K11 Owners Group

[Klinker]

Ok, since it was brought up, I thought we could start a new thread. Topic:

How do you feel about helmet laws?

or

What do you think about helmet laws?

Contemplate the difference. Respond to either or both.

I'll go first.

I used to feel strongly against helmet laws. Especially when they were advocated by non-riders. I figured, if some idiot wanted to ride hatless, that's his bizniss. Same as if he wanted to skydive, smoke or indulge in some other risky behavior. I saw it as a "freedom" worth defending.

As I got older, I added up the miles on the bike. The more I rode, the more time I had to think. I can't quote statistics, but it would seem apparent that accidents with head injuries are typically more severe than those without. And I had heard that when the cost of medical care due to injuries exceed one's medical liability and the patient can't pay, the hospital is stuck with the bill. Private hospitals can deny a patient care - they can send him/her to a public hospital. Public hospitals can not deny care. How do public hospitals cover non-payment by underinsured patients? Taxes. So who pays for the care of the helmetless vegetative ward of the state that was exercising his "freedom" to roll the dice? We all do.

Some states have mandatory helmet laws with insurance exceptions. If a rider passes a safety course and has $10,000 (or something like that) in medical coverage, they can go helmetless. Sounds good, but $10,000 wouldn't cover much. Might pay for the amubulance ride and E.R. visit.

So, after thinking about it, I must say that, unless I have some means of covering my medical costs no matter how extreme, insisting on a "freedom" to ride helmetless strikes me as a bit selfish.

Let's hear how others feel, or think...
_________________
tlp
1994 K1100RS

Only the Reasonists. They believe in an evidence-based world, something called Rationalism. But it's a tiny group, not so influential.
- Page Griffin

[owrstrich]

i used to always wear helmets on the dirt bikes...

street bikes not so often... on the street bikes i would wear the bell star when it was cold... raining... or june bug season...

but more times than not the bell star was bungeed to the seat... our gang was known for sneakers... shorts... wife beaters... sun glasses...

then one of our gang got the rash and beat up pretty good sliding his kz500 through some esses by our neighborhood... since that occurrence... for me it was all about being a proficient motorcyclist and wearing protective clothing...

i wont even get on the brick without all the gear...

this past weekend in idaho... where there is no helmet law... i would say it was less than 50 with helmets... most of which were half helmets...

knowing that 48% of head impacts are in the chin and nose area... its full face for me... i like to avoid pain... physical and financial...

unpaid medical bills due to no insurance or insufficient insurance is going to happen in all types of personal transportation... cars... trucks... motobikes...

im fairly certain my progressive policy only covers my medical bills if im wearing a helmet... but my regular insurance covers the rest...

riding without a helmet should be the riders decision in my opinion with only one condition... that condition is to get a mc endorsement the operator should be required... in the event of a helmetless head injury... to have a valid no resuscitation... no medication... no life support... living will... on file with the dmv...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

[hirschhs]

When I lived in Italy in the early 80s I rode a Duc 750 and very often with no lid. It was just a matter of chance that on 14th April 1984, the day I suffered the indignities of being struck from the side by a blind woman in an upholstered roller-skate with a smaller engine than my bike, I was wearing all the gear.
Since then, I've been ATGATT though I do sometimes leave gloves off if it's hot (that'd be nice over here!). I agree that if our taxes are going to pay for some fool who couldn't be bothered then laws should protect us - on the other hand though, where do you draw the line? Can we apply the same logic to any dangerous activity undertaken by choice?
_________________
Cheers, Steve H _______________________________________
K-less in Bucks
2001 ST1100A

1994 Yamaha 600 Diversion 'Hers'
2006 Kawasaki Z750s 'Hers'

[RAL88]

I always wear a helmet. I was cut off once by a mail truck at an intersection and my then girlfriend now wife was on back. We were not going that fast as we were coming to a stop light. I swerved as far to the left as I could but if I went any further I would have gone into oncoming traffic. My front wheel clipped the rear bumper of the truck. My triple tree cracked and we both went over the handle bars. I turned to catch her fall and she put her hands down to not fall on me. The first thing to hit the ground was the back of my head. There was a huge black gouge in the helmet but no head damage. I got a burn on my shoulder and she sprained a wrist. I still and will always wear a helmet because it doesn't matter how slow you are going with no helmet you can still do major damage.
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

[Off the grid]

Riding without a helmet makes as much sense as sport-fucking without a condom.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

[Moondog]

[LordGondor]

I saw a motorcyclist with no helmet high-side into a stone wall. I was first on scene and he was in convulsions just like in the movies, kicking and shaking 1-2 feet off the ground. That's enough to keep a full helmet on.

Still, I can't help looking longingly at riders in sneakers, tee-shirts, and shorts while I'm broiling in ATGATT.
_________________
93 K1100RS
60K miles now. 30K by me.

[rover759]

ATGATT for me-you can't go to a salvage yard and get spare bits....

What you have to worry about is the unknown I once got hit on the foot by an exhaust silencer that had just fallen off the car ahead- even through my boots it was f**king painful!!!