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Friends don't let friends ride with shorty helmets?!??!

8K views 66 replies 41 participants last post by  skeeterbarnes 
#1 ·
I just bought a shorty helmet for 'short' around town trips. I am getting a wag of the finger from a rider buddy because of safety issues. I have heard and read all the "my friend is an ER nurse and she says.........." reports, but I think that for trips where I am under 40mph should not be problem. What do you guys think?
 
#2 ·
I wear a full face now, but I have worn 'smaller' helmets in the past, but as far as thinking you're safe because you're doing 40mph and below, you're wrong, you can be standing still and get hit, alot can happen, I ride alot, so I increase my chances, but I've been hit twice, both times I was doing 40mph or below, and close to home btw
 
#3 ·
Riding a motorbike is a dangerous business. Everyone has their own level and limit as to what they think is "safe enough".

If you are asking this question, then I think you already know the answer.


BTW, I ride with a shorty helmet and I will be going to a 3/4 very soon. It's not as same as a full-face...and I know it.....but that's my personal limit. For me, if it starts to become a production of gear and equipment before I ride, then riding will lose it's enjoyment.

Jeans, boots, leather bomber jacket or jean jacket, helmet, goggles, and riding gloves.


Basically, I never ride with shorts, bare hands, open toe shoes, and no helmet or eye protection. That's my limit....
 
#4 ·
Here's how to find out. Get in the back of a friend's pick-up truck wearing your shorty. When he gets up to about 35-40, think about jumping out face first. That oughta convince you. And trust me, I HATE wearing all that *****, too. There isn't one ride I've returned from where I didn't say to myself, "*****, I wore all that ***** and I didn't crash". It's all for that ONE time.

Mike
 
#5 ·
Dress for the crash...not the ride. :-D

Larry
 
#6 ·
Ultimately, what we think isn't very important. It is what you think that counts. If you really want to eliminate all risk sell your bike. If you want to ride and be as fully protected as modern science offers then wear everything the motoGP guys wear. Somewhere in between those two poles is YOU.

You decide what risk you think is acceptable. I ended up somewhere in the middle. I can tell you exactly what I wear, under what conditions, why, etc. But that is me, not you. You have to find your own comfort vs. safety level and then live with the consequences.

Most of us here are pretty safety conscious if that is any help to you. But some guys here wear no helmet, some shorties, some 1/2, some 3/4, some full, open faced; some full faced with flip up and some full faced closed. And some guys have one of each, for different occasions, temperatures, etc. They have found that balance that makes them feel RELATIVELY safe when they ride. You need to do the same thing.


Monte :cool:
 
#7 ·
Anyone ever see a cop with anything other than a shorty helmet?
They ride everyday.

"my friend is an ER nurse and she says.........." reports, but I think that for trips where I am under 40mph should not be problem

You can tell your friend for me to mind her own business instead of ours.

Last year there were roughly 5,000 people killed in cycle accidents, last year there were also over 100,000 people killed in clinical environments by Dr.'s nurses, etc.. Don't believe it? Google it.

Does your ER friend even ride? I doubt it, everyone wants to be an expert on cycle crashes, it makes me sick.

You can also recollect to her that head injuries are not the leading cause of deaths from motorcycle accidents, it is chest injuries.

Worked around ER's for many years myself, seen the aftermath. Seemed like a lot of them were also drunks. :)
 
#9 ·
On 2006-05-31 18:38, toocaffeinated wrote:
I just bought a shorty helmet for 'short' around town trips. I am getting a wag of the finger from a rider buddy because of safety issues. I have heard and read all the "my friend is an ER nurse and she says.........." reports, but I think that for trips where I am under 40mph should not be problem. What do you guys think?
Wear what you like, don't let the masses take your fun away. We all have done things that endanger our health, smoking for example. You can always stay in bed and wait to die of natural causes, boring...... :razz:
 
#10 ·
If you do hit your head, this study says you have a 35% chance of hitting your chin area.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Motorcycle-Helmet-You-Want-May-Not-Be-As-Safe-As-You-Think!&id=12775

Frankly, I don't care what anyone else wears. That does not help me when I'm in an accident. If I do loose my chin I can't complain and say, "Hey, but the cops wear shorty helmets then so should I."

Again, you have the freedom to wear what you want for whatever reason you want, and I'll do the same.
 
#13 ·
Some people climb cliffs like El Capitan, some race bikes at 180MPH+, some jump from planes, etc etc. And cops around here at least if not everywhere wear 3/4 helmets. It's all about YOU and what level of protection you draw the line at for comfort. Everyone takes chances to some degree and while a shorty is less safe than a 3/4, racing bikes is more dangerous no matter what you wear. Whats funny is guys will talk about racing and no one says anything to them about the danger. yet if a guy wears a T shirt and rides safely on the street in rural areas even, someone will bash him for doing so. I mentioned i rode with no jacket on hot days and didn't have a mesh jacket long ago here and was insulted by someone who called me stupid and immature. if thats the case then he should hang out at a superbike race and tell all the riders they're idiots. I know a lot of guys who've ridden for decades w/o ever getting in an accident, but i doubt you'll find one experienced superbike racer who hasn't been hospitalized a few times. But they're considered heros while those who wear a Tshirt sometimes are considered by some morons.

I find it all very pretentious to tell anyone what to wear. weigh the risk and take the amount of risk you're willing to. It's your call and whatever you do, i for one completely understand. I now have a mesh jacket, but i wear a 1/2 helmet often because it is far more comfortable than the 2 3/4 helmets i have. and the mesh will remain in the closet if i find it uncomfortable. I DO try to wear protective clothing and thats why i bought it. But i won't wear it or anything else if it makes the ride less enjoyable to a certain degree.
 
#14 ·
On 2006-05-31 20:01, Thruxton wrote:
A picture is worth a thousand words

enough said
I'll add to this and say decide for yourself. Here's my old helmet and I'll never ride with anything less than a full face.
45 mile per huor crash.,,,,,,,,,,,,

:brk:












[ This message was edited by: Bryan on 2006-06-01 00:51 ]
 
#15 ·
Bryan,

Rather than wear a full face and add more heat to an already hot head, LMFAO!, I think I will simply continue to strive to be a proficient motorcyclist and just opt out of the crashes.

Been doin this for 46 years now, last time down was in the late 70's. Some people say I am overdue for a soil sample, I say that I have stayed proficient, taken refresher MSF courses, read up on the books such as the ones David Hough writes, and that by now my awareness level on a bike is at a height to where I am so ***** good on a bike that it ain't going to happen again.

If the helmet laws were ever repealed in the state I live in I would never even wear a helmet in situations that I didn't deem necessary. Most riders think as long as they have there precious helmet on they are completly safe. Bu!!$h!t! You are only safe when you are riding within your limitations given the machine and conditions at the time.

As always, JMOHO.

Ride safe,

Ace

[ This message was edited by: Brit26 on 2006-06-01 05:28 ]
 
#19 ·
140 mph, 40 mph, or crawling speed..... sh*t happens.

I was performing a U-turn on a steep uphill slope one day (not a good idea, regardless of how skilled you think you are). I was going slower..... well, I was danm near at a stand still. Knew I was going down, knew that my shiny BMW was about to become parts is parts, but I also knew that a little judo roll in my mesh jacket would make it all a harmless affair (to self).

- NOT! -

My Nolan flip-up modular was flipped down, face shield in place, and rather than a 'judo roll', I did a face plant. And if a face plant wasn't enough, I proceeded to slide down the (steeeep) hill on my belly...... and my face(shield). D'OH!

Woulda been my chin, my lips, my nose, and my bulbous forehead that got ground on the hot tarmac that day...... when I was going no faster than, well.... a stand still.

I have a biker "skull cap", half helmet "puddin bowl", flip-ups, affordable full-faces, and an Arai Rx-7. I may wear the skull cap with it's tacky (& offensive) decals to the brewery two miles away, and once or twice a year venture out in my puddin bowl & goggles. And every time I wear either of these head pieces, I feel I may just as well be riding naked with my favorite (hole-filled) under ware..... 'cause it's "comfortable."

- It's not (comfortable) -

Gimme instead the protection from bugs, flying debris, particulate, dust, wind, sun, ciggy-butts, spit, windshield wiper fluid, hard shell beetles, dragon flies, sand, bark from logging trucks, slow flying birds, flung pebbles, a child's toy thrown out the car window, and body parts from the unprotected skull-cap biker riding in front of me........ gimme my full-face!

I danm well better NOT hear my neighbor preach to me what to wear on my bike! But MY CHOICE has been to wear a full-face helmet. Including the stupid days of my youth when helmets were not 'required', I might guesstimate that I've worn a full-face (to include the days aboard a full dresser with the obligatory 3/4 helmet) about 90% of my total time in the saddle.

Wear what you want, but I may ride far enough behind you that your gouged eye-ball will not dirty up my clean & closed face shield on my swoopy doopy full-face.

[ This message was edited by: FattRat on 2006-06-01 07:28 ]
 
#20 ·
Sorry gents,

I take the opposite approach.

I wear a novelty helmet, a tshirt, and blue jeans with the knees blown out for ventilation.

That being said, I am extremely careful and know how to fall being a extreme sports nut (snowboarder, surfer, skateboarder).

My question is: If you have to wear all that STUFF, what's the ***** point of riding a motorcycle anyway???!!! For the gas mileage???

If you gotta wear a suit of armor 90+ heat, get rid of the bike and go buy a convertible.

:mad:
 
#21 ·
"... Rather than wear a full face and add more heat to an already hot head, LMFAO!, I think I will simply continue to strive to be a proficient motorcyclist and just opt out of the crashes..."

There's an old cowboy saying that goes... "Never a horse that couldn't be rode, and never a rider that couldn't be throwed" :2guns:

Of course I hope it never happens to you (or anyone else here).

Bob
 
#22 ·
After reading this thread and thinking about it a while I've added my mesh jacket to the gloves and full face helmet for my commute of only five miles for a couple of reasons. I'm not as skilled as most of you and many of the cage drivers out there are less skilled on four wheels than than I am on two. No matter how prepared I am, one of them could take me out in a second of inattention on either of our parts. Perhaps the extra attention to equipment on my part will increase the odds of getting home to my wife and kids and not be a drooling moron for the rest of my life. Maybe.
Save gas?? Not any more, now I ride because I like to ride and what I choose to wear doesn't take away from the enjoyment of that.
A diesel Jetta gets about 45mpg. So does my Bonnie. A Toyota Prius does even better.

Dennis

[ This message was edited by: wonderdog on 2006-06-01 08:55 ]
 
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