Leather up helmets

Elvis said:

I have been to Phoenix several times and the dry heat there does not compare to the 90% humidity we see here in KY in July and August, with a full face (I wear glasses) you could not see where you were going.

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I've lived all over the US including the Southeast. Hot is hot. I understand what you say about wearing glasses as I too wear them. The helmet will absorb your sweat and a slightly opened visor will provide plenty of airflow.

Elvis said:

I am of the opinion that the better you can see and hear it increases your reaction time and a couple of extra seconds makes a real difference. A full face prevents you from seeing and hearing what is going on around you. We have a group of ****** rockets here that meet every Sunday and they come padded and with helmets, but **** they ride like idiots and one of them crashes almost every Sunday. I am older and slow down for every car coming to an intersection. They guy that pulled out in front of me waved at me before pulling out in front of me. Now if a car is waiting to pull out I slow down and have an escape route.

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Again, I'm sorry if this sounds opinionated, but that's just bull****. If a full face helmet is the difference between your being aware of your surroundings and not being aware then your senses are sorely lacking.

I'm 61 years old and have been riding for 49 years. I've owned just about every type bike made over those 49 years including ****** rockets. Just because those guys are fools, don't discount the gear they're wearing. I've seen more than one t-shirt wearing cruiser rider over cook a corner and suffer the consequences. Have you ever seen a Moto GP rider crash at over 180 miles an hour? They often walk away. Its the gear they're wearing.

If you choose to wear less than the best gear available because its not cool to look 'all padded' then that's your choice. Just don't pretend that its somehow safer. Its not the car you see and slow down for that will get you, its the one you don't see.

This post has brought on many life stories and preferences. I've been across the spectrum as for freedom and fresh air and stifling hot and encumbered riding periods.
I understand and see the several points.

Since we have also spilled a few beans I thought I might add my experience for consideration. I was traveling no more that 20 MPH around a corner when my left Jardine Forward Controls Peg dug deep into the pavement. The Intruder and I were immediately downsided and sliding...I sustained 7 broken ribs, on the resulting immediate slam to the ground, and of course a resulting lung puncher. I spent two weeks in the Hosp. after 3 in ICU. That's it! (Well, except for complications brought on by the inept medical care.) I wore a moderately heavy leather biker jacket, chaps to match, and a non DOT skid lid. I still ride with the same gear except I now prefer full face modular until I start getting head aches from the summer heat. Then it's a DOT leather covered half with goggles. I also have a cane mounting bracket like Dr. House.

Don't get stupid. That's more important that what you wear. But some insurance is better than none And the good thing about it, you don't keep paying the premiums.

I also have a wide variety of gloves, including Lobster or Crab Claw gloves. In the coldest of winters these are jewels!

I hear all kinds of reasons (aka excuses) as to why folks don't wear a certain helmet (or one at all) or leathers, etc... Hell, even I have them as noted in my last post. I understand some of them (heat, etc...) and I disagree with Harry on the heat aspect (of course, everyone's body is different). But, Harry is dead on regarding the protection part. A full face helmet and leathers provide more protection than a half helmet and a t-shirt. That's just common sense and I don't buy for a minute that a full face slows my reaction time or causes me not to hear as well. Hell, I can't much of anything at 70 mph no matter which helmet I'm wearing.

It's obvious that Harry is rather passionate about this subject and what he's saying is true. It may not jive with whatever rationalization any of us use to justify our actions, but it doesn't change the truth. Seat belts save lives and helmets save lives. Obviously, the more coverage your melon has, the better protection it's going to have. The world is full of exceptions and there's always the small percentage of folks that die BECAUSE of their seat belt or their helmet, etc... But, if a person doesn't understand their chances of survival go up proportionately with the more protection they wear, then their just simply avoiding the truth because it, likely, exposes their rationale for whatever they're doing/wearing.

The fact of the matter is like I said in my earlier post. It's personal choice. We all have a certain risk level that we're comfortable (perhaps out of ignorance) with, whether it's how we invest our money, what kind of car we drive (stay away from the minis, lol), etc... Folks choose to smoke and/or drink. We choose to step onto airplanes, knowing **** well if it crashes, it's 99% certain we're dead. I could point out all sorts of risks that folks take. But, you get the idea.

We're all motorcycle enthusiasts in here. We're having a healthy discussion about safety gear and a lot of good information and testimonials are being communicated. That's great, but realise this; the majority of the general population thinks we're ALL nuts for riding these "suicide machines" period. Everything is relative.

I've been riding motorcycles for 39 of my 44 years on this earth. I raced for 20 of them. I've had my share of crashes, both on and off the track; hit by a car once. After all these years, I've come to realise there are a few absolutes.

- Riding motorcycles is FUN
- I will likely do it until I'm physically unable
- Motorcycles break
- Motorcycles fall down, sometimes with you on it.
- Crashing sucks at any speed
- I don't know anyone that's ridden a motorcycle for any length of time that hasn't crashed, whether it be a minor drop or major crash
- I know from first hand experience that motorcycles lose when they tangle with cars and I'm **** lucky to be here typing this post.

That's my .02.

Why ride

Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out the car window.

Intelligence is knowing that motorcycle riding is dangerous; Wisdom is
not exceeding your ability or the bike's capability.

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 70
mph.

You start the game of life with a full pot of luck and an empty pot of
experience. The object is to fill the pot of experience before you empty
the pot of luck.

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold
everything you need.

The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rear view mirror.

When it comes to motorcycles, it's not what you ride; it's THAT you ride
that matters.

Sometimes it takes a whole tank of fuel before you can think straight.

Young riders pick a destination and go. Old riders pick a direction and
go.

Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway, it's an attitude.

People are like motorcycles; each is customized a bit differently.

The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.

Focus is safely stopping after catching a yellow jacket in your shirt or
pants leg at 70 mph.

There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.

If you can't get it going with bungee cords, wire and electrician's
tape, it's serious.

Bikes parked out front mean good country-fried steak, bbq, or catfish
inside.

There are two types of people in this world; people who ride motorcycles
and spectators.

Thanks Daryl. Its funny about the heat issue. Its real easy for me to sit here in March when its 78 degrees outside and pontificate about dealing with the heat. Its another thing entirely in July when its 118. There have been plenty of days when I've walked out of the garage, stood in the sun for a few minutes, and grabbed the keys to the air conditioned truck. Talk's cheap I guess.

As to helmets, etc. While I understand the 'cost to society' issue, I'm completely against any law designed to protect someone from themselves. As you said, riding a motorcycle is dangerous and we're all assuming a certain degree of risk. That said, I just have a hard time not taking exception to someone claiming that a full face helmet exposes you to more risk than no helmet. There are too many studies, and regrettably too many first hand accounts proving otherwise. If you choose to take the risk, that's your choice.

GPMAZ said:

Thanks Daryl. Its funny about the heat issue. Its real easy for me to sit here in March when its 78 degrees outside and pontificate about dealing with the heat. Its another thing entirely in July when its 118. There have been plenty of days when I've walked out of the garage, stood in the sun for a few minutes, and grabbed the keys to the air conditioned truck. Talk's cheap I guess.

As to helmets, etc. While I understand the 'cost to society' issue, I'm completely against any law designed to protect someone from themselves. As you said, riding a motorcycle is dangerous and we're all assuming a certain degree of risk. That said, I just have a hard time not taking exception to someone claiming that a full face helmet exposes you to more risk than no helmet. There are too many studies, and regrettably too many first hand accounts proving otherwise. If you choose to take the risk, that's your choice.

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There's no question a fullface is safer. I'd say anyone that thinks otherwise should experiment with an apple and some foam. Wrap half the apple in foam and see what happens if it lands on the half without the foam.

I have all 3 types of helmets. I ride with the half more often than not. We all make choices. I like to tell myself that I ride extremely safe and probably have more training than the average rider. But, the fact remains that I can be killed in an instant just like anyone else. No one is immune.

STRIPES said:

Only a biker knows why a dog sticks his head out the car window.

Intelligence is knowing that motorcycle riding is dangerous; Wisdom is
not exceeding your ability or the bike's capability.

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

Life may begin at 30, but it doesn't get real interesting until about 70
mph.

You start the game of life with a full pot of luck and an empty pot of
experience. The object is to fill the pot of experience before you empty
the pot of luck.

If you wait, all that happens is that you get older.

Saddlebags can never hold everything you want, but they CAN hold
everything you need.

The only good view of a thunderstorm is in your rear view mirror.

When it comes to motorcycles, it's not what you ride; it's THAT you ride
that matters.

Sometimes it takes a whole tank of fuel before you can think straight.

Young riders pick a destination and go. Old riders pick a direction and
go.

Two-lane blacktop isn't a highway, it's an attitude.

People are like motorcycles; each is customized a bit differently.

The best alarm clock is sunshine on chrome.

Focus is safely stopping after catching a yellow jacket in your shirt or
pants leg at 70 mph.

There's something ugly about a NEW bike on a trailer.

If you can't get it going with bungee cords, wire and electrician's
tape, it's serious.

Bikes parked out front mean good country-fried steak, bbq, or catfish
inside.

There are two types of people in this world; people who ride motorcycles
and spectators.

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Preach it brother!

GPMAZ said:

Thanks Daryl. Its funny about the heat issue. Its real easy for me to sit here in March when its 78 degrees outside and pontificate about dealing with the heat. Its another thing entirely in July when its 118. There have been plenty of days when I've walked out of the garage, stood in the sun for a few minutes, and grabbed the keys to the air conditioned truck. Talk's cheap I guess.

As to helmets, etc. While I understand the 'cost to society' issue, I'm completely against any law designed to protect someone from themselves. As you said, riding a motorcycle is dangerous and we're all assuming a certain degree of risk. That said, I just have a hard time not taking exception to someone claiming that a full face helmet exposes you to more risk than no helmet. There are too many studies, and regrettably too many first hand accounts proving otherwise. If you choose to take the risk, that's your choice.

Click to expand...

Take as much exception as you choose, I said reaction time suffers, not the contact with hard stuff is safer without a full face. I can hear with the half face and I cannot with the full. I can see 2" to 2.5" more on each side which could be as much as 20 yards with the half face giving me extra seconds which is precious when it comes to deer (yeah, we see them on almost every ride here, turkey too.) I too am against any law forcing things like helmets or safety belts especailly when you see kids with I-pods and cell phones while driving. I am looking forward to meeting some of you at at upcoming meet and we can compare war stories.

Elvis said:

Take as much exception as you choose, I said reaction time suffers, not the contact with hard stuff is safer without a full face. I can hear with the half face and I cannot with the full. I can see 2" to 2.5" more on each side which could be as much as 20 yards with the half face giving me extra seconds which is precious when it comes to deer (yeah, we see them on almost every ride here, turkey too.) I too am against any law forcing things like helmets or safety belts especailly when you see kids with I-pods and cell phones while driving. I am looking forward to meeting some of you at at upcoming meet and we can compare war stories.

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My Schuberth R1 has the largest opening of any helmet I've owned. There is no loss of peripheral vision. They're not available yet in the US, I had to order mine from Germany.

I'm a bit curious about the hearing issue. I'm assuming you're using some sort of hearing protection. In the 40 years I rode without hearing protection I don't remember ever hearing about the consequences. Younger riders are lucky in that its become common knowledge and there are many good products available. I find custom earmolds are the most comfortable for me. Some swear by the foam plugs, I could never get them to seal properly. Most likely due to my oversize ears. Tinnitus is irreversible, and the constant ringing can be very unpleasant.

Good luck with whatever you choose. The great thing is these days there's so much information available making an informed decision only takes a little time and liberal use of Google.

Sidecar Flip said:

Isn't your melon worth a bit more than half?

It's interesting. I live in a mandatory helmet state and I belong to ABATE which is anti-helmet but I always wear a helmet, usually a full face and rarely a 3/4 but never anything less.

I go to rallies and all the ABATE members have those little half helmets and I think to myself...'you've never seen a human head slap the pavement because if you ever did, you'd wear a helmet that would at least keep the mess from getting all over'. I've seen a human head slap the pavement. Imagine a watermelon getting slapped with a 2x10 and you'll get the idea.

The only thing that little saucer is gonna do is mark the spot where the coroner is gonna do his investigation. Thats all.

Like I said. It's your melon not mine.

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I live in a Free state and almost always wear a helmet. Not always as I have always hated them and fought against helmet laws just like you. Started wearing them in Phoenix to keep the hot air out of my eyes, drying out my contacts. Got used to them and now usually wear one. Work on a military base also and have to wear one there. I noticed you mentioned the little helmets some guys wear. I always think it funny that here where no one has to wear one, some guys wear the little "novelty" helmets for some reason. I remember one of the auguments against mandatory helmet laws was that without it being the law, only the real things would be around because no one would have the need for the junk ones. I guess some of the Harley "bikers" thinki the beenie is part of the "look". dumbasses.