Why don't "bikers" wear helmets?

[WinkOsmosis]

I'm talking about folks that ride Harleys and Indians and such. The Republic of Texas biker rally is this weekend in Austin, and only about 10% of the bikers I saw on the streets wore helmets, but most of those wear those little useless helmets without any apparent protection. What really annoys me is the guys who don't mind having passengers without helmets. It's fine to endanger your own life, but how could you, in good conscience, endanger your old lady's life?

Also, how come no one rags on them for being "squids" like they do when they see sport bike riders with no helmets, tank tops, and shorts?

 

[gopunk]

people that don't wear helmets don't have much to lose.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: gopunk
people that don't wear helmets don't have much to lose.

 

[Anubis]

because they are hardcore


or stupid.

you pick

 

[notfred]

They do in California - there's a helmet law.

 

[Whisper]

Same here in Ga, it's the law.

Though cruisers generally do have the open-face helmets. I personally wouldn't feel very protected with one, but it's a matter of personal preference. Besides, they suit the bike style better, heh.

 

[Zrom999]

Their extremely thick skulls would protect some of them, the rest have no need for a helmet since the helmet wouldn't protect anything important in their case.

 

[Marauder-]

I believe the helmet law in CA is only if you're under 18 - if you're over I believe you can do whatever you please.

 

[Yossarian]

They're too cool to wear them. They prefer brains smeared over the pavement.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Even in states where they are required by law, they probably wear those little turtle shell helmets. Are those beneficial at all??

 

[Atlantean]

They do in Canada... its the law.

 

[BillGates]

Their bikes don't go fast enough to have the rider incur injury after falling off.

 

[BillGates]

The bikes are always broken down and in the back of a pickup truck or on the side of the road or on a trailer. No need for a helmet there.

 

[BillGates]

They are TOUGHER than everyone else in the world and could easily survive a violent crash that would kill anyone else 4280 times over. They're TOUGH.

 

[BillGates]

No helmet can save them from the 1000+ pound bike that falls on them.

 

[clamum]

When you're flying down the highway at 70 mph on a motorcyle, do you really think that helmet is going to save your life? On the other hand, when riding at lower speeds through town I could see the point, but on the highway, no. My dad rides a Harley and I also have heard him say that it hinders (peripheral?) vision.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Marauder-
I believe the helmet law in CA is only if you're under 18 - if you're over I believe you can do whatever you please.

That's for bicycles, not motorcycles.

 

[ajskydiver]

There's a saying:

"If you have a $5 head...wear a $5 helmet..."

Not sure what you value your head at without wearing one at all...

My dad rides a Harley and I also have heard him say that it hinders (peripheral?) vision. -- Totally and completely false.

Modern full-faced helmets do NOT restrict vision in any way...

~AJ

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: Aj_UF
There's a saying:

"If you have a $5 head...wear a $5 helmet..."

Not sure what you value your head at without wearing one at all...

My dad rides a Harley and I also have heard him say that it hinders (peripheral?) vision. -- Totally and completely false.

Modern full-faced helmets do NOT restrict vision in any way...

~AJ

Yeah that's true, I'm sure he was just lying to me about it.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: americangigolo

Originally posted by: Aj_UF
There's a saying:

"If you have a $5 head...wear a $5 helmet..."

Not sure what you value your head at without wearing one at all...

My dad rides a Harley and I also have heard him say that it hinders (peripheral?) vision. -- Totally and completely false.

Modern full-faced helmets do NOT restrict vision in any way...

~AJ

Yeah that's true, I'm sure he was just lying to me about it.

Or lying to himself?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: americangigolo
When you're flying down the highway at 70 mph on a motorcyle, do you really think that helmet is going to save your life? On the other hand, when riding at lower speeds through town I could see the point, but on the highway, no. My dad rides a Harley and I also have heard him say that it hinders (peripheral?) vision.

Every been in or seen a motorcycle race? How do you think the riders would fare without protective gear?

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

The reason a lot of motorcyclists in Southern States don't wear helmets is because of heat. You ever wear long pants, boots, jacket and helmet on a 90 degree day with 500+ degree heat coming off an engine you're sitting on top of?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: americangigolo
When you're flying down the highway at 70 mph on a motorcyle, do you really think that helmet is going to save your life? On the other hand, when riding at lower speeds through town I could see the point, but on the highway, no. My dad rides a Harley and I also have heard him say that it hinders (peripheral?) vision.

Yeah, definitely beneficial for lower-speed accidents. My roommate was in an accident a few years ago - a girl turned out in front of him and hit him head on. He broke both wrists on his handlebars, left an impressive dent in the gas tank (think about it), flew off the bike, hit his head on the top of the girl's car, flipped over in the air and landed behind her car on his feet, breaking his leg and tearing three ligaments in one knee. Right there is a good reason not to ride a motorcycle, but at least he was wearing a helmet or he'd be dead today.

 

[BillGates]

Originally posted by: Hamburgerpimp
The reason a lot of motorcyclists in Southern States don't wear helmets is because of heat. You ever wear long pants, boots, jacket and helmet on a 90 degree day with 500+ degree heat coming off an engine you're sitting on top of?

It's a lot easier to wash sweat off than it is to wash road rash off. I wear all my gear even on hot days -- 500+ degrees? What kind of bike do you ride?

 

[boggsie]

Generally speak, I never used to wear a helmet, because I figured:
a) I am not going to go down of my own accord and I am a good enough rider to stay away from cars
b) If I get 'surprise' clipped by a car, I'm going to be a pretzel mess and probably get run over when thrown from the bike - do I really want to have a helmet on

-HOWEVER-

Last fall, on a back country rode, with nobody around but me and a buddy - putting at about 35 a dog comes out of nowhere (a ditch/ravine) and jumps at him, missing and flying between our bikes. If the dog would have hit my front wheel, there is no way that I could have reacted fast enough to keep it from snapping out of my hands.

The point being, it got me to thinking and I wear a helmet now. At 35 on a back country road, I'd be messed up and sore, but I figure that I'd have a better chance at recovery with my noggin/noodle in tact.