Another reason to check your helmet before ridi9ng

[fangjkf]

I recently took a ride up through New England, stopped for gas and bite to eat. I remember being scolded for putting my helmet on my seat - so I put helmet on ground to be safe. Came out and got on bike to ride short distance back to hotel I was staying at.

Oh dear. Appears to be a spider on outside of my helmet screen. He won't wipe off - What The Heck!!??? RATS, he's on the inside! I don't care how big he is, seeing a spider walking around on your visor - inside - while you are trying to navigate traffic is bound to be disconcerting. And I'm a spider-friendly kind of guy, actually. I opened visor and brushed him outside. So glad I didn't wreck or freak out when I realized the spider was inside.

Note to self - Shake OUT helmet if you leave it on the ground. DUH.

 

[black cherry]

I HEAR ya!

A few weeks ago I felt something crawling in my helmet, while riding down the road! Like you, I'm not freaked out by creepy crawlys but it is quite a sensation while riding down the road!

I SECOND THE MOTION TO CHECK HELMET BEFORE DONING!

 

[Toecutter]

Helmet locks rule!

 

[FJRBluesman]

I put mine on the seat or in between the bars and against the windshield, over the dash, holds it solid, and no crawly thingies.

 

[johnny80s]

I hate creepy, crawley thingys.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Hang it on the mirror

 

[Yamma Jamma]

Not putting your helmet on the seat is a weenyism that I have heard before. Got the same rant once at a meet and greet. I hook my helmet on a handle bar sometimes and sometimes I leave it on the seat. No problems. If the helmet falls, get a new one...the chances are slim if you place it carefully..

Better than getting bugs in it.

 

[Ian Farlow]

Yeah, you're right... just buy a new one. You know... because all of us have disposable income just burning through out pockets. Or... you could just protect the investment that protects your life. But, yeah... you're right. Just go buy a new one.

 

[DELETE-PLEASE]

Ants last week in my girlfriend's helmet. But she spotted them before putting it on and it was only about two or three. Thankfully. She NOW puts it on the bike or holds it in her hand instead of the ground when we stop somewhere to stretch out or buy something to drink.

 

[FJR_pig]

Reading this thread has made me feel like something was crawling on me right now. I hate bugs.

 

[dj bill]

I hate creepy, crawley thingys.

what , and your sleeping on the ground in a tent.party on wayne....lol

 

[MotorToad]

I put my lid in the icebox in front of the gas station... no bugs, no helmet-eating petroleum fumes, and it's cold as hell when I put it on.

 

[Slick]

Hang it on the mirror

I tried that and it messed up the mirror.

I put it on the tank or lock it in the side bag.

 

[old&slow]

A few years ago ,was doing a MSF class ,, gear / helmet on for demo rides ,,etc..

The rest of the time helmet was on the ground or where ever was handy ,,

"don't sit helmet on MC seat " part of class instruction

Anyway ,, after class the other instructor and I headed out the same way ,,, he

suddenly pulled over ,,, had a creepy crawly thing in his helmet ,,,

It may not be MSF approved but my helmet goes on the tank bag between the handle bars..

or in a empty saddle bag ....

 

[nofreeride]

"What if you drop your helmet?

There is also a lot of fear mongering about dropped helmets.

This is a problem because no one can ever guarantee that a helmet has not sustained any damage in a drop. How many 'little' drops affect the helmet' s ability to protect the wearer in the event of that one major impact?

Manufacturers and safety authorities are bound to err on the side of caution and to advise that the helmet should be replaced if it has sustained an impact. This is because they cannot take the risk of saying 'that it is alright to re-use it after the drop'.

Use common sense

If you drop your helmet or it fell off your bike (stationary), then there would be little chance of damaging the outer shell or the inner shell which actually absorbs the energy on impact. However, if you throw your helmet against a wall or down the road in a fit of rage, then you could damage the outer shell and affected the helmet’s ability to protect you."

from: Motorcycle Council of New South Wales

I don't think that a stationary drop will damage your helmet. If it falls off the seat, pick it up and put it back on.

 

[Harald]

I agree with nofreeride; unless there's visible damage to the shell, the helmet is fine in my book. It's the foam inside getting compressed that would be the problem, but it's not going to compress if your head isn't inside.

About crawly things:

I was riding my GS1100E down I-95 near Daytona many years ago and a lizard suddenly decided that it was getting too hot for it's tastes ontop of the engine and ran up onto the tank. Holy Crap! :blink: With visions of it crawling up on me, I brushed it off with gloved hand. I'm thinking it didn't fare to well, because unlike me it wasn't ATGATT and 70mph pavement hurts! :skull:

 

[Ed_Grant]

I haven't had any problems with bugs crawling into my helmet BUTT the 1st ride on my new 929 a yellow jacket (sting hurts WAY more then a honey bee) flew in under my visor and bothered me for a bit. Luckily I got it to leave w/o doing any damage. Funny thing is the next day I was at the same place and another (maybe the same one) bee flew into my helmet. Made me wonder if that Honda was attracting those little buggers.

 

[Silver Penguin]

I get the MSF guilts, every time I hang my helmet on the mirror but that's the way it has to be. During a road trip a couple of years ago, Andy got some kind of bug in his helmet, while it was 'safely' placed on the ground. Within minutes, he had a lump the size of an egg growing out of his head along with feeling queasy and dizzy. Don't ever want to do that again.

 

[Old Michael]

I put my lid in the icebox ... and it's cold as hell when I put it on....

Works with Depends too.