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Why does it have to just be harley riders? I see just as many people riding metric cruisers without helmets as I do people riding harley's without. And even if they do, who cares? It's not my life, I always wear a helmet but that doesn't mean that everybody has to do what I do. Be your own person, use your own mind, thats what makes us free.

nightingale wrote:i don't know if anyone is interested, but this site has the helmet laws for all 50 states.

http://usff.com/hldl/frames/50state.html

One Caveat:

Last updated: January 2001

From the bottom of the main page. The info on this site is old. I recommend going to the AMA site: http://www.amadirectlink.com/legisltn/laws.asp

This has all the other laws summarized such as the need for signal lights, etc.

mustangski wrote:Why does it have to just be harley riders? I see just as many people riding metric cruisers without helmets as I do people riding harley's without............

Thank you for saying what I was thinking.....down here in South Florida where every other person and his brother are buying cruisers, mostly the metric brands (affordability and looking mighty sweet with the new models) I've noticed a lot of riders NOT wearing helmets.

A few theories.......

Cruisers tend to half helmets if anything, these don't deflect wind and if a helmets not keeping the wind off the face, why wear one? Being a full time helmet wearer I don't necessarily agree, but can see the line of thinking.

Helmet hair? Bikers thy name be vanity???:):)

I only rode once without a helmet...down in the Keyes on a weekend trip to go to the store for some food. The ride was for only a block, but it did feel good.....more free.....but am I willing to face the consequences for that feeling? not really.....

The looking cool theory goes a long way though...

We HAVE to wear helmets in OZ....I have taken it off a few times while riding & slipped it back on when approaching a town.

I'm so used to them I'm not sure if I would go without one or not.

But mostly I think that Helmets reduce wind-noise to your ears, prevent wind burn on your head, stop your hair getting wet in rain & cost a fortune to buy a decent Brand name one.

Perhaps the Helmet manufacturers pissed into enough Politicians pockets & made it LAW so's they all got rich in the process!

I more than respect an individual's right to choose to wear a helmet in American society, which is very much (but not totally, of course) rooted in such individualism. Up here in Canada, I'm in favour of mandatory helmet laws, because of the nature of our society, in which everyone's health care is paid for by the state (from tax dollars). Looking at the amount of cash it takes for an average head injury, it's unfair for my neighbor to run around with no helmet and expect the rest of the nation to foot the bill should he get creamed.

Just when I thought this thread was dead LOL

canuckerjay wrote:I more than respect an individual's right to choose to wear a helmet in American society, which is very much (but not totally, of course) rooted in such individualism. Up here in Canada, I'm in favour of mandatory helmet laws, because of the nature of our society, in which everyone's health care is paid for by the state (from tax dollars). Looking at the amount of cash it takes for an average head injury, it's unfair for my neighbor to run around with no helmet and expect the rest of the nation to foot the bill should he get creamed.

Don't you love a thread being brought back to life!

I understand what you're saying Canuckerjay, but remember what a medical service costs in the US (and is the number being quoted in the latest motorcycle fatality report) is substansially higher than what it would be in a nationalized healthcare system. The American system promotes profits for every layer involved and doctors with a much higher income than thier state-paid countrparts in other countries.

I can't remember the exact stat but someone who studied a smiliar report noted that a high number of driver fatalities in cars was caused by head trauma which begged the question, should car drivers have helmet laws too?

BTW I'm a helmet wearer in an optional state.

Why is it a violation of freedom to require to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, but its okay to require you to wear seatbelts in a car?

CNF2002 wrote:Why is it a violation of freedom to require to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, but its okay to require you to wear seatbelts in a car?

Because people will "rebel" against change. Seatbelts have been in place for so long that they are just accepted.

Helmets on the other hand are a newer requirement, so people will fight against it.

That or they're idiots.

Helmets are a private decision. I, for one, always wear one even though the laws says I don't have too. My brain is my second favorite organ.