Any Bikers in here?

[JoOwEn]

LOL

[Zulu7]

One nutter.

I hope the other bloke survived that. Not too sure about watching someone get very badly hurt for entertainment!

It was the Isle of Mann right?

[LePaul]

Started with a Yamaha 2 stroke dirtbike in 87.  Lotsa smoke!  Think it was 185cc, great wheelie machine

1988 Ninja 250cc
1989 bought a used 1985 Ninja 600
1991 Bought a 1989Yamaha FZR-600 (double headlight)
1993 Bought a 1992 Yamaha FZR 600
1995 Bought ZX-7R (1995 model, i think)
1996 Bought a used YSR-50.  Modified it with titanium dual exhaust and lots of other silly things.  Would do 70mph wide open

2001 Bought a 1999 ZX-9R  Probably the most fun bike I've ever owned (solid blue color too)

Sold the bikes off a while back...kinda miss them.  Was in two accident, neither my fault.  Kinda think I've survived 2 strikes, perhaps not push it on a 3rd?

I really wish I'd kept the YSR-50.  A few friends had them and we'd takeover the local go-kart track (had great, banked turns, etc).

If you havent seen a YSR-50...imagine any of these bullet-bikes shrunk down ... (not mine, btw)

[cpxxx]

Lazs, can't agree with you on helmets thing.  It saved my miserable brains at least once.  I clipped a Fiat 500, flew gracefully through the air and landed smack on the edge of a kerb with the back of my head.  I saw a few stars but recovered enough to argue with the driver about whose fault it was. Although to be fair he brought me into his house and gave a me a cup of tea, without prejudice you understand!  

 Without a helmet I wouldn't be posting this now. (Pity about that you might say   .)

whatever about the fun of the wind in the hair from time to time. For day to day riding helmets are a must for me, law or no law.

[NUKE]

cpxx

What Laz hates ( imho) is people forcing him to wear a helmet.

In Arizona, as long as you are 18, you make that call.

[cpxxx]

Maybe but like seatbelt laws, helmet laws have saved lives, mine being one.  I kinda think that is a good trade off for a small loss of freedom.

[NUKE]

cpxx, that's where I strongly disagree.

Anyway, the state doesn't care if you live or die. The Laws are for reducing cost of medical expense.

[Zaphod]

02 Honda VTX Retro 1800.  

Funny thing is....in my state (Ky) the law is....

Seatbelts - Required (relatively new law)

Helmets - Optional (used to be manditory then changed AFTER the new seatbelt law was enacted)

Makes ya kinda wonder.....

Zaphod

[wombatt]

Simply put those folks who ride with out a helmet are keeping the Darwin awards alive and well.

But as adults it is there decision to make.

[GrimCO]

Triumph 955i Daytona here...

[Swoop]

Helmets. OK, lets talk helmets.

When it's a nice hot day in the summer there's nothing better for cooling down than a quick ride round with no lid on.  shreckin ace.  Wind in the hair and all that.  

Sometimes you'll find me at the Bulldog Bash in the summer (google time for anyone who doesnt know) and since the police are banned from entering.....my lid comes off soon as I ride through the gate.


But in the British winter (which is around 8 months of the year) you don't just want a helmet.  You want neck tube, balaclava, helmet and every single vent on the lid gaffa taped shut.  Believe me.  I'm going to work in the mornings resembling the michelin man these days cos it's too bloody cold to do anything else.

And for high speed work also......when I'm belting down the motorway (freeway) at 100mph + and a fly gets splatted against my visor.......damn that would hurt without a lid on.  



But.....it sure would be nice to have the choice.  There's times in the summer that I've really resented British law cos I've gotta put a lid on just to ride a mile to the local shop to buy myself an ice cream.

But then me resenting British law isn't that unusual.

[Swoop]

hey Grim,  I had a 595i for a day a few years back.  Decided the Triumph test rider must be a 6'8" gorilla with a concave bowl in his chest.

D'you find yours comfy?

[Zulu7]

Mines ok but then I'm a 6'3" Gorilla with a concave bowl in my chest!

As for helmets. I'm kind of torn. On one level I thinkwe should be free to decide for ourselves. I would choose some kind of helmet most  times . But I think I'm old and wise enough to decide that for myself. I don't need to be forced.

To be honest I think it depends on what and how you ride. For example, in the winter I wear a full face for the reasons swoop outlined earlier. On long high speed runs I wear it too. On short hops very hot days or touring in southern europe I wear my open face. I do think that when riding classics you should be able to choose not to wear one if you wish. Most runs I've been on, on my T100 meander through the lanes at 30-50mph. Take the Banbury run for example. ( the vintage mcc event for pre 1930's bikes ) itsdaft that these guys are forced to wear helmets. They potter along often no faster than a pedal bike.

So I think in essence helmets should be discretionary. but for high speed or long distance riding its advisable to wear one.

[MiloMorai]

On my 20,000km cross country trip I had to take my ST into the H-D dealer in Cranbrook BC for some routine servicing (left with only 5000km on the odo) the mech who took it around the back wore a helmet. Asked why, and was told a mech had killed himself when he dropped the bike at 20kph and hit his head on the pavement. Became dealer policy after to wear a helmut.

That short ride to the store can kill you but I still hate to put the 'lid' on to do so. (law says I have to, anyways)


Years ago after a night out bending the elbow at the cottage, the cousin(Bultaco Matador) and myself(DT-1) would take a 1/2 hour moderate speed run(usual was full throttle) to clear the cobwebs. Best cure for a hangover I ever came across with that cool air blowing by.

[lazs2]

helmets?  If you are so afraid of getting hurt... what are you doing riding in the first place?  Freedom?  don't make me laugh... the freedom of the open road so long as you are wearing all the stupid gear your mommy tells you to.    

I rode 30+ years and crashed numerous times and never once scratched my my head... when you are as magnificently handsome as me you protect the noggin I guess... oh wait... maybe it is because 90% of all injuries on a motorcycle are to the riders limbs... mostly lower limbs...

in cars... most fatalities are because of head injuries... they don't make car drivers wear helmets....  smart car drivers (racers) wear helmets tho don't they?  some bright brainwashed lad here can explain this all to me I am sure tho.

most car drivers are driving at what would be racing speeds 30 years ago and those racers wore helmet.   No race car has the stupid cross the chest seatbelts found on all street cars.

For me... it ruins the motorcycle evperiance... Motorcycles are about seeing the country in a different way... a car a bike... walking... all are different ways to see the scenery.... none of those ways is enhanced by breating nothing but your sweaty head and bad breath.

The sights sounds and smells are the thing... all of whichj are dulled by a stupid helmet.   you aren't a racer.   you drive the bike a lot more than you race it around... if you didn't you wouldn't have a licence...kid yourself but don't try to kid me.

wear a helmet and pretend to be a racer all you want but don't make me wear one.   None of your business.   You were sayed by a helmet?  good for you... keep wearing it.   I find it pitiful tho that you are thanking the nannies for forcing you to do something.  

Maybe you are just a wuss and don't want to stand out?   that is a good reason but at least admit it and don't force your silliness on others.

you wear a helmet because you are cold?   fine..  get so bundled up that you aren't really enjoying any of the motorcycle experiance but then.... why ride?   In that kind of weather you can't go as fast as the cages.

lazs