I think the falicy in theory is that chance is just that chance. I've wrecked MANY times on a scooter/motorcycle without major injury. The truth is your more likely to die from cancer than a motorcycle accident by far. I fell 12-14 feet head on with a minor skull fracture with NO freaking brain trama at all. Luck of course, against the normal odds yes.

The odds state more helmeted riders die than non helmeted for whatever reason. You wanna talk odds or responsibilities? More people die every year from bad diet choices than those who chose to wear or not to wear.
There is no question that safety gear has an advantage verses no safety gear. I wear safety glasses but nearly lost my eye when a weld spackle shot under my mask. Luck placed the weld spackle on my eye lid. A 1/2 inch lower and my right eye would of been toast even with safety eyewear.

The ultimate argument is that a helmet may save your life or prevent injury or it may not do a damn thing when your ribs puncture a body organ and you die instantly. I ride because I love to without a single thought of dieing or being serious injured in a motorcycle accident all the while knowing is the greatest safety device is what's between your ears and not what you wear over it.

 

The above statement is irrelevant for several reasons:

1. The key point is "whatever reason". Helmets can't, and aren't supposed to, prevent blunt force trauma to a rider's body, which causes more rider deaths then head injuries. You admit this with your post "The ultimate argument is that a helmet may save your life or prevent injury or it may not do a damn thing when your ribs puncture a body organ and you die instantly."

2. Even more important IMO is how many helmetless rider's involved in an accident survive and 'live' the rest of their lives with a head(brain) injury vs. how many helmeted rider's survive and go on to live a full, productive life?

 

I know a couple that got T-boned at 70mph by a van and survived without major injuries. Luck involve of course. You really have to figure in probability and the probability is low that any motorcycle rider will die or suffer traumatic injuries in their lifetime of riding. I ride knowing every cage is trying to kill me. I do not trust any cage at any time. With that being said I never wore a helmet on a bicycle or moped. If its near freezing I wear a FF. I like my head in the air. There is nothing more freeing riding any 2 wheeler without a helmet and the reason why the majority in non helmet lawa states do so.

I don't ride worrying about whats going to kill me. I ride because its what I live to do. If I die in a motorcycle accident because of bad luck then I am good knowing that before that moment I was doing what I love most.

 

Get over your obsession with death. If you "die in a motorcycle accident because of bad luck then I am good knowing that before that moment I was doing what I love most", you will never know it. If you suffer a head(brain) damage, you will know it, possibly. And most head injuries don't result in immediate death.

Of course you may be sitting a wheelchair, held up by a bed sheet tied around your chest, with a string of spittle hanging from your chin. Free choice is great. Just be prepared to accept the results of your choice, sometimes they are not pleasant.

Do you really believe "the probability is low that any motorcycle rider will die or suffer traumatic injuries in their lifetime of riding"? Or is that just wishful thinking? How could anybody know that, really? Do you really want to put your theory about low probability to the test?

 

 

As to the original question. Yes, I wear a FF helmet. I have for the last 10-years. I am very comfortable with it (but you really have to get a quality FF helmet). Of the 44-years of riding, the last 32-years of riding have been on Harleys. Do real Harley riders wear FF helmets? I do and figure I have ridden Harleys enough years to qualify as a "real" Harley Rider. Dunno...how many years qualifies you to be a real Harley rider?

 

It's pretty clear that SOME people in here don't need to whear a helmet because their skulls are so think NOTHING can penetrate them!

Many years ago, my Uncle was involed in a scooter accident, in town, at low speed and suffered permanent brain damage when his helmetless head hit the ground. He spent more than a month in the hospital, very nearly died, and drove my grandparents into bankruptcy from the hospital bills. He was never even close to 'right' after that and my Grandparent lived in poverty the rest of their days.
Remember "no man is an island unto himself" and YOUR decision to not put on even basic protection DOES affect everyone around you.

As for me, I'll not tempt fate and will keep my head covered with a quality lid (though it's not legally required) because I'd love to be able to watch my 3 boys grow up to be men and so I can spend as much time on this Earth as possible with my wife. I know without a shadow of a doubt that my skull is no where near as hard as concrete (though some may argue that point at times Lol! ) and that a helmet is the best protection I have against that very unforgiving road should things go bad.

 

been riding 40 yrs. started wearing full face last April 2013. June 6 2014... cage backed out of a drive way ( 10 houses from mine) 50 or so mph to 0 . flew 22 ft. 4 ribs collar bone shattered .. bruised heart .. bruised lung ... the side of my full face was almost completely worn through on the side .. lower jaw piece crushed. Don't know if it saved my life ..... but I ain't any uglier ... thank God
Another good reason ... "No officer .. I couldn't see his face" LOL

 

A real biker is checking out your bike and your girl not your helmet

 

I believe this. Both my parents, and my sister, died from cancer. And only my father rode, holding the handlebars, a motorcycle. But there is a logical reason why Wildon's statement quoted above is true.

Anybody can develop cancer, but deaths from motorcycle accidents require a person, in combination with a motorcycle, to have an accident of some sort. And that combination is infinitesimal compared to the number of 'people'.

So I don't really understand the reasoning/relevance behind the above statement?