View Full Version : Powersports: Who doesn't wear a helmet?
railfans's grandson's post of a very unfortunate accident got me thinking.
Who among us does not follow their own advice?
I'm on the kids constantly, and for riding around my place it is law that everyone wears a helmet if the ATV is powered up. If it's running and you're on it, you're riding.
Except for me. I'm just putting along. Riding fence line or checking trails, I just don't ride very fast at all. As a matter of fact, I ride very grandpa like.
But I'm wrong, wrong, wrong. Tomorrow I buy a helmet. And I wear it, by God.
Is anyone else guilty as charged?
NeverMore1701
10-15-2012, 22:24
Never do. Probably should, as I ride fast and fun, but I don't. If I die or become a veggie because of my choice, so be it. Wife and I both want the plugs pulled if we're out for more than a few days. We are organ donors as well.
Can't say I ever thought about wearing a helmet on the 4 wheeler.
Every time....it does to take much of a blow to the head to do serious damage.
never even considered a helmet on a 4wheeler.
There's a young woman in the long term care unit of our local county hospital that suffered massive head trauma by falling off a motorcycle at about 30 mph.
She's not hooked up to any machines. She can sustain life just fine. The nurses on staff do need to feed her, but life is essentially nothing. Lie in bed and stare at the TV.
Her husband has come to see her nearly every day for the last 10 years. I'm guessing he's around 45-50 or so.
Not for me. Not after seeing the ravages of life after the fact. I think many think that they'll be just fine, killed, or unplugged. Usually not the case. Usually somewhere in between.
But after tomorrow, hopefully not me. Because I'll be wearing a bucket.
I'm a pilot. I have to pass a First Class Flight Physical with the FAA every six months, so you bet I wear a helmet. A lot of you guys could do your job from a wheel chair, but I couldn't, so for me it's automatic to strap on the skid lid.
I also don't believe for one second that a helmet is going to save my life, though I've always worn them on dirtbikes. I raced motocross when I was younger so that may have something to do with it, 4wheelers are a different thing all together though. I'll probably start wearing a helmet on those when I start wearing one to drive to work
Powersports: Who doesn't wear a helmet?
The idiots!
:rofl::rofl::rofl:
Glock&KimberLady
10-15-2012, 23:22
I wear a helmet while on my dirtbike.
I wore a helmet while on a dual sport bike.
I wear a helmet while on my 4-wheeler.
I wear a helmet when I snowboard.
If you engage in a potentially high-impact and/or extreme sport and you don't wear a helmet, you are a dumb ass.
My kids also wear their helmets when engaged in said sports. If I catch them not doing so, it results in a can of whoop ass and loss of privileges. Numbah One Son did it exactly one time. My kids understand that helmets are a non-negotiable item.
I always wear a helmet when on a dirt bike or 4 wheeler. I also always wear a helmet when riding my horse. I have a great horse, but its still a horse and crap happens.
Only exception would be putting around the hunting property at low speeds.
Peace Warrior
10-16-2012, 01:44
When young, I never wore a helmet when riding a dirt bike. Had the eye protection always, but never a helmet. G-d watches out for fools.
Annhl8rX
10-16-2012, 03:05
I ride motorcycles on the agreed and dirt and always wear a helmet. On the rare occasion that I ride a four wheeler, it's just putting around the pits at a dirt bike race and I never wear a helmet.
Oddly, riding a four wheeler at any significant speed scares the crap out of me. I'll tear it up on two wheels, but four wheelers just feel sketchy as hell.
coonracing18
10-16-2012, 06:37
racecar=helmet
snowmobile=helmet
quad= no helmet
Ya, im a BA lol no really though the snowmobile is way to fast for my own good and the quad is just a yard workin/trash haulin/driveway plowin mo-sheen so really no need for it as i dont ever go faster than 10 mph
Hauptmann6
10-16-2012, 06:57
Always wore a helmet on a snowmobile for a practical reason. I didn't freeze my face off. Beyond that, I don't ride.
tim12232
10-16-2012, 08:44
I have ridden motorcycles on the street and offroad for 12 years. When I was 16&17 had to have a helmet on by law. But when I turned 18 I hated wearing it and seldom put it on. After a few years I moved to CA and had to wear one again, but this time I was starting to get older and realized that my head could possibly be of paramount importance! Now I dont ride without on "even back in MN" unless I have done an oil change and am just taking the bike down my street and back.
I think helmet laws are dumb and stupid for anyone 18 and older, I dont think the gov should be involved. But I wear one because its wise.
Happypuppy
10-16-2012, 09:41
I wear one on my Motorcycle. Even of not mandatory I would do it and did so when I started riding years ago. However it was my choice...I don't like seat belt laws, texting laws etc. In a free society it's my right to choice.
Sent via Messenger Pigeon
I always do.
I tell people to stand tall. Put your hands behind your back.
Fall forward and let your head hit first. That's 0 mph.
My hest ales hits I don't want on my head/face all the time. Stones anything else kicked up.
When i was a kid we used to ride 4 wheelers at my grandparents. I cant really remember ever wearing a helmet. When we had a dirtbike i would ride it up the street without a helmet sometimes, but i always wore one if i hopped onto the pipelines. I would love to be able to ride my motorcycle without a helmet after a good workout or a nice long run, but even if it was legal, it just wouldnt be worth it.
bocaboca
10-16-2012, 10:34
i coach baseball at the travel and high school level. if any of my kids have a bat in their hands...they have a helmet on. it doesn't matter weather they are doing soft toss, cages or live arm...its "Bat n Hat. it will become mandated next year that all high school coaches who coach 1st and 3rd base wear protective head gear while they are on the field.
irishbum
10-16-2012, 10:45
I never used to until I rolled a Polaris 400 end over end on top of my head while being stupid. I was then pinned under the 4 wheeler pushing it up and off me as my wife and her friend just SAT the looking dumb. I had to ask them to help it off me as my ankle was pinned in an odd spot.
I had no idea what happened exactly til after they helped me up and then told me the quad literally tumbled on top of my head. After this and think'n about how we were a couple miles away from where we were staying and no way to cell signal either, that there was no way if something did happen that help would be available.
Helmets are not magic suits of armor but hey they do help and do save a life from time to time.
stevelyn
10-16-2012, 11:01
Never. I don't ride just to be riding. When I'm on a sno-go or 4-wheeler I'm working, hunting or trapping. I don't run them that hard and when I'm running a trapline on the sno-go, there is a lot of stop and go riding checking and redoing sets. A helmet would be a pain and once it got below 0*F it would frost up as soon as I took it off.
I'll never be on a bike/4wheeler/etc. without a helmet. Crashed a YZ 125 w/out a helmet once and hit right on my chin. Hurt like a &^&*^.
Jack_Pine
10-16-2012, 13:50
We wear helmets on the sled but that is mostly for warmth. We don't wear helmets on the ATV''s but ride slow on our acreage. We would probably wear them is we went on public trails.
We do require everyone under the age of 21 to wear helmets on the ATV's.
Maybe, if just for good example, should wear them ourselves. We are at cabin this weekend whith extended family's kids....will see.
Yesterday was the one of 3 times I rode the bike without a helmet. I am writing this from a hospital bed. I got life flighted out a couple hours after the accident. I split lanes on a box truck turning left. He changed his mind and i got drug for a distance. Still pretty sore. Broke my face and some ribs. Lost some memorie. Wear your bucket 100% of the time
You have to be an idiot not to wear a helmet.
Check your ego when you get on the machine.
People have suffered permanent brain damage falling over off a bike in the driveway on pavement. The brain is not made to bounce off rocks.
I spent a ton of time and money educating myself in college and life. Damn straight I wear a helmet.
I've been riding on the road 5 years, off road and stuff since I was 12.
I always wear a helmet. I've crashed, helmet saved me.
If I'd not worn a helmet, I might not be who I am. But I did so I'm cooking a steak from a deer I killed 2 weeks ago right now, and later tonight I'm gonna go fishing, and probably sleep with my girlfriend.
Or I could be breathing through a tube in a bed or worm food. Tough choice.
Hell, I rode without a helmet 2-3 times when I was younger a dumber. It was plain uncomfortable. I got bugs and **** in my face, some pebbles hit me on the highway a and I got stuff in my eyes even with glasses on.
Full face helmet, all the time.
Psychman
10-18-2012, 12:52
Keep in mind that although a Helmet will help prevent alot of significant injuries to the brain (mainly crush and blunt impact injuries), you can still have a severe brain injury with a helmet on due to acceleration/deceleration injuries as well as rotational injuries.
HollowHead
10-18-2012, 13:01
Keep in mind that although a Helmet will help prevent alot of significant injuries to the brain (mainly crush and blunt impact injuries), you can still have a severe brain injury with a helmet on due to acceleration/deceleration injuries as well as rotational injuries.
I believe this is called coup/contracoup trauma. HH
drew4691
10-18-2012, 22:27
fwiw- i have two motorcycles-
crotchrocket- yes, i wear a helmet.
touring bike- no, only when required.
if i had a quad- it would depend. if i'm just out putting around, or going slow, checking the pasture, etc.. no.
if i was going to hit jumps, ride fast, get muddy, etc. then most certainly.
Psychman
10-19-2012, 05:08
As an aside, I had a secretary who had a 16 year old son that was riding a quad. He was NOT wearing a helmet. He rode up a steep incline and the quad flipped and rolled back on him causing a fatal head injury (crush type). The story was that he was not going that fast but the incline was simply too much for the machine. Helmets do help.
Psychman
10-19-2012, 05:09
I believe this is called coup/contracoup trauma. HH
Correct, and the rotational forces are especially likely to produce a diffuse axonal injury.
It amazes me that people don't, and say they don't believe one will save their life. I raced dirt bikes for a long time and have ruined many helmets, been knocked out, and I'm sure if I didn't wear one I'd be dead or bedridden by now. I wore all the gear all the time, I still tore myself up a lot with it all I just don't understand the big deal of strapping on a helmet?
NeverMore1701
10-19-2012, 08:27
Well, I'm shopping for a helmet now, just need to find a decent looking dual sport with replaceable faceplates and bluetooth so I can listen to music. Under $200 would be a plus.
I'll chime in with my one horse powered mode of transportation. I have and will always wear a helmet while riding the trails or riding in the ring. It has already saved my arse!
HollowHead
10-19-2012, 10:44
I'll chime in with my one horse powered mode of transportation. I have and will always wear a helmet while riding the trails or riding in the ring. It has already saved my arse!
As an aside, I know many local outfitters and guides and one of the conditions of their BLM/NFS permits is that they are insured. The few companies left that still insure outfitters and guides now make helmets mandatory to the extent that an outfitter must prove that he has in possession a helmet for each paying client. The the client can still sign off, though...but I think it's just a matter of time. HH
AK_Stick
10-19-2012, 12:49
I won't wear one when I go out hunting, or to perform a task with my ATV's.
If I'm just riding for fun, or if I throw a leg over my motocross quad, the helmet, gloves, and generally the chest guard are on.
Having already experienced inverted flight on an ATV, (and was wearing my helmet), I STILL wear one when riding my Yamaha Rhino now. Then again, I also put in a 4-point harness to insure I stay inside the cage when it flips
Yesterday was the one of 3 times I rode the bike without a helmet. I am writing this from a hospital bed. I got life flighted out a couple hours after the accident. I split lanes on a box truck turning left. He changed his mind and i got drug for a distance. Still pretty sore. Broke my face and some ribs. Lost some memory. Wear your bucket 100% of the time
Damn, I'm so sorry my friend I hope you make a quick and 100% recovery. May the Force be with you:angel:
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