Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I am reading "Proficent Motorcycling" by David L Hough ( a great book)

on page 28 he mentioned a German study that shows the majority of helmet strikes are on the left and right chin areas. Left chin 15.2 % right chin 19.4%

Bearing out what has been saidi n this post

I have a half helmet but its a backup. I will wear it around the neighborhood if I am just test driving or trying to work out some kinks but other than that its always a full helment.

Mustang wrote:
I guess the real question would be...if they repealed the helmet law nationwide, who would still wear a helmet?

I would wear one despite the law. I took a fall and and my face shield took a beating. It was a 3/4 helemt. I immediately went out and got a full helmet. The idea of my chin rubbing along the ground at speed helped me decide.

Wyoming has no helmet law. I still wear a full face and armored jacket.

A friend of mine is still here because he was wearing a full face helmet when he crashed. He slid on his face for 50 feet after an SUV turned left in front of him. The impact cracked the chin bar on his helmet and shattered his faceshield. The worst extent of his injuries was a cracked jaw (not broken just cracked) and a broken arm.

he was wearing a Fulmer helmet and they actually replaced his helmet at no cost after he told them his story.

I ran into a swarm of bees doing about 120. Had on my full face and it still felt like I had been shot by a shotgun. Me and the Goose had on mesh jackets and we had to stop to pick the bees out of the mesh and they were still trying to sting. I cannot imagine what that would have been like with no helmet. In saying that how many guy's are riding with big shields?

I've taken my fair share of the insect population in the face and neck and, while not exactly pleasant, it's all part of the experience in my opinion. A lot of baby-boomers got into motorcycles after watching Easy Rider and those guys didn't have anything more than sunglasses to protect them. I don't think any less of a rider for gearing up, but I do believe those that don't are just a bit more hardcore and gritty than the rest.

Not sure about the hardcore part, but you'll definitely be more 'gritty' in the facial region if it's a dusty road.

I have both full face and half helmet and I ride cruiser style. I wear full face when it cold/rain and when I ride somewhere on an unknown mountain for me. Half face when it hot (it is hot here in CA, isnt' it) and normal ride. I have faceshield on my half helmet and also windshield on my bike.

If you ask this question to sport bike type guys then 99% of the answer would be Full face helmet but if you ask HD might be no helmet. Other cruisers you will get half and half. IMHO.

ZooTech wrote:I've taken my fair share of the insect population in the face and neck and, while not exactly pleasant, it's all part of the experience in my opinion. A lot of baby-boomers got into motorcycles after watching Easy Rider and those guys didn't have anything more than sunglasses to protect them. I don't think any less of a rider for gearing up, but I do believe those that don't are just a bit more hardcore and gritty than the rest.

Would you think a construction worker who worked without safety ropes or lock-offs was "more hardcore?" What about the welder that doesn't wear leathers in case of sparks?