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Posted by CDNRatMan
- February 01, 2017, 20:14:38 PMI am thinking at Rendezvous this summer to have a trophy for the best helmet story........lol.......
Posted by greenbarn
- February 01, 2017, 19:54:13 PMWow, sounds terrible - glad you're OK. When was the accident? I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the rest of the story...
Posted by Mr. P
- February 01, 2017, 09:00:56 AMI think that is a valid point. Are you an ABATE member? Have not seen them around much anymore.
I have a new take on this. As some of you know I have been riding my 99 Drifter for some time now and have used this site for many mods to my keep my bike in good running condition and many miles of enjoyment. I only replaced it last Feb. after the HLA in the head took a crap.
I bought an Indian Chieftain and have spouted much about it in posts which I suspect many of you have read.
But my views on helmet have changed because of an accident I had on that Chieftain.
I have always worn a helmet. Oh there many have been a few times that I ventured out without one but I just felt unprotected. And I had learned from a early age to protect your hearing.
It was last Fathers Day when my 60mph collision with a young dear happened. Clear skies, beautiful hilly Iowa countryside, 65 mile per hour clip, 0910 in the morning, two seconds till impact.
In those two seconds I managed to scrub 5 mph off of my speed when the deer impacted the fairing after been gutted by the Indian head on the front fender. Splat!
I don't remember a lot tho the timeline was evident by the road rash on my body; first it was the right knee then forearm. a quick roll to my left elbow then the shoulder. Then the rear of the helmet to the pavement.
It all took about 2 seconds of rolling till I was sliding backwards down the road for another 15 yards.
During that headfirst ,up at the sky view, i noticed a blue streak flying toward me. I had just enough time to put out my right leg /left hand to brace myself for another impact. My ankle and middle finger took the hit enough to deflect the bike and it slid by my head, missing me by a mere foot, before coming to a stop in the middle of the road, 20 yards from me. My finger tip broke when it caught on something as the blue bike flew by.
I had on a helmet, boots but no jacket. I had sent it into Vanson to have repairs done. It arrived the next day. Ironic isn't it?
More to come.......
Posted by chief
- January 31, 2017, 14:36:32 PMFront Brake use... that would come from my generation. I did see a guy flip himself over the bars... well nearly by over applying the front brake at a red light... not going fast at all. And, of course, a lot of our choppers didn't have no stinkin front brakes and had drum brakes in the rear!
Helmets - there is no data on this so everyone's opinion is based upon their world/experience. (I might add here that I am a career safety professional and have looked at a great number of accident reports and stats.) I think helmets are useful in specific instances where other bodily injury isn't a factor... mostly low speed head banger sort of incidents.I always wear my seat belt and 99% of the time my lid... and would do even if it weren't the law - I like the protection... from bugs and the sun. A lid stays on, my hat doesn't. That said, I don't like being forced to do either. My personal safety is my responsibility not the government's. After all, I choose to ride a bike which many consider the height of stupidity. We can't allow others to dictate these things.
Be smart, be safe. I hope someday we will get some good studies on helmet use. These studies would help in the use, design and testing of lids. Until then I will wear mine and vote against mandatory use.
Posted by greenbarn
- January 30, 2017, 20:30:47 PMQuote from: DC on January 30, 2017, 13:47:39 PMMy helmet saved my life once when I went down on my old bike. It also prevented brain-pudding from being spread all over the road and staining it.
My bicycle helmet and upper body armor saved me from the worst damage after I was caught in a flash flood on my mountain bike and had a wicked wreck. I had bad shoulder damage and had to ride back about 12 miles with only one usable arm through some bad areas where cyclists have been attacked, beaten, and robbed. Had lots of PT for months after that. It would have been much worse if I didn't have the body armor on.
I had a similar "save" from helmet and armor on a Quad several years ago - up and over the handlebars and into a tree.
Posted by DC
- January 30, 2017, 13:47:39 PMQuote from: Mr. P on January 30, 2017, 11:34:16 AMMy helmet saved my life once when I went down on my old bike. It also prevented brain-pudding from being spread all over the road and staining it.Helmet saved my life this year. light scratches on the back side. imagine if that were my skull making "light contact" with the pavement.
My bicycle helmet and upper body armor saved me from the worst damage after I was caught in a flash flood on my mountain bike and had a wicked wreck. I had bad shoulder damage and had to ride back about 12 miles with only one usable arm through some bad areas where cyclists have been attacked, beaten, and robbed. Had lots of PT for months after that. It would have been much worse if I didn't have the body armor on.
Posted by Mr. P
- January 30, 2017, 11:34:16 AMHelmet saved my life this year. light scratches on the back side. imagine if that were my skull making "light contact" with the pavement.
Posted by mittico68
- January 09, 2017, 13:45:01 PMAs for the front brake, I think it's just a matter of ability on using it without let it block the wheel: look at the way professional riders use the front brake when facing the circuit curves, and you'll understand what I mean...
Just sayin'...
Posted by CDNRatMan
- January 09, 2017, 12:59:23 PM 
my favorite is never use your front brake.....you will go over the handlebars.......
not being a physicist or a really smart person even I know that I would have to be moving awfully fast and hammer that front brake on to get the rear end of my Drifter to go up and throw my fat butt up and over the windscreen.......
Posted by DC
- January 09, 2017, 12:16:28 PMWith some, the myths do tend to persist.
Posted by greenbarn
- January 08, 2017, 14:32:30 PMI read it -- makes sense to me.
Posted by mittico68
- January 08, 2017, 02:12:11 AMYeah, really a well done article.
I agree with the writer, about those false myths and the dangers they carry with them.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- January 08, 2017, 00:12:19 AMthis is a very interesting read and I think very well written, I know it will spark some discussion......
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/autos/autosmotorcycles/3-motorcycle-myths-that-won%E2%80%99t-die/ss-BBxTPf1?li=AAggFp0