passionate topic. One that does NOT change peoples opinions or their position. Just breds hard feelings and resentment. lol.

agreed. totally

Ha ha ha... didn't read any of the topic except for the title and what javawave and Gram just said... and I think they summed it up pretty good. Thanks for the laugh, gentlemen

Dan

Did I get my answer? Holy Schidt, did I ever! (When I started this topic, I didn't know I was opening this big of a can.)

Last few weeks, I've been compiling a sort of informal poll for myself. I count riders I see with helmets and without helmets on a particular day. Seems to be about half and half (I'm in Minnesota, no helmet law)... some days it's more without than with. The rarest sights are Harley guys with helmets.

The topic jumps up every couple of months as new folks join the clinic. It always brings on passionate responses. In Indiana we have no helmet law either. This Sunday the wife and I rode in a MDA rally. About 400 bikes. probably 75% did not have on helmets. Had we been out after dark or on the interstate, personal observations have been the numbers would have flipped. 75% would have had them on.

Well I for one always have a helmet on. In my home State (MA) we have a helmet law...plus I have crashed enough dirt bikes and snowmobiles to know helmets save your skull.

I even wear a full face helmet 1) because its all I have right now.
2) Because I just got back into motorcycles after 15 years off, and if I make a mistake i want the best I can get for gear. Dont want to or expect to fall down but you never know.

I have ridden in New Hampshire a few times and kept the helmet on...Got lots of looks....with expressions like WTF?....but hey its the only skull I got.

If people choose not to wear a helmet thats fine by me its there head.

OK, I only added the part about the eye protection because last time this lively topic was brought up someone mentioned that I didn't mention eyewear. So was just covering the bases.

Admittedly, the risk of the incidents I listed previously are low on the totem pole of other more egregious things such as unskilled riders and distracted cagers. However the risk does still exist and potential for tragedy does not only affect the one who wants the freedom to choose. Hopefully on that point we can agree.

It baffles me why hardly not a day goes by that someone on this board will B&M over the careless attitude of cagers toward us and yet we ourselves then turn right around and stomp our feet while gnashing our teeth about the freedom to choose to behave carelessly ourselves. It makes no sense to me.

It also occurs to me that this topic is very similar to others like religion, and the big "A". None of our posts will do much of anything to change the mind of those who see things differently. Sometimes minds are changed through personal experience and close calls, but rarely through dialoge.

I expect we should just all agree to disagree.

M7

I repeat:

My bottom line is: If you don't like what I'm doing, STFU and look the other way. (I do when I see those crotch rockets doing 70 mph wheelies ... I just try to stay in front of them.) It's YOUR choice. Laugh if you want, cause I'm sure as hell laughing at those that wanna look like the Dark Knight in the July/August heat while I cruise by in shorts, tank, sneaks and aforementioned brain bucket. If you feel safer (w/ every conceivable available piece of protective gear), aren't so sure of your riding abilities, and/or are down right scared ... maybe you should stick to 4 wheels. Cause, IMHO, you are as dangerous as some cagers.

And M7 - where in the world did you come up with those speed vs. danger stats and as related to protective gear(ie - a HELMET) vs. total family destruction?!? That's one link I'd gladly read that may actually sway my opinion on the subject If there isn't one, then I find it kinda of a scary/funny opinion.
Nobody wants anyone to harm their family in any way, shape or form and to chest thump those ideals online might flex some intellectual & cyber muscles for you, but dude, wake up ... you're having nightmares or reading too many comic books. The chances of something like that happening are probably next to nil, so basing such a strong opinion on such, to me, carries as much weight ... nil. God forbid, imagine if something like that should happen in an "accident", I'd pray for that bikers soul if, through the miracle of protective clothing, they were to survive. Personally, I wouldn't want to live with something like that on my conscience. Maybe you could.(No offense.)

Helmet laws w/o CHOICE (and enforcing them), are a waste of taxpayers monies, a distraction from other laws that should be strongly enforced (ie - like no cell phones/Ipods for cagers AND pedestrians in cross walks)and BS political rhetoric.

That is all. Carry on.

Sorry IMTopGun1, but this forum isn't the place to STFU, it's the place to voice opinions and ideas. If you're opinions can't take examination from others maybe you should re-think your opinions. And if you think that in real life I stand by while some idiot acts like a fool around my family that's not gonna happen either. Yeah, I'm the guy who yells at people who drive by my house too fast and just pray that they'll stop.

And you can try and make fun of those of us who do use safety gear by calling us "dark knight" or whatever, but I'll be the one laughing because I'll actually HAVE a mouth to laugh out of because it won't be ground off on the asphalt at the last accident.

Anyone think the passenger in the pic (or driver for that matter) survived this little fender bender? If so maybe YOU are the one who needs to wake up and see the reality of "if it can happen it will happen". Will it happen to me? Chances are 99% that it never will. Chances are also 99% that my house won't burn to the ground either, but I still maintain insurance against the very slim to none chance that it will.

I didn't come up with any stats on speed vs. danger. I simply said that taking a hit by a foreign object at over 50 was far more likely to cause a bike rider to loose control than a hit at under 50. Anyone who's been hit by a june bug while riding knows this simple fact.

My whole point is the choice about wearing a helmet doesn't just affect you and your body. It can and sometimes does affect the lives of others.

M7