Triumphrat

welshrob · 11-16-2012, 09:49 AM

Not a witch hunt, more of a curiosity (mostly sparked by sons of anarchy and watching how they wore skull caps in the USA and 3/4 open face Helmets in Ireland) just a survey type question, mostly to the 'Mericuns.'

I don`t want a safety debate here, just answers. Although, I`m not holding my breath...

1. In your location, can you ride without a helmet?

2. If you are allowed to ride without a helmet in your state, do you feel like you are ever alienated by other bikers, if you CHOOSE to wear one?

3. If you have a helmet law, do the cops enforce it rigidly or can you ride around in a Davida pudding basin or SOA type skull cap,or some non approved novelty helmet, ie the Biltwell, as per my avatar?

4. If you live in a state where you don`t have to wear helmets, are there any encouragements or media campaigns, or pressure to wear one?

No fighting, scratching or hitting with handbags please, just trying to get a feel for one of the most unique countries in the world, where they have all those different state helmet laws.

Demonic · 11-16-2012, 09:56 AM

1) No.
2) n/a
2) Yes.
3) n/a.

LoVel · 11-16-2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshrob

1. In your location, can you ride without a helmet?

2. If you are allowed to ride without a helmet in your state, do you feel like you are ever alienated by other bikers, if you CHOOSE to wear one?

3. If you have a helmet law, do the cops enforce it rigidly or can you ride around in a Davida pudding basin or SOA type skull cap,or some non approved novelty helmet, ie the Biltwell, as per my avatar?

4. If you live in a state where you don`t have to wear helmets, are there any encouragements or media campaigns, or pressure to wear one?

1. No

2. N/A but when riding in states where they do not have to wear helmets, yes.

3. The cops in Alabama are too important to enforce any traffic laws thay can't put you in jail for.

4. N/A

welshrob · 11-16-2012, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonic

1) No.
2) n/a
2) Yes.
3) n/a.

Yeah OK demonic, thanks for pointing out that I can`t count. Knob.

I`ve edited it now, so that 4 goes into 4, better than it went into 3.

BonnieBlack · 11-16-2012, 10:04 AM

There's no helmet law in Wisconsin/Minnesota, but I wear a full face one anyways. Everyone I ride with wears a helmet as well.

But, other cliques of bikers around here are almost exclusively bare headed. You know how it is:

Aerostich-like suit and flip up helmet: you pretty much know what they ride
Full leathers and full face helmet: you pretty much know what they ride
Leather jacket and bare head: you pretty much know what they ride
t-shirt, shorts, sandals, bare head: you pretty much know what they ride
Jeans, MC jacket and a helmet: you pretty much know what they ride

Pretty much the same in states with helmet laws, except replace "bare head" with "pretty useless half helmet".

No judgement, live and let live and all. Although, the effect of the cliques on individual choice does make me think twice on the laws.

There, now that the laws have been mentioned I better unsubscribe!

Oh, better follow the format:

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. N/A
4. I don't think so. There are look-out-for-motorcycles campaigns, but I can't think of a you-should-wear-a-helmet campaign. Only pressure is the clique thing.

Wetrudgeon · 11-16-2012, 10:12 AM

1. yes
2. no
3. n/a
4. no

We trudge on (w/helmet).

welshrob · 11-16-2012, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonnieBlack

Aerostich-like suit and flip up helmet: you pretty much know what they ride
Full leathers and full face helmet: you pretty much know what they ride
Leather jacket and bare head: you pretty much know what they ride
t-shirt, shorts, sandals, bare head: you pretty much know what they ride
Jeans, MC jacket and a helmet: you pretty much know what they ride

.

Look, I`ve got a reasonable idea of what you`re on about, but I don`t live in the USA, never been there, it IS NOT like that here (ok maybe a bit like that) so why not expand on it?

zelatore · 11-16-2012, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonnieBlack

Aerostich-like suit and flip up helmet: you pretty much know what they ride
Full leathers and full face helmet: you pretty much know what they ride
Leather jacket and bare head: you pretty much know what they ride
t-shirt, shorts, sandals, bare head: you pretty much know what they ride
Jeans, MC jacket and a helmet: you pretty much know what they ride

He's just commenting that each type of bike has it's own fashion do's and don'ts Step outside the 'officially approved apparel' for your chosen mount and risk being ostracized by your fellow riders.

Let's see if I can identify these chaps by their plumage.

Aerostich and flip-up = BMW rider
Full leathers and full face = 'hard core' sport biker
Leather jacket and bare head = Cruiser/HD rider
t-shirt, shorts, sandals, bare head = squidly young kid on GSXR
Jeans, MC jacket and helmet = er, not sure? UJM rider?

How'd I do?

Back to the original question:

(for California)
1- no
2- n/a
3- no
4- n/a

(for Indiana, where I previously lived and rode)
1- yes
2- no, but I could see it happening in certain cliques
3- n/a
4- no, but it's been nearly 15 years since I lived there

sstenner · 11-16-2012, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshrob

1. In your location, can you ride without a helmet?

We have had a law requiring helmets for about 20 years now. When the law first went into effect, there was a lot of complaining, but most of the grumbling has gone away.

2. If you are allowed to ride without a helmet in your state, do you feel like you are ever alienated by other bikers, if you CHOOSE to wear one?

The state of Pennsylvania, which is about ten miles from my house and is frequently where I ride, does not have a helmet law. I do occasionally get the "you must be from Maryland" look when I'm there. From my observations, about 60-70% of riders there wear something on their heads. I see lots of Maryland riders who stop at the border and stow helmets until they come back to the line.

3. If you have a helmet law, do the cops enforce it rigidly or can you ride around in a Davida pudding basin or SOA type skull cap,or some non approved novelty helmet, ie the Biltwell, as per my avatar?

There does not appear to be any targeted enforcement of the law, however, if you were to be pulled over for something else, and they questioned whether the helmet met criteria, I'm sure they would be happy to add that to the ticket.

If I understand the rules correctly, a valid helmet has a sticker on it that shows it to be approved. That said, with my limited skills, I could make one of those stickers out of office supplies and stick it on a galvanized bucket if I felt so inclined.

At any biker event one attends, there will be more vendors selling helmets of questionable effectiveness than those selling ones of good quality. I assume they do that because the buckets and skull caps have a larger profit margin and people will buy them.

4. If you live in a state where you don`t have to wear helmets, are there any encouragements or media campaigns, or pressure to wear one?

No fighting, scratching or hitting with handbags please, just trying to get a feel for one of the most unique countries in the world, where they have all those different state helmet laws.

Sharon

Lugoves · 11-16-2012, 11:49 AM

1. Yes. Florida USA

2. No. If I am alienated by fellow bikers I'm not aware.

3. N/A

4. No. But if there is a bike/scooter accident reported the media ALWAYS mentions whether there was or wasn't a helmet worn. Thus one can make there own conclusions.

I'm more comfortable with a full face helmet I wear in FL when the daytime high temperatures dip below 60 degrees Fahrenheit - I do wear a half helmet on the island I live on on warmer days around town all roads 35MPH or less. Always at least wear Jeans / mesh Jacket with Armor / gloves / boots / safety glasses/ something bright or reflective. When I learned to ride some 20 plus years ago the Military required all service members to A) always wear safety / reflective gear (on and off base) and B) take a Motor Cycle Safety course (the State of Florida now requires that as a prerequisite for obtaining a License) I was more brazen why I was younger but the safety habits stuck.

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