Wear the full face helmet....

[Spike99]

Unknown to some, I grew up on motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles from age 5 to age 25. I always wore an "open face" helmet. My parents always told me to wear a full face helmet. And like a rebel, I'd continue to wear my open face helmet. Ya, back in the days when the air was free and gasoline was $0.40 / gallon.

Tonight, on my way home from our seasonal camp site in our mini-van, I'm ready to exit our local gas station. The guy pulls in (making a fast left in front of me) and the next thing I know, a large motorcycle is sliding sideways down the road (directly in-front of me). The bike driver is on his side and almost sitting on the gas tank with the bike's front bush rails are protecting the driver's legs. And behind him, the passenger's face is face down - with her face being pushed into the black pavement surface (from her own body weight and gravity). And guess what, she had an open face helmet on. With kids in my mini-van and lots of other witnesses, we left our name / number, then left the scene. They all vouched the car cut this large motorcycle off (while pulling into the gas station). As we pulled away, I still remember seeing the red marks on the pavement - where her face was being pushed into the road surface.....

Warning from the "now seeing with my own eyes" experience. Wear the fully protected "full face" helmet. It really can "save one's face". Tell your kids, tell your grand kids and tell the open face motorcycle guy that pulls up to you at a red light. Wear the full face (with chin guard and front glass) helmet. It does saves one's face - even when the accident isn't their fault...

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[Gibby3275]

Thats disturbing. I changed to a full face helmet just last year.

Thanks for that.........now I KNOW I did the right thing.



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[clutch]

After 17 years of racing motor cycles in Moto Cross and Cross Country I have always used a full face helmet. Now I ride in a cage, Rhino side by side, and I use a open face helmet. I also use the seat belt and the doors are still on.

I never could understand why the Harley people wear hot leather and boots and no helmet and the Japaneese bikers wear helmets and the European bike people wear full gear, head to toe. I guess each type has an image to uphold.

[Seann45]

A cop I know had a spill on his MC wearing a full face helmet... and to quote him he played Ucled (sorry cant spell it) all down the street... as the chin bar grabbed on the road surface and then released...

[yddad45]

Man how awful, I also ride a street bike and use a full face helment. I recently returned from vacation from Florida and as a rider I could not believe the people I saw riding without helments lastweek. In Florida it's legal to ride without a helment. I know it's everyones right but It was really uncomfortable to me to see people riding without helments. I also rode dirt bikes when I was younger and I know how quick it can go wrong. PLEASE WATCH FOR US RIDERS AND WE WILL WATCH FOR YOU, THANKS.

[Denise]

Just one more thing....

You have to actually strap the helmet under your chin!

A guy pulled out from a stop sign without noticing me riding through the intersection when I was 16 yrs old (yeah, I know.... girl? motorcycle? LOL! That's pretty much the reaction of people back in the mid-70's).

Long story short... the insurance adjuster told me a story of the kid who wore a helmet but didn't strap it down. He ran into something and as he flew one way, his helmet flew the other. He died on impact.

As for my accident, my own open face helmet had a little gouge out of it. I was grateful I was wearing it; proof that I probably would have had a brain injury if not. That same day, another guy wound up in the newspaper after his accident ripped pretty much of his face away when he flew face first over the handlebars and slid down the street at 50mph. With the insurance money I got, I bought a new full face helmet.

Great thread Spike! Thanks for sharing