Have you ever seen a BMW rider without a Helmet?

[Joe Frickin' Friday]

I kind of remind me of someone that goes into a bar, sits down, orders a glass of water, talks to nobody, then leaves. That kind of behavior just strikes me as strange and anitsocial. I can't help speculate what his motives are.

Maybe he's just thirsty and he wants to sit down and enjoy his drink without having to make small talk.

 

The main point was that he ordered water. What's the point of going to a bar if you A) aren't going to socilaize or B) drink, or C) both. Unless you're a private detective or a stalker, I can't think of why else you'd do this.

 

Water is a drink. Usually free, which is nice. Why would a bar even offer water at all if there was no point in drinking it there?

 

Anyway, I don't understand the connection. Are you saying there's no point in riding (or riding a BMW) if you're not going to gear up and wave to everyone in your field of view?

 

Although I am part of a riding community now, back in 1999 when I bought my bike, I did not envision this; I just wanted an R1100RT. I didn't even envision riding with other people at all; I just wanted to ride. I do wave most of the time when I ride, but I don't go riding for the express purpose of waving at people.

 

As for your mystery rider, maybe he's pathologically shy. Maybe he's new to riding and doesn't understand that most riders tend to wave to each other on the road. Or maybe he does understand and thinks it's stupid.

 

Maybe he's read this thread, thinks BMW riders are a bunch of assholes, and is now contemplating selling his bike to avoid guilt-by-association.

 

Maybe he's claustrophobic and can't stand to be encased in a FF helmet and bulky riding gear. Or maybe he's comfortable without it all and is immune to peer pressure from evangelistic BMW riders insisting that he really should armor up if he wants to be a member of "the community" of BMW riders.

 

I've seen helmetless BMW riders before. One was a guy I summoned up out of the MOA Anonymous Handbook from Prescott, Arizona back in Y2K when all of the area hotels were full for Memorial Day weekend. He rode out - in baseball cap, shorts, and T-shirt - to the gas station to escort my ex-GF and me back to his home for the night. Tooks us out to a great dinner spot, let us do laundry at his house, covered my bike for the night, and then washed my bike before we got up in the morning. Clearly a community player, moreso than most here (would you actually wash your guest's bike for him?), in spite of riding helmetless and gearless.

[Agent_Orange]

Dated a girl once whose lisc plate was IBMeUBU. Least I think that's what it is was. (didn't have much time to check out the car)

[TyTass]

What's the old adage? There are two types of people in the world ... those who group people into two types and those who don't. Since we're profiling here, in this case we have:

 

Group A: Those who believe their decisions/desires/choices are just, so they go their own way in most every environment or social situation.

• Positive labels attributed by self: Self-assured, Confident, Grown-up
  
• Negative labels attributed by Group B types: Anti-social, Non-conformist, Arrogant

Group B: Those who believe that the very fact of being in physical proximity to another person or other people necessarily elicits an expectation of conformity to the other(s).

• Positive labels attributed by self: Social, Affable, Thinking
  
• Negative labels attributed by Group A types: A$$kisser, Manipulative, Political

Fortunately few people are wholly one or the other, instead we tend to be more of one than the other.

 

What I find interesting is my observation that so often people who claim to believe there is strength in diversity to be so utterly surprised that people are ... and will continue to be ... different.

[James Clark]

Gawd, I hope we don't become an elitist group of snobs.

 

[ghaverkamp]

(would you actually wash your guest's bike for him?)

 

No. I wouldn't do it, because the thought would likely never occur to me, just as it never occurs to me to wash my own bike. (Which makes me remember the look of horror on Fernando's face when I said I probably wasn't going to be regularly housing it in the garage. Of course, then he saw the inside of my garage and probably figured it was better off outside.)

[Tasker]

Maybe he's read this thread, thinks BMW riders are a bunch of assholes, and is now contemplating selling his bike to avoid guilt-by-association.

 

I thought we were talking in confidence?

 

would you actually wash your guest's bike for him?

 

As long as it doesn't belong to EB.

[Stir]

The original question was "have you ever seen a BMW rider without a helmet.

Yes. Once. Many years ago. It is a rare sight. He was an older gent with long silver hair and a grin from ear to ear.

 

I have a BMW and I ride it...ergo...I'm a BMW rider. But I was making a joke that I only do it when I'm on a Harley in Hawaii.

 

 

It's not funny if you have to explain the joke.

[Ron_B]

Good grief.

 

 

I guess "all" means ALL so I really don't qualify as atgatt.

 

Helmet: About the only time I don't wear it is when zipping around the block at home when I'm tuning the bike. Or riding around in a parking lot at a rally or such.

 

Jacket: Nearly all the time. Exceptions are the tune-up example above and Tom's rally example. Yeah, I was one one those crazies in John Day riding from the motel to the campground/stores/restaurant wearing a helmet and t-shirt. I'm such a dare-devil.

 

Overpants: This is the one that gets me booted from the ATGATT club. On trips, nearly all the time with the above exception. (sometimes, on a hot day on a deserted highway I'll take them off, but rarely.) At home, I'll put them on for most day rides but not for 'round town, Sunday mornings at our mo-sikle hang-out, Monday night BMW club hot-dog rides, etc. etc...

 

I guess I'm a sinner. Can I still hang with yooz guyz?

 

 

Oh, there was a guy living in my subdivision with a boxer cup rep who rode all the time with a bare head, shorts and flip-flops. Looked weird, but to each their own I guess.

[Dave in Doodah]

Maybe he's read this thread, thinks BMW riders are a bunch of assholes, and is now contemplating selling his bike to avoid guilt-by-association.

 

If he reads the posts on this site, how could he ever think we are assholes...? Well most of us, anyway...

 

And if that's why he wants to sell, then he bought his bike for the wrong reason...

 

I admit, if I did not have a wife and kids who would miss me (or would suck at taking care of me while I was in traction and eating from a straw), I'd probably not suit up as much as I do (which is still no where close to atgatt). I know I frown on the doofus on the crotch rocket in shorts and flip flops... but that's his choice. That's why I don't think the state should tell him to wear a helmet. I wear a helmet for me, not for them. He thinks the same way... for him.

 

But he's still a doofus.

[lvnvbiker]

Here's my take on it. For many years in Ca. we had no helmet law and I wore one sometimes. After a while I joined the navy and wore one all the time. Then I got out of the navy and became a menmber of a club (yep the HD kind with the dirty vest and all) and wore a beanie and a vest. Jackets and chaps for cold weather and t-shirt and jeans for the rest. After many years and getting sick of drama and politics I turned in my patch and re-evaluated my life and my loves. I like living, and love riding alot in fact I feel that I can not live without two wheels. I have gotten back to the basics for me these days. In the club I grew to dislike going out for a ride and was only putting miles on while commuting, now I am putting on miles just to put on miles and happen to be doing it in at least partial gear but almost always with full face lid. It is not so much the brand of bike but the fact that it's a bike to me. If I don't wan't to wear a lid I won't and the same goes for gear. I wear a jacket or mesh now "most" of the time and gloves all of the time, as for pants I always have on long pants but not always "riding" pants. To each his/her own I say, lets all enjoy our rides and let others do the same. Mabey that guy is like me and just wants to get back to the basics and fall in love with the ride again while leaving the drama behind. I do find that the more I hang out with BMWer's the more gear I seem to aquire because it just makes sense to protect my body so I can continue to do what I love, RIDE... So I will apologise in advance for showing up in less than full atgatt in the future. OK here's the saop box, NEXT.

[keithb]

There is no need to apologize for not wearing ATGATT. It is your bike, your body, your life, and your responsibility plain and simple. Enjoy the ride and have fun out there.

[lvnvbiker]

That was kinda my point while on my soapbox, but thanks for getting it.

[MrHondamatic]

A fellow here at work rides mid 90's RT and never wears a helmet. He is bald too, so he really stands out. I think in his case it has a lot to do with the fact he is smack dab in the middle of a very H-D influenced area in east central IL/west central IN. Many of his H-D riding neighbors and co-workers look at us helmet wearing riders as unusual.

[russell_bynum]

A fellow here at work rides mid 90's RT and never wears a helmet. He is bald too, so he really stands out. I think in his case it has a lot to do with the fact he is smack dab in the middle of a very H-D influenced area in east central IL/west central IN. Many of his H-D riding neighbors and co-workers look at us helmet wearing riders as unusual.

 

Couldn't it also be possible that he doesn't like wearing a helmet and feels that the risk/reward is appropriate?

[MrHondamatic]

A fellow here at work rides mid 90's RT and never wears a helmet. He is bald too, so he really stands out. I think in his case it has a lot to do with the fact he is smack dab in the middle of a very H-D influenced area in east central IL/west central IN. Many of his H-D riding neighbors and co-workers look at us helmet wearing riders as unusual.

 

Couldn't it also be possible that he doesn't like wearing a helmet and feels that the risk/reward is appropriate?

 

Could be, but there is a strong influence of the helmetless H-D rider around here, especially on the IL side of the line. This area has been heavily influenced that way for a long, long time. Long before H-D's became the "in thing." This region has a history of strong H-D sales, and the culture that goes with it. Coming from a different area, it was very noticeable to me.

 

I did say something to him the other day when we were discussing the chip and seal fiasco of US 36. He mentioned flying rocks, and I mentioned the need for a helmet. He sheepishly shrugged it off and said something about, probably should get one. But that was all. I'll stick with peer pressure keeping him helmetless, and I'll also continue to mention the advantages to him.

[gthorpe]

I ride with a guy that has a K1200GT and he rarely wears a helmet.

 

Pretty smart guy, he's an engineer, has a family. I don't understand why he takes the risk.

[russell_bynum]

I ride with a guy that has a K1200GT and he rarely wears a helmet.

 

Pretty smart guy, he's an engineer, has a family. I don't understand why he takes the risk.

 

Hint: Most people don't understand why you take the risk to ride, gear or not.

[Dave in Doodah]

+1. nice insight

[motoguy128]

I ride with a guy that has a K1200GT and he rarely wears a helmet.

 

Pretty smart guy, he's an engineer, has a family. I don't understand why he takes the risk.

 

Crap... that just blew away 3 stereotypes all at once.

[Semper_Fi]

There is no need to apologize for not wearing ATGATT. It is your bike, your body, your life, and your responsibility plain and simple. Enjoy the ride and have fun out there.

 

Keith - nice response and prespective.

 

I for one do wear a helment and have not seen any BMW rider (so far w/o helmet) but now something to look for

[Rick1130]

Here in Cleveland OH, I see them all the time on the road, looking like they are commuting or running errands. I don't see them however at our local BMW club functions or on the twistier roads 90 miles to the south.

 

Rick G

[BOB1200RTC2]

I ride my R12RT all the time with out gear when its hot. I did the same with my R1100RT. I do wear gear when its cold.

[Switz]

The owner of a BMW dealership in South Florida took a bike home for the weekend. Sunday afternoon he washed the bike in his garage. He got on the bike to back it out of the garage. Unfortunately, his foot slipped on the wet slick concrete and the bike fell over. On the way down, his head hit the concrete garage wall. The funeral was the following week.

 

When is all the gear all the time not appropriate?

 

I put on all the heavy duty vented Kevlar for a road trip. For a local ride I usually wear a mesh jacket. Moving the bike from the main house to the smaller garage, I wear what was on while doing the job. I could fall over because the engine stalled while making a U-turn in the driveway..

 

Life seems to be a balancing act between risk and rewards.

[ragtoplvr]

I was in Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, riding the loop and taking pictures, the temp was perfect and there was no wind. I got tired of taking the lid off and then on. Finally cruising around 20 30 mph no helmet, hiking shoes, camera at the ready, was really really nice. I lived. Most situations though, helmet, gear etc.

 

What is the quote about Moderation in all things?

 

Rod

[Boffin]

What is the quote about Moderation in all things?

 

Round here we go for over-moderation in all things

 

Having compulsory helmets for all but the first year of my riding career (I wore one then as well) it just feels too exposed for me to ride without a helmet. I always wear gloves, due to the instinct to put out a hand to save yourself in a fall. I always wear boots due to weak ankles.

I live in the UK, so the weather dictates a warm, dry riding jacket most of the time - ditto trousers.

 

None of it is worn for anything other than practicality.

 

In the summer I have been known to ride in jeans and lightweight jacket.

 

Just do what floats your boat.

 

Andy

[louisvillebob]

If the bike is moving, I wear a helmet and at least some protective gear. I am aware I am soft and squish easily. And I hate road rash.

[RussL]

I actually see people riding BMW's with no helmet (or other safety gear) a lot more often than I would have ever imagined.