What's up with no safety gear in the southeast US?

[Sev]

I think that more people have been saved because they wore a helmet then because they didn't. Just like seatbelts and airbags. So I'm going to keep wearing my fullface no matter what.

[Loonette]

I know a group of riders in Michigan who only wear their little turtle shells because the law requires them to wear something. They ride in a club, and opt for gear that's close to what Wizzard has described. As a group, they rack up many crashes each year (I won't call them "accidents" - they've usually been drinking when they bite it, so there's no real accident there). Anyway... after they're released from the hospital, or after the funeral services, everyone sits around and glamorizes the incident. One guy I met last summer was sporting a still-open wound with a huge scar running up his arm. His friends oooh and ahhh over him like he's a hero. I suppose some folks measure their toughness by how damaged they can become while still surviving.

I live in a helmet-optional state where about 50% of the riders do wear their helmets. I wear my full-face all the time. I have never felt a false sense of security with it on. I don't want to crash no matter what type of protection I'm wearing.

When it comes right down to it, I'm more for freedom of choice when it comes to our bodies/selves. I do other things to/with myself that others would think "not okay", and a couple of my personal activities are illegal. I try to avoid the controversy of helmet usage, but I do promote their use.

Cheers,
Loonette

[bennettoid]

When it comes right down to it, I'm more for freedom of choice when it comes to our bodies/selves. I do other things to/with myself that others would think "not okay", and a couple of my personal activities are illegal. I try to avoid the controversy of helmet usage, but I do promote their use.

Cheers,
Loonette

My curiosity has just been aroused!

[Loonette]

Always keep 'em guessing!!

Cheers,
Loonette

[t_bonee]

I know a group of riders in Michigan who only wear their little turtle shells because the law requires them to wear something. They ride in a club, and opt for gear that's close to what Wizzard has described. As a group, they rack up many crashes each year (I won't call them "accidents" - they've usually been drinking when they bite it, so there's no real accident there). Anyway... after they're released from the hospital, or after the funeral services, everyone sits around and glamorizes the incident. One guy I met last summer was sporting a still-open wound with a huge scar running up his arm. His friends oooh and ahhh over him like he's a hero. I suppose some folks measure their toughness by how damaged they can become while still surviving.

I live in a helmet-optional state where about 50% of the riders do wear their helmets. I wear my full-face all the time. I have never felt a false sense of security with it on. I don't want to crash no matter what type of protection I'm wearing.

When it comes right down to it, I'm more for freedom of choice when it comes to our bodies/selves. I do other things to/with myself that others would think "not okay", and a couple of my personal activities are illegal. I try to avoid the controversy of helmet usage, but I do promote their use.

Cheers,
Loonette

I live in the same helmet optional state. And while I wear a helmet, I wear a 3/4 face personally, I think that Ohio should stay helmet optional. Let people have the choice. If they don't wanna wear one fine, I don't say anything to anyone who chooses not too. Those that do, great! But leave the choice to the rider, not legislators. I feel the same way about seatbelts. I wear one, and always will, but if you don't want to, hey it's your life. The herd needs to be thinned a bit.

[eugeart]

In the baking heat of Texas I see year round- almost 100% helmetless, gloveless, jacketless and bootless. I commonly see shorts, t-shirts and sandals on crotch rockets. Cruiser or HD types wear jeans and boots typically but only wear that bandanna to protect their head from any forseable impact.

I always wear a helmet, gloves, boots, long pants and at least a long sleeve shirt if not my mesh or leather Jacket. I work in a hospital and see the misery of accidents far too often. As riders we don't have the luxury of that cage around us.

All safety equipment is inexpensive in reality and downright cheap when it comes to injuries.

You're a one percenter or an organ doner depending on your safty concerns.

[sapaul]

I live in a really hot country for ten months of the year and am never without protection. Either full leather or armoured mesh. I could never ride without a full face, best I can afford, the speed alone would tear my face off never mind the bugs and road grit. Even insist my goose wears the same. Am also about 2000m above sea level, the air is spretty thin up here and I am sure we are directly below the hole in the ozone layer. The sun alone can turn you into pork scratchings never mind a good long slide along the tar. As for the helmet thing, I do not want to be any more ugly than I already am.

[PhilD9er]

Here in SoCal it's a mixed bag. Squids usually have gear. Harley guys often have some leather. But scooter riders are in street clothes, and many older/standard/commuter bike riders are in t-shirts.

I like my summer jacket as it's nearly as cool as a t-shirt, and I don't get sun burned arms.

[eugeart]

Scooters are flying off the shelves around here. Riders zip around with zero protection. They also aren't required to have a MC license on scooters up to 90cc. Ergo: an inexperienced organ doner. Those things can get moving pretty quickly and have to be more dangerous than a motorcycle to the rider. Folly I say! Foolishness!

[sapaul]

Scooters in SA are also just starting to take off, my daughter rides one and I insist that she wears full protection. Full face helmet, good gloves and jacket and boots. Probably causes 90% of the arguments in my house