Interesting Phenomenon

[81pumagtc]

I took Dorothy to her grandson's graduation at EMU. I have been noticing something that became glaringly apparent during the trip.

Almost every rider I have seen on a motorcycle riding without a helmet has been over 50, riding a Harley, and going on average 10 to 15 miles per hour under the speed limit.

They also don't really like corners either, as far as I can tell.

Also, it was warm on Sunday, and everybody seemed to have T-shirts, fringed leather vests, and were usually not wearing gloves.

There were a few in shorts, and flip-flops.

I guess basic protective gear doesn't really matter if you are riding without a helmet. If you crash, there is a much better chance you are going to die anyway...

I can't really explain the much lower speeds, except maybe folks are more aware of speed, or are not that comfortable with it, but I was not the only annoyed one on the highway. I saw a couple of guys in pickup trucks roar past a group of rider on I-96 and there was some "We are number one" salutes going on...after all, they kept gesturing at each other with one finger in the air...

Anybody else notice how slow these guys are going?


Dave

[Pikeman]

I have noticed the older Harley rider no helmet trend, accompanied by a bandana to keep from sunburning the bald head!

[tarrich]

Even before the nonsense partial helmet repeal, there were too many flip-flop shorts and tank top operators dodging in and out of traffic. Any driver operating significantly outside the speed of the traffic can only intensity the likelihood of accidents. If they fell unsafe, maybe the helmet and riding gear will help along with taking road more suitable to the low speed comfort cruise. After all Volkswagen, other classic vehicle and military convoys have been able to avoid being nuisance obstacles to themselves and other drivers.

[MadMike]

I hear Ya,Being a re-tired Motocycle Safety instructor it use to/still really bug me to see this style of riding but I just bought stocks in a Sunscreen company ;D ;D ;D or a Funeral Homes Inc. ;D

[bone]

some of them been riding for years and dont care. some just dont know

ive talked to a couple guys that have only been riding for a few years. "im careful" "i watch for idiots" they think they can out menuver anything that pops up because there on a motorcycle. i understand it, in my younger years when you get on a bike you feel like you can just about dodge anything at first.

what most dont realize is its not IF your going to get in a wreck with a bike. its WHEN doesnt matter if its a car, gravel you dont see on a corner, or just a slick spot on a curve. that bike WILL come out from under you and you WILL hit the pavement. how well protected you are will make the differance between walking away and getting carried away.


im not someone spouting off about the helmet law either
i took a week long mc safety class when i was 15 and had my cycle endorsement and was nationaly certified to ride before i had my regular drivers license. i used to love bikes with a passion

these dont count the "flops" the falling down when some not a very nice person blows a buch of gravel on a innersection then i try to round a corner to fast. or just falling down from stoopidity

i walked away with bruises from all....
1992 flat broadside by a jeep that ran a stopsign 79 yam 250 enduro
1994 hit a rabbit on bray rd doin 60 put me down slid for a 1/4 mile on the same enduro after i rebuilt it
1996 hit head on by a caprice in bay city turning left when i was going streight through the innersection 84 750 honda sabre
1997 hit a german shepard i was doin about 70, went down hard on a 69 honda cb450 chopper

after the 3 big ones i gave up and just started cruising back roads thinking it was safer. the dog was just the final straw i havnt been on a street bike since 97.

[gokart]

I'm going to invent the bandana helmet.

[67type1]

Dave, hope you don't mind a slight curve on your thread.

Lack of a helmet law...

IMO, its wrong, plain & simple. Some call it lack of freedom or ?, but the riders that run around without a helmet aren't thinking of their families. I was 15 when I had my only accident. The helmet saved my life, and more importantly; I didn't become physically or mentally disabled and become a burden to my family & friends. I fixed the bike and rode it again, and I've been riding ever since. The freedom for me is the ability to continue riding.