Helmet, no other gear?

[keithaba]

I am getting much better about ATGATT. I used to ride a lot without any protective gear, and I won't lie that I miss it. Especially when it gets over 75. However, I almost always ride with my gear on, despite the heat.

I notice a lot of people wearing shorts, t-shirt, no gloves, tennis shoes, and a helmet???

What is the point of the helmet? So your bones are broken, you can't walk or lift your arms, your skin looks like someone went to town with a cheese grater, but your head is o.k.!!! Now you can be concious about your mess of a body, and think about how much better off you may have been if you had worn proper gear. Crap, I'd rather be dead...

I'm just saying, if your going to ride without gear, F#@k the helmet. At least enjoy it if you are going to put yourself at risk. I just don't see the point of selectively protecting certain areas and not others. I mean, would you wear a jockstrap that only protected one nut?

End of rant.....

 

[twowheelnut]

After my get-off, my belief in wearing full gear is further confirmed. Not even golf ball sized gravel did damage to me.

 

[IndianaTom]

I'm just saying, if your going to ride without gear, F#@k the helmet.

Yea, the heat is starting to catchup with me, I think I need to find some mesh pants that wont show my underpants, yet still have some asbestos on the inner calf to fend off the BTU's of the 1300.

I'm with you, ATGATT, but I must admit, this bike is the first time I've had armored clothing, and proper riding boots. My last bike was almost a decade ago, and I was a little less off financially, so I never wanted to invest.

But as to the helmet only? I think they think, (as I did at one time), I'm good enough, cautious enough, and aware enough to avoid a pile up. (so far, so good, knock on wood). Also, bones and skin will heal ALOT better than a brain injury, so if you have to wear only one piece of gear, it should be the brain bucket.

 

[mdisher]

I dunno... I tweaked my CO settings last night then went for a quickish 50mile romp through the back roads last night.

I came upon around 5 other guys (at varying times) on sport bikes, 2 of them two up, the only protection any of them had was helmets. And both that were riding two-up were wearing shorts :blink:

I also passed a Wing, the driver had jacket, passenger didn't, both had helmets.

The best dressed was a guy on a harley, he had Jacket, chaps and at least a beanie helmet.

:/

To each his own, I understand that. I don't always ride in pants because I haven't found the right ones (although I had them on last night). But damn all I could think of was what would happen to those folks if any of them went down.

 

[Silver Penguin]

A guy passed me, on a Gixxer, wearing the sport-bike 'uniform' of sneakers, shorts, tank top and a classy helmet. He was also wearing a back protector???????

I guess he's making sure that his spine is intact so he can savor feeling every moment of the road rash burns being treated, dressed and healing.

Jill

 

[feejer222]

I wear all the kit during the winter and try to in the summer too. But if I am going out anywhere, take last Friday we went to an open air concert, well it just doesn't do to turn up in bike gear. I wore the helment of course but other than that I had on a lovely off the shoulder soft pink chiffon number. Gold lame slingbacks and of course matching accessories.

 

[Malve]

In Arizona and Hawaii, where it is legal, you see people with no gear including helmets all the time.

My guess is that many of those people that you describe wouldn't be wearing one if it were legal.

Are there any other states that do not require one?

 

[keithaba]

A guy passed me, on a Gixxer, wearing the sport-bike 'uniform' of sneakers, shorts, tank top and a classy helmet. He was also wearing a back protector???????
I guess he's making sure that his spine is intact so he can savor feeling every moment of the road rash burns being treated, dressed and healing.

Jill

That's the type of logic that I'm talking about. I just don't get it.

I do undertand, It's hot, I don't like the gear, I like the wind in my face, I accept that I am putting myself at tremendous risk, but I just want to ride like this.

The only time I can see a helmet and no other gear being helpful, is during a low speed impact. You can hit the ground without the required force to break a bone, but fall on your noggin with same amount of force and you may wind up at the local TBI (traumatic brain injury) clinic. So maybe there is a spec of legitamacy to the idea that your safer with the helmet on.... but the back protector??????????

 

[Silver Penguin]

I wear all the kit during the winter and try to in the summer too. But if I am going out anywhere, take last Friday we went to an open air concert, well it just doesn't do to turn up in bike gear. I wore the helment of course but other than that I had on a lovely off the shoulder soft pink chiffon number. Gold lame slingbacks and of course matching accessories.

I do hope you color matched your helmet to the gown. Icon make a white helmet with pretty pink flames. Chiffon numbers are OK on a shaft drive bike but do be careful if there is a chain involved. I'll bet you turned a few heads with the gold lame slingbacks and all.

 

[Silver Penguin]

The only time I can see a helmet and no other gear being helpful, is during a low speed impact. You can hit the ground without the required force to break a bone, but fall on your noggin with same amount of force and you may wind up at the local TBI (traumatic brain injury) clinic. So maybe there is a spec of legitamacy to the idea that your safer with the helmet on.... but the back protector??????????

Anyone ever visited a TBI unit? When DH was getting rehab for his arm/leg/back injuries, the next hallway had the brain injured patients. Several staff members were surprised to see a motorcycle accident victim that wasn't on the brain ward. These patients are typically strong, fit, previously healthy males. They need four point leather restraints to keep them, and their caregivers safe. If the frontal lobe of the brain is damaged, all inhibition is gone. What goes through the mind comes out of the mouth. It usually sexual in nature. Unrestrained hands will end up either between the legs, or groping the nurses. These patients wear diapers (another reason why hands don't belong down there). Some are spoon fed, others have a tube straight into the stomach. Seizures are often exciting to watch.

Still wanna ride without a helmet anyone?

 

[otrfjr]

Anyone thinking of trying the new AirProtek airbag protective jacket? https://www.airprotekgear.com/

I want one with helium in most compartments & one compartment for nitrous oxide so I can do whippets. Maybe with an adapter the jacket can also inflate flat tires?

"Is that a pair of AirProtek pants, or are you just happy to see me?"

 

[05fjrBluedevil]

Well, i do have to say in the past, i did not like to wear a helmet and still do not.

In the past, I rode with hiker boots jeans and a t shirt.

I remeber having the rear tire slide out on my 1100 virago, i hit the ground, bike kept sliding, hit a truck stood up and slammed the side of the truck!

Bike was messed up good, i got up, grabbed the bike and moved it out of the way. pissed that i had just tore up my nice looking bike. Only pride was hurt.

Now i ride with min of helmet and gloves. Like today running out for lunch just down the street on Preston hwy.

On the way home and to work i wear all the gear. except maybe the over pants sometimes.

i guess it just depends how you feel, i see people out all the time with less gear than i have on.

But I am more prone to wear a helmet these days.

I remeber when, i thought if the changed the law to require me to wear a helmet i would stop riding.

funny how our thoughts change as we age.

 

[cougar8000]

Guys, don't you know that those squids are very nice and courteous to their family. :dribble: Isn't it nice to have an open casket vs closed?

ATGATT even in july in Hot springs AR.

This past Sunday meet a friend of mine and went to Lake geneva, WI for breakfast he just came back from two weeks in France. On the way back we see the Green kwak, with a fatso on it scoring nice red what looked like swimming trunks, white t-shirt with the big PEPSI logo on the middle and a full face helmet. Oh wait, forgot the loafers. Almost puked in my full face helmet.

BTW. In IL the only thing you need to wear according to LEO is eye protection. Other wise you can be butt naked.

 

[gr8eyes]

Mesh with armor in the summer. cool vest etcc... you can stay cool in the summer. ATGATT

 

[petey]

Not even golf ball sized gravel did damage to me.

I'd rather go down on gravel than the HARD asphalt or cement, meaning with proper riding gear.

 

[cougar8000]

Anyone ever visited a TBI unit? When DH was getting rehab for his arm/leg/back injuries, the next hallway had the brain injured patients. Several staff members were surprised to see a motorcycle accident victim that wasn't on the brain ward. These patients are typically strong, fit, previously healthy males. They need four point leather restraints to keep them, and their caregivers safe. If the frontal lobe of the brain is damaged, all inhibition is gone. What goes through the mind comes out of the mouth. It usually sexual in nature. Unrestrained hands will end up either between the legs, or groping the nurses. These patients wear diapers (another reason why hands don't belong down there). Some are spoon fed, others have a tube straight into the stomach. Seizures are often exciting to watch.
Still wanna ride without a helmet anyone?

They should put DMV next door and have free field trips <_<

 

[squeezer]

True confessions -- when I was learning to ride, I was a helmet only guy. I was a broke graduate student and decided I couldn't justify the cost of a leather jacket (no armored textile in those days). Besides, I rode mostly in the summer anyway, and who wants a heavy leather jacket then? But I've never even ridden around the block without a helmet.

I look at myself as lucky I never went down. And I think we're all pretty lucky these days with the number of choices we have for quality gear appropriate to any kind of weather. I've been lazy about the pants -- still usually ride in jeans when I commute -- but just got mesh overpants and a commitment to break that habit. I suppose the older you get, the more in touch you are with your own mortality.

 

[painman]

Years ago when I started riding on the street helmets were not required in Ca. and I wore no helmet or protective gear. Luckily I had no accidents. Having to deal with a family of nurses I've heard it over and over, helmet is the most important piece of equipment obviously, but the majority of motorcycle deaths according to them are not from head injuries, it is internal bodilly injury that is the major cause of death. The more I ride, the more I know I need as much protection as possible heat or not. Ride safe, PM. <><

 

[RonBB]

After my get-off, my belief in wearing full gear is further confirmed.

+1 Just wish some of it was cooler in the summer!