What a wunderful thread.....I just wated 1/2 hour of good productive time here at work and swore I would not participate. But I have to, cant just let this die!
62 years old, riding since I was 14 on some kinda two wheeler. Several crashes but as an MSF instructor/coach, I used to tell my students that I only count the ones where a trip to the emergency room was in order. Two of those, one was in/out same afternoon (FJ1100 vs Ford wagon...wagon won.) The other resulted in four days in hospital waiting for them to fix my left hand (I think the bike fell on it, crushed two bones) with plates and screws.
Helmets? You bet. I had to throw two of them away after my crashes.
Fault? Mine the first time, inattentive, car stopped, I didn't. Second time was while passing a car, he decided to turn left with no signal. 55 mph crash, totaled the '05 BMWLT. This was the one that led to the hospital stay. Both times full face helmets were ground down to the core.
And in November, I hit a median with my FJR, about 30 mph, banged up my helmet pretty good too. A bruise on my elbow was extent of injury. FJR had busted wheel though!
But helmet laws? No. I feel it should be up to the individual. I honestly cant imagine why one would ride without one but it does all come down to assumption of risk. And If I were going to spend all my time riding at 80 or 100, rather than 35 - 60, I probably wouldn't wear one either (I dont want to be kept alive after a 100 mph crash!) But as Busey learned, 25 mph is all it takes. I too put my helmet on to move my bikes from the workshop to the house and back, < 100 yds. Ground hard, head soft (well sorta...) And I dont buy the 'Social burden' thing either.
Bye, y'all