Who rides motorcycles?

[GeneV]

Years ago, going on retro bike blogs, there were dudes skirting helmet laws where they were, buying Biltwell openface helmets. Those were beautiful helmets, very low profile so you didn't look like a mushroom head. Also, they were very much snell UNapproved lol...may as well just wear a cap to cushion an impact.

 

[JasperFrank]

The law on DOT was badly written. Apparently you can wear a colander on your head if it had a DOT sticker that said DOT somewhere on it.

 

[hunt4570]

The law on DOT was badly written. Apparently you can wear a colander on your head if it had a DOT sticker that said DOT somewhere on it.

No that is incorrect, I've known a few people that have gotten a ticket for DOT stickers on non-DOT approved helmets.

 

[hunt4570]

Defense comes in stages..... first/best is proactive; totally agree.....

One of the things I like about the hobby..... there is always more to learn.

Like any form of insurance that I choose to pay for, I look at a good quality (Snell approved, or otherwise) helmet the same..... Do I appreciate the worst-case coverage being there - Yes. Do I ever want to have to use it - No.

Rgds, D.

I'm an X MSF instructor and have taken and given lots of training, it has kept me out of trouble and alive many times! More than I care to mention...

 

[hunt4570]

Ride with your headlight on highbeam all day. Hopefully the blue haired lady won't pull out in front of you. Make your headlight bright so that it looks like a locomotive coming down the road.

Still wont help with half the people out there (or more), Better yet, just consider yourself completely invisible and ride as such.. and pay attention to EVERYTHING around you! Its your job to keep yourself safe and not hope a high beam will do the job for you!

 

[kcflhrc]

My personal opinion, high beams on during the day is a bad idea. I think the blinding headlight gives drivers a bad perception of where and how far away the motorcycle actually is. If all you see is a blinding light then it's kinda hard to judge distance. On the other hand, a properly aimed true white LED on low beam is a much better idea. Once again, my opinion and have about 42 years of street riding with no accidents. In the end a good defense is your best way to stay out of trouble, that means keep your head on a swivel.

 

[m7040]

I am retired and drive F350 dually but rode motorcycles from 12 years old until early twenties and later was into motocross on a Suzuki 400. Had a serious accident resulting from a van making a uturn without looking. I was not able to work as an auto mechanic because of injuries so went to school and got a mechanical engineering degree. So by "accident" I have worked as an engineer for 50 years

 

[3930dave]

For many industries, self-certify doesn't work a good part of the time.....

DOT Helmet Failure Rate Is Now 43 Percent | webBikeWorld

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

In the end a good defense is your best way to stay out of trouble, that means keep your head on a swivel.

Situational Awareness..... always good :thumbsup:

When I was young, I concluded that people Don't See Motorcycles, moving, or parked. FWIW, today, I drape an old safety vest over the back of the bike, the odd time I'm out with it and parked.....

Day, High Beam..... The last time I remember this coming up, a # of riders were against it.

What it does buy, is visibility. To your point (If all you see is a blinding light then it's kinda hard to judge distance), it's a sledgehammer approach to the problem-child drivers who need to A) Wake Up, and B) Pay Attention.

When I was 16 I had the classic MC accident, riding a bicycle straight through an intersection during the day - car turned left in front of me. I cranked my handlebars, caught the RF corner of the car, sailed clear of the hood and slid down the road on my hands and left side of my face.

The guy had the class to stop, and admitted in the police car that "I just didn't see him". What doesn't kill you..... I decided after that event, I never wanted to hear that phrase again....

It's not a perfect solution... I've seen a very few oncoming drivers intentionally drift slightly towards and cruise on the centre line.... but at least I know A and B are covered.

On balance I go with Day/Hi..... for the dozing drivers that gain A, and at least some of B.

I'm mostly an agreeable guy in the real-world, day to day...... once I get a few more things off the chore list, I'll get out a RoundTuit and put a daytime headlight modulator on my bike..... likely works as well or better than a Hi beam, and is slightly less obnoxious.

Knock wood, hasn't happened to me, but I've read in plenty of forums of riders getting rear-ended, mostly slow speed stuff at lights, stop signs....

New gen LEDs are pretty good..... this Fall, I saw a bicycle rider with a rear flasher that was quite visible from a distance in full sunlight..... upgraded rear lighting is not a bad thing either......

Rgds, D.

 

[the old grind]

MI law says I don't have to wear a helmet because I'm > a certain age and have sufficient minimum additional medical coverage, which in our State is by default from one's auto ins policy as 'automatic' with an 'OCY" (operator-cycle) endorsement on one's MI DL since the '70s.

Rebel that I am, I decline to ride sans helmet because no law prohibits it.

DO spare what's left of your hearing(!) and keep your hair cleaner by doing likewise. I promise it's the only favor I'll ever ask of you.