noticed it, but NC is a helmet state. I've had comments from SC riders that they had to buy a helmet to ride up to Deals Gap. They'd never owned one before. I've ridden in SC without one before, but didn't feel the need to explain myself to anyone. __________________ Ol' Panhead Member of Bonnie's Hot MotoGuzzi Club http://www.bikepics.com/members/ncdave

05-15-2008	#8 (permalink)
maximum_babe Armchair biker BTK Expert Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Temecula,CA Posts: 685	Many years ago, when Taiwan had no helmet law, my 1st hubby (RIP) would ride without one (naturally). He sure was burning up his 9 lives faster than a cat. The worst accident he was involved in, left him with massive cuts on his head, legs and arms. It was a hit&run case, the van drove off really fast, everyone around saw it happen. It's amazing that he survived, actually. He was flung far off the road. No one told me anything until he was ready to come home from the hospital stitched up and bandaged. Other situations involved an idiot opening the truck door suddenly, in a narrow lane, etc. (P/S: no, he didnt die in an accident. He had cancer) __________________ '97 Yamaha Virago 535 '96 Kawasaki ZZR250 '07 Honda Rebel

05-15-2008	#10 (permalink)
daemon devil in god's country BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: greeley,colorado Posts: 10,571	i wear one because it is part of an agreement with my family members. they know how i ride and want me to be safe. i could easily jaunt around town w/out one and feel safe. having said that...i also know from what i have seen that it is better to be fully geared in full preperation for what could happen. i lost a friend this year (budwsr) that no amount of gear could have saved him from what happened. he was less than a mile from home!!! ATGATT.....no questions asked __________________ my_vids litany_of_fear

05-15-2008	#12 (permalink)
wakan49 Turtle Wax Taster BTK Intermediate Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sparta Illinois Posts: 176	I always wear one. I actually wear a half shell motorcycle helmet when I ride my horse. I seen a lady get thrown off her horse and it broke the helmet but saved her. Donna

05-15-2008	#13 (permalink)
CootoronScooter One of Four BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 1,137	I have to wear one here in TN. But I would anyway. When I was a teenager I saw my cousin bounce his head off of a stob in the ground when he wrecked his dirt bike ( I helped him down with a stick but anyways) . Had he not had his helmet on he'd be dead. He wasn't even going that fast and with the helmet it still rung his bell. The good thing is there's no helmet laws that prevent you from wearing a helmet! If you choose not to wear a helmet that's your choice and it's your head just don't try and take mine. Helmet or head that is... I've got just enough brains to run the vital organs so no one would be getting a deal there! __________________ 2007 900 Custom http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f176/randydc/Bikes/ Last edited by CootoronScooter : 05-15-2008 at 12:25 PM.

05-15-2008	#14 (permalink)
texrider Wants better weather! BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arlington, Texas Posts: 979	And the guys who've removed the baffles always have to tell you that loud pipes save lives crap Then, they ride off wearing a doo rag and sleeveless tee shirt! __________________ '04 VN2000 & '05 VTX1800 "Weather or not, here I come!"

05-15-2008	#15 (permalink)
V2K_CCTX RIDING LIKE I STOLE IT BTK Expert Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Posts: 3,708	not wearing a helmet riding is like wearing a dear suit the first day of open season! __________________ 07 ZX-14 BLACK 07 CBR600RR LTD ED 07 GV-650 BLUE 07 VULCAN 2000 LT 07 Ninja 250 Silver

05-15-2008	#17 (permalink)
trikebubble Back Home Again. Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Okanagan Falls, BC Posts: 17,559	I wear my helmet all the time...........at home, in the bathroom, and in bed even. (knocking boots became the norm, so we figured that knocking helmets was funner..........) Seriously, back in the days when I rode downhill mountain bikes a few crazy buddies refused to wear helmets. We just decided that we would refuse to ride with anyone who would not wear a helmet. You don't want to wear one, fine by me. But i'm not going to carry your poor carcass out of the woods because you thought a helmet impeded on your "freedom". I don't mountain bike anymore, (too many injuries and my poor old knees can't take it anymore) but I hate to think what would have happened to me if I had not worn a helmet whilst screaming down a tree and rock covered hill at warp speed. Same thing goes for snowboarding, I went out and bought a helmet long before I purchased a 'board. And I've noticed that somehow wearing a helmet while snowboarding seems to be cool............who woulda thunk it? __________________ 2005 V2K Ltd Please don't feed the trolls.

05-15-2008	#19 (permalink)
fretbuzz Non Omnis Moriar BTK Expert Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Heart o' Texas Posts: 7,785	I wonder how many people that bash non-helmet wearers are smokers? __________________ I'd rather you offend me with the truth than appease me with a lie.