Rice Rockets
Well, I guess someone better come to the defense of the rice rockets. I ride one. My wife rides one. Among the peer group, the kids that you mention (wheelies/short/t-shirt) are known as "squids" for the way they ride fast, then splat. "Squid" is used as a derogatory remark, pretty much like the "N" word. The squids are a small minority of sportbike riders. The majority of the riders are responsible riders just like my wife and I. We ride as if we want to live to see another day. The full race leather I wear cost $1200, my boots, $250, my helmet $580, my glooves $100. I wear all of this gear every time I get on the bike, no exceptions. Same with my wife, same with the other responsible riders. With the advanced handling, braking and power that is available, along with the safety gear, these rice rockets are actually the safest bikes on the road. BUT they have to be used responsibly, by responsible riders. My bike, a Kawasaki ZX12R, has 178hp with out ram air in effect, dynos 164hp at the rear wheel, stock, is electronicly limited in speed to 187mph, does 85mph in first gear, and the quarter mile in the mid nines. You will not live if you don't ride this bike with level head. You don't take chances, you don't screw around.
I cringe at the thought of wearing an open face helmet or no helmet. Tests have shown that jeans are only good for three feet of sliding on asphalt, thats only three feet more protection than the squid with shorts. But this is the good 'ol USA so you get to make your own choices (thank God) and I harbor no ill feelings for the helmetless ride on the Harley. But the squids do piss me off because of the bad reputation the rest of us sport bikers get and all of their accidents raise my insurance costs.
I remember reading something about the highest fatality rates on motorcycles is the 45 + year olds, who used to ride many years ago and are now returning to motorcycling. This group is on cruisers, both Harley and imports, not sport bikes. The best thing for this group and any other new motorcyclist is to take the MSF Safety Course.
Those "custom" helmets with the dragon slayers, ect., are usually standard off the shelf replica helmets, factory produced with the same graphics as the sponsored racers. They are typically in the $600-$900 range.
P.S.- I wave at ALL motorcyclists, except for squids.