"Was he wearing a helmet?" ... "It didn't matter."

[Robb]

I was reminiscing (if you can call it that) with a colleague today about a motorcycle vs. semi we had both been near, in our various professional capacities, earlier in the summer. And we discussed the other motorcycle accidents we had been around as well. And I'm here to tell you the truth about riding motorcycles on pavement.

Here's the deal:

Loud pipes don't save lives.
No one who is a threat to your existence on a motorcycle can hear your pipes. People in cars and tractor-trailer trucks can't hear it until it's too late to do anything about it. If then. However, pedestrians can hear them, as can other riders. And it may be fun to listen to, but don't kid yourself about the safety factor.

Helmets help.
The fellow who swung around to pass a car and met the semi coming the other way did, it turned out, have a helmet on. But it hardly mattered, except he could have an open-casket funeral. His foolishness killed him. Even the best protection wouldn't have made it so we didn't have to look for various parts of him many, many yards away from his helmeted head. Which brings me to:

Spine protection helps.
We're seeing this more and more on the roads, quite nicely-designed spine protection, either as part of a jacket or as a wear-alone. Old-style armor might protect your from some slow-speed blunt trauma, but the new stuff keeps your back straight as you tumble ass-over-teacups down the highway. Also protects you when that bike decides to land on your back. Several accidents this summer, the rider gets to walk again because of this stuff. Several others, don't.

Knee pads are worthless.
I was actually looking at a pair of knee pads that were close to $60, thought they'd be good. My friend saw the exact brand over the weekend... actually, he found one of the pads about 300 feet behind a motorcycle accident. The rest of the rider's gear was good stuff, but he skimped and bought knee pads instead of braces. Nothing less than braces will make any difference. The guy in question was fortunate, as only one of his kneecaps came right off. The other is mostly missing flesh, as there was too much gravel to be picked out to save the pink stuff. Grossed out? Buy a brace.

"Motorcycle boots" aren't.
If the boot looks nice, with that neato buckle, chances are it's not going to help you one bit. The boot that will protect your ankle and foot isn't comfortable in any activity other than riding a motorcycle. A good boot will keep your foot in a position it's familiar with in an accident. Those clunky mod deals won't.

Finally:

Your attitude shall not save you.
I went for a long walk today and counted 34 motorcycles zooming by on the highway. Only one rider had a helmet on. The majority had some cool outfits, but we won't even find that bandana on your head when you go down. The vest you've got flying open will be torn off before your second bounce. And the snap holding those leather chaps on will pop instantly.


I got one excellent piece of advice when I started riding. When you get all your pennies together and have your budget for a bike, take out 20% and spend that on protective gear. And wear it. Every time. If you've got walking around to do at the other end, bring sandals in a bag. If your jacket is too hot, remember, skin grafts are hot too, and you can't take them off.

I'm seeing more motorcycles than ever this summer. I don't doubt the price of gas has a lot to do with it. Plus, they're fun as all get-out to get-around on. And I'm not in favor of helmet laws, both on principle and on the theory that lack of them keeps me employed.

But I look at unprotected riders and see them as idiots. Idiots whose number will come up. No amount of skill will matter when it's time for you to go down hard. Only whatever you strapped to yourself before you started.

[mac56]

1. K & R

Thanks, Robb.

[formercia]

2. Amen brother

Skidding down the asphalt on my back with only jeans and a denim shirt made a believer out of me. Even road rash is no fun.

[jobycom]

3. Hye! You really aren't a Dingbat!!

Good post.

[cdsilv]

5. Crash bars ...

... have kept a bike off of my leg many a time.

[GCP]

4. Helmet-less riders are called "donors" by transplant teams

As in "organ-donors".

[DiverDave]

6. A car that was parked decided to

pull out and go into the driveway across the street.
Problem was, she didn't see me.
The last thing I saw was her back passenger window.
I almost had my bike down, the wheels toward her back wheel.
It flicked me over her trunk and I tumbled 20-30 feet (I was in a residential area, going 25 MPH)
The next thing I felt/heard was a loud CLICK as my head (in helmet) smacked the road.
I walked away, if I didn't have my helmet, I'd be dead, and thats a fact.

[China_cat]

7. We saw a couple riding today

and all we could say was that we hoped they had their organ donor cards signed.

No helmets, tank tops (no bra for the woman), shorts (short shorts) and flip flops for both. Yes, I know it's hot here in SC. I guess the morgue would be the coolest place to hang out.

[B2G]

8. Your post may save a life

or two. Thank you for putting this out there.

K&R.

[Lars39]

9. I cringe whenever I see someone with out protective gear on.

One of my first patients was a former motorcycle rider who had gotten
a flesh-eating-type road rash about 10 years before in an accident.
They considered it contagious,too.
He'd had numerous surgeries and had one last shot to save his leg.
I've always wondered what happened with him. :(

[City Lights]

10. What's your thoughts on bikinis?

We saw a motorcycle the other day on a road with a speed limit of 55. The woman on the back was wearing a skimpy bikini and gym shoes. :wow: How stupid! We gawked at them and then looked at each other and said, "organ donors." What idiots!

[Solo_in_MD]

12. Bikini Fairings are fine on a bike, bikinis are fine on women

but a bikini on a woman on a bike is gratuitously unnecessary risk.

[Solo_in_MD]

11. I'm an ATGATT guy myself

Never had to test out how well my 'stitch will hold up, hope I never will. Been down before on the street twice, both minor, can't recall how many times in the dirt. There is a tremednous validitiy to the chiche "If you ride, you bleed".

[Robb]

30. Note for most folks:

ATGATT = All The Gear, All The Time.

:toast:

[Exultant Democracy]

13. K&and thank you.

[PoplarForest3]

14. It is HOT here in VA every summer

but I always ride in my gear. In a former life I was trying to make the grade as a GP rider and had a high speed spill that taught me more lessons than even I can forget. I was very lucky. I get more than a few strange looks from drivers and riders for wearing full gear at 95 degrees.

[Solo_in_MD]

18. I live in the area, wear all my gear too

A couple of summers ago I was taking a few days off and was headed out to ride the dragonn. Was going through Fredericksburg and joined up with a group of riders. All Harley, all women, none wearing sensible gear. The one I ended up riding next two was dressed like an aerobics instructer, half helmet and a water bottle on the bars of her Sportster. She was clearly a newer rider. Turns out that Wahl HD was having some sort of open house. I peeled off there and continued to the Blue Ridge Parkway. As I did, I could not help but think what she would look like if she went down.

[PoplarForest3]

23. My son went to UMW in Fredericksburg and I would

occasionally ride up to see him play baseball. I intentionally went the "back" roads so I could avoid doing 95 on 95!

[Czolgosz]

15. K & R

[melm00se]

16. comments

Loud pipes don't save lives.
No one who is a threat to your existence on a motorcycle can hear your pipes. People in cars and tractor-trailer trucks can't hear it until it's too late to do anything about it. If then. However, pedestrians can hear them, as can other riders. And it may be fun to listen to, but don't kid yourself about the safety factor.

Plus pipes point backwards, while any other vehicle is a risk, the bulk of the risk is in front of the rider, not behind. all loud pipes do is tell people behind you you are a jackass.

Spine protection helps.
We're seeing this more and more on the roads, quite nicely-designed spine protection, either as part of a jacket or as a wear-alone. Old-style armor might protect your from some slow-speed blunt trauma, but the new stuff keeps your back straight as you tumble ass-over-teacups down the highway. Also protects you when that bike decides to land on your back. Several accidents this summer, the rider gets to walk again because of this stuff. Several others, don't.

leathers for a biker are not a fashion statement, so why are so many bought from fashion stores in the mall? a good riding jacket consists of abrasion resistant material (leather is, traditionally, best but some of the modern textiles are just about there) with armor at the shoulders, elbows and back. Plus, don't forget the retaining strap that keeps it from riding up if you slide.

Knee pads are worthless.
I was actually looking at a pair of knee pads that were close to $60, thought they'd be good. My friend saw the exact brand over the weekend... actually, he found one of the pads about 300 feet behind a motorcycle accident. The rest of the rider's gear was good stuff, but he skimped and bought knee pads instead of braces. Nothing less than braces will make any difference. The guy in question was fortunate, as only one of his kneecaps came right off. The other is mostly missing flesh, as there was too much gravel to be picked out to save the pink stuff. Grossed out? Buy a brace.

a jacket is only part of the protection. the other half is a good pair of riding pants: they also have armor (butt, hips and knees).

I got one excellent piece of advice when I started riding. When you get all your pennies together and have your budget for a bike, take out 20% and spend that on protective gear. And wear it. Every time. If you've got walking around to do at the other end, bring sandals in a bag. If your jacket is too hot, remember, skin grafts are hot too, and you can't take them off.

as an extension, if you buy used and cheap for your first bike (dropping shiny brand new bike sucks and you probably drop your 1st bike a few times), you very well may spend more on your gear than on your bike. it is money well spent ($150+ jacket, $150+ pants, $50+ gloves, $100-500 helmet, $150+ boots + anywhere from $0 to $500 for formal training - MSF)

[Mr_Spock]

17. Reality is a tough pill to swallow for some.

I may be the luckiest person around. I was cruising @~40MPH down my home street - helmet free & wet road surface when somebody decided to ignore the stop sign at the intersection in front of me. After sliding 100ft on my hip (I pushed the bike onto it's side in front of me before I blacked out), I ended up finding out that the rear quarter panel of a car makes a good pillow for ones head. The next day was interesting as I finally awoke and saw my parents standing there. I asked "what happened" & they explained to me what happened - then I immediately asked again "yeah, but what happened?". I could hear their words, but I could not process them. I can imagine that someone who is trapped in their head like this permanently must go insane within days. I was fortunate and the connections were re-established the next day when I had my second & lasting period of consciousness. In another episode, I had a car decide at the last second to turn from the left lane into a gas station while I was in the right lane - I'm sure my front wheel was literally under the overhang of the side of the car as I laid the bike over hard and ended up in the gas station screaming at a bewildered and oblivious driver who had no idea why I was ready to kill them. I have kids now & decided that it wasn't worth it any more & sold both of my 'cycles. There are just to many oblivious people out there for me. I was lucky but I was also an idiot for not having at least a helmut on during my more serious accident. I hope others will heed your advice & wear protective equipment when they ride.

[tridim]

21. Yikes! I fish-tailed on some sand once making a normal left turn

and even though I recovered and didn't lay the bike down I never rode again.

[knitter4democracy]

19. My dad always made us suit up before riding.

Of course, we rode dirt bikes, but he would take away the bike for a month if he saw us riding without all of our gear. He'd gotten in a bad accident (gravel and head hit a wall) when he was in the Army in the 50's and only was able to walk away because he'd been wearing a helmet.

He said it's simple physics: the point on the end of a rotating line travels the fastest. You really don't want your head to hit anything hard that fast without a helmet on it. He applied that to everything else, too: gloves, boots (only motorcycle boots, too), pants, and chest protector.

I shake my head at anyone who doesn't gear up right--they're messing with Fate. I've known too many who got seriously injured from motorcycles not to respect them as the powerful machines they are.

[glitch]

20. Thank you. nt

[IowaGuy]

24. Agreed...got too many people posin' on bikes, anymore...

rather than riding them. Been riding since I was a teenager... (30+ years ago).
Went through a brief time in my late teens, early twenties where I wasn't always as conscientous about wearing my safety gear as I should have been. Every time I've been hurt, (and thank God it's never been seriously)...it would have been avoided if I had been wearing the proper safety equipment.

Been down on the asphalt a few times with my gear on now, (and if you ride a bike long enough, you will go down some time)... it has almost become a stress free situation when you can see you aren't going to hit anything hard.

I like Harley's (don't own one though)...however all the Harley posers stylin' around with black t-shirts and bandanna's just leave me shakin' my head.

[cool user name]

22. Very graphic but damned if it doesn't make a point.

Good job.

:thumbsup:

[Midlodemocrat]

25. My cousin was killed in a motorcycle accident about 20 years ago.

And, no, he wasn't wearing the helmet everyone had told /begged him to wear.

He landed on his head on the pavement. We still think if he had been wearing his helmet, it might have prevented his death.

At any rate, not wearing it, certainly contributed to his death.

[roguevalley]

27. my sister lost it on a corner and bounced off a truck that ditched

itself to keep from running over her. the only reason she is alive is because of protective gear. she still lost her leg from the knee down. anyone who rides without helmet and gear may be exercising their rights (to be dead) but they are still an asshole in my family's book. my sister can tell you that herself.

[Phrogman]

26. If motorcycles scare you, than stay off motorcycles

But don't sic a cop on me because I don't wear what you think I should wear, OK?

[Midlodemocrat]

28. Yeah, right. That's EXACTLY what he was saying.

:eyes:

[PoplarForest3]

29. I won't call the cops but don't point and laugh at me either, ok?

[Robb]

32. I commend you

...for posting that after everything upthread.

No, no cop. I believe you've got the right to wear what you want when you ride.
I reserve the right, however, to not feel sorry for you when you die -- that is, beyond the levels of basic human compassion we feel when anyone dies.
It's a simple equation, though. Which is better, riding with gear or never riding again? I vote gear, because I love riding.

[mac56]

33. Good lord. Words fail me.

That's the most self-absorbed, whiny, disingenuous response I could ever imagine to a thread like this.

You not only missed the boat, you missed the whole ocean.

[Mr_Spock]

34. ?

What's with the childish response?

[Rabrrrrrr]

35. Motorcyclists who get injured w/o protective gear get no insurance money.

At least, in my perfect world, that's how it would be.

If they're sans helmet or sans other appropriate and required safety gear, and they wipe out doing some asshole stunt like riding on the shoulder or zipping up the dotted line between lanes of traffic, then insurance companies should have the legal right to deny any and all payment for medical aid.

They should also be fined for every penny that rescue workers, police, firemen, and others have to put in in order to find the asshole's body parts, get him to a hospital or a morgue, and clean up the road.

That said, you're right - go ahead and do or don't wear whatever you want.

[lildreamer316]

38. I think you are trying to say what I said below.

You just don't want your body legislated.

[Dangerously Amused]

40. Not only is not wearing helmets and protective gear your right,

...it's also the law of natural selection at its finest.


I'm good with that.

[flvegan]

31. This was better (and IMO, belongs) in GD. It's a great post

and I agree with most of it. I'm sure that there's valid reason from the mods to move it, but I don't see it.

[XemaSab]

36. My uncle almost died when he was 18

He was riding down Blackstone in Fresno and took a spill. He broke his elbow and went to the doctor where they put a cast on his arm. Then they sent him home.

My grandma sat up that night by his bed. At 1:30 in the morning, he started convulsing. Grandma called 911, and they said there wasn't time for an ambulence. She got him in the car and took him to the emergency room where they were waiting.

There wasn't time for a CAT scan, so they took him right into surgery, and the neurosurgeon, who was still in his pajamas, started cutting. The surgeon quickly realized that the bleed wasn't on the side of the brain that he had opened, so they flipped his head open and cut into the other side. They found the blood vessel that had burst and fixed it.

He was in a coma for 6 weeks. He had to learn to walk again. He was in the hospital for months. It totally changed his life.

So be careful out there.

[lildreamer316]

37. Yes BUT

you aren't going to make any of those very good points into LAWS that *I* have to follow; are you? I mean; it is MY body and I can crush it to death if I wish--as horrible as that may be. It is MY responsibility to learn how to ride correctly; and to learn what what safety equipment will really work. I appreciate your concern; but I thought this is where Freedom comes in--free will and all. If I am stupid enough to not know or take the time to learn the validity of those points above; well; then; I guess that's MY problem-but not anyone else's to legislate.

For the record; I do not ride very well even despite having taken the course; so I personally do not ride; BUT I lost my fiance of 9 years to a motorcycle accident in 2001.
He was wearing a full helmet; (Arai); a motorcycle jacket; and the correct boots. Really.(I live in a helmet law state).
He's just as dead as those without.

Live life. Allow others to live theirs. Put the good advice out; (and I agree with everything you said!!) but please help us keep the government from legislating our bodies!

Live to ride; ride to live.

(I can't wait until we have a babysitter so I can go out with my hubby on the back of our two-wheel.....!!!)

[Robb]

43. I agree

Riders can do everything right and still die. I'm sorry for your loss.

More often than not, riders do one thing wrong.

I think I explained legislation isn't the answer. Like most things, the answer is education. It's much more difficult, and much more effective.

[melm00se]

46. actually statistics

More often than not, riders do one thing wrong.

say otherwise:

Hurt report (http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~john/vfr/hurt.html)

1. Approximately three-fourths of these motorcycle accidents involved collision with another vehicle, which was most usually a passenger automobile.

6. In the multiple vehicle accidents, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle right-of-way and caused the accident in two-thirds of those accidents.

7. The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.

While I am not saying that motorcyclists are paragons of motorvehicle safety. approximately 1/2 of all motorcycle vs passenger auto accidents occur because of the passenger vehicle driver's fault.


as to "no appropriate gear = no insurance" stance.

tell me, exactly WHAT is the appropriate gear? full body suit? jacket and padded pants? how thick? what material? gloves? gauntlets? shoes? what kind? sole thickness? type? and do you think that insurance companies might find and exploit loopholes ("ooops, wrong socks - - no coverage for you!")

Bicyclists share many of the same risks that motorcyclists do. Helmets and jackets mandatory for them too?

the point is that motorcyclists go in (or should go in) with their eyes open regarding the risks of their chosen mode of transportation, but are willing accept those risks in exchange for the many benefits and pleasures of riding (most motorcycles easily get better gas mileage than most cars, cost less, use less resources in the maufacturing process, simpler to maintain than cars).

oh yeah, the riders zipping up between lanes - that is called lane splitting and is perfectly legal in california and in the gray area in many other states and is used when traffic is at a stand still. I am sorry you don't like it, but I don't like it when you pull in front me, but I live with it...so should you.

[Ellen Forradalom]

39. My colleague arrives dressed like Darth Vader

Freaks out my dog, but GOOD FOR HIM. He's properly attired for the road.

[ThomCat]

41. Robb is not a dingbat.

Awesome post. :toast:

[cobalt1999]

42. Great post.

If you ride long enough, eventually you'll go down because some motorist doesn't see you. Twice for me. First time, I had a helmet (thanks Dad!)but no protective gear and lost skin on one side from my fingertips to my ankle. Second time was a worse accident, but I was all bundled up and only ripped clothing.

I don't ride anymore. Too many cars.

[NMMNG]

44. Over the weekend

I saw a guy riding a motorcycle. He was wearing shorts and no shirt, and his helmet was one of those helmets with little padding and no face-shield. I couldn't help but wonder :wtf: he was thinking riding like that on a 65mph highway. If he hit the pavement like that he'd lose a huge amount of skin, never mind all of the other injuries.

[wildhorses]

45. thanks for this PSA

:thumbsup:

[ChickMagic]

47. You just reminded me of a pathology slide

I had to duplicate. A non protected rider was decapitated.
My coworker pointed to a huge pavement scrape across the
side of his face and said, "Ow. I'll bet that hurt."