Ok , ...... helmets are a personal choice.... looking at friends and aquaintences who have passed , and people in the emergency room when my wife was an M.T. at a local hospital, the number one cause of death ( no , cell phones should have been listed) was "blunt force trauma to the torso" .... and when a helmet was worn it just ment we were able to have an open casket funeral.....I like to wear a helmet sometimes, and somtimes not.... but I've seen far more injuries from mangled hands , feet and horrendous road rash from no gloves, boots & jackets.... in fact one young man that passed away last year from a sport bike wreck died from a broken neck.... "hint" that extra 15 lbs of weight on the head ( yes he was wearing a helmet) ....Motorcycling like flying ( I do both) are inherently dangerous...... and having misshaps in both means of transportation I have learned the "safest" form of transport is in a big SUV.... but wanting to live life with gusto and not constant fear is not what some people (reporters) will do, instead they(the world is over gang) push there will onto the unwilling with onerous laws and regulations..... as in the Rush song , I will choose free will ! ................ok, lets go take a ride, .... it is rather cool this morning,,, I'll choose to wear my helmet !!!!!!!!!!!!