Lidless - Have you ever ridden?

[Alexlebrit]

I was reading James May's column where he mentions he's never ridden without a helmet and I realised neither have I, well apart from manoeuvring the bike into the garage when it's been left outside, but that hardly counts.

So without wanting to stir up a hornets' nest about whether one should or shouldn't, I'm just wondering for those that have - what's it like? I know, trying to descirbe it's going to be interesting. And for those that haven't is it one of those things that, like me, sits in the back of your mind going "you should try it one day".

[docsherlock]

I rode around some of the US without a lid in the late 80's - at least in those states where it was legal to do so. It was pretty cool and certainly added to the experience - blasting through a desert with the wind in your hair and only a pair of shades....

However, looking back I can see what a totally idiotic decision it was and wouldn't even consider doing it now....we were lucky that the one spill my brother had was in a state where it is law to wear one - otherwise he would be dead now.

Having had a pretty bad accident myself, that one should always wear a helmet is a total no-brainer really.

SW

[Alexlebrit]

Yes, logically it's a no brainer, but emptionally there's still that niggling thought, but maybe that's just me?

[the celt]

Put me helmet on the rear rack..
to ride part of the Dasht-E-Kavir in Iran,
just me the sun, sand and the sound of
me moto..... oh and the odd ipod tune :-)

[Xander]

In my younger (and Harley cruiser) days yeah i did the helmetless thing (did the beenie-lid thing too). Below 50mph i knew why my dog always has his head out the window. It was a great feeling (up to about 50mph, then it got uncomfortable). If you feel connected to the world with a lid on multipy it by 10 to guess the level of conection.. there is no "the world though a visor" feeling. (This may be the same for an open face... but that is a diffent story, which i dont know about). I really did enjoy it and boy did i feel "cool" but then i was 20 and I thought the world revolved around how cool I was.. I still sometimes miss it. I like you still think about it.. but being a 1st responder i know why I dont do it ..

It is nice,, and if you are thinking about doing it.. i suggest a empty beach.. where you cant really go all that fast, and if you do come acropper you hit soft sand (which will hopefully not act like sandpaper), but most importanly there is no way of an other vehical/person/dog being involved.

[trophymick]

Rode lidless in India, lovely





Trophymick

[Simon Kennedy]

Around the temples at Angkor Wat for me - early morning; low orangey sun through the heavy foliage; heavy smells of Cambodian breakfast; heat and humidity sounding a warning but not yet arrived; just 25mph and the sound of a happy twin burbling on through. That was good that.

[Old Gray Wolf]

I ride lidless off road a lot... on trails, fire roads,,,,,,,,,, Stupid? yeah Dangerous? Certainly.. but FUN? HELL YES!

PS, If you are stupid enough like me, to ride lidless off road, then you only have your own sorry stupid self to blame when you get hurt......like this..



Would I ride Lidless again?............ I still do!