Yes. Always yes. But I found this PDF online for the legal equipment requirements by state in the US and thought I would pass it along (I'm sure it's on WT somewhere else, but I didn't find it after a quick search).

http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/Equ...11-MSFlogo.pdf

Why would anyone think its OK to ride a motorcycle without a helmet?

Guess it weeds out the stupid in this world

Take a good look at this thread
https://www.wristtwisters.com/forums/...ple-34361.html

Yup. I was in a wreck a couple years back, had on a helmet and still suffered some brain damage. Don't remember much of anything that night.
I did appreciate all of the other info in the pdf though.

I wonder if there's anyone on this forum that doesn't wear a helmet.

If they do, they're probably a Harley rider (considering that 'no helmet' is part of the 'rebel' lifestyle they get sold.)

That is such a bull shit statemet if I ever heard one

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Most of the Harley guys I've seen wear half helms, but they have something. Most of the people I see without helmets are the squids on "superbikes".

I used to live in CT where they had no helmet law. I have seen people riding 2-up on sport bikes, splitting between 2 cars on the interstate at 90 mph. Unreal.

My girlfriend is in Columbia SC and I see that crap all the time there.

It's a personal choice not a "brand" choice. It always amazes me the people who want to bash Harley Davidson riders. I see just as many Harley/cruiser riders wear full face vs half helments.

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No, really. Look at the official Harley magazines - they almost never show a helmeted rider, only the bare headed.

FYI - former Harley owner here.

I too owned a Harley Davidson Road Glide for 5 years. If anything, Harley Davidson dealers preached safety. No non DOT helmets were wore by employees. Besides, look at their clothing line. It's all safety related meanings the jeans, leathers, gloves, & helmets. I did several group rides with the local chapter and again, safety was preached before, during, & after the rides. I feel your first statement was a very bigoted remark towards a brand and not individual riders. I own 6 different helmets, 3 full face and 4 half helelmets, all DOT. I pick a helmet depending on a particular mood. I wore full face and half helmet on my cruisers or my sport bikes. Again, rider choice. The whole Harley Davidson stero type is such BS and has long out lived it's novelty.

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Unfortunately, if that's the case nobody seems to have informed my local dealers, who promote bare-headed test drives and pushed do-rags instead of helmets at me when I was buying my not-missed Harley.

I won't lie, there are many times I ride without...I know it's stupid, but, it IS my choice to do so, and sometimes I choose to go lidless. However, if I'm riding without, its usually just around the little town that I live in, or the back country road between said town, and my house (an 8 mile ride out into the country where I actually live). But, if I ride any distance at all, I have my helmet on.

I think it would have been clearer to point out the reduced use of helmets by cruiser riders (in some states) rather than mention HD. Truth is many of these cruisers aren't HD's but are Stars, etc.

I have only been exposed to the no helmet states around and to and from my cottage in Delaware, so PA and Delaware. There is no question that I see many more cruiser riders with no helmet versus sport bike riders and even the squids. Based on the comments here, perhaps it's not this way everywhere across the country.

I rode without a helmet today, from my driveway to my garage.

Felt weird.

And, I have to admit... I felt a little naughty

You Neanderthal!

What really makes me go hmmm is to see a sport bike rider wearing a full face helmet, shorts, tank top and sneakers. Protect the head screw the rest of the body.

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Or an icon vest, full lid and shorts/sneaks

I agree! I may not always cover my melon, but I do always have my eyewear, boots, jacket, and gloves on!!

Hahahahahaha

You mean flip flops? That's the common style on campus at least.

According to what I can find, most cycle accidents happen within 10-15 miles from home, so be careful on those short runs! May be more from complacency in familiar surroundings than other factors.

I live in Iowa where there is no helmet law. I ride occasionally with some buddies who own cruisers, and attend some local events. By a wide margin they are more apt to ride without gear, save for the ubiquitous Sons of Anarchy tshirts and such than other bikers. Not judging, it's just what I see. We have our fair share of squids as well.

As much as Harley is mentioned, why do I see the squids more on gixxers than other sport bikes? Again, just an observation in my neck of the woods...

A positive trend is taking place over the last couple years, where guys are getting into the nicer gear on the market, and wearing it as much as they are tricking out their bikes.

I've seen this statistic everywhere, and I've always thought: isn't it much more likely to be in an accident near your house because you're within 10 miles of your house 100% more often than you're within 10 miles of anything else?

You know that saying where there are only two types of riders? Ones that have went down and ones that will go down? Here's the followup. There are only two types of riders: ones that were glad they had gear on and ones that wished they had gear on. Wear your helmet. Wear your gear. It's your defense against other people's stupidity on the roads.

That thar is a good post!

If you're within 10 miles of your house 100% of the time, you need a life!

I wear full gear, 100% of the time, unless I am in the shower.

Kentucky does not require a helmet if you are a licensed adult. Lots of uncovered noggins running around. Some splatter.

100% more often, which to me means how ever many times you're someplace, you're at your house at least one time too... not 100% percent of the time... Pretty sure it's different, but I may be wrong. Percentages make my brain hurt sometimes...lol

Mine too, but only 54% of the time.

I'd be more prone to wear a lid riding a harley, especially given the fact that over time they take themselves apart.....

You never know what is going to fall off and cause you to wreck.....

image-2191583080.jpg

For sure. And maybe a jacket too?!

I only wear a helmet when I don't fell the need to smoke Or when there aren't any ho's around.

No helmet law in Texas (if you carry the appropriate level of insurance), TONS, I repeat TONS of squids in Houston.

I gotta say, I see just as many squids on gixxers as HD/cruiser riders going helmet-less around here.


I once saw a guy on a metric cruiser with a helmet, no shirt and NO SHOES.

Most accidents happen within 10 miles from home....so I moved. From the comic mind of Steven Wright.

When I was young, say 8 - 12, I was told that if I were ever caught even sitting on my bike without a helmet it would be sold.

This should be a law

Negative. We have enough laws as it is. It is up to the individual to prioritize their life and manage their own risk.

Here it is law and always has been. Seems odd to think of riding a motorcycle or bicycle without a helmet on.

I think everyone should be able to make their own mistakes, but I'll be damned if you crack your head open and the public has to pay your bill because you don't have enough insurance.
I think it's been mentioned here before, but if you make the decision to ride without protection and without insurance and you wreck, too bad, you get to rot. There's far too many people that make mistakes only to get rewarded by the government footing the bill, whether it be this, or getting knocked up in high school or whatever... When you make mistakes, you get to live with them, or at least that's how it should be.