Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Tough-guys on mopeds

Why is it the majority of motorcyclists' on streets with average speed limits of 45 mph WILL wear a helmet, even when not required by law, but NO one on a moped wears one?

Is this where all the 1%'ers have gone?

Yeah, there's a mentality among scooter riders that they're not "real motorcycles" so they can't get hurt. The same people who'll berate us for our "dangerous machines" will get on their scooter and do 45mph wearing a tshirt, shorts, and thongs (I'm talking about the footwear, not the underwear... tho who knows what they do about that either!). In Aust anyone on two (or three) wheels has to wear a helmet by law, but if they didn't I doubt most of them would bother with the helmet either.

I think they are already required to wear helmets here. I know that I often
see them wearing full face helmets on top of their head like a cross between
a yarmulke and a really ugly stove pipe hat. I just can't help but think, "Why
wouldn't these idiots just buy a half helmet in the first place?"

I've wondered this same thing - while tooling along @ 45 mph on the scooter with the wind in my hair (in my shorts & T-shirt) NO THONG!

Best I can come up with is that the 45 mph stints are exceptions. Unlike riding a "real" bike, most scooter riding is 20-35 and usually only a couple of miles. Not wearing a helmet seems OK. More than a few miles at 40+ and I wish I had my helmet on.

Plus; scooters are geeky enough as it is... looks kind of nerdy to wear a helmet too.

In my neck of the woods, most motorcyclists' do not wear helmets and almost every bike is an HD. Since I am already in the minority, I roll with one of those day-glow hi-viz helmets. I look like a total tool. It's awesome.