Oh, the irony

[Jamison C]

Whilst sitting at a stoplight this guy rolled past me, naturally I wanted to get a picture for my riding buddies.

I posted this on my local bike page with the caption “why is this guy stupid?” and of course the squids (a term we use for the punks that do wheelies in traffic with no gear and give bikers a bad rap) jumped down my throat on how judgmental my post was.

Now, if you don’t have or ride with a helmet, that’s one thing, and I can respect that. Most states permit it, including AZ. But if you have one with you like this fellow in the picture, why not utilize it?

I’ve always worn a helmet, but I’ve been even more adamant since I was hit in November of 2015. A young girl driving from the opposite direction was texting and drifted into my lane around a curve. We hit head on at about 30-35MPH which isn’t horrible, but I got thrown about twenty feet. I had full gear which kept my body safe, but I landed straight in my head, so hard in fact that it split my helmet open. Yes your read that right, my helmet.

The results were about a two-month concussion, and a permanent cloud/fog over my thoughts. I used to be extremely sharp and quick, and while I still am, my ability to think isn’t where it used to be. I can also no longer do more than basic math in my head, and I usually have to read something three or four times before I actually absorb the knowledge.

I’ve heard the excuse from other riders that they would rather die than using a helmet and becoming a vegetable, or at the very least suffering permanent brain damage like I did.

I for one am extremely grateful to be alive, but I am a huge advocate for proper gear, but most importantly helmets.

Needless to say that didn’t stop me, I went on to amateur racing until summer of last year when I sold the bike. Here’s a show-off picture from October of 2017

Just a reminder to all my fellow riders to stay safe out there! You may be looking right at them, but that doesn’t mean they see you.

 

[Sancho]

Its more important to be cool then safe. Duh!

Joking... i took a head over ass over head tumble dirtbiking years ago. Helmet was dented and collapsed.

Could of ruined my hair style.

Lesson learned.

 

[Chris]

I’m quite familiar with squids. When I lived in Arizona they were all over. I was one of the very few people who always wore my helmet when riding, regardless of the law.

 

[tworley]

I'll admit, I am guilty of this. Hot AF out and I only had a few miles to go (I know, I know, piss poor excuse). 99.9% of the time its on though (though it only takes a split second to have an accident)

 

[Equilibrium31]

The helmet is just for his chick to wear when she hops on back duuuuuuuude! Duh!

Sarcasm aside, I totally agree. Even the most law-abiding, safe rider is still susceptible to end up on the pavement because of stupid drivers. My dad got pretty messed up from some kid that was texting and driving.

 

[GorillaBiscuit]

Great post, I am also a huge pro safety gear guy! About 15 years ago I had a nasty crash on my Honda VTR1000 when I lived down in south Florida. I went high side and got thrown off my bike. As the bike flipped and tumbled I landed on my head and cracked my Shoei helmet. I was wearing full safety gear and was able to walk away with only a concussion. The state of Florida is one of those states that does not require a helmet, but I always wear my full gear! Even in hot miserable weather.
I tell people all the time, you gotta dress for the slide, not the ride!

 

[Squatch]

While I haven't even been on a bike since I was about twenty years old, I can say I've seen some nasty stuff on the roads. One that comes to mind was the wife and I were crawling along in the carpool lane northbound on I-5, wondering what was causing all the backup. Eventually I could see that a cop had a crotch rocket pulled over, and the rider was sitting on the guardrail, looking all defeated in his skin-tight pink shirt.

Only, it wasn't a shirt at all. It was what remained of his flesh. It seems he was riding wearing just jeans (and a helmet...it's the law, here) when he apparently laid the bike down. I winced at the thought of what that road rash was gonna feel like in a few days as his skin started to heal.

Also, it's funny how terms have a different meaning through the years. When I was growing up, "squids" were sailors, as-in Navy. Being a Navy brat, I heard the term being thrown around all the time. Never once heard it used in the context mentioned within this thread, however.

 

[Tray Burge]

The only difference in someone that's gone down on a bike and hasn't gone down is time.

 

[Squatch]

The only difference in someone that's gone down on a bike and hasn't gone down is time.

So always remember to dress for the occasion...

 

[glwood]

So always remember to dress for the occasion...

Having laid down a bike in the past, I prefer to skip the dance altogether. Did have a helmet on at the time, and a good thing I did.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

That picture looks like proof that some people aren't smart enough to protect their brain.

If I had one on when my van rolled it probably would have helped more than if I would have worn the seatbelt.

 

[Daryl]

I'll admit, I am guilty of this. Hot AF out and I only had a few miles to go (I know, I know, piss poor excuse). 99.9% of the time its on though (though it only takes a split second to have an accident)

When I ride interstate and come to a free state, helmet comes off.

 

[Neal]

The only time I went down while riding a motorcycle was when I was on a dirt bike on a gravel trail. I wasn't very experienced and my confidence level was way above my skill level. I got into some whoop-de-dos and made a bad jump on a curve that had me headed for some large rocks. I bailed off the bike and hit the gravel face first. I was wearing a full face helmet, a pair of heavy gauntlets and a chest protector. When I hit the ground I found a good-sized rock with my helmet, cracking the lower part of the front of the helmet and splitting the chin strap. I tore the palms out of both gauntlets and cracked the chest protector from top to bottom. After all of that I was standing up before my buddies could get to me, walking away with a few small rocks stuck in my chin, some scraped palms and a few bruised ribs. I had to pay my buddy to replace his gear (the bike came out fine) and didn't even miss a day of work.

When I was in the Navy in the '80's I would see bikers riding toward the gate at the end of the work day at 25 MPH (max speed on base) with their helmets on as per DOD regulations. They would pass through the gate, pull over to the side of the road, yank off their helmets, strap them securely to the bike and take of down the road at 65 MPH. I have always wondered how many bikes were saved that way...

 

[Tranz Zam]

Here in MA helmets are required by law, but in NH you don't need one. I live right on the border of NH, and have witnessed riders cross the border and remove their helmets while riding.

The stupidity blows my mind.

 

[rubicube]

I ride and live in az and ride with guys that don't wear helmets,,,I ALWAYS wear my helmet...

 

[Jamison C]

Love hearing everyones’ different opinions/stories. Thanks everyone for contributing to the conversation!

 

[Kiwi TJ]

Its essential to keep you important bits protected...…...

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

The only time I went down while riding a motorcycle was when I was on a dirt bike on a gravel trail. I wasn't very experienced and my confidence level was way above my skill level. I got into some whoop-de-dos and made a bad jump on a curve that had me headed for some large rocks. I bailed off the bike and hit the gravel face first. I was wearing a full face helmet, a pair of heavy gauntlets and a chest protector. When I hit the ground I found a good-sized rock with my helmet, cracking the lower part of the front of the helmet and splitting the chin strap. I tore the palms out of both gauntlets and cracked the chest protector from top to bottom. After all of that I was standing up before my buddies could get to me, walking away with a few small rocks stuck in my chin, some scraped palms and a few bruised ribs. I had to pay my buddy to replace his gear (the bike came out fine) and didn't even miss a day of work.

That's a pretty good outcome of a bad experience. When I was a teen my buddy's uncle took us out to the hills on dirt bikes. He required us all, including him, to where helmets but I had seen him several times before that on the street without one and made a comment. His reply was that helmets work fine when landing on softer stuff like dirt at dirt bike speeds but if he's crashing into something hard while over 35 mph he doesn't want to feel it. Somehow he's still out there.