Bell is now making an actual DOT compliant version of that helmet that you and all your trendy friends are sporting. After seeing what a low speed accident did to my vintage piece I think it’s time to upgrade. I mean at prices like $139 you cant go wrong. You can get a cheap, falling apart vintage lid that the liner falls out in tiny black crummy piece at a time, or one of the novelty deals that those cheap parts guys sell because they know you want cheap trendy shit. Or you can get something that actually works and is made by the people who started this whole modern helmet thing and is DOT compliant for just a little more than those other guys are charging for “novelty” helmets. This is the disclaimer for those novelty helmets:

WARNING:
This helmet is for novelty purposes only. It is not intended for use on- or off-road, or while operating motorized or non-motorized vehicles.
Use of this helmet to operate any type of vehicle could result in serious injury or death.

Just saying…..

As a recent accident victim I am rethinking my stance on helmets. I was what you would call a 50/50 rider. You know, I will wear one when on the freeway or whatever but when just riding out around my house I wouldn’t wear one. My particular accident happened right in front of my house while I was doing something as unassuming as waiting to turn into my driveway.

My helmet hit the road and took a bulk of the damage I would have taken had I not been wearing it. Add to that that I ended up with a broken nose and some broken teeth it makes me wonder what a better helmet would have done for me!

I don’t care how pussy some think it, I will never ride without a helmet again! I just had a new addition to the family and I am not trying to miss out on the things being a father has to offer.

I also received this today it’s the Icon Busted & Broken patch.

Basically it’s like this. Icon makes good shit. Jackets, helmets and gloves, etc. So good in fact people write into them often thanking them for making life saving and, well good looking riding gear. I am one of these people as I was unaware of it until I had done so.

Go ahead and read the few tales of survivor-ship over there at the blog and you can start to see the quality of Icon’s products. I mean when you hear things like lacerated liver and collapsed lung. Or fractured vertebrae and stuff like, “this was the second accident in the same gear” you start to get the idea that this stuff does it’s job. Then the fact that they are proud their gear stood up to the abuse a real world accident can put it through.

My accident was not anything as dramatic as all of that, I mean I did end up very banged up and do have a broken back. With all that said I ended up with no road rash and my Icon Retro Dayton jacket was in such good shape that the trauma folks were doing everything they could to avoid cutting it off of me.

I didn’t mean for this to be an icon commercial but the bottom line is this. When people get into accidents on a motorcycle and can live to write about I think it’s a miracle. When I see these people who are involved in major accidents and are able write about the fact that an icon helmet saved them some brain or neck injury well, that gets me motivated to wear Icon!

I approached choosing a helmet haphazardly and fortunately I have been given a second chance on correcting that flaw in my thinking. You never know when that helmet you wear, whether it’s by law or by choice might get used. Some times you don’t get a second chance on correcting a bad choice of riding gear.

c.

Here is a classic clip I ran across as I was doing some work on the site today. Enjoy.

Makes me a little teary eyed seeing the old girl. Dave never knew this but I loved Destroy and we exchanged cheating glances occasionally. I know bros before whatever… but it’s a bike for fucks sake.