What to do!!!

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basshole · #11 Unread post by **basshole** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:36 pm

They had helmets available to those who didn't have them at my MSF course. So yeah, they do have em. Didn't have gloves but had helmets.

VermilionX · Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:36 pm

ninja79 wrote: ...unless of course you're in LA. Then you don't even have to wear your gear (btw, I should have mentioned that in my rant about riderite).

my riderite instructors weren't bad. what's the name of your instructor?

djbear · #13 Unread post by **djbear** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:37 pm

thanks Ninja for the update!
I will take all in consideration

camthepyro · Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:42 pm

ninja79
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:33 pm Post subject:
Helmets -- like condoms -- are for one time use only. If you fall, the helmet becomes useless -- it's done its job. Even if you drop it, it will probably be useless (depending on the height, etc.) For that reason no sane motorcycle school is going to provide you with a helmet: it's just too much of a liability risk.

...unless of course you're in LA. Then you don't even have to wear your gear (btw, I should have mentioned that in my rant about riderite).

My MSF class will provide helmets, if we don't have our own. Why would a helmet be useless if you drop it? As long as there aren't any cracks, that seems silly.

earwig · #15 Unread post by **earwig** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:58 pm

Camthepyro... when a helmet hits something the material inside compresses to that area to protect the head... it is actually pretty technical. Anyway, after one hit the helmet will be weak in some places therefore... no good anymore.

camthepyro wrote:My MSF class will provide helmets, if we don't have our own. Why would a helmet be useless if you drop it? As long as there aren't any cracks, that seems silly.

ninja79 · #16 Unread post by **ninja79** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:59 pm

camthepyro wrote:
ninja79
PostPosted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 8:33 pm Post subject:
Helmets -- like condoms -- are for one time use only. If you fall, the helmet becomes useless -- it's done its job. Even if you drop it, it will probably be useless (depending on the height, etc.) For that reason no sane motorcycle school is going to provide you with a helmet: it's just too much of a liability risk.

...unless of course you're in LA. Then you don't even have to wear your gear (btw, I should have mentioned that in my rant about riderite).
My MSF class will provide helmets, if we don't have our own. Why would a helmet be useless if you drop it? As long as there aren't any cracks, that seems silly.

because on impact the inner lining compresses and does not decompress. Compressed lining is like popped bubble wrap: you can't use it any more.

dieziege · #17 Unread post by **dieziege** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:06 pm

ninja79 wrote: For that reason no sane motorcycle school is going to provide you with a helmet: it's just too much of a liability risk.

Ummm... MSF provides helmets for the basic rider course. Always. In every state. That's what waivers are for.

http://msf-usa.org/index_new.cfm?pagena ... iderCourse

MSF is more or less sane and they do provide helmets.

I wasn't totally impressed with riderite, and I saw some of the same instructors you've commented on... but let's not be too silly. They did require "gear" (long shirt, long pants, boots, gloves, and helmets) whenever you were on a bike, and the only person who dropped a bike was wearing a long-sleeved tee-shirt and jeans and did not bleed, so they were probably right about the level of protection needed.

djbear · #18 Unread post by **djbear** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:14 pm

dieziege,

In Canada, they do not provided helmets

dieziege · #19 Unread post by **dieziege** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:44 pm

I was really more answering Ninja79... though since this is your thread I suppose that wasn't the most polite thing I coulda done.

The real question isn't new or used, but good or bad. Wal-mart sells generic helmets for about 80 USD and less. If you aren't certain about riding, one of those would be a decent choice. On the other hand, unless you want it as a passenger helmet or something, you might be better off just buying the helmet you are going to want. I bought a roughly 200 USD helmet and used it (even though MSF will provide here) because I wanted to be able to try out my helmet choice before I got my bike. I knew it fit but I figured that if I didn't like riding with it I could get another or something before Bike-Day.

The other factor is helmet style you want vs helmet style that is good for the class.

I think four of us brought our own helmets. The rest used school helmets...those were 3/4 helmets that gave a definite advantage over the students who brought full-face helmets. I had my flip-face and it was definitely harder to hear (and hotter) with the chin bar down. I pretty much had the chin bar up any time the bike was standing still and was glad I could! Two others had full face helmets and were sweating and seemed to have a harder time hearing instructions. One guy brought a harley half-helmet with snap-on visor... he seemed happy with it but I wouldn't have liked it.

Whatever you do, have fun in the class!

ninja79 · #20 Unread post by **ninja79** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:44 pm

dieziege wrote: Ummm... MSF provides helmets for the basic rider course. Always. In every state. That's what waivers are for.

not in Toronto. They also require, at a minimum, a denim jacket and jeans (NOT denim shirt, and certainly not "long-sleeved shirt & pants")

dieziege wrote: I wasn't totally impressed with riderite, and I saw some of the same instructors you've commented on... but let's not be too silly. They did require "gear" (long shirt, long pants, boots, gloves, and helmets) whenever you were on a bike, and the only person who dropped a bike was wearing a long-sleeved tee-shirt and jeans and did not bleed, so they were probably right about the level of protection needed.

Were you in my class at riderite?

Yes, technically they require leather boots, but they let one guy ride in sneakers (yes, really). Conincidentally, it's the same guy who is on his way to become a statistic.

I don't know if you have softer pavement in LA, but when I fell wearing jeans, I bled. Had road rash on my knee for months. That, more than anything, taught me the importance of riding gear.