Helmets come in every color you can imagine. If you think it, someone has or can do it for you. You have the full face with a lower jaw protector, the 3/4 with or without the plastic face plate, the half and the not so legal bump cap model.
They all offer some amount of protection depending on the padding and style. The more expensive helmets protect your head just as well as the cheap ones in the same style class.
The large variation in pricing comes from the comfort features and styling that are added to the basic protection layer of the helmet.
For every type of rider, there is a helmet to match the bike, riding style, comfort level and mood.
But in some states, it is legal to ride without a helmet at all. In the past I had ridden on isolated country or mountain roads for short periods of time without a helmet. Always a low speed and never around other cars. I have like most, taken short runs up and down the block without a helmet on. All of these situations carry the risk of a ticket although it is not likely because of the situations involved.
But not too long ago I got a chance to ride in Idaho where the helmet is optional. I have been to Idaho before but I had not taken advantage of the option to ride without until the Hells Canyon Rally of 2009. I was actually cruising down the highway at 70mph and decided to give it a try. I released the chin strap and pulled the helmet off to let it ride the rest of the trip on my gas tank.
At first the ride was a real rush. I actually felt like I was breaking the rules and was some how getting away with something really bad. Then after about 10 minutes, the new feeling settled down to just another day of riding. The wind whipping on my head felt very different. I often ride with a half helmet so my face and ears didn't experience anything new. But the top of my head was all excited about all the fresh air rushing all about.
The 30 minute trip between two towns gave me a good feel for riding without a helment and I had some time to think about the experience. I pondered the feeling of the wind and sun on my head. I wondered what a bug or small rock would feel like striding my unprotected scalp. I even considered an accident for a moment then realized that kind of thinking is never good while riding so I saved that for later in the day.
In the end I must say that I really enjoyed riding without a helmet for a short time but I can't see myself as a rider without a helmet on a day to day basis. I am actually quite pleased that I live in a helmet law state because the frear of a ticket outweighs my fear of cracking my head open on the pavement. And it is most likely that I would go without a helmet for that short run to the store. And we all know that most accidents happen on those short runs around town.
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