Originally Posted By: alarmguy
Originally Posted By: Mik
Originally Posted By: alarmguy
Controversial, yes, but most of what he says (based on 35+ years and 400,000 miles+ of riding experience) is spot-on (can't rally comment on the tire thing, but I generally take it easy on new tires, FWIW)
While the debate about forcing people to wear a helmet is a contentious one, as far as I am concerned, anyone riding without one is simply proving that they have nothing worth protecting. In other words, governments shouldn't have to force people to wear one as people should wear them on their own (and not these little "microhelmet" contraptions, a veritable full-face helmet, same goes for wearing the rest of the adequate gear; shorts and sandals are NOT riding gear, regardless of what you ride - before someone tries to turn this into a anti-cruiser post, which it is not). I seem to recall Gary Busey being a rabid anti-helmet type, that is until he had a fall and smashed his noggin against a curb. Thankfully he survived, but he's been very quiet on the helmet front since then... funny how that works.
As for loud pipes, they likely do help to some degree, but the downside for everyone else but the rider (ie. major annoyance; not to mention losing riding areas) does not justify it. Learn to ride (to use your brakes, evasive techniques, get a decent horn,...) stay alert and you'll be far safer than having loud pipes and relying on them as your sole defensive mechanism - to rely on loud pipes alone to save your butt is very short-sighted (and that is being polite).
I can understand your post taking into account you are from another country, being the USA is supposed to be the beacon of freedom for individual rights I do not expect you to understand. Nice trolling attempt. As a Canadian citizen, I am in no way disadvantaged on the freedom front. Nice try though.
[/b]Government can not force you to wear anything on your body that you do not want too.
Your thoughts and words reflect many of those even in my country but they are wrong for they do not understand the individual FREEDOMS that are to be respected by our public SERVANTS. Let me reiterate what I said in my first post: no one with a brain should even consider riding a motorcycle without a helmet. So, in light of previous statement, no public servant should ever have to intervene to ensure compliance on what is so blatanly obvious.
Your comments are slanted at best and misleading at worst.
1. Loud Pipes - No one said "rely solely" on loud pipes for safety. One thing for sure, you KNOW WHEN A BIKE with loud pipes is in your blind spot vs a quiet bike.
2. You bring up seat belts in a car but not helmets, interesting. Really? Show me where! (Speaking of misleading...)
Do you know how many of the 30,000 PLUS DEATHS in the USA EVERY SINGLE YEAR would be prevented if people in automobiles were forced to wear helmets?
Do you know out of the 100,000 or more automobile head injuries would be prevented if people in motor vehicles were forced to wear helmets?
Bottom line, in the USA we are a free people without PUBLIC servants imposing their thoughts on how we should live. See above comment on helmet use; your attempt to derail the helmet issue is simplistic and erroneous. Of course, if you are so set of dying with your brain spalttered on the pavement, who am I to disagree. Enter Darwin... Ok, you mention seat belts (again: where? are you so stifled for arguments that you ahve to invent things? sad)- a seat belt is a passive device that is placed over your body, not on your body, a seat belt does PROTECT THE PUBLIC, if you lose control of your car, a seat belt will lock you in place at the controls where you may be able to avoid hurting others.
A Helmet does not, it just protects against personal injury. Correct, it is its very prupose. Good work! There may hope after all!
A helmet on a driver of an automobile will save countless lives and head injuries, 1000 times more then motorcycle helmets ... but, again, we live in a free country. Ever notice race car drivers wear helmets? *L*
BTW - Down here in South Carolina, the land of the free (spare me the Americana [censored]), we do not have to wear helmets.
I do wear a helmet because I choose too (congratualtions! and to think, you came to that conclusion all on your own!), I do not look down on someone who doesnt, because motorcycles are dangerous, helmet or not.
If you want to prevent injuries, if you want your public servants to be your mommy or daddy, BAN motorcycles from public roads, no matter how you look at it, they are plain dangerous and nothing is going to make them safe.
I do not have loud pipes either...but I know when a bike with loud pipes is in my blind spot. (see previous comment from police officer who commented on situations with sirens; but of course, you likely don`t want anything to interfere with your delusion and right to annoy everyone around you... Land of the free and all)
