I love the excuse "It's my choice, if I am seriously hurt it's my problem not your's".

First off, it;s everyone's problem because it negatively effects the views on the sport.

Second, whoever has to wipe your *** for the rest of your life because you are now a vegetable from scrambling your brain has a major inconvenience due to your stupidity.

Lastly, when loved ones have to witness a motionless body bedridden it's a lot more than "It's my choice".

Helmets are not always comfortable, but neither are seat belts, condoms, hiking boots, wedding rings, neck ties or eye glasses but it's a MINOR inconvenience to be protected. Be a freaking responsible man/lady, ya know? People who drink and drive in any medium are pieces of crap in my book. I lost a friend due to DWI and it's such a stupid thing to do. I'm all for laying back, relaxing and having some beers but once you get in/on a motor vehicle you become an inconsiderate idiot. You may as well grab an assault rifle and run into a shopping mall and shoot at people because it's essentially as bad in my book.

ANYWAYS, protection is something that comes with the sport. If you play football you don protection, if you race cars the same goes. If you can't wear protection for the sport of ATV riding, well then choose a safer sport because ATV riding is only as safe as the driver.

 

I get unpopular with some riders (since I come from street riding to boot) when I just don't go along with their excuses. Especially sport bikes where everyone but me seemed to be 20 something and knows everything. There they didn't want to wear a helmet because they didn't look cool for the high school girls in mom's civic.

I hear alot of comfort complaints. You know, I've been riding just on the street for more than 20 years, and longer counting off road. In all that time I've yet to find a helmet so uncomfortable that I just couldn't wear it.

That is the weakest of excuses and I for one just won't accept it as valid. It's just an excuse. Most helmets are very comfortable, and there's tons on the market to choose from. It's just BS.

Another I hear is about how hot they are. Again- I usually have black lids, and thus far, never passed out from heat. If it's too hot, then stay at home because you're too much of a sissy for manly things like ATV's or motorcycles. I'd just offer a tampon to people with this excuse, and it got my point across.

I wouldn't ride my sport bike without a full leather jacket with hard armor in it- no matter the heat outside. Did I sweat? Sure, but more from riding hard than the jacket. And sweat is far more attractive than road rash.

I support choice. But I also buried more friends on motorcycles in a couple years than I did from 11 years of Army service and combat situations. Not a one thought that they'd be killed on that bike either.

I also spent years racing motocross and have sustained worse injuries than anyone I know that lived- and I got back on a bike the day I could hold one up. I literally had braces on both knees to do it. I know the limitations of gear better than anyone.

But I also know it's value.

Perception is a key issue. People who would never think of getting on an MX track without full gear think it's somehow different in the woods on the trails. Sarge, let me tell you that a track, for all it's jumps and speed- is much safer than the trails. No trees, wide lanes, run off, people to help nearby. The woods are even more dangerous than the track by far- yet people think because it's slower and not competition- that it's safe.

But what can you do other than tell people? It's a decision they make, and I'm never convinced that just passing a law will make much difference.

 

I agree with everyone here. I think I have stated the case more than once. With today's light materials, some of the new helmets are featherweight compared to what we had in th egood old days when the most you could dream to own was a full face Simpson that weighed a ton and was designed for the indy car guys. Talk about neck injuries. Absolutely no excuse these days. What really gets my blood pressure going is when pig headed parents let their kids ride without one. THAT I believe borders on neglect and child endangerment. We are a lot smarter these days, and have the scientific data to back it up. This is a differnt time... and high time we learn to adjust with it.

GET THE GEAR, or go fishing...

 

I have an EXL helmet and it's not only super light, but completely ventilated. I swear I never sweat in that thing and can keep it on all day without fatigue. A far cry from 1986 when I would wear my dad's stockcar helmet. My neck would fatigue in like a half hour.

 

Let me tell you about my week... My son in law wanted me to take him riding earlier in the week. Now, I am not an idiot.. I know what is right and wrong.. I take all the proper precautions etc. So for someone like me to have an issue, it just proves the point that it can happen to even the most safety conscious... I was loading my quad. Normaly I load from the rear of a tilt bed trailer. On this occasion, I had to load from the side becasuse I needed to fit 3 machines on the trailer. I set my ramps etc, strapped on the helmet (Yes I wear one even in the driveway) and up we go. I got half way up and it spins the tire, and slides to the right and drops the right rear off the ramp. At that point I am along for the ride and am more helping the machine roll over than anything. Nothing hurt but my pride... oh and a strained knee... the one that I had 7 surgeries on. Stupid.. but it CAN happen to even the best. Later that day, my son tries to go up a side hill that I had told him not 2 minutes before NOT to try.. and ends up stalling as he reaches the top, and begins the death slide backwards down the hill. He crashes at the bottom... He is OK, the bike, which is brand new is OK... but it just proves that you have to wear the gear. It definately saved his butt. Chect protector took a big hit, but it is now a battle scar. Helmets... wear them. Don't argue

 

I need to get a chest and spine protector as well as some leg protection. I take a beating sometimes from small bumps adding up.

I don a helmet everytime I get on my ATVs, mainly because my luck would have it that when I am riding it to park, wash, load on a truck a cop will sail buy and see me. Doesn't give them a good image on an already tainted sport.

 

Hi Dragginbutt,
A rider, a Dad, a Husband, a Grandpa, has to do everything they can at all times to take care of whom they can.......Sometimes its someone you know, sometimes its not. Its the act thats important, not the recipient. You give where you can, forgive when you have to, and try at all times to understand.............Tass

 

i kno thats what you think, but ive been racing quads snowmobiles ect. since i was like 5, i wasnt racing then, but i did drive them. i have a banshee now but i feel if your under the age thats on the quad you hae to take a RIDING test, unlike the *****ed up permit test out there. just cuz u kno HOW to drive doesnt mean you Can drive. Anyway, i can ride better than most people i see, not trying to brag, but my family has been racing, so i kno who is good and bad. Not every person under 16 is unable to ride a quad.

 

Riding on a race track and riding on a trail are two completely different environments. On a race track, generally everyone is going in the same direction, and the tracks are prepared with limited access, no roots or stumps protruding etc. Inherently they are safer. Trails also have other hazards, like riders going two directions, mixed use trails with dirt bikes and horses in some areas... deer jumping out in front of you etc. All these present hazards and situations where riders must make judgement calls. In most cases, statisitically speaking many kids are NOT prepared to make desisions in emergency situations. That may not apply to you.. but you are in the minority and when legislation is made, it generally will be made for the 80 or 90 percentile majority. That is a fact of life. You cannot right a perfent rule or law. Someone will be afected no matter what you try to do.. To be effective it has to be that way. Otherwise you end up with laws and rules that are meaningless.
You will understand this more as you get older. Life is a compromise. Absolutes always equate to failures.
There is way more to responsible riding than seeing who can take a corner at the highest speed, or who can jump higher or farther, or who can beat who. At some point you will understand that just being able to enjoy a few hours away from the worries of adulthood, and getting to share that time with someone who you care about is way more important than competing with another person. remember, a bad day riding sure beats a good day at work.

 

I dont agree with increasing the age requirement on bikes, im 6'2" 250 have been sense I was like 18. I need something bigger then a 350 to get around comfortably. That just ruins things for people like me, it should all come down to rider, or parents desecration. Im 20 and ride a 400, I do just fine. Now, I agree with the ones already in place, I was 14 and I drove a 600. I wrecked it and myself, wasn't to bad, had to have them glue my forehead back together, I broke the key with my forehead and broke a fairing. I rode around on it for awhile, but when you hit things and you don't have the weight there, you get thrown around and lose control.