Went for a ride bucketless..nice : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Big-G · 07-19-2009, 09:23 PM

Wife and I just got home from an afternoon ride in the U.S. We rode till the Can/US border then put the helmets away. What a great experience. I'm now envious of all of you that have laws that give you the choice.

kustom_flames · 07-19-2009, 09:37 PM

Can be real nice! My first time was around the coast of Newport, RI. Slow speeds and it just felt great...

Ted Zackro · 07-20-2009, 02:03 AM

Big-G,
The decision to wear a helmet is a hard fought legislative right by the many State ABATE organizations and other MROs and their supporting chapter members.
ABATE of Illinois motto is:

Education not Legislation!!!

Please join/support your state/provincial ABATE/MRO organization.
Best Regards,

YankeeBob · 07-20-2009, 06:16 AM

I support a persons right to wear/not wear a helmet. For 15 years I enjoyed riding without a helmet....until one fateful evening when I watched my B.I.L go down and hit his head. I now suck it up and ride with a helmet. I will sacrifice a little "feels good" for the sake of a little protection. If he had been wearing his helmet, he would have walked away from that accident with just a few skin abrasions.
It changed me.

fafcpa · 07-23-2009, 08:04 PM

The MSF course got me to wear a helmet all the time. But at the HOG rally in OKC last month, I tried riding without one on account of the heat. I felt uncomfortable and nervous without it and back on it went. I guess the choice has been made for me.

Fred

Barriefunny · 07-23-2009, 08:21 PM

My whole riding career I have lived in Georgia where a helmet is required all the time for everybody. The day I moved to Florida, I ditched the helmet on my first fuel stop after the Florida line. And have not touched my helmet since. Its in a closet somewhere undoubtedly covered in dust. I think it should be about choice. Isn't freedom what America is all about? Isn't freedom what motorcycles are all about? According to many different studies done by different researchers, the motorcycle accident fatality rate is higher in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee than it is here in Florida. And all of those states require helmets. So what does that say?

mikevr007 · 07-23-2009, 08:26 PM

I always wear a helmet, and seat belts are a habit.

Helmet and seat belt laws are ridiculous. Hell, any law that protects me from myself is ridiculous.

Every one should have a choice.

confederate · 07-23-2009, 08:30 PM

There is nothing like riding without a helmet. The only time I wear one is in the summer, due to the hot temps. Let those who ride decide.

NHFree1 · 07-23-2009, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YankeeBob

I support a persons right to wear/not wear a helmet. For 15 years I enjoyed riding without a helmet....until one fateful evening when I watched my B.I.L go down and hit his head. I now suck it up and ride with a helmet. I will sacrifice a little "feels good" for the sake of a little protection. If he had been wearing his helmet, he would have walked away from that accident with just a few skin abrasions.
It changed me.

I'm also in NH where we don't have to wear helmets. About 10 years ago, my wife's uncle didn't make it after an accident where he wasn't wearing a helmet. About a month ago, My father in law hit some sand and went down going about 40 mph. He was wearing his helmet when he whacked his head on the pavement. You should have seen the damage to the helmet. He got up and walked away....actually, he was able to pick up the bike and ride away. If he wasn't wearing it, the outcome certainly would have been much different.

In addition to our own reasons, we both wear helmets for the benefit of the rest of our families. Neither of us want to put them through the same type of tragedy they went through 10 years ago. The choice to of a sibling to have to disconnect life support of a person who is a brother, father, and uncle is the hardest decision a person can ever have to make. My wife had no arguments with me wanting the bike as long as I promised her to wear a helmet....which I would have done anyway.

I agree the choice is yours on what you do....and now you know why I choose to wear one.

springer- · 07-23-2009, 10:23 PM

I rode for years without a helmet. I was in 2 bike accidents without a helmet. I still live in a state where there is no helmet law. I feel the odds will eventually catch up with me, only now I wear a helmet, by choice. I figure I made it this long and I want to make it longer.

I believe in "let those who ride decide".

jerry34208 · 07-23-2009, 10:33 PM

So what does that say?

More corners & hills.
Still, let those who ride decide, no matter what the staistics seem to indicate.