Triumphrat

FlyingScot · 06-26-2008, 09:21 PM

I will never get some people's logic.

So I'm in Albuquerque for business. There's no mandatory helmet law here, so you get your fair share of folks riding around in shorts, T-shirt, sandals and nothing else. Ok, maybe God is your co-pilot and you'll never crash.

But this morning, I see a guy on a crotch rocket in full leathers AND NO HELMET! ***, are you making sure all your organs are going to be intact when you donate them?!?

Does this make sense to anyone?

BigDummy · 06-26-2008, 09:26 PM

In Florida we have the exact opposite of that; flip-flops, tank top and swim shorts with a seven-hundred dollar matching helmet. I'd much rather your version, there are organs to donate, whereas the Florida version becomes Teri Schiavo with roadrash.

CAPTDON · 06-26-2008, 10:35 PM

I ride in shorts @ times. I ALWAYS wear a helmet (good one) . Broken bones heal. Skin grows back. Brains dont!! There are helmet opinons pro & con. I feel helmets should be required in speed zones over 35 mph. I wear mine always, but will take it off in traffic jams going 10ft/ min. I also have seen people w/ armor on & no helmet!! Makes a lot of sense huh? Hey ea to his - or her own? I have done my downs a few times. A helmet has saved me on all 3!! The last one had a defective helmet & it still did something. The 2nd one was in the desert in AZ. Had the helmet as no place to put it. It split in 2- a Bell \good one.
Had amnesia for 30+ days but lived to (eventually) tell about it! The one I use today is the most comfortable one I ahve ever had! They have come a long way in 30 yrs!!

dryheat · 06-26-2008, 10:41 PM

I happen to live in Abq. I see it all the time. My favorite disappointment is the custom painted Shoei strapped to the side of the bike. God forbid you ruin your fairings. Now granted it's f'n hot here but if you want to ride in the desert you gotta suffer a bit. Oh, and the dust. Abq. is in a constant state of construction, so there are massive dust clouds even with the slightest wind. I can't imagine all that crud flying in my eyes. Even with my full face helmet and the visor closed I still get dirt in my teeth.

I may not look as "cool" as the guy riding with his t-shirt and sunglasses but on the other hand, brain damage and road rash don't seem to "cool" either.
Now that I got that off my chest, I will leave the soapbox for the next person to rant upon.

djmakm · 06-26-2008, 10:42 PM

In Pennsylvania, we do not have a helmet law. A buddy of mine at work just took the MSF class. The instructor told the class that you do not have to wear a helmet if you have a license, but if you do, it must be DOT approved or you can get a ticket for wearing a non-DOT lid. ????

I see a lot of the shorts, wife-beater tee, and full-face helmet thing around here too in the summer. IMHO it is (and should be) up to the individual as to the risk they're willing to take.

Haggis · 06-27-2008, 12:08 AM

IMHO it is (and should be) up to the individual as to the risk they're willing to take.

As long as they can pay the medical bills, otherwise we're taking the risk!

FlyingScot · 06-27-2008, 12:18 AM

Oh, I agree that it's up to the individual how much risk they want to take. I somewhat admire the guys that have the balls / lack of common sense to ride around half naked.

I just don't understand why you'd sweat your nuts off in full leathers and leave your head unprotected.

(And given the number of bugs that commit suicide on my faceshield, that's gotta hurt at times)

amanger · 06-27-2008, 04:09 AM

A recently released report showed that if you hit anything solid at over 60km/h (35mp/h) its all over no matter what your wearing.Contary to popular belief you are better off to throw the bike and slide down the road than hit a solid object.

Kem770 · 06-27-2008, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amanger

A recently released report showed that if you hit anything solid at over 60km/h (35mp/h) its all over no matter what your wearing.Contary to popular belief you are better off to throw the bike and slide down the road than hit a solid object.

When I raced I crashed several times at speeds well over 35 mph. Most of the time I'd pick up my bike and finish the race. Kem

PAAS · 06-27-2008, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kem770

When I raced I crashed several times at speeds well over 35 mph. Most of the time I'd pick up my bike and finish the race. Kem

But you don't get "road furniture" (lamposts, road signs, etc...) on race tracks. If you head-butt something solid at more than about 20mph you will suffer irreparable brain damage and probably die, however good your helmet is. A friend's brother went head first into a pillar box (big cast iron cylinder you put mail in) at about 20mph, he didn't live. Fortunately, most accidents involve a lot of sliding and slowing down before you hit something solid, especially on race tracks. Personally, I always ride with the best protective gear I can afford, whatever the weather. But then I don't live in Arizona. I might feel differently if I did.