New Poll - Do you wear a helmet in a no helmet law state?

[Strider]

Okay, this has nothing to do with if the state has the right to force you to wear a helmet - leave that for one of the political debates here - this isn't the one.

I was just wondering how many people wear their helmets as much as possible.  I know a lot of peopel shuck a helmet as soon as they enter a non helmet state and others that continue to wear them.

As for me, I always wear a helmet if I can.  I may leave it straped to my backrest to drive from the check in desk at a hotel to the room, but that is about it.  I have never been so hot or anything that I considered taking it off - BUT THAT IS JUST ME.

I know when I went down in Kentucky - the helmet took most of the blow.

So, you gotta vote to see the results.

[Psychotic Bovine]

I, too, have never been so hot that I felt I needed to take it off.
I always wear it when riding.  (except at hotel parking lots and such, like yourself).

[JimL]

Not only do I always wear a helmet on the motorcycle, I always a helmet when I am cycling on my Trek.

[Bob E.]

I live in a non-helmet state, but I wear one just about all the time.  After losing my little brother in a motorcycle accident (he was wearing a helmet, by the way), I made a promise to my mom and my wife that I would always wear one.  With PA only recently becoming a non-helmet state, I was used to wearing one and pretty much always did anyways.  In fact, I have even switched to wearing a full-face (modular) helmet in all weather versus wearing a half-helmet mainly because I like the fit and feel of my new Symax II so much.  I love that helmet.  About the only time I do not wear one, is if I run to grab lunch from a restaurant here in the business park where I work...about 1/4 to 1/2 mile and I never leave the park.  Also, while riding around the battlefields in Gettysburg on the blue-grey ride, I ditched the helmet because it seemed like by the time I parked and got it off, the group was gathering to ride on to the next spot.  So it was just a pain to put on and take off every few minutes.  But once the tours were over and we headed back out onto the main roads, I put it back on.

[Des]

We live in a "No Helmet" state (Arizona) and we still wear ours when we ride (Kendall & I)
I have to admit he more then I.  I tend to leave mine strapped to the rack after gasing up and riding from station to home.  We leave town -- go anywhere significant it's on my head. 

I know ... even in small towns low speeds there is the potential for an accident (idiots are everywhere)
I'd say I still wear my helmet 99% of the time.

Kendall --- 99.9%

[Jack]

I went to a fund-raising rally and ride here in Benton last month.  I was the only person wearing a cycle jacket and one of very, very few wearing a helmet.  Obviously, these guys are luckier or dumber than I.  I, also, handed out a few "Look Twice, Save a Life" bumper stickers while there.

[HotRod]

Always!

[Black Dog]

Wisconsin is a 'riders choice' state...  Years ago, I went on the ABATE rides to Madison, to protest the mandantory law...  I rode with no helmet most of the time, after the law changed.  Then, I had my wreck, was wearing my helmet (3/4 at the time), and am glad I was, or I wouldn't be writing this.

Since joining the VRCC, and especially the last few years, I've gone from 50/50, to probably 95/5 in favor of wearing my helmet.  A ZR1 Half helmet in warm weather, and a Fulmer Modular for rain/foul/cold weather.

Warren, when you tried to stick yer head through that car, on the way to InZane, and the worst part of your injury was your hand (from what I could see), I knew your helmet saved your handsome mug.  That crash, and many others that have been written about on these pages, have helped me wear it more often than not.

Good poll 

Black Dog

[Windjammer]

  I put it on when I am 1 up and 50/50 when the SO is with me. She does not like it. and when we travel through a helmet state she will put on her half helmet. & if it starts to drizzle or rain will put on the modular, other than that though she has been seen holding it while traveling. I try and explain that if we have to stop fast your face is going to impale my helmet? I don't get a response usually. But if I made her put it on I probably would be riding alone. Now the Grandkids do not get a ride down the driveway unless they have a helmet on PER GRANDMA? go figure? do as I say not as I do type of gal. So bottom line is I prefer to put it on!

[Rachel]

We always wear ours.  I have found if I wet my do-rag and pull the face shield down it is like instant air conditioning on my head in the summer.    No helmet law in AZ.

[JimC]

I am in a no helmet state (Wi) I probably wear my helmet about 90% to 95% of the time. I will admit to an occasional ride around the block (my block is about a 10 mile country jaunt) without it, but more and more I just use it. I recently set my helmet up with a system for listening to a MP3 player so when I go any distance at all I put it on for the tunes, that helps me wear it more often.
Jim

[VALK57]

I will have to admit that I very seldom ever wear a helmet in town, but I always do on the interstate.

[Jay]

Years ago I rarely wore mine, but these days I always wear it.  It just seems like the cagers don't pay attention.

[MAD6Gun]

   99.9 % of the time. As Bob said I didn't put it on for most of the tour around Gettysburg for the same reason. As soon as we headed back I did. I sometimes ride around my addition without it but other than that ALWAYS.
  A ex co-worker of mine was in a crash several years ago (left turn in front of him) neither him or his girlfriend were waring one. She was killed he was in a coma for a month. Last time I talked to him he said he is prone to blackouts and had to take a medical leave from the railroad. He still rides though and he wares a helmet now.
  Indiana does not have a helmet law. They used to many years ago but not now.  I prefer to err on the side of caution and ware one. You never know what idiot is going to come outa nowhere.

[BF]

I live in a no-helmet state (Florida) and I wear a helmet.  Even though it gets hot & humid enough around here to make riding miserable, I still wear one 99.9999999999999% of the time.  It's only a half helmet (an HJC AC-2), but I feel naked without it.  

I also have a full face helmet, but I rarely wear it.  

[Willow]

...  but I feel naked without it. ...

You say that like it's a bad thing?

[valkmc]

I live in Florida and wear my helmet about 70% of the time. I was riding back from New Orleans on the night the law  (no helmet) went into effect @ midnight and I took mine off and rode on 98 for awhile without it. I decided after a few minutes to put it back on.
I now ride around town w/o it sometimes and take it off at rallies like bike week if I am in stop and go traffic. I never get on a highway without it. I did double my life insurance shortly after the law went into effect, I still have one son in college and wanted to make sure he was covered.

[~ Timbrwolf]

...........Hell No



.......minute I cross the state line.....if the helmet laws are off the book....then so is the lid


.......sometimes it comes off even if the law is.....on the books..  



. . . .....nothin better then the feel of the wind in ...whats left of my hair..  

[fiddle mike]

I put on a helmet whenever I through a leg over my bike because I think its a good idea, because its more comfortable than a ball cap or Aunt Jemima hat, and because my helmet stickers work better there than on my head.

[R J]

When I was gainfully  employed, we were required to wear one in the later years.

Retired and it is still 99.9% of the time.

If I'm on the Trike it is only in a required state.

Should I not wear one in a required state & got stopped,  I'd argue that it is not required since I have to have a seat belt.    Bikes don't have seat belts..................

[stormrider]

Always wear one. (Took it off once at Thunder Beach then realized 90% of the other bikers had been drinking beer all afternoon). Have a 2/3 with a visor which helps block the sun and wear it during hot weather. Have a modulat that I wear during cooler weather and if riding into the sun in late afternoon, I can open it about 1/2 way and it blocks the sun making it a lot easier to see.

[fudgie]

I'm with Timber on this. i'm a nope. Kit kinda made me this way. Before her I was 90% of the time except in town. Now I'm a 1%er.  I will wear it if I'm solo and riding the interstate for a distance. I try to wear one at work but alot of times I'm not in the mood. I made Kit wear one in 07 on her 1st trip to Sturgis and she was miserable. The ride home was great cause they were in the trunk! As soon as we hit the State line the lids come off. We're gonna buy those 'novelty helmets next year for us. Something small thats easy to hang off the bike. I want to ride into MI more but she won't ride in a helmet State for long. We took our 3/4's to Sturgis this year to use in the rain. We wore them for 12 miles out of 2198. Waste of time packing them since we never did wear them in the other 3 rain storms. I wear a beanie when its cold and a visor when its warm. Keeps the sun outta my eyes. I hate when your setting in gridlock and its a 100 deg with a helmet on sweating, no thx.
I know I should wear won since I work EMS. But I don't. My boss told me since I am a example for safety in the public eye I need to be careful. Told her I am far from a safety example! 
I'm not really afraid of crashing and dieing. Like Kit always said, we will go out doing what we love.

[BF]

I grew up in this state (Florida) riding motorcycles back in the day when the law was different and it was mandatory to wear one......there was no choice, you HAD to wear one.  Perhaps now, that's why I feel like I'm missing something (my brain probably) if I don't wear one.  

Florida is a very big ride-to destination for bikers of all kinds, especially with large semi-annual events like Daytona over on the east coast and here locally with Thunder Beach.  It's sad, but it's also an all to common event to read or hear about yet another biker being killed here and reading that they weren't wearing a helmet.  I know that there's another whole debate on whether or not wearing a helmet will save you in a bike/cage crash, but still, if there's a even a slim chance that wearing one will keep you alive, then I'm gonna wear one.  

Bottom line, it's up to the individual....and everyone has to make their choice, and live (or not) with the choices they make.  

[sheets]

When I bump my head doing sh!t around the homestead it hurts like hell.  I can't imagine bumping my head at anything over about 20 mph.  I putz around parking lots without the helmet.  Football players wear helmets.  Me too.  Ymmv,

[Big IV]

I used to shuck my helmet and wait for the wind to tussle my hair.
Changed my mind when I stuck my head into a parked truck.  Since then I've had a change of mind on the subject. To that end, to each their own.

[fiddle mike]

When I bump my head doing sh!t around the homestead it hurts like hell.  I can't imagine bumping my head at anything over about 20 mph.  I putz around parking lots without the helmet.  Football players wear helmets.  Me too.  Ymmv,

A few years ago, at South Padre, a woman's motorcycle fell over at a red light and she hit her bare head on the traffic island.  She died. You don't even have to be moving for a helmet to useful.

[Ghost]

I live in a no helmet law state, i guess it was the way i was raised. But growing up we just did not wear them. i do when i have to, but i really like the wind. i know its wrong and alot of people don't approve of not doing it. But i think to each their own. We do live in a Free country.

[f-Stop]

Always...Always...I wear mine...

[Oss]

What about when riding the lawnmower?

 I was real shook up when I heard about Tim( redvalk's) tree incident and also when SHerry got wacked by the horse.

Is ALabama a helmet state for lawn mowing and horse riding?

 ???

Sorry for the hijack  yes I wear the flip up (missing the visor) all the time since I accidently broke the half helmet's leather zip up part.    In the parking lot and also between some Blue grey stops I didnt strap it on but put it on  Only wear the full face in the winter

Nice idea for a thread Warren

[John Schmidt]

Florida is a no helmet state, but frankly I feel naked without it. And yes Carl, in my case that is a bad thing. 

I look at it this way....a helmet is a lot less confining than a wheelchair.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I wear one nearly all the time. Not so much for safety as for convenience. Riding in the rain or into the sun seems nearly impossible for me without a helmet with a visor. Also, if I don’t want to look like the unabomber when I get to my destination then I need to be wearing a helmet. Riding behind a windshield does ugly things to the hair.

On my predawn ride to work I always wear a helmet. Because of the heat and dirt at work which winds up on me I leave it on the backrest on the way home usually.

And, with the helmet on, I look less like a grey haired old fart.

[stude31]

Not only do I always wear a helmet on the motorcycle, I always a helmet when I am cycling on my Trek.

Same Here Jim 

I was riding the trails at one of the local lakes (clinton lake in lawrence,ks) and I endowed over the handlebars and hit my head on a rock.  I am an avid mtn/road biker and I consider myself as an intermediate rider.  I raced for three years and have road over 8k miles on my road bike. 

I figured that if I wear a helmet going 20mph and do it for safety measures then logic tells me I should wear one while riding a motorcycle.  I don't want to get into a "i'm safer than those not wearing a helmet", to each his own until you have a head injury and your family has to take care of you....  ???

[Cliff]

Feel naked without it at any speed including the low speed parking lot stuff when it is off.

[SANDMAN5]

I ALWAYS wear a helmet, gloves and eye protection. Always long pants and boots or
sturdy shoes. Usually wear my Cortech mesh jacket or my leather one. I'm another one
of those that wouldn't be here if I hadn't been wearing my helmet.

[Crazyhorse]

Sometimes I do sometimes I don't.

Mac

[RedValk]

What about when riding the lawnmower?

 I was real shook up when I heard about Tim( redvalk's) tree incident and also when SHerry got wacked by the horse.

Is ALabama a helmet state for lawn mowing and horse riding?

 ???

Sorry for the hijack  yes I wear the flip up (missing the visor) all the time since I accidently broke the half helmet's leather zip up part.    In the parking lot and also between some Blue grey stops I didnt strap it on but put it on  Only wear the full face in the winter

Nice idea for a thread Warren

Funny you should mention that. I went out and bought a hard hat. when working in the woods now...on the John Deere tractor...i wear my HARD HAT 90% of the time. that tree hitting me....darn near killed me.

as for helmets, i too....once or twice...when down at Daytona for bike week...thought i would try going without a helmet. it was ok when i was 'riding' down Main St...in the crowd....moving a few feet...then stopping...then moving a few feet...etc, never over 5 mph. But as soon as i left Main St and got on another street where you could actually RIDE...like about 30-40 mph....i didn't like it. It just did NOT feel right! I would have to pull over and put my helmet on....i just didn't like the feel after all these years. Didn't feel right........

Granted, ALL I EVER WEAR...is a Half helmet. a 3/4 helmet ...i MIGHT be able to stand...but i haven't owned one in 30 years or better. I could NOT wear a full face helmet....just to constricting for me. I wear either HJC half helmets or the new Scorpion E100 half helmet. Or a hard hat on the John Deere

Hey, now that i think of it ...SHERRY ALMOST ALWAYS WEARS A HELMET when barrel racing horses. She is one of the few who do that....it looks like a bicycle helmet. most of the other ladies have cowboy hats on....but Sherry wears a helmet when racing her horse...........

[the inspector]

No, not if I don't have too.

Strider, I think you going to visit your sick friend and co-worker in Africa was more dangerous then riding without a helmet. I spent 2 years in Zaire and know the danger of sickness in Africa, if you catch some of that crap your as good as dead! Be careful over their....and wash your hands.

"the inspector"

[Westernbiker]

I have a custom painted full face helmet that I wear to and from work and on long trips, otherwise I do not wear one. Brought up on dirt bikes at age 8 and always wore one and still do when riding in the dirt but not always on the street. Try and figure that one out, I can't!

[T.P.]

You know we have to wear a helmet to keep the ears warm   

[asfltdncr]

I will have to admit that I very seldom ever wear a helmet in town, but I always do on the interstate.

You're leaving yourself unprotected when you are riding, statistically, in the most hazardous of conditions-in town?