Wearing a helmet for normal riding is one thing but doing stunts without one is just well MTV stuff. IL does that stand on the seat trick everywhere he goes. They should of been ready for it and told him " not unless you wear a helmet!" But Harley guys are to much men to show feelings before a fellow rider dies. Afterwards doesn't matter much. That hardcore HD lifestyle is a killer.
Saw Indian Larry at the Sturgis show. He was just across the lot from our display. Was the most down to earth guy in the world. Couldn't believe how much money he was making and how famous he was. The fame never went to his head. RIP. Mike D. - Legendsmotorsports.
Your "harley guys" are some of the finest people you will ever know. Do not speak of those you do not know. I know the first people i saw when i woke in the hospitol were "harley guys", and i also know....if i were at a point when i needed anything....they would be there first. John
I heard about it yesterday morning at work...sucks, I really liked his style and attitude. Godspeed my brother!
I know HD riders can be just as nice as a Honda rider but the helmet thing is what I refer to. Not many of them would say wear one until after their buddy splattered his brains all over. Kinda like real men don't cry. Real men don't wear helmets. its the attitude they put fourth. I just observe it. I can't see any of them having a heart to heart with Larry about wearing a helmet during his stunt. It would be looked at as weak. But after the crash I am sure most of them said "wow, he should of worn a helmet"
Helmet laws and seat belt laws take the "macho" out of the equasion. :TU: There will always be those who choose to ignore these laws, but there are also many who will gladly wear a helmet because of a "helmet law" that otherwise way not have, for fear of showing weakness. Just a thought.
In all of the magazines articles I have read and all the times I have seen Indian Larry in person he was always wearing a helmet while riding. I didn't know him personally but New York has been pretty strict about the helmet law for a good 10 years now and it looked like he was aware of it. I don't know why he wasn't wearing a helmet when performing tricks, like I said I wasn't there and I don't know him personally. Lets not turn this guys's passing in to a helmet crusade, let's just pay our respects and move on.
Like I said previously, wearing a helmet should be an individual choice, like smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, etc. The failure to wear a helmet makes an intrinsically dangerous pasttime just that more dangerous. I agree that there is a macho attitude about being out in the wind, no helmet, that wearing one makes you appear to be a less rider, not a "real" rider. I don't agree with the notion that attitude is only in cruiser riders; I see the same percentage of sport bike riders taking unneccessary risks as well. It just works out that in Illinois the vast majority of riders are cruiser bike riders, not sport bike riders. I agree also with the idea of riding as though you are invisible. Assume everyone will kill you and you reduce the risk of being surprized by the people who will try to. I also don't agree that 20 years of experience doesn't help you in a given situation. You can't say that your knowledge and experience didn't probably save your life. Your skills on a bike could have been the difference. Simply because a deer could run out in front of me this afternoon on the way home from work and kill me is no reason for me not to wear a helmet. Annie, the key term in the statement to which you made reference is PROBABLY, Roger didn't say certainly or without a doubt, but probably. What it speaks to is this: There are a million ways to get killed on a motorcycle that are out of your control. There are two VERY EASY WAYS TO kill yourself on a motorcycle THAT ARE IN YOUR CONTROL. One, helmet usuage; two alcohol usuage. Take those out of the equation and your odds of survival increase dramatically. In the 15 years I've ridden, I've been off twice and had three fairly serious incidents. I was lucky and walked and ridden away each time. I'd like to think that beyond the boots, helmet, jacket and gloves, part of the reason I did so was because of my experience as a rider. There are two kinds of motorcyclists, those that have fallen off and those that will fall off, end of story. To believe otherwise is foolish if not suicidal. For the record I own a 1983 H-D XR-1000 (in the family since it was brand new) and a 2003 Yamaha FZ1. I ride the FZ to work and polish the XR.
My point wasn't a rider's choice of helmet vs. no helmet. Here in Michigan, it's the law. I've ridden both ways (in other states). It's a choice unless mandated. My point was just to remind everyone driving CARS to pay ATTENTION. The guy who backed out in front of my bike was moving his car from one driveway to another. Somehow he let my riding partner go by, and (in his words) 'looked and didn't see me' until he was almost head on with me in MY lane'. Without rehashing all the details - it was obviously this guy's fault because he wasn't paying attention. Helmet or not, that guys momentary lapse cost me a brand new bike, my right leg, my right elbow, 6 weeks inpatient, all winter in a wheelchair, family, friends, possibly my job, income, etc. This isn't a 'woe is me' post, I took the risk, I eat the consequences. But, 3 seconds of his precious time could have avoided all of that. PERIOD. PAY ATTENTION DRIVING. PAY ATTENTION RIDING. EMPLOY WHATEVER SAFETY MEASURES YOU WISH. Throw in whatever higher power you choose, cross your fingers, grab a lucky penny, etc. Then have one h3!! of a good time, like Larry did, have no regrets and :grin:
I am sorry my helmet comments turned into a big debate. It is a personal choice but it can be a deadly one. Committing suicide is illegal. Cops will shoot you if you try to kill your self. Making you wear a helmet is some what similar. bones can be re-set but brains do not scoop up well. on a side note ---------------------------------------- Tribute video to Indian Larry http://gfxfury.co.uk/coldpyro/CP/Larry1.WMV
