Anyone here ride a Harley, or know why.....
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From: Glendale/Burbank/LA
Anyone here ride a Harley, or know why.....
Anyone here ride a Harley, or know why so many of them wear not-so-protective half-helmets, that don't protect the face and barely provide protection for the sides of the head? After seeing a Harley accident this past weekend, I have felt pretty scared for the future of every single rider with a half-helmet, whatever they're called.
Is there a reason why there's such a correlation between these half-helmets and Harleys, and why none of them bother wearing a real helmet? Is it just a culture/bandwagon thing?
Is there a reason why there's such a correlation between these half-helmets and Harleys, and why none of them bother wearing a real helmet? Is it just a culture/bandwagon thing?
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Bondville
I agree that it does seem to be a culture thing with die hard Harley guys. A freedom of choice type deal. I survived a very bad motorcycle accident w/o suffering any head trauma due to a full face helmet I had on. Anybody who rides I would definately recommend getting the best protection you can.
Joined: May 2001
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From: Nowhere
I grew up in Harley land (about an hour from where they're assembled). They're extremely popular, to the point of being a status symbol (like a 2 wheeled Escalade), and removing the baffles in the silencer is usually done within a couple minutes of purchase (often by the dealer 
). Riding a Harley Davidson is 99% image. They are big, cumbersome, loud, and uncomfortable bikes, and they're not really all that fast. Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, BMW, and others all make far better touring bikes that cost significantly less. Harleys are NOT American bikes, the part content is well over 50% foreign (mainly Mexico), whereas a Gold Wing is almost entirely domestic part content and assembled in Ohio. In other words, there is nothing about a Harley Davidson that makes it superior to other bikes*, EXCEPT for its image as a tough guy's bike. That is what people want - the image of being a rebel or outlaw (as Da Hapa said).
So why do Harley riders wear half helmets (not to mention jeans and a t-shirt instead of actual protective clothing)? Because "full helmets are for sissys."
*Exception - the new V-Rod is a pretty good bike.
). Riding a Harley Davidson is 99% image. They are big, cumbersome, loud, and uncomfortable bikes, and they're not really all that fast. Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, BMW, and others all make far better touring bikes that cost significantly less. Harleys are NOT American bikes, the part content is well over 50% foreign (mainly Mexico), whereas a Gold Wing is almost entirely domestic part content and assembled in Ohio. In other words, there is nothing about a Harley Davidson that makes it superior to other bikes*, EXCEPT for its image as a tough guy's bike. That is what people want - the image of being a rebel or outlaw (as Da Hapa said).So why do Harley riders wear half helmets (not to mention jeans and a t-shirt instead of actual protective clothing)? Because "full helmets are for sissys."
*Exception - the new V-Rod is a pretty good bike.
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mingster
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Apr 3, 2001 01:49 AM