I'VE BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS,THE LAST WAS THE WORST.MY GRANDSON WAS RIDING WITH ME WHEN I WENT DOWN IN A90 DEGREE TURN CAUSED BY A .TRUCK COMING OVER INTO MY LANE .WE WERE SLIDING ON OUR SIDE WHEN A VAN RAN OVER THE FRONT OF MY BIKE.KNOCKING US BACKWARDS.MAKING A LONG STORY SHORT, WE BOTH HAD OUR HELMENTS ON LUCKILY WE NEVER HIT OUR HEADS,BUT I'M GLAD WE HAD THEM ON.DO WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST,JUST BE CAREFUL.

I hear ya' - BUT - the more the law gets involved w/ motorcycles the more likely it is they will ban them altogether or put in really stupid regulations (ex; mandatory crash bars or seat belts or God know what they will think up)

W/ universal health coverage it is damn likely we will see mandatory Federal helmet laws followed by efforts to ban motorcycles because of the increased healthcare costs.

Doubt me? Check out what happened to smokers - They rammed the anti smoking legislation thru based on helthcare costs, using totally bogus "science". - Ditto firearms, after generations of seeking to control crime by controlling firearms they are now attempting to ban them due to healthcare costs

I have been in EMS for 32 years, worked helicopter for 11.  Have seen many accidents with and without helmets.  I went street surfing last spring at 80mph, helmet was beat up, but I walked away.  Have also had significant head slap on pavement at less than 10 mph.  Glad I had helmet on for that one too.  Don't think it matters what speed, still seems like a pretty good idea to wear one.  Just remember, June bug at 60 mph between the eyes will leave a mark. 

I wear a helmet in Louisiana because it is the law. That is the only reason. I had a near fatal accident in 1981. No helmet law then and I was not wearing one. I am alive. My son was killed this past year and he was wearing a full face helmet. Go figure. It should be my choice not some damn politicians. Just like those damn seat belts. I am a grown man and should be able to decide for myself....Nuff said!

Well folks, it was not law when i was a kid, in Ohio anyway. Then late 60s early 70s helmet law. It was law for several years, then repealed again. We still do not have an H-law, and thats the way it should be, choice. I ride with and without, depending on my mood, i guess. And yes i have been down, hard! When i crashed i was wearing a helmet. It might have saved a scrape on the back of my head, might have! Anyway, bottom line, let riders be the deciders........!

I will always remember a cartoon in Easyriders back in the late 80's early 90's when Kalifornia was pushing for a helmet law.
It showed a guys head on a board with 4 wheels and the caption stated:

"Sure glad I was wearing my helmet"

I think it should be left up to the individual - make your own decision - skiers aren't required to wear helmets etc. I think each person needs to make a choice and live by the ramifications of their choice - shouldnt be a government decision...just my opinion

What he said...

I can't see how anyone can stand riding anywhere without full face helmet myself, rain, sand, gravel, bugs all flying up hitting you in the face. On occasion I ride around the hood with only sunglasses on, above fifty my face starts to pull off my scalp, how is that enjoyable?

A helmet to a biker is like a bullet proof vest to a cop way I see it.