Would you? If you could?

[onearmedbandit]

I've done a couple rides up the street sans-helmet, felt ok at the time. (low speed stuff). Then I thought about the consequences, no definately would wear a lid. Just isn't worth it imo.

[2much]

Only reason i wear a helmet when round town is the legal aspect. Done a few trips down the street without it and love it. So yeah I'd go without it around town in the 50k zone.

[Biohazard]

DAMN even open face helmets make me worry -

Full face lids all the way with me...

Better safe than sorry - sod the human rights thingy people use as an excuse.

Keep it wrapped

[Lou Girardin]

So why aren't cagers forced to wear helmets?
It would undoubtedly cut the road toll.

[placidfemme]

wow, thats a lot of responses...

I personally wouldn't ride my bike without my helmet on for the following reasons:

1. I like my head intact and looking normal (well as normal as possible)
2. Wind in my face will make my eyes water, causing too much danger at any speed above 60kph
3. Wind in my face makes my lips super dry and then they hurt for days afterwards

And a few other reasons... but basically I think its not a good idea (safety wise), but as a few people have mentioned already, it should be choice for some people, not forced on everyone...

Like maybe all learners and restricted license holders should be made to wear them, once you've got your full its your head, your life, your choice...

[Bend-it]

Had a crash in Thailand on a rental. There, helmets are optional, and the only ones available are open face ones... Had abit of scrapping on the helmet there, and it would have been my head if not for the bit of plastic there.

Lost enough skin on my right arm and leg (riding in shorts and tshirt, as happens there, real smart). Quite happy to have kept the skin on my head. Could see MY skin and blood on the road along where I had slided while limping back to pick uo the bike... Not pretty... Always wear a helmet.

[Korea]

Had a crash in Thailand on a rental.
Lost enough skin on my right arm and leg (riding in shorts and tshirt, as happens there, real smart). Quite happy to have kept the skin on my head. Could see MY skin and blood on the road along where I had slided while limping back to pick uo the bike... Not pretty... Always wear a helmet.

Yep... saw a couple of travellers walking around with similar road-rash last time I was in Thailand.

[u4ea]

i am a rare occasion rebel .......ok at low speeds but otherwise would like to keep my hair on and brains intact

[Korea]

Saw a truely horrific medical photo which will not be reposted here...
Guy did a penguin dive over his handlebars and touched down chin first.
Entire jaw gone, ground away up to the nose... the term 'Squid Face' springs to mind. Worst of all... I think he survived.

And now for something completely different:
"What is the point of the helmet when you are skydiving? If you jump out of a plane and your parachute doesn't open, that helmet is now wearing you for protection," - Seinfeld

[Bend-it]

Yeah, took a photo of my road rash as well... will have a hunt around for it...

[Wolf]

Years ago would have answered differently but now, frankly, I feel "naked" if I just have my jeans and not my leggings.

I've aged into a proponent of ATGATT.

Will happily ride around safe private areas without a helmet at low speeds but not out on the road with all the other morons and not at speeds where insects can hurt like hell and the wind noise over exposed ears drowns out the bike's engine.

Even at low speeds, though, the danger is there. The big danger is a sideways topple onto the ground and bashing your head. Even on "soft" earth your skull is going to stop suddenly and the soft squishy pink and grey stuff is going to keep going in accordance with Newtonian physics - and it's going to slam hard into the bone of your skull.

A helmet's lining is designed to deform slowly, decelerating your skull slowly so that the brain is likewise decelerated slowly with hopefully less disastrous results.

So even toppling from a stationary bike - especially an enduro bike - can potentially brain damage you for life if you don't have a helmet.

You don't have to be travelling at speed to seriously fuck yourself up. The only way travelling slow makes it safer is the increased reaction time.

As to blatting down the road at speed with no helmet on - how safe are you really when your eyes are screwed up against the wind and watering like hell? Can you actually see anything smaller than a truck?

[Biff]

Having recently seen the mess not wearing a lid can make of your head (and brain) while travelling at slow speeds, and being hit by car, I'd wear mine 99% of the time.

[Wolf]

It's a no brainer. What a nong I am :slap: - ticked the 'yes' thinking it meant with - doh!! Meant I'd wear one all the time.

I did precisely the same thing. :slap:

We're gettin' old, J, all the more reason for us to wear lids to protect what little addled brains we have.

My correct answer is "No, not at all" - in the context of legally riding on the road without a helmet. Cautiously off road, but even then rarely.

[blacksheep]

most motorcyclists look better with thier mugs covered up,speaking for myself of course.

[Ixion]

I actually went for a little ride the other week, without helmet, gloves, jacket, anything.

I'd stopped for a drink at the Grand Hotel in Helensville.

Parked the bike out the front of the building.

Got inside and settled down, Speights and coffee to hand and decided I needed my phone. Drat, 'tis out at the bike, locked up.

So I trundled out with key, got there and thought "Hm, this is silly, bike's parked HERE where I can't see it, if it was round the corner in the other street, outside the window beside where I'm sitting, I could keep an eye on it. Ought to move it"

But I'd taken off helmet, gloves jacket , all back in pub. And I couldn't be bothered to go back and get them all, let alone get into them .To move 100 yards round the corner.

So I done did it, started up and rode round the corner, up the road a bit, U turn and back to park outside the window.

No helmet, no gloves, no jacket , no leggings (still had my boots on).

Felt DECIDEDLY odd! All sort of naked and exposed.