Various newb questions!! - Page 2 - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Duuude · 02-15-2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Night_Wolf

If you CAN'T AFFORD a NEW LID you CAN'T AFFORD to RIDE

Point taken... I'll find a new one...

blackie1491 · 02-15-2006, 08:51 PM

Duuude

Duuude · 02-16-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackie1491

Duuude

Yo?

sundude · 02-16-2006, 07:15 PM

Speaking of helmets... My wife works at a dentist's office and two male patients came in for their appointments. She's known them for a long time and knows that they ride. They got on the subject of helmets and the one guy says to her that the reason he doesn't wear a helmet is because, now get this, "if you are ever in an accident you stand a good chance of snapping your neck from the weight of the helmet, that's why I prefer to ride without one" and his buddy agreed. Said he read that somewhere.

Can you believe this?

I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm heading to the pavement head first I would rather take my chances with a helmet than using my face as a landing pad!

MagnumForce · 02-16-2006, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundude

Speaking of helmets... My wife works at a dentist's office and two male patients came in for their appointments. She's known them for a long time and knows that they ride. They got on the subject of helmets and the one guy says to her that the reason he doesn't wear a helmet is because, now get this, "if you are ever in an accident you stand a good chance of snapping your neck from the weight of the helmet, that's why I prefer to ride without one" and his buddy agreed. Said he read that somewhere.

Can you believe this?

I know this is a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway...

...Are they Beavis and Butt-head?!?!

blackie1491 · 02-16-2006, 07:28 PM

Praise EZrider1

Now your helmet will no longer fit.

sundude · 02-16-2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EZridr1

I know this is a stupid question, but I'll ask anyway...

...Are they Beavis and Butt-head?!?!

Probably would qualify for that distinction. Actually 2 college educated professionals that have been riding for many years.

Only thing I can think of is maybe they haven't tried on a helmet since WWII. Those steel helmets are a little bit heavy...

Rickster · 02-16-2006, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundude

Speaking of helmets... My wife works at a dentist's office and two male patients came in for their appointments. She's known them for a long time and knows that they ride. They got on the subject of helmets and the one guy says to her that the reason he doesn't wear a helmet is because, now get this, "if you are ever in an accident you stand a GOOD chance of snapping your neck from the weight of the helmet, that's why I prefer to ride without one" and his buddy agreed. Said he read that somewhere.

Can you believe this?

I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm heading to the pavement head first I would rather take my chances with a helmet than using my face as a landing pad!

I think the key word here is GOOD. I have heard that with some models (half shell) there is a very small chance this could happen. I think the modern full coverage helmets are designed to prevent this.

Duuude · 02-17-2006, 12:25 AM

Will a good fitting helmet move much side to side when you shake your head? Or is a proper fit pretty snug?

Rickster · 02-17-2006, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duuude

Will a good fitting helmet move much side to side when you shake your head? Or is a proper fit pretty snug?

Snug works best for me. I find that if the helmet is loose on my head the wind will make it vibrate. This is called buffeting, and it gives me a headache prety quick. Keep in mind to, that the helmet will break-in after a few rides, and become looser than when new.

**inspiron** · 02-17-2006, 06:03 AM

Sheesh ... the "snap your neck" bull%%%%% is still alive.

Look at the physics, it's not too difficult. Your head (everything above the neck) makes up about 10% of your total body weight. For a 200 pound man, that is about 20 pounds.

A good helmet weighs about 3 pounds, which increases the stress on the neck by maybe 15%.

If you are in an accident where those extra couple of pounds are enough to cause your neck to snap, then you certainly wouldn't survive the accident without a helmet.

If this were a problem, there would be a lot more deaths in the motorcycle racing circles. When one of them goes down, they are going more than 100mph. They rarely have fatal accidents, and when they do, it is usually caused by massive internal injuries, NOT broken necks.

There are very few accidents on the street where the rider is moving fast enough to cause those kinds of neck injuries. Most accidents happen in the city, which means you are moving at less than 50mph. The biggest danger is that your head will hit the pavement - this is what a helmet is designed to protect you from.

A proper fitting helmet should be snug. You should be able to turn your head from left to right (doing the shoulder-glance before a turn), and the helmet should be "at one" with your head. If the helmet continues to move after you have stopped moving your head, it is too loose. If you get a headache from the helmet, it is too tight. It is worth it to spend some time shopping for helmets.

I would never buy a helmet on eBay. I need to try it on, and wear it for a few minutes to be sure that it fits properly. It will be a bit too snug at the beginning - the foam rubber in the lining will compress a bit after you've worn it a few hours.

blackie1491 · 02-17-2006, 11:20 AM

Do not be afraid to walk into a dealer to try helmets on, then go somewhere else to do the same.
Heads come in diff. shapes and sizes. Some brands fit you better than others.
This is the most important piece of gear you will buy and is to protect an area that can suffer the most damage.

It does not take a $1,000 helmet to protect you, it takes a well fitted one.

Ride safe and enjoy.

**Trapper** · 02-17-2006, 11:31 AM

Stay tuned for an excellent article on buying and wearing helmets on the http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/ home page. It should be up as soon as our webmaster learns how to do it.

**Trapper** · 02-17-2006, 11:32 AM

Quote:

A good helmet weighs about 3 pounds, which increases the stress on the neck by maybe 15%.

Jeez, I had a three pound goiter once.

Duuude · 02-17-2006, 11:38 AM

I broke my neck once already and that was enough for me... Smashed a 97 Tracker into a tree last winter, fractured my C2. I can see an extra 15% weight being a problem in a car, but that's because you're secured to the seat (if you're wearing your seatbelt), and your head gets whipped around hardcore.

I'd never ride a motorcycle without a full face helmet, I just didn't realize a used one could be such a safety hazard. It'll be a bit before I'm on the road with my bike anyway, so I've got plenty of time to find a good NEW helmet (thanks for the advice, all

)

blackie1491 · 02-17-2006, 12:53 PM

This sport is a passion, it is some times put aside due to situations that are beyond your control, but it will be with you all your life.

It is one we all wish to share, but at times, are at a loss of words,to describe.

Take your time, ride safe and enjoy.

hammersfan · 02-17-2006, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by batman

This thread just warms my heart right up !!!!
You guys are the best.. A newbie is in need, he throws lots of question in one breath!!!! and whaaaam, answers are pouring in from your hearts....

I see... "no"... I feel that "your love to help out" is just ooozing out of this thread.

I was just thinking the same thing my friend. The guys on this forum are absolutely terrific.

hammersfan · 02-17-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duuude

The helmet I found fits quite comfortably, actually... It's just got some scuffs on it. It's full face and has no cracks. I just can't afford a new one right now. I'll just use this one while practicing. It's going to be a while before I can legally take my bike on the road anyway, so I've got time to save for a new helmet.

Honestly , I would never buy a used helmet, from what I have heard, even dropping a helmet can compromise it, I'd rather have an open face new DOT approved one than a used full face.

**inspiron** · 02-18-2006, 12:10 AM

Copied from a recent response in the LiveJournal "motorcycles" community:

Quote:

Originally Posted by inspiron

in a word, no.

The whole "thang" about replacing a dropped helmet is overblown.

If you drop your helmet (or hit your head on something - car, wall, whatever) when your head is in it, REPLACE IT. The styrofoam liner is designed to absorb the energy of your skull moving toward the ground (or other obstacle) ONCE. If you crash, replace the lid.

If you drop the helmet when it is empty, the styrofoam doesn't get compressed, so the helmet's safety is not comprimised. A helmet shell should survive a drop of up to 5 feet without damage. Check that it isn't cracked and doesn't have any deep scratches - if there is no visible damage, it should be fine.

My luck is that when my helmet drops, it usually lands on the visor, so I end up having to buy a new one because of the scratches. Visors are softer than the rest of the shell.

blackie1491 · 02-18-2006, 10:54 AM

When you are dealing with a helmet that you dropped or have owned for awhile, the risk may be reasonable.

When you deal with a used helmet from someone else, the unknowns come into play. How has it been treated, how old is it. The risk becomes greater.
What value do you place on your head.

So what does a person suggest, go with the knowns.

02-17-2006, 12:25 AM	#29 (permalink)
Duuude Where Am I ? Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: 2000 Suzuki GS500E Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 41	Will a good fitting helmet move much side to side when you shake your head? Or is a proper fit pretty snug? __________________

02-17-2006, 06:03 AM	#31 (permalink)
inspiron Muscle Biker Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Blue Suzuki GSX 1400 (2003) Location: Canton Basel-Land, Switzerland (47.4493, 7.76536) Posts: 11,947	Sheesh ... the "snap your neck" bull%%%%% is still alive. Look at the physics, it's not too difficult. Your head (everything above the neck) makes up about 10% of your total body weight. For a 200 pound man, that is about 20 pounds. A good helmet weighs about 3 pounds, which increases the stress on the neck by maybe 15%. If you are in an accident where those extra couple of pounds are enough to cause your neck to snap, then you certainly wouldn't survive the accident without a helmet. If this were a problem, there would be a lot more deaths in the motorcycle racing circles. When one of them goes down, they are going more than 100mph. They rarely have fatal accidents, and when they do, it is usually caused by massive internal injuries, NOT broken necks. There are very few accidents on the street where the rider is moving fast enough to cause those kinds of neck injuries. Most accidents happen in the city, which means you are moving at less than 50mph. The biggest danger is that your head will hit the pavement - this is what a helmet is designed to protect you from. A proper fitting helmet should be snug. You should be able to turn your head from left to right (doing the shoulder-glance before a turn), and the helmet should be "at one" with your head. If the helmet continues to move after you have stopped moving your head, it is too loose. If you get a headache from the helmet, it is too tight. It is worth it to spend some time shopping for helmets. I would never buy a helmet on eBay. I need to try it on, and wear it for a few minutes to be sure that it fits properly. It will be a bit too snug at the beginning - the foam rubber in the lining will compress a bit after you've worn it a few hours. __________________ There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe blog: gsx1400 Last edited by inspiron; 02-17-2006 at 06:06 AM.

02-17-2006, 11:31 AM	#33 (permalink)
Trapper Dogs Best Friend(admin) Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: SOLD Location: Moncton NB Canada Posts: 9,094	Stay tuned for an excellent article on buying and wearing helmets on the http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/ home page. It should be up as soon as our webmaster learns how to do it. __________________ PointFlushRetrieve.com - Bird Dog Blog Motorcycle-Journal.com Blog

02-17-2006, 11:38 AM	#35 (permalink)
Duuude Where Am I ? Joined: Feb 2006 Bike: 2000 Suzuki GS500E Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 41	I broke my neck once already and that was enough for me... Smashed a 97 Tracker into a tree last winter, fractured my C2. I can see an extra 15% weight being a problem in a car, but that's because you're secured to the seat (if you're wearing your seatbelt), and your head gets whipped around hardcore. I'd never ride a motorcycle without a full face helmet, I just didn't realize a used one could be such a safety hazard. It'll be a bit before I'm on the road with my bike anyway, so I've got plenty of time to find a good NEW helmet (thanks for the advice, all ) __________________

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02-15-2006, 08:51 PM	#22 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,247	Duuude

02-16-2006, 07:15 PM	#24 (permalink)
sundude Puddle Runner Joined: May 2005 Bike: Suzuki M50 Location: South Florida Posts: 378	Speaking of helmets... My wife works at a dentist's office and two male patients came in for their appointments. She's known them for a long time and knows that they ride. They got on the subject of helmets and the one guy says to her that the reason he doesn't wear a helmet is because, now get this, "if you are ever in an accident you stand a good chance of snapping your neck from the weight of the helmet, that's why I prefer to ride without one" and his buddy agreed. Said he read that somewhere. Can you believe this? I don't know about anyone else, but if I'm heading to the pavement head first I would rather take my chances with a helmet than using my face as a landing pad!

02-16-2006, 07:28 PM	#26 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,247	Praise EZrider1 Now your helmet will no longer fit.

02-17-2006, 11:20 AM	#32 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,247	Do not be afraid to walk into a dealer to try helmets on, then go somewhere else to do the same. Heads come in diff. shapes and sizes. Some brands fit you better than others. This is the most important piece of gear you will buy and is to protect an area that can suffer the most damage. It does not take a $1,000 helmet to protect you, it takes a well fitted one. Ride safe and enjoy.

02-17-2006, 12:53 PM	#36 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,247	This sport is a passion, it is some times put aside due to situations that are beyond your control, but it will be with you all your life. It is one we all wish to share, but at times, are at a loss of words,to describe. Take your time, ride safe and enjoy.

02-18-2006, 10:54 AM	#40 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,247	When you are dealing with a helmet that you dropped or have owned for awhile, the risk may be reasonable. When you deal with a used helmet from someone else, the unknowns come into play. How has it been treated, how old is it. The risk becomes greater. What value do you place on your head. So what does a person suggest, go with the knowns.

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