Guess Which Brand He Was Riding....

[seruzawa]

... before reading the article.

Man dies after motorcycle crashes during helmet protest ride - NewsChannel 9 WSYR

[Buzglyd]

I resist the urge to pass judgment cuz who knows that the hell happened. However!

I rolled up on a crash scene yesterday on I5 in Carlsbad. A couple of "bros" one of em down on the side of the road.

Typical lowered Road Kings with ape hangars ( and these were the super narrow apes where your hands are high and really close together). Beanie helmets, tank tops and bandana over the face to complete the bada$$ look.

Of course it could have been some texting idiot that started it all but looking cool is great until you have to slam on the brakes. That POS would have been impossible to control with those stupid bars.

Knock on wood and hope it's never you or me.

[Morbo the Destroyer]

You couldn't have written a better script for a pro-helmet ad:

Police say Contos suddenly hit the brakes and lost control of the motorcycle. According to troopers, Contos was thrown over his handlebars and hit the pavement as his 1993 Harley Davidson motorcycle skidded toward the guardrail. According to police, Contos was not wearing his helmet, as required by law. Witnesses say this decision was part of the protest. Police say that based on evidence at the scene and from doctors, Contos would have survived if he had been wearing a DOT-Approved helmet. "The medical expert we discussed the case with who pronounced him deceased stated that he would've no doubt survived the accident had he been wearing a helmet," said Trooper Jack Keller. No other motorcycles were involved in the crash.

Friends and members of the bike group put their helmets back on as they left the scene.

[V2Rider]

BMW? I ride an HD but I always wear a lid. You'd be suprised at the looks I get when I wear one in helmet choice states. I've had folks pull up and tell me I didn't have to wear it.

I feel for the guy's friends and family. I rode without a helmet for years but back then I was ten feet tall and bullet proof. Lucky I guess.

[Captain Steve]

I'm in favor of repealing helmet laws.

For me it's more of a libertarian thing than any desire to ride without a helmet. I always wear mine, when people in choice-states ask me I answer "I have two kids." which gets me a nod and thoughtful look.

I don't think the government should be involved in my choice to wear a helmet or not. I also think insurance companies ought to have the right to write a policy that penalizes you for not wearing a helmet. A deductible of $500 on your medical (helmeted) or $10,000(helmet off) seems fair to me. Or medical coverage that costs $250 a year more if you want to ride without a helmet and still be covered.

[newagetwotone]

If your brain is worth anything you put a bucket on it.

[Easy Rider 2]

Originally Posted by Captain Steve

I'm in favor of repealing helmet laws.

For me it's more of a libertarian thing than any desire to ride without a helmet.

I don't think you even have to lean toward Libertarian.......or even know what that IS..... to know that the Government in the US is all screwed up, and probably Canada and most of the EU too, in that it is trying to do things that it never was intended to do.

Protecting you from your own stupidity is a big one on that list.

My first car was a 1957 Chevy. I installed seat belts in it. I ALWAYS use seat belts. I usually ride in 75% gear. Usually.

BUT.....I don't think the government has any business legislating matters of personal choice.........while they kiss the asses of the rich and powerful and let them get away with murder.
That's all backwards.
[soap box off]

[acecycleins]

Steve- after you put down the crack pipe noodle on this- the average survivable helmetless rider has hospital bills that START at $100k. Now, it's possible that your healthcare provider will cover much of this cost, but the grim reality is that these bills are shifted to the public burden via higher cost of service from the hospital.
Your argument only holds water if you think that all safety equipment in all vehicles should be disallowed or laws repealed, as well. No seatbelts, anti-lock brakes, airbags, 5 mph bumpers, traction control and so on.
If this were a society that had the same amount of drivers we had in the 50s I might give you a break, but our streets are so full of all motorist that we quite literally have to protect us from ourselves.

[sarnali2]

Originally Posted by Morbo the Destroyer

You couldn't have written a better script for a pro-helmet ad:

Police say Contos suddenly hit the brakes and lost control of the motorcycle. According to troopers, Contos was thrown over his handlebars and hit the pavement as his 1993 Harley Davidson motorcycle skidded toward the guardrail. According to police, Contos was not wearing his helmet, as required by law. Witnesses say this decision was part of the protest. Police say that based on evidence at the scene and from doctors, Contos would have survived if he had been wearing a DOT-Approved helmet. "The medical expert we discussed the case with who pronounced him deceased stated that he would've no doubt survived the accident had he been wearing a helmet," said Trooper Jack Keller. No other motorcycles were involved in the crash.

Friends and members of the bike group put their helmets back on as they left the scene.

"Ironic" is all that springs to mind, like accidentally shooting yourself at an NRA convention

[Dr_Sprocket]

Originally Posted by Easy Rider 2

My first car was a 1957 Chevy. I installed seat belts in it. I ALWAYS use seat belts. I usually ride in 75% gear. Usually.

Cars didn't come with seat belts back then?!

I am a child of the 70's and all my parents' cars had seatbelts in them... and we always had to use them.