Who wears a helmet?

[chrisr65ls]

The law in Australia is that you must wear a helmet, no exceptions. I know that helmets are not compulsory in all US states, so I'm wondering what percentage of riders actually choose to wear them?
Personally, I couldn't imagine not wearing one. I would feel extremely vulnerable but then again the feeling of freedom without one must be great.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

My state does not have a helmet law.
I won't ride without one.

[montmil]

ATGATT... NO exceptions.   Monte

[Bob_Roller]

I ride with a helmet, no exceptions !!!!!

I think Arizona has a mandatory helmet law for riders under 18 years of age .

A few of the Native American (Indian) reservations have helmet laws for their tribal members, but not applicable if you are not a tribal member while traveling through their 'nation' .

I would estimate 70% of the riders I see here in Arizona, wear helmets .

But other forms of protection are not present during the hot season .

[nhmaf]

No helmet required law in my state, but I wouldn't be foolish enough to ride a motorcycle without one (and the other gear, too).  Wearing a helmet once saved me from more serious injury when I had a simple low-side back when I was 17, almost 3 decades ago.   Looking at the road rash abrasion on the side/back of the helmet was all the learning I needed to buy another helmet before I did any more riding.

On average, I think less than half the riders/passengers in my state use helmets, though BICYCLE helmets are mandatory for bicycling children under 16 years old.   I also wear a bike helmet when I cycle/mtn bike, though I admit to being "old school" and not wearing any helmet when I downhill ski.

[Ed Miller]

I'm too wimpy to deal with the rain (normal weather) or bugs (good weather) off my face.

I NEED TO FIND ONE THAT DOESN'T LEAK INSIDE THE FACE SHIELD IN THE RAIN!!!!  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I NEED TO FIND ONE THAT DOESN'T LEAK INSIDE THE FACE SHIELD IN THE RAIN!!!!  

You say you have a HJC Sy-Max II ?

(that is what I am considering)

[trolle]

Helmets are mandatory here in the cold and white north where the ground has been covered with snow for the last 77 days and the roads have been impossible to ride  motorcycles on (I'm beginning to feel like a nicotine addict  without tobacco - restless, irritable, shortfused and longing).

As Monte so aptly states:  ATGATT!

greetings from a sunny, white and cold north

[Barry]

I always wear a helmet except riding on private land at classic bike shows and that's very low speeds on grass. It's quite refreshing and I'm always surprised how mechanically quiet the bike sounds.

Although I have a new Full face helmet I don't like it and very rarely use it. I do always insist that my passenger wears a full face. I prefer my 25 Year old Kevlar open face which has much less wind noise and no misting problems. It just feels right, more like real motorcycling.  I know it isn't safe by modern standards but I ride conservatively and wonder if all the modern armour doesn't make some riders think they are invincible and they then ride accordingly. It can be argued by some that motorcycling isn't safe at all. When they legislate for compulsory airbags I suppose I'll have to pack it in.

[Landlubber]

In Aussie land you can get a medical exemption, if you want to.

I rode without a helmet for 17 years before they became compulsory here.

After destroying a nice new Bell helmet at the track one weekend, I have ridden in one ever since.

[darrylri]

I have always worn a full face helmet, even before California required it.  I am not that good or that lucky that I will never need it.  

[Barry]

I'm too wimpy to deal with the rain (normal weather) or bugs (good weather) off my face.

Rain and bugs even more so do hurt a bit and that's just our small dainty English bugs. I know many places have some pretty big ugly bugs to contend with. I don't think I'd like them. On the other hand Ted Simon rode around the world using an open face helmet.

[azcycle]

When I first started riding (not that long ago  ) I wore a half-helm but now wear a full-face. Though the full-face I have hinges so the entire front of the helmet swings up. Guess it's like a 3/4 face with a hinged face piece. Love it!

I'm pretty good with other apparel as well... armored riding jacket, over-the-ankle boots, gloves with built in protection, etc. Only thing I lack is good armored riding pants. Typically just wear jeans but I'm not fooling myself that they add any sort of protection.

[Andrew]

As mentioned, Calif requires them, and I have an M2005 full-face. I've used one in Alfa club racing for years.

Only crash I ever had was in the dirt on a Yamaha 100 in 1974, but I'm sure glad I was wearing one. I wouldn't do otherwise except maybe up and down the driveway.

Andrew

[Ed Miller]

I NEED TO FIND ONE THAT DOESN'T LEAK INSIDE THE FACE SHIELD IN THE RAIN!!!!  

You say you have a HJC Sy-Max II ?

(that is what I am considering)

Yeah.  I love it except it leaks.  Water inside the face shield doesn't blow off.  I've been reading Webbikeworld reviews, but they rarely seem willing to have somebody hose them in the face for an hour with the helmet on.

Although, behind the Windjammer it's pretty much just water coming down, except when I stretch my head up a bit to get the external water to blow off.