I have a question for folks that live in states that don't require helmets:
Why is it that -nobody- seems to wear a helmet?
It's not like they're prohibited...they're just -not required-. I'm doing some work in RI, and there are motorcycles all over the place, but in the past few weeks I've seen only a handful of people that choose to wear head protection of any kind.
What really got me thinking about this was a guy I saw on a liter bike--of course no helmet--who stalled the thing several times leaving a red light. It struck me that here's this guy that doesn't appear technically proficient, and yet he didn't think it was necessary to protect his melon.
So I wonder what the prevailing attitude is in other areas that let people make their own decision...what percentage of people choose to wear a helmet, even though they don't have to? In RI, I'd estimate it's <5%...
Becuz they be the shnizit, and too kewl for helmetz.
Hmm, you sound like a gear Nazi (http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20696). Shame on you.
they should make signing the organ donor card mandatory if riding w/o a helmet
bumble bee in the face at 60...... :o
Quote from: BadgerWhat really got me thinking about this was a guy I saw on a liter bike--of course no helmet--who stalled the thing several times leaving a red light. It struck me that here's this guy that doesn't appear technically proficient, and yet he didn't think it was necessary to protect his melon.
I think you answered your own question :lol: They want to protect their assets, but obviously they don't feel their brain is an one. I have a feeling many would agree. I don't like to see anyone get hurt though, and I personally would like to see all states require a helmet.
Thing is, they shouldn't HAVE to require it. Somethings you should just know and practice without being told. Protecting yourself is one of them.
helmet laws are right up there with seat belt laws.....
gov. shouldn't make them decisions.....
What's the big deal, guys?
(http://nlford.com/motorcycle/photos/mary.JPG)
For both helmet and seatbelt laws - in a perfect world, you wouldn't need such laws. But the world isn't perfect. And both are situations where abject stupidity hurts the community at large. So they're necessary. For those of us with a brain to protect - they make no difference at all. Helmet law or no, it makes no difference in my gearing up for riding. For those without a brain to protect - they can yap about their liberties being infringed all they want; I don't care. They can go off themselves on their own private property, where it won't affect my insurance rates and won't take doctors and other medical resources away from people harmed by things they couldn't have avoided as easily. Not to mention, where it won't mung up traffic.
Even in states where helmets are required... WTF is the difference between the little brain bucket and no helmet at all? I don't see one.
I don't wave to no lidders :nana: Thats how I show my opinion :)
Silly, just silly. But I do think that it should be your right to decide. Here in PA they just passed the No helmet law about 2 years ago. I will always wear my helmet :mrgreen: Full face too ! Guard your grill succa!
Speaking of that, I noticed something a couple months ago. I wave to everyone on a bike, regardless of what make or type it is. Some do wave back, some don't. Who would you guess doesn't wave back...?
Harley riders? Nope.
Guys in half lids. I will get a wave from anyone wearing a full-faced helmet, and guys in brain buckets and whatnot act like I'm not there. Effing dickheads.
Dave :cheers:
::) sometimes when guys w/o helmets wave.. I tap my helmet and give em a :thumb:
I think helmets should be optional. Fine by me. But, if you choose not to wear a helmet, no suing for head injuries related to an accident. By making that decision, you are forfeiting your rights on that. We need a bit more natural selection in the human species.....
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXGuys in half lids.
Some of them acknowledge you... I stopped by a gas station and a old guy on an OLD cruiser (HD, Indian, whatever... They all look the same to me) was getting gas. Skid-lid, leathers, the whole nine...
When I saw him I looked over and was planning to nod... Expecting him to ignore me... But, he nodded before I did.
So... They're not all bad.
(just most of 'em) :mrgreen:
Agreed. It's like saying women like Friends, but not all people who like Friends are women. Well maybe they actually are... ;)
Some of them do wave. But the ones who are more likely not to are half-lidders.
Dave :cheers:
I know that in a couple of states, helments are required unless you have a certain amount of health insurance, which makes a lot of sense to me. I think people should have the right to decide if they want to wear helmets (or seatbelts) but the reality of the matter is, if their stupidy gets them hurt, it's not unlikely that my tax money will go to their health care somehow.
True... Two of my friends are half-lid cruiser riders... One waves and the other is too cool. :lol:
i have seen that in states that require no helmate most everyone on any type of cruser does not wear a helmat. However I see many on sport bike wearing helmates. I encourage helmates even if you don't have to wear one. Like I talked to a guy that rides a scooter around town and he said he doesn't wear one cause he doesn't have to and he can only go 30mph anyway, like a 30mph slide will hurt that much :o . On the other side i waved to my first scooter today for the simple fact that the girl on it WAS wearing a helmate, full face at that.
:icon_rolleyes:
:icon_rolleyes:
Does being a conservative make you a duck, Ed, or is it the other way around?
:cookoo:
Quote from: aaronstjDoes being a conservative make you a duck, Ed, or is it the other way around?
What came first, the chicken or the egg? At this point, it's academic. :) Since he doesn't care what anyone else thinks, it's all good for everyone else to repay the favor.
Tangentially, a cartoon I once saw - a chicken lying on its back in bed, smoking. Next to it, an irate egg, thinking "Well, I guess that answers THAT question."
Did I give an opinion? I'm pretty sure I asked a question. I guess they didn't have "no child left behind" when you were in school. :)
:icon_razz:
Dammit. You got to it before I caught the typo.
I'll get you next time, conservative. Next time. :lol: :lol:
:icon_confused:
Quote from: Ed_in_Az
I used to hope that libs just weren't thinking things through completely.
On the other hand, you have obviously thought WAY too much about that.
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDXthought
A word that applies to Ed only using the broadest possible definition.
Back on topic. I think not wearing a helmet on a bike is pretty dumb. Sure a plane could fall from the sky and smash your car, but chances are better your melon will bounce off a bumper b/c you were too cool to wear a helmet. I watch a lot of stunt vids, and I get pumped as hell whatching these guys, but there's no way I'd risk anything w/o a lid. I've seen some nasty melon thumpers, and I know a lid doesn't help ALL the time, but I don't want to have to grow my hair back in a place where I had road rash from my eyes to my neck.
I see a lot, I mean a LOT, of squids cruisin around campus on their liter bikes [even though it's a first ride] rockin t shirts, flops and no helmet. What's gonna happen if they hit a patch of sprinkler run off in the middle of Texas heat where we have over 200ft of elevation change within the first 1/4 mile of our campus? I can't help but laugh at these guys.
Sometimes I want to wear my helmet in my SUV... You know, just in case...
:mrgreen:
:icon_razz:
Quote from: Ed_in_Azvoting
Unless you're black, poor, or ever been in trouble with the law, right?
(http://bellsouthpwp.net/j/o/jonfoote/dali/other/Beararms.jpg)
:icon_razz:
Quote from: Ed_in_AzDoes your nanny know you're on the computer?
What the hell is that even supposed to mean? If that's the best rebuttal conservatives can manage, I can't imagine how you guys ended up in charge.
HEHE :lol:
Quote from: aaronstjQuote from: Ed_in_AzDoes your nanny know you're on the computer?
What the hell is that even supposed to mean? If that's the best rebuttal conservatives can manage, I can't imagine how you guys ended up in charge.
I'm ultra conservative, and I stunt...figurethatoneout.
Quote from: aaronstjQuote from: Ed_in_AzDoes your nanny know you're on the computer?
What the hell is that even supposed to mean? If that's the best rebuttal conservatives can manage, I can't imagine how you guys ended up in charge.
The two go hand in hand...
I've run into several other "Everyone that's not f%$king psycho-right-wing-Nazi is a faggot liberal and they're trying to kill me" people like Ed here... They come up with something that they think is funny... Like the Nanny comment... Then they the beat it into the ground 'cause they've used up the last of their creativity.
;)
;)
Quote from: Ed_in_Az
I'm ultra conservative, and I stunt...figurethatoneout.
I salute ya! :cheers:[/quote]
ROFLMAO!! I also drink everyday. Maybe I'm like the rest of the republicans in the world. Even though I'm just a college student. I have seriously conservative govt'l views though.
Quote from: fat_sacI'm ultra conservative, and I stunt...figurethatoneout.
Ultraconservative and stunt isn't that odd. It's the ultraconservative and not a complete duck that I'm having trouble with. :)
LMAO, I was hoping I was just weird. Damn.
Quote from: aaronstjQuote from: fat_sacI'm ultra conservative, and I stunt...figurethatoneout.
Ultraconservative and stunt isn't that odd. It's the ultraconservative and not a complete duck that I'm having trouble with. :)
The better part of 160 minutes without a rely!! :o Have all the flames subsided?
To topic. Okay:
As soon as I can predict my next accident (my fault or not) is when I stop wearing gear. I have family that I want to come home to.
Perhaps those that don't wear believe they will never get into accidents that test their need. Ride bare. Statistics say they'll be right most of the time. But it's the rest of the time that I dress for when I ride.
There. Said my piece. Have at it then...
Hmm...wow.
Just to clear things up:
I wasn't trying to say, "boo...everyone should be forced to wear a helmet". I do believe that everyone should be given a choice (I'm a big supporter of Darwin). I just don't understand the thought process. I can choose to poke myself in the eye with a sharp stick if I want to...but I don't, and most people tend to go with me on that one.
What I don't understand is why people choose to do something that is pretty convincingly a life threateningly dangerous thing. It's sort of like saying, "I'm going to shoot you in the chest...you can put on this kevlar vest if you want to, but you don't have to...I might not hit you." and then having them decide against the vest.
Is it because they don't like being hot? Is it because they feel they have better visibility? Is it because of peer pressure or pack mentality? Are they trying to "Fight the man"? Or do they think that there is no possible way that they could get into a situation where a helmet might be a useful thing to be wearing?
Again, I'm interested because of the sheer proportions of people in RI that I see without helmets on. These are people that have helmets strapped to their bike (too close to MA not to), so it's not that they didn't want to spend the $$. My thought is that people just don't want to be the wimp that wears a helmet...so I'd bet on pack mentality. I think it's different in NH...with a state motto like "Live free or die" I think they have different reasons. I've noticed in NH that HD riders go without, but sportbike riders more frequently have helmets. In RI I rarely see anyone, regardless of bike type, with a helmet. With one exception: I can't recall seeing a BMW rider without a helmet (and usually full gear).
I was wondering if other places see similar proportions, or if there's a "tipping point" where if a certain % of folks go helmetless, everybody will. Are there places where even though helmets are not required, the majority of people still wear them? I don't personally know anyone that would ride without a helmet, so I have no basis to relate to.
Didn't mean to cause a stir. :dunno:
Badger it wasn't you. You didn't cause a stir. Some people are just disrespectful like that and have to cause problems.
Quote from: BadgerDidn't mean to cause a stir. :dunno:
Not your fault, Badger. Some children here just can't behave. ;)
Maine is a no helmet law state and I'd say it is close to RI as you say... I'd say less than 10% of the riders I see are wearing ANY kind of helmet. The majority of those with helmets, I'd say almost all are sportbike/metric cruiser riders. Haha, I saw a Harley guy with a full faced helmet yesterday and I thought, what's wrong with that picture to myself for a second before I realized he looked weird because he actually had a full faced helmet on!!! I don't know, I ride with a bunch of Harley riders and only one of the bunch of 'em wears a helmet (and she has only been riding 2 years - and only wears a non DOT brain bucket)... so really not much if any protection. I think it is just because no one else does, so why should I be the geek that does mentality. I will probably go to a cruiser once I run the wheels off the GS, and I sure hope to think I will continue to wear at least a half helmet (Always wear a full face now)
"I don't think we should have helmet laws. It seems that we'd have a lot less trouble with bikers that way."
-Lewis Grizzard
Not that I completely agree, but there's some truth there.
I was just filling up with gas and a guy next to me was on a bike. He was wearing a DOT half helmet with the chin strap dangling. As he finished up and was leaving I kind of gestured to him that the strap was just hanging down.
His reply, " I can't stand strapping the damn thing" :? :dunno:
I guess it might help on the initial impact but why bother if it is just going to fly off?
Im ultra-conservative. Arnold in 2008! :thumb:
Full-face helmet and gloves all the live long day. :)
Quote from: 97gs500eIm ultra-conservative. Arnold in 2008!
Are you stupid??? I'm ultra conservative. If you support the governator...then you are a f%$king west coast liberal !!!
:guns: YAY!! There's nothing like having an ACTOR [for those that are too stupid to know what a politician is] as a damned governer? You fucks from the land of fruits and nuts need to wake up.
Quote from: fat_sac.... If you support the governator...then you are a f%$king west coast liberal !!!
... There's nothing like having an ACTOR [for those that are too stupid to know what a politician is] as a damned governer? You fucks from the land of fruits and nuts need to wake up.
And you need to get a dictionary.
It's spelled governor!! :x You are not even consistent when you're wrong!! :nono:
I think people should take responsibility for their choices.
If they want to ride without helmets, then they should be able to show that enough insurance coverage, etc.
That way, the rest of us don't have to cover for your decisions.
I believe that in Florida helmets are not mandatory, but if you don't wear a helmet, you must be able to show a higher level of insurance coverage.
I couldn't imagine riding without a helmet, just like I couldn't imagine driving without a seat belt.
Quote from: RedShiftQuote from: fat_sac.... If you support the governator...then you are a f%$king west coast liberal !!!
... There's nothing like having an ACTOR [for those that are too stupid to know what a politician is] as a damned governer? You fucks from the land of fruits and nuts need to wake up.
And you need to get a dictionary. It's spelled governor!! :x You are not even consistent when you're wrong!! :nono:
:lol: :lol:
I'm in Cali, but I'll sometimes do some riding in Arizona where there is no helmet law. If you know me, you know I wont ride unless I have proper gear on. The feeling I get is it's generally looked down upon to even wear a helmet there. You see other motorcyclists look at you and you know they're thinking things like "puss" or "ghey". Of course, that makes a little bit of sense in gun-toting, ghey-bashing, ultra conservative Arizona. ;)
One of my friends there is a Phoenix firefighter. He goes on bike calls all the time. You wouldn't believe some of the stories I've heard. It's real simple when you look at it from his perspective. If you're involved in a crash in AZ and you aren't wearing a helmet (which is most people there), you die. The few times he did go on calls where the person lived, it was because of their helmet.
Quote from: fat_sacAre you stupid??? I'm ultra conservative. If you support the governator...then you are a f%$king west coast liberal !!!
:guns: YAY!! There's nothing like having an ACTOR [for those that are too stupid to know what a politician is] as a damned governer? You fucks from the land of fruits and nuts need to wake up.
Stop sugar-coating things! Tell us how you REALLY feel! :thumb: ;)
:lol: :lol: :lol: I love waking up and seeing who I pissed off when I was drunk. :cheers: :lol: :cheers: :lol: :lol:
Quote from: roguegeekI'm in Cali, but I'll sometimes do some riding in Arizona where there is no helmet law. If you know me, you know I wont ride unless I have proper gear on. The feeling I get is it's generally looked down upon to even wear a helmet there. You see other motorcyclists look at you and you know they're thinking things like "puss" or "ghey". Of course, that makes a little bit of sense in gun-toting, ghey-bashing, ultra conservative Arizona. ;)
One of my friends there is a Phoenix firefighter. He goes on bike calls all the time. You wouldn't believe some of the stories I've heard. It's real simple when you look at it from his perspective. If you're involved in a crash in AZ and you aren't wearing a helmet (which is most people there), you die. The few times he did go on calls where the person lived, it was because of their helmet.
Unless you're Pyschic, which I DOUBT, you have no idea what other riders are thinking as you pass, so CUT THE CRAP. As for wrecking with and without helmets, I've done both, and walked away from totaled bikes. :cheers:
Quote from: fat_sac:lol: :lol: :lol: I love waking up and seeing who I pissed off when I was drunk. :cheers: :lol: :cheers: :lol: :lol:
That makes one of you! :roll:
Hope your hangover isn't too bad (but bad enough that you don't do that too often). :p:p:p
;)
I'm cool. About to get into the sauce again. I'm not going to be on the pc pissing people off tonight though, lol.
Quote from: pandyQuote from: fat_sac:lol: :lol: :lol: I love waking up and seeing who I pissed off when I was drunk. :cheers: :lol: :cheers: :lol: :lol:
That makes one of you! :roll:
Hope your hangover isn't too bad (but bad enough that you don't do that too often). :p:p:p
;)
QuoteUnless you're Pyschic, which I DOUBT, you have no idea what other riders are thinking as you pass, so CUT THE CRAP. As for wrecking with and without helmets, I've done both, and walked away from totaled bikes.
Right...not psychic...thus the question: what motivates people to not wear helmets? You seem to be the only respondant that rides/has ridden without a helmet (at least the only one that will admit it)...so you seem to be my sample group, so I'll ask--I'm not trying to be critical...I'm not trying to chide you for it...I'm not trying to be negative at all....but...
Why?
I can justify wearing a helmet...this seems to make sense to me. Not wearing one seems to defy logic. I'm not trying to generalize or stereotype people. I just don't understand the thought process.
:icon_rolleyes:
there are some things which should be enforced, if people aren't smart enough to do it themselves. Helmets and seatbelts are two of those things.
They should be made mandatory...flat out.
I don't get this really childish thing of "oh if they don't want to wear it..its there choice"
The government is here to protect people, mostly from themselves or other people. One of the major reasons why motorcycle insurance is so high is the really really high crash/accident rate.
Its been generally proven that people don't always do things that work to there benefit...we see examples time and time again.
So its really a case of big brother protecting us from ourselves, if we're not smart enough to know that wearing a helmet is the only choice.
well redshift....
smoking has some benefits/advantages. I can't see any benefit/advantage to not wearing a helmet.
its like a lose/lose situation. The wind bothers you, you feel vulnerable, things hit you in the face...
At least with smoking there is some sort of a reason to smoke.
Madness...
Quote from: bannerwell redshift....
smoking has some benefits/advantages. I can't see any benefit/advantage to not wearing a helmet.
its like a lose/lose situation. The wind bothers you, you feel vulnerable, things hit you in the face...
At least with smoking there is some sort of a reason to smoke.
Madness...
At the risk of sounding like Ed here, the advantages/benefits of both are that the practitioner believes they will be better off than the converse.
We all make decisions about the risk we'll take on. We need to accept the results if it doesn't go as planned.
I wear gear because when I weigh the balance of consequences, I want something reasonable between me and the scenery if we collide. It's that simple to me. with or without society making rules to enforce that line of thinking.
8)
I think it is a freedom issue. We are the land of the free, so give us a choice.
I lived in Az for 25 years, learned to ride in Az. I got my 1st bike when I was 14. I rode with a helmet only when I wanted to. As people grow their choices change, I now see the light and would never ride without gear now. Young guns feel like nothing can hurt them, so they live their lives on the edge. We all went through that period of our life. Younger people tend to do what everone else id doing, so if they see people riding without they will tend to do the same. Peer pressure thingy.
Another way to look at it is " do as I say not as do I do" we all know this does not work. You learn by example, if you see people riding helmetless, smoking and drinking. You going to think if they can I can, no matter how many times your told it's bad. Smokers beget smokers, hemletless beget helmetless so on and so forth.
It is all about what you learn as a young person. As you grow you will start to make your own choices....I choose to wear gear, not smoke and never drive while intoxicated. When I was younger I did the opposite. The law did not make me change my behavior, I did. You want to make people safer, show them how to be safer. Some will some won't. If they get hurt it their choice, let them pay for their mistake..shoot the personal injury lawyers.
8)
;)
Quote from: bannerThe government is here to protect people,
Does anyone here really believe that?
Can anyone point me to where in the Constitution, or a federal, state, or local law, where it it says that?
Lets not limit it to the USA, show me a law from anyplace in the world that says the government is here to protect people.
The government is set up to protect society as a whole, (in other words, itself) not individual people from their free choices.
Catching up on posts...thanks to everyone for the insight...
Quoteif you see people riding helmetless, smoking and drinking.
Which hand are they operating the throttle with? I expect it would have to be the one with the cigarette in it, since it would be hard to hold a beer and work the throttle with the same hand...but I'm just a newb. :)
QuoteAt least with smoking there is some sort of a reason to smoke.
I can't really think of one that makes sense...and I -am- a smoker. I can think of a lot of justifications I make to myself, although most of them are more "reasons not to quit" vs. "reasons to smoke", i.e,:
* I expect I'd just start smoking again (I've quit twice already).
* I don't want to gain weight (both times, I put on lbs.)
* I find it moderately calming.
* I use the time away from my desk to take a mental break, noodle over problems, etc. (of course, I could just get coffee...but I drink way too much coffee already)
* Dammit...I enjoy smoking.
None of these reasons are good reasons to -start- smoking. That's just stupid.
QuoteThe government is here to protect people
I think you have that a little bit wrong...the government is here to protect THE people (that is, all of them collectively) not -a person- (individually). The argument against manditory helmets/seat belts is that not wearing one or the other doesn't hurt anyone except yourself, and that usually precludes legislative involvement. The real reason that we have seat belt/helmet laws has nothing to do with protecting the people...it is entirely because of insurance company lobbyists. More seatbelt/helmet use == less expensive claims == happy, more profitable insurance companies.
My feeling (and I'm not looking for people to neccessarily agree) is that we should really just leave it in Darwin's hands. *shrug* But...I also think that insurance premiums should be appropriate to the risk...you should be able to get a "with helmet only" policy (at a reduced premium) that denys claims if a loss occurs while riding helmetless. I know that I pay a higher homeowner's insurance premium because I smoke...let people make their own choice, but put them in the appropriate risk category.
I'm fairly certain that even if it wasn't manditory, I'd still wear a helmet...I just don't trust other people enough.
QuoteAnother way to look at it is " do as I say not as do I do" we all know this does not work.
Right...that's my connundrum. You can either -force- people to wear helmets through regulation (which obviously lots of people are against), or you can find a way to encourage safety, appropriate gear, etc. Based on what I see, at least some states that don't require helmets don't seem to be doing to well encouraging people to wear them, based on my observation of a very small % of people that choose to wear helmets. I was wondering if there were other states that see different results.
As a related note, I rode for a few minutes with my shield open, and couldn't believe the amount of dust, wind, bugs, and other crap that tried to get into my eyes...made me even more perplexed about the no helmet choice.
Quote from: bannerwell redshift....
smoking has some benefits/advantages.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: WHAT !?!? Name one benefit to smoking..
Cancer? Nasty teeth? Bad breath? Smelling like a$$?
:lol:
Wasn't Ronald Reagan an actor?? hmmm....... Badger if he hasn't already ed is going to call you a "f#$%^&* idiot liberal" and then he is going to say that liberals are just as bad as islamic terrorist. Just wanted to warn you!!!!! :cheers: :cheers: :thumb:
QuoteBadger if he hasn't already ed is going to call you a "f#$%^&* idiot liberal"
*looks around* What did I say?
Special note: Simply being from Massachusetts -does not- make one a liberal.
I don't see how having traffic laws on public roads violates civil liberties or "freedoms".
Not wearing a helmet is no different than not having other proper safety equipment, like working lights, good tires, etc.
Quote from: BadgerQuoteBadger if he hasn't already ed is going to call you a "f#$%^&* idiot liberal"
*looks around* What did I say?
Special note: Simply being from Massachusetts -does not- make one a liberal.
Simply being from Yale -does not- make one intelligent.
i didn't mean to say smoking is good for you....but it has benefits at the same time. If it didn't people wouldn't do it.
It calms people down, helps them think...relaxs them..etc..
It has its negative sideffects as well...but still there are positive/negatives to it.
When you riding without a helmet, without a jacket or gear....then i don't see any benefit to that. There is only harm.
I don't undersand how bugs, rocks, etc hitting you in the face is a fun thing. Also for the most part (in most places) the jacket doesn't really keep you any hotter than without one (there are mesh jackets, gloves, pants out there).
So i really don't see any benefit to riding without gear, but all the potential harm..
I'm a newb rider who learned in California, Bay area. Yes, we have a helmet law. One thing I have enjoyed about the area is that there is a bit of peer pressure to wear the rest of the gear as well. There are definitely the squidly types, wearing the flip-flops, but the majority of people are wearing gloves, jacket and full face helmet. I can't imagine going on the bike without all that plus boots (plus, Sidi Vertebra chromos, so fun...).
I used to be a cyclist and was in some nasty scrapes. Never destroyed a helmet but definitely was glad it was on. Dunno, some people think they are invincible. Some think it won't happen to them.... I am all for letting people do what they want to do. I just fully admit that I don't understand why a lot of people do what they do :) Go Darwin....
Quote from: jbeaber:) Go Darwin....
:lol: :lol: :lol: :thumb:
(http://www.safetycenter.navy.mil/photo/images/photo15_1p.jpg)
Quote from: bannerWhen you riding without a helmet, without a jacket or gear....then i don't see any benefit to that. There is only harm.
Well...talk to any of the "lidless" and you'll get their take on the "benefits":
* I can see better...helmets effect my peripheral vision
* My head doesn't get hot if I don't wear a helmet
* The visor fogs up
* Takes to long to hook up
* Glasses/cool shades uncomfortable with a helmet
* I can smoke if I don't wear a helmet (figured I'd throw this one in).
Just for the record...I don't agree that any of these are "good" justifications (I wear a helmet all the time, required or not)...but they sound just like the "justifications" for smoking. Just because -you- don't think there are any benefits doesn't mean other people don't. I'm sure many (most?) people don't think that there is any benefit whatsoever to smoking, and many would argue that it harms other people as well (the second-hand smoke coalition...bastards!)
Again...I say let Darwin have at 'em.