Riding without Gear

[RandyO]

I don't think that anyone here is arguing the benefits of gear, infact most everybody here wears gear most of the time

if your a squid, your a squid, not wearing gear doesn't make anyone a squid nor does wearing gear mean anyone isn't a squid

I just think there are a few too many safety nazies here trying to forced their opinion on everybody

get a fucking life

[SBT Deb]

Sport Bike Technology is located outside Albany New York. However I am at every Loudon event, not only to race but to educate and help racers and riders with parts, riding gear, stuff for the girlfriend. I sell almost everything with the exception of Tires and most OEM Parts. We offer help to stunt riders, racers, street riders, and track day enthusiasts. We also work closely with GMD Computrack Boston and NYC. WE give a lot of selection and we can answer your questions whatever they may be. If we don't know the answer we will go find the answer.

[JeffL]

Deb, you really travel from Watervliet to Loudon on a regular basis? Wow.

[Honclfibr]

Let's add some facts to the issue:

The motorcyclist death rate per mile travelled (aggregate, includes riders with and without helmets) is approximately 15 times that of a car driver. Therefore, you are 1500% more likely to die while riding your motorcycle than while driving a car.

Motorcycle deaths per mile travelled in states without helmet laws are approximately 50% less than those without helmet laws. In states without helmet laws approximately 50% of riders ride with a helmet on a regular basis. These numbers are rough, however it basically boils down to you are about 4 times more likely to die while riding your motorcycle without a helmet than with a helmet.

Conclusion: People who ride motorcycles are stupid. People who ride motorcycles without helmets are REALLY stupid, but the difference in stupidity between people who ride motorcycles and people who don't ride motorcycles is approximately three times as great as the difference in stupidity between people who ride motorcycles with helmets and people who ride motorcycles without helmets.

Basically, it comes down to we are taking an enormous risk by riding. We do so anyway because we are willing to take that risk in return for the reward: enjoyment. Many of us enjoy riding with helmets as much or more as we enjoy riding without helmets, so for us the cost vs benefit of riding without a helmet does not make sense, while the cost vs benefit of riding with a helmet (as opposed to caging) does make sense. There our others for whom the enjoyment of riding without a helmet outweighs the increased risk of riding without a helmet. We might think these people are foolish but we should not forget that most cagers think the same thing of us for riding at all. Therefore, we should not try to impose regulations on those who choose to ride without a helmet for their own good, lest the cagers try to take it one step further and ban motorcycling altogether.

[Greg (MA)]

If I'm going more than a few miles, I'll throw my full leathers on.

If I'm just going on a short trip to the supermarket, post office, etc, then I won't really bother with anything besides the helmet. The last few times I've taken a girl out to dinner on the bike it's just been helmet/boots/jeans and my jacket.

[bentbryan]

Originally posted by Honclfibr
Let's add some facts to the issue:

The motorcyclist death rate per mile travelled (aggregate, includes riders with and without helmets) is approximately 15 times that of a car driver. Therefore, you are 1500% more likely to die while riding your motorcycle than while driving a car.

Motorcycle deaths per mile travelled in states without helmet laws are approximately 50% less than those without helmet laws. In states without helmet laws approximately 50% of riders ride with a helmet on a regular basis. These numbers are rough, however it basically boils down to you are about 4 times more likely to die while riding your motorcycle without a helmet than with a helmet.

Conclusion: People who ride motorcycles are stupid. People who ride motorcycles without helmets are REALLY stupid, but the difference in stupidity between people who ride motorcycles and people who don't ride motorcycles is approximately three times as great as the difference in stupidity between people who ride motorcycles with helmets and people who ride motorcycles without helmets.

Basically, it comes down to we are taking an enormous risk by riding. We do so anyway because we are willing to take that risk in return for the reward: enjoyment. Many of us enjoy riding with helmets as much or more as we enjoy riding without helmets, so for us the cost vs benefit of riding without a helmet does not make sense, while the cost vs benefit of riding with a helmet (as opposed to caging) does make sense. There our others for whom the enjoyment of riding without a helmet outweighs the increased risk of riding without a helmet. We might think these people are foolish but we should not forget that most cagers think the same thing of us for riding at all. Therefore, we should not try to impose regulations on those who choose to ride without a helmet for their own good, lest the cagers try to take it one step further and ban motorcycling altogether.

Good post.

[Honclfibr]

Originally posted by bentbryan
Good post.

It really is scary when you look at it, isn't it? The risks we take when riding a motorcycle. I don't think most people's brains are willing to logically accept those kind of risks, so they try to rationalize it by attributing a greater importance to gear than is actually the case.

This carries over to racing too, I believe. Not to beat a dead horse, but I think a good deal of the whole plastic helmet witch hunt at LRRS carried over from the fact that many riders just can't accept that racing motorcycles is inherently dangerous. So many riders were getting concussions, it can't be that a modern helmet can't be designed to reliably prevent concussions, it must be that the helmets are faulty.

The scary truth of the matter (IMHO) is that our fancy soft brains just weren't designed with high speed impact in mind. You can stick a compressible layer of foam in between the ground and your head and it'll do it's best to reduce the g force your brain sees, but the amount of EPS liner that can fit into a reasonable sized helmet just isn't sufficient to reduce minor injuries (concussions are minor as opposed to, say, death) at the speeds we're travelling out there.

Not to say that we all shouldn't strive to outfit ourselves with the best possible gear that we can, absolutely we should. Motorcycling, on the street or the racetrack, is phenomenally dangerous and anything we can do to reduce that risk is a good thing. But at the end of the day we must accept that no safety gear currently available can protect us from all of the dangers that are inherent in our sport. If you can't accept that, you need to find a different sort of hobby and stop blaming the type of (or lack of) gear for every injury or death that occurs out there.

As always, the most important piece of safety equipment is found *inside* your helmet. The only sure way to avoid injury is not to crash in the first place, and the best way to accomplish that is to ride within your personal limits and experience level at all times.

[Currently]

Originally posted by Honclfibr
Let's add some facts to the issue:


Motorcycle deaths per mile travelled in states without helmet laws are approximately 50% less than those without helmet laws. In states without helmet laws approximately 50% of riders ride with a helmet on a regular basis. These numbers are rough, however it basically boils down to you are about 4 times more likely to die while riding your motorcycle without a helmet than with a helmet.

Can someone poke a hole in my head and tell me which without should be a with ...

[zombie]

Originally posted by RandyO
I don't think that anyone here is arguing the benefits of gear, infact most everybody here wears gear most of the time

if your a squid, your a squid, not wearing gear doesn't make anyone a squid nor does wearing gear mean anyone isn't a squid

I just think there are a few too many safety nazies here trying to forced their opinion on everybody

get a fucking life

Bingo well said Randy , last I checked it is still supposedly a free country but the safety nazis are gaining ground.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by Honclfibr
Motorcycle deaths per mile travelled in states with helmet laws are approximately 50% less than those without helmet laws.

is this what you mean?...

Good posts Darrell...you're a sma'at dude...

[Cheese]

Remember, choice doesn't only let you choose to wear gear or not it also lets you choose which gear you wish to wear. Try riding in a place wear gear is enforced then see how you like it. Some government agencies believe it's not just about protection but also about visibility. In other words your black & blue one-piece leathers with multiple built in armor points may not be accepted because there isn't enough color contrast or blue isn't on the list of approved colors. You could however wear an icon orange vest with nothing under or over it and be concidered in compliance. Let it remain a choice so our non riding government doesn't get involved in telling us what we must wear.

I'm one of the guys spotted on hot days baking in full gear by the way.

[jmmccabe]

Riding without gear costs the healthcare system an obsene amount of money. Over $100 million in medial bills that our taxes go to. And thanks to the no helmet law in new hampshire we get no government money to fund roads. So when you get hurt and cant pay all of your bills all of us have to pick up the rest of your tab. Dont be an inconsiderate idiot. Wear gear and you will be much less likely to be a statistic.

[RandyO]

Originally posted by jmmccabe
Riding without gear costs the healthcare system an obsene amount of money. Over $100 million in medial bills that our taxes go to. And thanks to the no helmet law in new hampshire we get no government money to fund roads. So when you get hurt and cant pay all of your bills all of us have to pick up the rest of your tab. Dont be an inconsiderate idiot. Wear gear and you will be much less likely to be a statistic.

BULLSHIT

our healthcare is expensive cause of schoolteachers and whiney little brats that spread diseases

and NH gets plenty of federal highway funds, you know not what you talk about

if what you say were truly the case, motorcycle insurance in nh would be more expensive, quite the opposite is the case, sates that don't have helmet laws enjoy lower motorcycle insurance rates

[wylee]

Originally posted by jmmccabe
And thanks to the no helmet law in new hampshire we get no government money to fund roads.

Recheck your facts!

[SBT Deb]

I was going to leave that comment alone, however, Insurance rates are not based on Government funding, whiney brats or school teachers. Each individual State has certain criteria and rules, and if insurance companies can meet that criteria they are then allowed to underwrite policies in that State. Take Massachusetts, Geico for instance can't write policies in that State because they do not meet Mass's criteria. In any event If you are going to make an ignorant as well as arrogant comment like that you need to back it up with facts, not bad spelling, and a nasty overtone.

By the way my personal belief is that Teachers should be making a lot more than they do now.

Deb

[Zolden]

I look at it this way: a lid and gloves are with me no matter what. If I'm bombing around locally and it's hot I might just go with my patented Cotton Riding Polo. But if I intend on hitting some twists or any highway miles, I'll throw the jacket on. I have only ever once not ridden with a helmet on, and that was downtown city where I know I won't be going over 15 mph.

It's a choice of the rider and the rider alone. I won't discriminate against people if they don't want to wear gear. But I also feel that those who are never in gear aren't as serious a rider.

[SBT Deb]

Well on that note I am off to bed. I need to be wide eyed and bushy tailed so when the guys and gals who do want to wear gear call me to order it I am awake to answer the phone lol.

Night Night

PS Babe phone is on the charger I will call you in the morning. Love you kiss

[Josephd14]

Originally posted by Little John
I'd say let the squids die, but my insurance rates go up because they can't slap on a helmet and some halfway decent gear.

I was under the impression that INS rates go up due to accidents not if someone was wearing a helmet or gear or not?? last i knew my rate is the same whether i wear Leathers or not.. and If your ins in MASS there gonna pork you on INS no matter what.. I know that when i friend was in a car accident, he was wearing his seatbelt, and his ins still went up..

[Josephd14]

Originally posted by Zolden
I look at it this way: a lid and gloves are with me no matter what. If I'm bombing around locally and it's hot I might just go with my patented Cotton Riding Polo. But if I intend on hitting some twists or any highway miles, I'll throw the jacket on. I have only ever once not ridden with a helmet on, and that was downtown city where I know I won't be going over 15 mph.

It's a choice of the rider and the rider alone. I won't discriminate against people if they don't want to wear gear. But I also feel that those who are never in gear aren't as serious a rider.

Thats how feel word for word.. other then the Helmet thing. I used to be like that but i had a Freak Accident at 15 MPH that had i not had my helmet on i'd probably be sipping through a Straw.. (and i had Jeans and a Sweat shirt on and all i got was friction burn through the pants that i would got anways even with GEAR!!) But i won't bash you if you don't want to wear your Helmet sometimes becuz You live in a state where you can exercise that right not to wear it..