Did you know...

[Brownbikerbabe]

I just came back from a business/pleasure trip...well pleasure trip first from Florida. I rented a Harley 883 that had been converted to a 1200cc with a Screamin' Eagle engine. Yes, fast. I took my full face helmet with me, already kissed the road once with a half helmet and so now its full face all the way for me.

Anyway, I was so freaked out by the fact that there is no helmet law in Florida. All the locals ride without helmets. Saw a guy whizz by me on a sport bike with absolutely no helmet and no leathers, he must have been doing at least 110mph on the highway. It just makes me shake my head. The transplant rate in Florida must be good, that is if there is anything left to be transplanted.

Did anyone know this or am I the only one with my jaw on the ground.:gob::gob:

[Str8 Jacket]

Did anyone know this or am I the only one with my jaw on the ground.:gob::gob:

Yep, I had a guy in my team who was from Florida and when I used to ride a bike to work with full gear he would always laugh at me and tell me how great it was where he was cause they didnt have to wear a helmet etc.... I told him about the crashes that I had and how lucky I was to have at least been wearing a helmet but he just didnt get it. Each to their own I reckon but I would cringe if I saw someone riding that fast without any gear and I would be praying that I didnt have to come across an accident site where someone hadnt been wearing gear, especially a helmet. Could you imagine the mess they must leave behind?!

[ManDownUnder]

I have to admit I would never do that but if big people want to make those choices (so long as they are informed) then c'est la vie.

Of interest - where di you go/rent the bike? I'm going to Miami Beach for October... and I'm keen to find something to ride.

Cheers!
MDU

[sunhuntin]

common as mud over there... one of my favourite online buddies lives in florida [in the keys i think] and another lives not far from him. they both take photos when they ride, and they are always filled with shots of riders actually feeling the wind and having fun. the full gear only comes out when the weather has a bite.

not many decades ago, we also had the choice of whether to ride with or without a lid, and some here would have ridden without. they are still alive. if i had the choice, id go without as well. hell, id go to florida just to try it. but then, ive done levin to southwards in a hoodie... aint many limits to what i will wear on the open road.

[AJ']

i was riding a 125cc scooter and wearing a half-face helmet last year

at that time i thought there's no point for me to wear a full face helmet as i wouldnt go that fast

a friend of mine once said to me: "does any drop of your brain worth more than wot u gota pay for a full helmet with well known brand"??:gob::gob:

i then joined the Shark family almost immediately after he told me that:2thumbsup

i really cant understand why wouldnt those countries setup a road code or regulations for bikers...to create an awareness of how important those bulky stuffs are and emphasis the road safety:sweatdrop

[AJ']

by the way, if any of those guys had been to Taiwan, they should'v known how important to have a helmet on all the time...

ye helmets are essential for Taiwan bikers to survive in the heavy traffic (u'll see thousands of bikes squeezing each other around u), and awful blacktop~~

the road condition sucks in TW, dont know if there's any improvement after i left Taiwan 8 yrs ago, but....

they wear helmets~

[dipshit]

It looks like Florida went from compulsory helmet used to "the right to decide" in 2000.

http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm

"In Florida, for example, fatalities increased by 81% during a three-year period after the state repealed its law in 2000. Riders who ride without a helmet are required to carry $10,000 worth of insurance, but that $10,000 is often used up in the first 30 minutes of trauma care. Hospital costs for motorcycle-related injuries soared to $44 million in the 30 months after the law was reversed, versus $21 million over a similar span while the law was in effect. Less than 10% of the motorcycle riders involved in these accidents had insurance of any kind to provide medical care."

The BROZN dick heads here were also pushing for the "the right to decide" a few years ago.

[McDuck]

It looks like Florida went from compulsory helmet used to "the right to decide" in 2000.

http://home1.gte.net/res0ak9f/bike.htm

"In Florida, for example, fatalities increased by 81% during a three-year period after the state repealed its law in 2000. Riders who ride without a helmet are required to carry $10,000 worth of insurance, but that $10,000 is often used up in the first 30 minutes of trauma care. Hospital costs for motorcycle-related injuries soared to $44 million in the 30 months after the law was reversed, versus $21 million over a similar span while the law was in effect. Less than 10% of the motorcycle riders involved in these accidents had insurance of any kind to provide medical care."

The BROZN dick heads here were also pushing for the "the right to decide" a few years ago.

I am all for the right to decide. I will just decide to wear helmet.

[Usarka]

More accidents = more medical staff = more jobs = better economy.

just like 'merica. (hmmm)

[McDuck]

More accidents = more medical staff = more jobs = better economy.

just like 'merica. (hmmm)

That would be the way.

It would also be a fantastic way for the morons to self eliminate.

[dipshit]

It would also be a fantastic way for the morons to self eliminate.

The trouble is a good percentage (like 50%) of motorcyclists are morons. They need saving from themselves.

[McDuck]

The trouble is a good percentage (like 50%) of motorcyclists are morons. They need saving from themselves.

Why should we?

[dipshit]

Why should we?

Because the carnage on the roads becomes horrendous.

This cost us all directly and socially.

It has also lead to some of the big motor industry safety watchdogs in the US and Europe seeing the only way to reduce the carnage is to ban bikes altogether.

[McDuck]

Then i vote for a one year trial...

[BiK3RChiK]

Then i vote for a one year trial...

Get real! We don't need a trial in this country!! They've trialled it elsewhere and it doesn't work! Nuff sed..

M

[McDuck]

Lets face facts. The world is over populated. Lets give the morons a chance to lower the population growth a bit.




Remember it would not be compulsory to ride with no helmet.

[No FX]

already kissed the road once with a half helmet and so now its full face all the way for me.:

I woulda tought you would only have half a face left after that so a full face wuold be a waste of time :D:blink:

[trump-lady]

I Use to live in Maryland and it was crazy cause when you crossed over the PA line you didnt have to wear a helmet. (10 mins north of my house) So you would see people pull over on the motorway after they crossed and take off their helmets. Bikes everywhere with their helmets on the bike not their heads.

I admit I did go helmetless @daytona bike week in Florida however theres so much dam traffic at that time you barley get over 20ks. You cant lane split so at that time of the year walking is faster than riding.

[headlesschicken]

More accidents = more medical staff = more jobs = better economy.

just like 'merica. (hmmm)

more accidents = more people temporarily or permanently off work = employers/government picking up the cost = worse economy? :scratch:

[BarryG]

I live right in the middle of the argument. Well, no argument, really, more a case of to each his own. BUT there are always the vocal busybodies on both sides telling you what to do, which is what tends to get up my nose.
I think it's a stupid, stupid law, and the fatality rate has definitely gone up, but the apologists say 'it's only because there are more bikes now' and the other side says 'it's the helmet law, stupid' and nobody listens anyway.
At the end of the day, you have to decide for yourself.
It does make me shudder when I'm on the highway, and the morons are weaving in and out of traffic, which in itself isn't particularly dangerous, just looks that way, but they're in shorts, t-shirt and sneakers and no helmet. I suppose they wear their scars proudly if a cage runs them off the road and they survive - but the mind's eye sees skin ground down to bone and further, and heads sliding along pavement, and limp bodies rag-dolling along the road, and I wonder whether they are currently feeling the thrill.....
Cheers
Barry
PS riding in this part of Florida is not wonderful, you're probably better renting a 50cc scooter and haring around the beach neighborhoods. Much more fun. Key West is the place, it can be a hoot.