If helmets were optional...

[srob]

hebegb said:

Always.
Couldn't care less what others choose to do or not to do - even though I guess this was supposed to be a "contentious" topic , I can not get warmed up about others' choices, it's just the gene pool sorting itself out ...

Don't worry, every sensible car driver thinks the same about us that choose bikes

[hebegb]

srob said:

hebegb said:

Always.
Couldn't care less what others choose to do or not to do - even though I guess this was supposed to be a "contentious" topic , I can not get warmed up about others' choices, it's just the gene pool sorting itself out ...

Don't worry, every sensible car driver thinks the same about us that choose bikes

Haha - yes, I know Simon, it's just about believing that you are doing at least the bare minimum to try to help keep oneself alive should the worst case scenario present itself . I'm actually quite surprised how many doctor / medical care bikers there are out there amongst us !

[bogie]

Im always amazed how some anti bike car drivers will swear blind they consider themselves safe in their car yet their chance of death in just a 50mph car accident is very high too. Its only taken 30 years of positive safety advertising by car manufacturers and everyone feels invincible surrounded by airbags

All the best gear/helmet cant save you if you hit something hard at speed....just as airbags cant save you from 30-50G of deceleration in a 50mph+ head on collision in a car. All these nice things just mean that lower speed accidents should not be as life changing as what they once were...

[HD Adam]

MuscleSaloon said:

Wacky Racer said:

HD Adam said:

Living (mostly) in Texas these days, I wear one even though they aren't compulsory in the State.

I'm not too bothered about wearing a jacket. Yes, I know but it's far too hot.
I know what you're all going to say abut you'd probably die of heatstroke.
Even the Police ride in short sleeves in the Chips stylee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzAJ5P97MsA

Pudding basin and short sleeves lol !

Yep, that's the look

It's 25c here on the last day of January in Houston.

Can you imagine what it's like in July & August?

[cmaguire]

moanthebairns said:

How can you not be a fan of seatbelts it takes a second and you never notice it.

I mean I thought the original question was reaching new depths but this...

I can't think of a polite way to tell you that your An idiot.

The helmet thing is far more cut and dry than the seatbelt thing.
Come off a bike at any speed without one and you're likely to be in bother.
Cars can be smashed up at a decent speed and if you know it's coming, and especially if you are the driver and have the steering wheel to brace against, chances are you'll be OK. Back in the day I tested this a few times, even rolling one motor end to end 3 times. Stepped out just fine, before airbags as well.
Sometimes on short journeys I won't bother with the belt, but otherwise I always do even though it does restrict your vision when heavy braking up to roundabouts as you can't move forward to look past the A-pillar.
As for the bike, I might not (but probably would) bother on short journeys but otherwise always would. Just too dangerous. I did see 150 on the clock of a 900R along the seafront at Nice with shorts, t-shirt and no pisspot once but can't say I have any wish to do it again.

[hedgefinder]

moanthebairns said:

How can you not be a fan of seatbelts it takes a second and you never notice it.

I mean I thought the original question was reaching new depths but this...

I can't think of a polite way to tell you that your An idiot.

I am sorry, but care not what your opinion is of my personal preferences on the matter.
Why was the original question "reaching new depths" ?

I prefer the freedom of riding without a helmet, but as I said I wouldnt do it at sustained speed. Risky maybe but so is going out of the house every morning..... you are only reducing your risk wearing one, not providing total safety. I do wear one all the time though obviously as its law in this country!
My original comment regarding seatbelts was actually not well explained.. I should have said that I am not a fan of it being illegal not to wear seatbelts.... but hey ho I posted what I posted...

Edited by hedgefinder on Sunday 31st January 23:31

[Mastodon2]

cmaguire said:

The helmet thing is far more cut and dry than the seatbelt thing.
Come off a bike at any speed without one and you're likely to be in bother.
Cars can be smashed up at a decent speed and if you know it's coming, and especially if you are the driver and have the steering wheel to brace against, chances are you'll be OK. Back in the day I tested this a few times, even rolling one motor end to end 3 times. Stepped out just fine, before airbags as well.
Sometimes on short journeys I won't bother with the belt, but otherwise I always do even though it does restrict your vision when heavy braking up to roundabouts as you can't move forward to look past the A-pillar.
As for the bike, I might not (but probably would) bother on short journeys but otherwise always would. Just too dangerous. I did see 150 on the clock of a 900R along the seafront at Nice with shorts, t-shirt and no pisspot once but can't say I have any wish to do it again.

Here is a driver "bracing" against the wheel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0yBkuciztA

[Nigel Worc's]

I've ridden without one in foreign Countries, I didn't enjoy the experience, so on that basis I'd choose to wear one.

[hedgefinder]

oh, and even better, just to get the handbags held higher...

I have actually had a couple of offs on a bike, one of them resulted in road rash down most of one side and my head ( in a helmet funnily enough) hitting a parked cars front bumper to slow me down.

[BrassMan]

HD Adam said:

Living (mostly) in Texas these days, I wear one even though they aren't compulsory in the State.

I'm not too bothered about wearing a jacket. Yes, I know but it's far too hot.
I know what you're all going to say abut you'd probably die of heatstroke.
Even the Police ride in short sleeves in the Chips stylee.

Brave. I wouldn't go anywhere near that place on two wheels.

[Pothole]

I probably would wear one most of the time, I'd just like to be offered the choice.

[moanthebairns]

hedgefinder said:

moanthebairns said:

How can you not be a fan of seatbelts it takes a second and you never notice it.

I mean I thought the original question was reaching new depths but this...

I can't think of a polite way to tell you that your An idiot.

I am sorry, but care not what your opinion is of my personal preferences on the matter.
Why was the original question "reaching new depths" ?

I prefer the freedom of riding without a helmet, but as I said I wouldnt do it at sustained speed. Risky maybe but so is going out of the house every morning..... you are only reducing your risk wearing one, not providing total safety. I do wear one all the time though obviously as its law in this country!
My original comment regarding seatbelts was actually not well explained.. I should have said that I am not a fan of it being illegal not to wear seatbelts.... but hey ho I posted what I posted...

Edited by hedgefinder on Sunday 31st January 23:31

Unless you car is equipped with a 5 point harness you do know if you lean forward slowly you can touch your toes. It sure as he'll doesn't restrict you at roundabouts.

I can't believe the amount of retarded statements on here, people's views on helmets and seatbelts just shows you why the government have to pass common send laws to protect the retards in society.

[Vincefox]

Pothole said:

I probably would wear one most of the time, I'd just like to be offered the choice.

Same.

[bennyboysvuk]

I'd wear one whatever.

This happened in my commute in Aug 2015. I'd never really banged my head with any force in any previous accident and always felt that I'd try to move my head out of the way during a fall. However, I don't even remember the point of impact during the crash that caused the below damage.

[catso]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

What next? compulsory temperature restrictors on your bath taps, compulsory condom use, high vis jackets for walking in the street etc.

An adult should be able to decide for themselves on things that have no bearing on other's safety.

I started riding in the '70s in Italy where there was no helmet law at the time and would often ride without (and in jeans, shorts, trainers, no gloves, T-shirt etc.) especially in 40 degree city centre traffic or when at the beach.

I would choose to wear a helmet for most riding for many reasons but there are occasions when I would go without and, for the record I have crashed both with and without a helmet.

At least this girl's wearing one though;

[Prof Prolapse]

Mostly for me, but not sure always. For faster/longer journeys I think you'd obviously wear one, but it is a pain in the arse walking around town with your helmet if you're just off to the shops. So I'd be tempted to not use it.

That said I don't really want to be "Prolapse the Potato" either. I guess for the most part arms and legs heal, but I've never heard of someone regrowing a brain or making do without one... Then again the SNP is doing well up here.

[moanthebairns]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

its not just you though that's brought into a world of st if you have an off without a lid or a seatbelt.

say you get rear ended at a slow speed, everyday insurance job normally. But because your a fud, you decided not to wear a belt or a helmet.

you sustain rather bad injuries. This person who made a momentary lack of judgement is then under the stress of a criminal investigation because you suffered injuries due to being a fud. Or they have to live with killing you, when if you'd been wearing a lid or seatbelt you'd have lived.

[catso]

And how long before the powers-that-be decide that motorcycling is simply too dangerous? We've already had proposed power limiters, leg-protectors and other silly ideas, eventually they'll ban bikes.

For the record you can legally ride a bike with sidecar or quad without one and they are equally as dangerous (arguably more so?) as you can also a Horse, bicycle, roller skates etc.

As for the poor people that scrape me off the road, it's their choice to do the job or not plus I am intending for them to not have to do so.

[Disastrous]

moanthebairns said:

its not just you though that's brought into a world of st if you have an off without a lid or a seatbelt.

say you get rear ended at a slow speed, everyday insurance job normally. But because your a fud, you decided not to wear a belt or a helmet.

you sustain rather bad injuries. This person who made a momentary lack of judgement is then under the stress of a criminal investigation because you suffered injuries due to being a fud. Or they have to live with killing you, when if you'd been wearing a lid or seatbelt you'd have lived.

You think it's the person who got hit's fault??

Aside from that, I'm for free choice. I hate things being mandatory and whilst I would probably wear a helmet most times, there have been a few occasions on hot days when I've been ambling along in the middle of nowhere without a care in the world and thought how excellent it would be to just have the warm air in my face and the wind in my hair.

As far as I'm concerned, it's up to each individual how much personal risk they want to subject themselves to. The UK is massively over-concerned about de-risking absolutely everything and I much prefer how laid back the more Mediterranean countries are in their attitude to risk.

Also, what's up with buying a motorcycle and then being all gay about it being a bit dangerous?? That sounds exactly like fat, middle-aged accountants who want to do something 'cool' also wanting the rules changed to make it safer talking.

My old man rode his Bonneville for years in a polo shirt and Jackie Stewart flat cap and if it was cold he'd put his mountaineering jacket on. I wear more gear than him but my bike's faster but I've been out in shirt sleeves before and it's excellent. You feel like Steve McQueen .

[catso]

moanthebairns said:

This person who made a momentary lack of judgement is then under the stress of a criminal investigation because you suffered injuries due to being a fud. Or they have to live with killing you, when if you'd been wearing a lid or seatbelt you'd have lived.

They should be more careful or give up driving and take up something safer.