Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Why you don't wear a HELMET!

Ok, you know the old adage, never criticize a man unless you have walked a mile in their shoes? Well, I have always worn helmets. Always. maybe on a rare occasion for a VERY short distance, but for the most part, you might as well say I have never NOT worn one.

Given the nature of my work for the past 30 years (Paramedic) I have seen the end result of NOT wearing helmets. I have heard the arguments for not wearing them, and they don't hold water. I hear the same lame excuses and dang it this is what this little story is about lame reasons for not doing most anything that is deemed safe, and that is being honest about situations. But I'll more into that so bear with me.

I went for two long highway rides. Don't know why, but I just felt like taking off my helmet and seeing what this not wearing a helmet thing was all about. Now pay attention, here; I get it! It was the most awesome experience on a motorcycle that I have ever had. The ride was enhanced in every sensual way that I could imagine! The sights, the sound, the feel, it was incredible! I had no idea that a ride could be enhanced any more than what I already knew!

There were draw backs however. Noise, ear plugs were not an option if you value your hearing as decibel levels were clearly over 110 from the wind. Easy to overcome with ear plugs. But the bugs! Getting smacked in the face with small through large size bugs of who knows what variety as they became one with my flesh, that just plain sucked! Debris from vehicles, sand particles, and where is the "water" coming from when the sky is blue? Is it what I think it is from that camper up a head of me? And what is leaking from that truck up ahead, is it toxic?!?! One thing to get it on my face shield, but another to feel it on my face! Less than desirable.

So, over all, it remained, and incredible experience, so much so I repeated it! I have come to this conclusion. It is about something I had no understanding of prior to this. It is about a definite feeling that is lost when you wear a helmet, at least a full face helmet, and that being an incredible connection with my world!

But what remains? I still kept thinking about my head smacking the pavement if some thing went wrong. And I know what that looks like. The conclusion I can't get past, is that it is a risk. Riding a motorcycle is a risk, period. But yet we who ride, know that, or in short order find out and either quit riding or adapt to the activity we participate in accordingly.

I say; be honest with yourself and others when it comes to wearing a helmet or not. You do so because you choose to take the risk for the "benefits" you gain. Nothing more. I don't want to hear about the lame justifications of why. "If my friend had been wearing a helmet he would have died because....", If I would have been wearing a helmet my neck would have been broken because ...", it's all crap. If you hadn't been riding a motorcycle you wouldn't get in an accident. If you hadn't gotten out of bed, you wouldn't have got in an accident.

It's about time we quit trying to justify what we do and simply call it like it really is. I choose to take a risk, and I know what the risk is. When I got on my bike without my helmet, I did so knowing the risk and not making any pretence about it or effort to justify what I was doing.

So what am I going to do next? I am buying a Skid Lid. I want to try and have that experience that I found and still maintain for my own peace of mind, the ability to minimize my risk factor for head injury.

So here is another risk I am being honest about concerning this issue and I am telling you like it is, no excuse or justification. I am not telling my wife I did this because I would die! Right there on the spot she would beat me with a bat for not wearing a helmet. So I CHOOSE to NOT tell her because the risk out weighs the benefit!

" Why don't you wear a HELMET?"

It messes up my hair.....
Bugs make a great breakfast....
I can't talk on my cell phone with a helmet on...

I'm also thinking about buying some sort of open face or half helmet cause I love the wind in my face, but also value my hearing.

If I still rode offroad, I would use a lid for that every time. Conditions in the dirt are right for a helmet to have a solid positive effect. You are usually not going so fast as to exceed the strength of a lid. The stuff you are most likely to run into, tree branches, dirt piles and brush usually have enough give that a lid will serve its purpose very well.
Out on the streets and highways, the environment is different. You are most often traveling at speeds where a helmet isn't going to make a whole lot of difference in a crash. Because of the reduced peripheral vision you get with many helmets, the fatigue from the weight, heat and airodynamics of a lid, there is an increased chance of not seeing a hazard until it is too late to avoid it. Because sound travels at a different speed through the material lids are made of, it is usually difficult to tell exactly where a sound is coming from, so you have to look around to see just where a hazard might be. For an example, a few years ago I heard a truck tire blow out, but couldn't tell where untill the one in front and one lane to the right started shedding road snakes.

What it all boils down to, on pavement, helmet or no makes much more difference to the news people than to the rider.

As for not getting in a accident if you stay home, even if you spend your life hiding inder the bed, there are health hazards lurking in the dust bunnies and what if the bed slats slip or break?

I like to be comfortable and free. I know that in certain scenarios a lid can minimize damage to the cranium. I have attended the MSF course twice over the years so I am not ill informed to the positives of a helmet in terms of their potential to minimize injury.

I fall into the category of those who choose to be free and go without. Down here in southern Arizona it is flat out hotter than hades from May to as late as the end of October. A helmet is heavy, reduces vision to a degree, creates a heat trap for the cranium on those hot days and is just generally a bummer.

So I am willin to take my chances. We all gotta die sometime and if my risk is indeed elevated than so be it.

Mow riding in winter a helmet is a positive to comfort on a cold morning. I wear a burglars mask and the helmet over the top keeps the cold blast off the face and head.


It just feels so good and fun to be free. The warm air whisling around your ears is not a problem with a good skull cap/do rag to handle that and keep your hair from messin up.


Its my life and I'll live it or not as I see fit within the law.

And I hate it when all the do gooders come out of the woodwork to lecture all of we free choice types on the issue. flat makes me mad as it were.

Motorcycling is about fun and enjoyment based on personal choice. I dont make fun of the riders you see from time to time on the street wearing a bright orange vest over the top of their jacket. What you wear or dont wear in terms of clothing and protective gear is to me all a personal choice. (I do draw the line at flip flops)

Just get on and ride and be YOUR OWN PERSON. Go your own way as long as the law allows it.

I'm with you there Eddy. Because I live in Australia helmets aren't an option, they're mandated by law and have been since the 1950's. Yes we had the same whining noises for a couple of years but these days it's just accepted that if you buy a bike, you buy a helmet to go with it.

I've always used a full face helmet and always ridden sports bikes till my wrists & back would no longer handle the riding position for long. When I bought my America I bought a full face helmet out of habit. When a friend purchased an open face (what you Americans call a 3/4 helmet I believe) and told me of the differences I bought one myself and discovered the same as you did - how much more a sensory experience it was and how much less you feel seperated from your surrounds. Today I still have my full face helmet, but I only wear it when it rains. My girlfriend refuses to wear a full face at all, as it gives her a headache.

About 9 months ago I came down on a rainy night, bounced my bike off a traffic island and bounced myself off the road. I was wearing the open face (it hadn't been raining when I left home). I got carted off to hospital in a neckbrace and when I finally got to see my helmet the next day I found huge gouges in the front and the back. I was on a normal suburban street so I was doing normal suburban speeds, and that helmet changed what would have been horrific head injuries to just a badly bruised leg.

Yes I too have seen the arguments that a helmet is useless on roads due the speeds and they're right at highway speeds. A helmet's pretty useless at that speed as you'll die from the many other injuries you'll sustain. However unless you're a weekend warrior who only uses the bike on a highway, the majority of your riding in traffic will be done at speeds where a helmet is effective. Even the weekend warriors have to get to and from their highways, and they're much more likely to have their accident while involved with low speed traffic than a less crowded highway with much fewer cross-roads.

If you have the choice, and you choose not to wear one, then at least be honest enough to admit that it's simply because you don't want to and that you accept the additional risk as a personal choice. I have respect for the personal choices of others. The weak arguments used to justify not wearing one don't hold water, and are as obviously transparent as a politician's promises. I can't respect using half-truths to justify the refusal to take responsibility for personal choices.

Matt

If the law should ever change here in Az and a helmet becomes "law"....Ill be wearing the lightest weight lid I can find in Spring/Summer. Even if it just a novelty helmet ...something visible for the Johnny lawmen to see that I am in compliance. Some of the novelty helmets weigh only a pound or less.

Hey Greybeard!

My reference to just staying in bed was a sarcasm in acknowledging the very point you even went to, life itself is dangerous.

The revelation I had with being a "bad boy" and not wearing my helmet allowed me a grand view from the side I have never even considered because of my life in EMS and seeing the bad side of choices. And that is the reality, our choices small and big are often dangerous. Drive a car, cross the street, eat a steak all have the potential to kill you.

Just flew a young boy last night who dove into the lake and broke his neck. It wasn't a shallow pool, just one of those things.

What we do in life is risky. Something's more than others. What I see as a potential disservice is when we subscribe erroneous information as fact, and I have heard it "if they had not worn a helmet they would have lived" or whatever. That kind of statement re-enforces an incorrect assumption to the person listening who then makes his choice on information of questionable value, rather than making a decision knowing full well the activity is dangerous. Again that is the bottom line, we just need to call it like it is.

I fully enjoyed my foray into the world that many bikers willingly embrace, and I understand now the draw and exhilaration that brings them back to it. For me, I can't get past what I know, but I am adjusting the reigns a bit and as sandman said, dumping my full face for the cold and wet days and get a low profile helmet so I can grab a piece of that feeling and still maintain a bit of the safety thing that also has a holds on my life!

Ride safe you guys! I finally get it!

Like Eddy says, if you don't want to wear a helmet, just say so. If you want wear a skid lid for minimum "legal" coverage, wear it. But some comments are just irresponsible:

Quote:

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Because of the reduced peripheral vision you get with many helmets, the fatigue from the weight, heat and airodynamics of a lid, there is an increased chance of not seeing a hazard until it is too late to avoid it. Because sound travels at a different speed through the material lids are made of, it is usually difficult to tell exactly where a sound is coming from, so you have to look around to see just where a hazard might be.

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I'm no pup. I've ridden with minimum skid lids, with no helmet back in the day when it was legal. I now wear a full face, modular helmet. Sorry GB, those assumptions are horseshlt. I’ve ridden 12 hours straight with less fatigue than with minimum coverage. If a three pound helmet wears you out, it's time to get to the gym, and concentrate on those neck muscles. I have no less peripheral vision than I do without (and probably better vision due to my eyes not watering from wind blast, and I hear things much better without the wind noise. I’m not distracted by bugs and road debris smashing into my face (or ducking them). I’ve had to replace my face shield because of a crack caused by a ¾” rock hitting it at 90 mph. Telling people that wearing a helmet is more dangerous than not based on some anecdotal evidence just don't pass the smell test. If you feel you need to make excuses not to wear a helmet, instead of just stating your reasons, maybe you have some doubts.
Like I said, I've ridden both ways, and I now choose to trade the enhanced sensory experience for a more comfortable one.

Hey Eddy - good post. I have to agree that the sensory experience is much better without the lid and also agree with GB that the visibilty etc is improved. I now own 3 helmets in varying shapes in order to try and maximum the experience on any given ride.....I really wish I could find one that doesn't annoy or distract, as I would (in most cases) prefer not to wear it, period.

No way around it for me. I know if you weigh the pros and cons, wearing a helmet will no doubt win out more often than not...

BTW - we blasted up to Duluth on Sunday - and if I knew we were coming I would have let you know! We stopped for breakfast in Anoka and said "well, where do you what to go now?"............

I'll try to plan the next trip.........

Anyone tried a Schuberth J1? They're expensive (on a par with top of the range Shoei) but what attracts me is that they're a 3/4 helmet with a chin-guard, so best of both (helmet-wearing) worlds. I'm going to go and try one on tonight I think.

Okay, Eddy here we go, Brian's gonna put his two cents in.
A helmet will protect you against the elements,road debris,
and the ground. Not so much against other vehicles. My last
ground-sky-ground was in '83. I bounced,face-first, off the road. The faceshield shattered, and I got a bruise/brushburn
from the chinstrap. This was at 90mph. I had on leather jacket,gloves,and boots. The bike landed on my leg and broke it, but no head trauma. Today I use a full face 90%
of the time, half-helmet 5%, and no helmet 5%. On a short ride, around town, I will sometimes take the risk. I do notice, though, that when I feel most vunerable, without a helmet, I am much more careful. I guess this means the more
protection I wear, the safer I feel, the more I cut my safety margins. Funny, isn't it? Does anybody else push it more when they wear more safety gear?

Hey Brian,

I think you are got it right there, I think when you feel safer, you may well push the envelope more. Much like when you think there is the possibility of the law around, you ride closer to the posted than if you are certain there are no cops around!

But feeling safer too may well be kind of subjective. If you feel safe without a helmet, you may not feel the need for restraint either. There you have one "truth" in life that, "Perception is reality". That is why I personally think we need to try and be honest with ourselves when we take stands on things because our perception of things becomes the truth we convey to others. (how's that for Philosophy 101?)

I have way too often heard people validate their theories based on off the cuff statements from people who have no basis than sheer speculation of a given situation or topic. Like this one, What if you were in a car accident and were hurt and the car caught on fire and you couldn't get out of your seat belt? Guess what, someone hurt enough that they can't reach down and un-click a seat belt isn't likely going to be able to reach over and open the door and remove themselves from the car either. Sounds comical but I have heard this used as a reason not to wear seat belts.

I realize that in this topic you have to take a side to camp out on. Point I want to be clear on is, it does come down to choice and we have the freedom to make that choice and I NOW respect those who make that choice because I understand why they do it. I used to think "they" were all insane for not wearing a helmet, but the same guys who don't wear a helmet, may think I am insane for going over 100 miles an hour on a weekly basis! So who is really crazy? We all "like" to take risks, that is why we ride our bikes whether in a an insane fashion, or safe fashion, to a large majority of people we are all nuts, helmets or not!

Now theres a truism. I have yet to get anywhere near the 100 miles an hour point.

I dont have any issues with those who do although it could certainly be argued that they are endangering themselves potentially and others as well by speeding to that extent on a public road.

Thats where I never find the argument that those who willfully and legally choose to not wear a helmet are endangering others to be an argument that holds water.

I expect the longer you ride at highway speeds on our bikes on a regular basis (75-85 miles an hour) and become accustomed to that then the idea of tempting 100 plus miles an hour is an easy step.

With around 4600 miles of saddle time on my speedie I still find highway speeds to be at least from a sensory standpoint to be "plenty fast enough" 80 miles an hour on a bike feels like at least 100 miles an hour in a four wheeled vehicle to me.

Things rush by plenty fast at that speed much more so than is perceived in your average six cylinder American motorcar.

In all honesty I get visions of teeth, eyeballs, and hair mixed with a gooey mixture of blood and greymatter much beyond 90. I only approcahed that once when checking the envelope after rejetting, snork removal and pipes early on.

Plenty of non riders do indeed think we are completely bonkers to ride at all.

Well, as someone who's ears are akin to those of Clark Gable's, "frankly" I've noticed that the few times I've ridden without a helmet on this ol' noggin o' mine, the aerodynamics of my outer auditory membraines have INCREASED the roar of the wind the faster I ride to such a degree that it becomes a nuisance to ride without one, and especially on a cold day or night when these babies o' mine are flappin' in that cold air it REALLY can give me such a friggin' headache you wouldn't believe.

So, I find it much more comfortable to ride wearing at least an open-face helmet, than nothing at all. And, as counter-intuitive as this may seem to some people, I've also found that whether the weather is cold OR hot, that the fatigue-factor is greatly reduced while wearing a brain-bucket also.

Cheers,
Dwight
(I guess I'm just not a "tough-guy" huh...Scarlett?!)

Kevin,
To clarify to the readers and yourself, because you bring a valid point about my particular insanity of hitting a ton on a regular basis. I won't do it when I am around other vehicles and I limit it to a specific stretch of highway where I have a better than average view of potential dangers. After all, I am not suicidal! (at least not purposefully!)

Again, risk assessment. But you are correct, those who ride without regard to the effect they're choice and freedom may have on others too often supercedes the rights and freedoms of others.

Dwight, that was one absolute I encountered when I did ride without a helmet ( I actually wear them in my full face because of the noise. When you talk to your self and can hardly hear your own voice because of the noise it's too loud). You NEED to wear ear plugs (which I had with me) a certainty that I will guarantee will result in hearing damage after less than 30 minutes of riding. Those figures are from sound exposure charts.

I don't wear earplugs with a full face, but with a half helmet or no helmet I do and I tend to ride faster. As for the crazy bit, for the rest of world we are Moto Loco, no matter how we ride. Of course, I'm coming to this type of bike from Japanese fours (ZR-7S) so 100mph seems normal. A lot of our South Florida surface streets are 6 or more lane
dual-carrigeway and straight as an arrow, so finding a stretch to light it up is easy. What's hard is forcing myself to wear a leather jacket in July, even if it is vented.

I love these discussions...

It's ok to break the speed limit law but don't break the helmet law and always wear earplugs.... Safety First!

I must now add safety to my list of arguement topics that can never be resolved.

1. Safety
2. Music
3. Politics
4. Religion
5. Does this outfit make me look fat?

Yes sir Grump....that list is definitive. Its like trying to resolve peace between the Palestinians/Syrians/Egyptians/Iranians/Lebanese and the Israelis.

They will never be resolved and always a point of contention. fortunately ours are nothing but simple discourses played out in words.

I do think though that if I lived in Israel I would wear my helmet at all times. Even in the bed. Incoming rocket attacks ya know.

I won't bother quoting some of the excuses, but it sure sounds like some could stand a stint in a GOOD HELMET. I know some who have heavy helmets. I'm sure some distort what could be heard, and others may impair peripheral vision.

My full-face SHOEI RF-1000 is light weight (feather light), affords great peripheral vision, and I've never once given thought to not being able to tell from where a noise heard came from. It doesn't happen. It breaths. No hotter than the rest of me hear in this Houston heat sauna, and in the rain it defogs itself easily enough, too. An impressive system made up of separate components that each contribute to the whole. Yeah, I spent $300 on it, and I'm sure many would not pony up that kind of money for a GOOD HELMET, but again - it's risk vs. benefits, and alot of those excuses just don't hold water.

Walk that mile in those shoes and see how it is on that side of the issue.

Wear your seatbelts. Wear your helmet when riding. Wear protective gear when riding, too. Wear eye protection when you need to when working with tools (or riding your bike). Don't swim after eating a meal. You do them all, or you don't. But we all know what we ought to be doing.

quote...
Wear your seatbelts. Wear your helmet when riding. Wear protective gear when riding, too. Wear eye protection when you need to when working with tools (or riding your bike). Don't swim after eating a meal. You do them all, or you don't. But we all know what we ought to be doing.

Well Now. We all will do exactly what we damn well please. thats what I ought to do and thats what I do. Safety nazis be doggoned to heck and back and enjoying their trip as it were.

When I started riding 30 years ago I wore a helmet religiously. Then 15 years ago I bought my first Harley. No helmet now. Wearing one on a Hog wasn't cool. With all of my Harley's I have no problem with wind in my face, buffeting, etc. They either had the Harley add-on screens or full fairings. Now that I am riding a Trumpet I once again wear one. But you know what? The main reason is I can't handle the wind. I have a Memphis Slim and lowers and it isn't nearly enough coverage. I wear a helmet because a hat wouldn't stay on and I hate "bike hair". I have a nice comfortable half helmet and I don't mind it but if the wind coverage was there, I probably wouldn't wear one.

I ride a '06 TBA. I have a half helmet and no wind screen. Personal choice, I just like the wind hitting me full on. The only thing I'm starting to get annoyed with are the bug strikes on a naked face. Dad gum... today riding up on Skyline Drive in Virginia I had one that was so big I actually saw it coming... SMACK right on the right cheek just below the sunglasses... had to pull over and wipe my face off. I'm seriously considering forgoing the cool look of a half helmet with sunglasses and get a 3/4 with a face shield.

Riding to enjoy the ride Bill. I'm thinking the half is gonna go bye bye. Been looking at 3/4 helmets with face shields all afternoon.

Shoei makes a new 3/4 with face shield called the J-Wing. It is a premium helmet.

No chin guard.

As a follow up I tried one of the Schuberth J1's and bought it on the spot. It's a 3/4 helmet with a detachable chin-guard. Quite light, well ventilated, protection pretty much as good as a full-face but nowhere near as claustrophobic, drop down visor to reduce sun-glare, and noise deadening acoustics so good I couldn't hear the stock pipes at all (now running TORs, so nice warble). Pity it's not over in the US yet, it is a great lid.

the link: http://www.schuberth.de/

An image:

Are Europe's helmet standards better, worse, or the same as the US helmet standards?

From wikipedia....

Quote:

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Worldwide, many developed countries have defined their own sets of standards that are used to judge the effectiveness of a motorcycle helmet in an accident, and define the minimal acceptable standard thereof. Among them are:

AS 1698 (Australia)
CSA CAN3-D230-M85 (Canada)
JIS T8133 (Japan)
NZ 5430 (New Zealand)
ECE 2205 (Europe)
DOT FMVSS 218 (USA)
Of the above standards, the DOT standard is by far the most lax. The Snell Memorial Foundation has developed stricter requirements and testing procedures for motorcycle helmets, as well as helmets for other activities (e.g. drag racing, bicycling, horseback riding), and many riders in North America consider Snell certification a benefit when considering buying a helmet.

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Does that answer your question????



And today I can understand why some of you don't wanna wear helmets...it's far too hot here today.

Wow! You guys been having some fun since I was in here last!
As to the standards, in MHO even though DOT is as I would suspect, minimalist and even been reported to be simply bought for a price.

Any helmet affords protection, to varying degrees. From a fake helmet used in States to give the appearance of "compliance" to the "high end" ones. You will do better with one than without one in an accident.

Anything that absorbs ANY of the initial energies in a crash are that much less than what is in acted upon your body. The less the better and it is in those times that it MAY make the difference in a favorable outcome. And that is what any safety gear does, absorb energy. Glasses absorb the energies of a bug hitting you (or as mentioned, your skin absorbs it!) Leather, and plastic absorb the heat and force and reduce it to whatever degree before it as it's way on you, and some is obviously better than none.

I should be getting my new Skid Lid tomorrow, for those days when I just don't mind getting hit by bugs and want to feel the softer side of the world rushing at me, and still have a little protection if the harder side of the world decides to assault me!

For a potentially cantankerous subject, ya'll been playing pretty nice in the sand box!

Motorcycle Consumer News has been on Snell's bad list since they published (and still stick by) a report that shows the penetration resistance standard that Snell requires (which is what separates them from DOT standard) causes more injury than a "softer" helmet that gives and thus more efficiently absorbs energy.

I've seen the discussion in other magazines also. I think it makes sense. There is far more chance of impact with solid surfaces than there is with pointy things.

Here is a link to the PDF file on my site.
http://web.mac.com/dannsh/iWeb/Site/Documents.html

Well I got my Skid Lid last night and went for a ride. It affords me all the sensory input of riding without a helmet. Visibility was like not wearing a helmet completely un-obstructed, only thing I could see was the rims of my glasses. Fit nice, light weight, doesn't scoop air, even when I turn my head right or left. Affords the safety factor, so looks like I am good for go! Safe and Free! Still have my full face because I know I don't like rain drops at 65 mph, bugs are bad enough.