Helmets On or Off? - Harley Forum

GOMO · #1 08-09-2007, 09:14 PM

Ok, this seems to be almost a taboo issue to cover (no pun intended) with H-D riders. A lot of riders feel very strongly about their opinions on helmet use, whether for or against. There is also tons of statistics out there that support each side, the problems with some numbers is that they can be presented in a form the benefits a person's/group's argument.

Some points that have been used include weight, which has been associated to neck injuries, heat, vision, hearing, actual workability/performance and fatique to name a few. I believe that both sides of the fence have a decent platform to present, as well as I believe both sides may have information that they present to be slightly bias/tainted.

Now I have my own opinion, which I will keep to myself for now, but I would like to hear some of yours and any information you may have that could be a factor in your decisions. This is information I'd like to use later down the road.

So put on those thinking caps, or not, and lets see what we have in store for this ride...................

#2 08-09-2007, 11:49 PM

I choose to wear a helmet. I have riden since 1968 and had my share of road rash and gouges in helmets, which would have been in my head otherwise. Respect my right to wear a lid and I will respect your right not to.

Majicbringer · #3 08-10-2007, 01:12 AM

Having had my face (and most probably my life) saved by a helmet a time or two, and save the lives of others I've known, I gotta say helmets are the way to go.
I've heard the arguments about helmet, such as these :

"They restrict vision" - No, not really. Besides, anybody able to see can only clearly focus on a spot about the size of a quarter held out at arms length.

"They restrict hearing" - What am I going to hear over: Loud pipes... Wind in my ears at anything over 30mph... Ear plugs (which I see a LOT of bikers using these days)...?

"Restricts head movement" - Nope. I can move my head just fine.

"It will break your neck in an accident since your neck can't flex as well as it can without a helmet." - Sorry, but if you've hit something hard and fast enough to break your neck, a helmet isn't going to help or hinder that fact.

94flhtcu · #4 08-10-2007, 08:17 AM

I believe it's a personal choice. I've had two pretty serious accidents. The first one, no helmet, and no head injury. Plenty of other stuff, tho. The helmet grazed the pavement on the second one. No head injury, but again, plenty of other damage. I choose to wear, and respect the RIGHT of those who don't.

#5 08-10-2007, 09:47 AM

Never leave home without it. On two wheels that is.

Cast · #6 08-10-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOMO

Ok, this seems to be almost a taboo issue to cover (no pun intended) with H-D riders. A lot of riders feel very strongly about their opinions on helmet use, whether for or against. There is also tons of statistics out there that support each side, the problems with some numbers is that they can be presented in a form the benefits a person's/group's argument.

Some points that have been used include weight, which has been associated to neck injuries, heat, vision, hearing, actual workability/performance and fatique to name a few. I believe that both sides of the fence have a decent platform to present, as well as I believe both sides may have information that they present to be slightly bias/tainted.

Now I have my own opinion, which I will keep to myself for now, but I would like to hear some of yours and any information you may have that could be a factor in your decisions. This is information I'd like to use later down the road.

So put on those thinking caps, or not, and lets see what we have in store for this ride...................

Everyone should wear a helmet. I usually don't though...

#7 08-11-2007, 05:14 AM

I;ve read the stats and I feel that if helmets were so safe qhy do so many fail testing.I also believe that if the govt. is so intense on the safety of motorcyclist why put us in danger in war zones around the world. Again the pursuit of happiness is trampled on

#8 08-11-2007, 05:04 PM

Up here in Canada we are required to wear a DOT approved helmet at all times. There is nowhere in the country that you are allowed to ride without one. I wear the smallest helmet I can get away with and if given the choice I would not wear one on occasion. I think that in the larger cities I might still choose to wear a helmet but on the open road I would like to be given the choice to make up my own mind.

I am currently recovering from a bad wreck and looking at my helmet after I can see the benefits of wearing one but I still would like to ride without one on occasion given the right riding situations.

jmk713 · #9 08-11-2007, 10:45 PM

I like to have the choice.
Illinois had a helmet law at one time and it got repealed.
I have an odd shaped head I guess; 'cause I could never find one I could wear for more than an hour or so without getting a headache out of it.
Like others here; I have heard of and seen cases where they helped and some where they didn't.
My wife chooses to wear one if we are going to be riding for an extended period of time or if it's a little cold or windy.
That said; I am pro-choice. I will never try to tell anyone else to wear one or not; and would hope that they would extend me the same courtesy.
So far; I've been fortunate to have only gone down two or three times in fifty plus years of riding and never hit anything larger than a dog. (he also survived).
My only wish is for everyone to ride safe and enjoy many more miles!

Majicbringer · #10 08-12-2007, 01:28 AM

PA and FL recently repealed their helmet laws in the few years and saw almost immediate double digit increases in accident fatalities. Now I know that not wearing a helmet or not in certain accidents is a moot point - Something like slamming into a car or bridge abuttment (be it you into it, or it into you in the case of the semi) at a higher speed or certain other factors where a helmet's just not going to save you. But it makes a better case that helmets do save lives. It's that or those that choose to go lidless in that double digit rise suddenly drive a in a lot riskier fashion or just have uncommonly bad luck.