US: Michigan to repeal helmet law?

[beyond]

When I was younger, helmets weren't compulsory.
Nothing more exhilarating than hooning down a country road at 120kmh without a helmet on. Then the eyes start streaming and you think about slowing down but keep going.

Then the mob of filthy midges hit ya smack in the face and feel like some prats stabbing you in the face with a hundred needles. Some decide to creep around the back of your eyeballs under force and that hurts like hell.

Then you are riding blind, trying to remember which way the road went while applying the brakes. You manage to stop safely and spend the next half hour rolling your eyeballs around, using the corner of your snot rag to try and extract midgey intestines from your retina.

After this 'fun' riding without a helmet experience, a friends mate did a wheel stand on his Mach 3 Kawa 500 at around 60kmh, the chain snapped, wrapped around his leg, dragged him off the bike and his head hit the curb and people got to see some grey matter that they wished they hadn't. No helmet, died instantly, still at high school.

Then a guy up the road had a truck pull out in front of him. Was wearing a helmet but wasn't strapped on. Result, more grey matter for the passing people to see.

Me, I wear a helmet since then everytime I go out.

A year later I had a serious accident, that ripped the jaw piece clean off my full face helmet. Man, I was pleased I was wearing a helmet then.

[Jonathan]

Then a guy up the road had a truck pull out in front of him. Was wearing a helmet but wasn't strapped on. Result, more grey matter for the passing people to see.

I sometimes don't bother to do up my strap when going around town but this unpleasant imagery means that I will never do so again!

[beyond]

I sometimes don't bother to do up my strap when going around town but this unpleasant imagery means that I will never do so again!

Good on ya mate.

If it helps one more biker keeping his synapses intact, I'm a happy biker.

Too many bad stories around to not take precautions when they are available. Can't beat a good helmet done up properly. I know they aren't going to save the broken bones but many accidents are survivable except when you whack your brains out. Sorry to be graphic but sometimes it's needed to get the message home. Every major accident I've had, the scones had a good session on the road or car I've hit, so I've been real pleased I've been wearing a helmet.

[Bob]

Governor Jennifer Granholm has exercised her right of veto and blocked the change in law which would have allowed Michigan bikers to ride without helmets.

Michigan's mandatory motorcycle helmet law has been in the books since the 1960s.

[BeakerRAT]

Me, I wear a helmet since then everytime I go out.

A year later I had a serious accident, that ripped the jaw piece clean off my full face helmet. Man, I was pleased I was wearing a helmet then.[/QUOTE]


Totally agree, had an 'off' - skidded up the road for a bit head first, stuffed the helmet and wore most of the chin piece away but thankfully it did it's job. Full face helmet only all the time, I won't even wear an open face helmet now.