Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I was riding in Washinton State this weekend and saw an incredible number of bikes on the road. A lot of them were on their way to Sturgis.

Central western Ohio seems to be like this - Almost no riders of HD motorcycles wear a helmet. Not even a half shell. Around half or more of the metric cruiser riders wear a helmet of some sort. Almost all the sports bike riders wear a helmet. I do see exceptions, but after a couple years of observation I'd say this is accurate for our area.

I also notice the non-helmet people tend to be less friendly to me in my helmet and on my bike. Again there have been exceptions. I met a few guys who I watched them transform from stiff and annoyed looking to friendly once I talked to them. I guess they thought I'd never talk to them or something since I had a helmet on.

MrGompers wrote:I think your percentage is too low. Around here I would say 80% of riders are helmetless. Oddly enough the sportbike rider crowd seems to have the highest rate of helmut use around here.

Since I started riding I've only seen one guy on a cruiser bike wearing a full face helmet. I have seen plenty of half helmets tho.

Wanna bet that one guy on a cruiser with a full face was me? Will definitely agree that the sportbike crowd wears helmets most of the time here. The other group I see consistently wearing are those on touring(non-harley) bikes. BMW, most Goldwings, etc.

MA is by law so everyone does, but as soon as i cross into NH the helmets almost dissapear.

'Jersey is a helmet law state anyway, so it's a moot point.....

but given that I hurt myself doing everyday things around the house (I almost busted a finger this morning feeding the cat.... don't ask) it would be insane for me to operate a motorcycle without a helmet. Heck, I probably should wear one just to walk downstairs.... (just kidding).

Given that I like my bikes nekkid (like my women... ) a full-face gives me the wind protection I need.

Given that "cool" and me are concepts that don't belong in the same neighborhood, let alone in the same sentence, what anyone else thinks about me and my dorky HJC CL14 is their problem, not mine.

MetricRider wrote:

MrGompers wrote:I think your percentage is too low. Around here I would say 80% of riders are helmetless. Oddly enough the sportbike rider crowd seems to have the highest rate of helmut use around here.

Since I started riding I've only seen one guy on a cruiser bike wearing a full face helmet. I have seen plenty of half helmets tho.

Wanna bet that one guy on a cruiser with a full face was me? Will definitely agree that the sportbike crowd wears helmets most of the time here. The other group I see consistently wearing are those on touring(non-harley) bikes. BMW, most Goldwings, etc.

That would be funny as hell if it was you that I saw. Yea I would agree with the touring bike riders wearing full face also. I hardly see any touring bikes around here tho.

Whats up with your bike now ? Did you get if fixed ?

I wear a 3/4 helmet all the time, my husband is across the board it ranges from nothing to a full face helmet. Florida dosen't require you to wear helmets and for the most part the only ones that do wear them are the speed bikes.

When in a state that doesn't require a helmet, I don't wear one.

Here a helmet isn't reqired but I always wear mine. I just don't see the point of not wearing it. You get used to the feeling and it will seem like it's not even there after a while. I'd just rather have something to protect my head than feel a little "more free"