This one cannot be more relevant seeing the bigger motorcycles coming into India. Big Companies cannot stress enough on using riding gear and best practices. However the problem is they are doing nothing with this regard, only selling bigger, faster and more expensive products.

The onus now percolates down to the motorcyclists like me and you and everyone else on this forum. Even if one life is saved after reading Old Fox's 'rantings' above then our job is done. I have seen countless examples of experienced motorcyclists marking safety as a secondary priority and a chore.

How can we stress and hammer down the fact that your skull is not harder than road and metal?

This also brings me to another facet of this whole drama called life.Recently one of best and oldest friends near my home in Delhi got injured badly. He got seven stitches in the head and 10 in the arm due to glass cuts. And how did that happen? Not on a motorbike, not on the road, not in a fight but simply while going to the kitchen he slipped with a couple of glasses in his and fell over them! He suffered cuts in major veins and arteries.

Now I ask all the parents and people who try to be role models by asking youngsters not to ride motorcycles because they are dangerous! They do not need your words of wisdom by labeling one of the most widespread and recognized mode of leisure and transport as Evil. The underlying message that I want to convey is that you dont increase the chances of getting hurt in life by riding a motorcycle. There are more advantages then disadvantages. Haven't people died in expensive cars, SUVs, buses or planes?

What they need is you to stress on riding safety and getting them that 'expensive' piece of riding gear (helmet, armored jacket and gloves and if possible steel toe boots (get one from Orazo).

These things will sure cost a percentage of the motorcycxle's cost itself but it is certainly nothing compared to the priceless life of your son or friend. Many students and youngsters are seen collecting money to buy a decent set of riding gear just because their parents or guardians are not aware of the life saving capabilities or maybe because their 'job' is done once they buy their kid a motorcycle. This is wrong. They are effectively giving a tool of death to their own child without the means to be safe.

The motorcycle companies should give away a booklet on safe riding to everyone who buys their motorcycle, and I mean everyone - printed both in Hindi and English. It wont cost them over 5-10 rupees a book!

The fines for riding without a helmet should be increased.

Only a combination of these factors combined with some others and time can bring about a change and save lives.

I would like all of you to pour in meaningful messages rather than one liners saying 'good article' or stuff like that. If you have nothing meaningful to say stay off this thread.

I hope this gets into the heads of some of the members as well, if they still have it! Often when I have advocated wearing helmets and riding gear and riding safe, I have been questioned and asked by members on xbhp itself "How is wearing a helmet being responsible towards others on the road!" I hope such people see sense now and understand what I have been trying to say.

I am originally from the Netherlands where things like traffic rules are generally followed rigorously. The fines for not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle are pretty steep, while driving a 50cc moped it is 60 euros, while driving a full motorcycle it's 90 euros. Despite the fact that everyone knows that wearing a helmet is an absolute must you'll still find those individuals that do not wear a helmet. When they do get caught you'll find them protesting loudly and crib about how unfair the system is. What they don't realize is how a simple thing like wearing a helmet sends a message about how (ir)responsible they are.
Properly wearing a helmet shows you care, not just about yourself but also about others. It shows responsibility!

Contrast this with India, the great majority does not wear a helmet. I have even had people (friends) argue with me when I told them it doesn't take a SBK to kill yourself, a HH Splendor will do. They say it doesn't go fast enough to do enough damage. Not true, for example in a car, it takes only 40 kmph and no seatbelt to end up with severe head trauma in a collission, perhaps even less. If you can die in a car at that speed, you surely can on a motorcycle.

I really do hope people of all ages do take the time to think about these things. Things like: dying in an accident or killing someone else in an accident. The first affects your loved ones, the second affects the other persons loved ones, your loved ones and you!

As for hearing about young people like Hitesh always invokes a profound sadness in me. Another person with a promising future gone. I hope as people hear about these things, they become less frequent and we see a change in the attitude of people around.

My request to all you: Drive safely and responsibly.

Thanks Sunny for putting this up the way you have. And I do fervently wish this makes a difference and helps bring about an attitude to motorcycling that is seriously inclined towards enjoying and surviving. That living and learning takes outright precedence over a compulsive show of skills and a perpetual desire for thrills.

Ride long and safe.....everyone! Please!

A very relevant thread I must say.The attitude of Indians in general towards safety is not right.Earlier even I used to be satisfied with a helmet thinking that it'll do enough until I had my accident.Though the helmet did it's job of protecting my head,I had bruises all over.My confidence took a hit and parents blaming me and my so called "high" capacity bike(zma) for the accident didn't help a lot.I won't crib about whose fault it was,whether the driver who came in the wrong way or me,but that one month of bed rest made me realize much more.It gave me a much deeper insight of life,not only about bikes and safety but also the other aspects.It made me a better and mature person and a biker.My riding style has changed a lot.I'm investing money on safety gear.Still searching for reasonably priced riding shoes and a jacket(THANKS SUNNY FOR THE LINK)...and all it took was a bloody accident to realize this...

Now my dad gives me look that says why the hell are you spending so much money on that fancy gear,show-off stuff.My friends laugh at me sometimes.People give me a second look while I'm riding.But who cares.It is about me at the end of the day and I'm yet to see a lot.Like old fox said,"life is precious",and I want make the most of it...

very rightly said... people well that includes me too... consider wearing a helmet is not necessary or is a burden & a hindrance to carry around places & doesn't llok cool.. but always ignore the fact that this small burden can save your very own life. I have been very lucky in a situation where i have survived the crash because of a helmet, but the other guy whom i crashed with has lost his precious life. since then i use proper riding gears while in the road.

After that incident , reading the above posts and knowing about our fellow XBHPIAN's story i fully understand the value of life and the importance of safe Riding and the purpose of riding gears. Come on guys just wearing a helmet or gear while riding is not going to make you a fool. You'll still look cool and would be more responsible towards yourself and the society.

RIDE SAFE AND RESPONSIBLY ALWAYS.

I would suggest a printout of this thread and showing it to one's parents. That maybe should help them understand what is the aim behind the expensive stuff.

i also wear riding gear, but i was not once and even at speed of 15 i bruised my elbow as bike skidded, but well as far as Hitesh goes it was not completely his fault, with ppl not being enforced by law or provided right education cross the roads blindly, even if you wear 2 layers of riding gear you will die!

Plus in India where ppl overtake you from every side especially left here at Bangalore without blowing horn and take you by surprise, i feel we should also get our bathroom mirror installed as rear view. Its not only about your safety riding on the road depends on many factors even though if you feel you have complete control or you are 100% alert or your bike is in mint condition.

However, taking precaution is in our own hands, but half of the ppl on this forum are students i do not think all can afford costly riding gear, all i feel Xbhp as a team should take some initiatives to make govt change some traffic laws or implement them better, for eg speed limits, zebra crossings, stop lines etc.

@ Sunny, why can't we get (i mean we at xbhp) some cheap books printed or involve some company to do that, like i saw you ppl meeting harley manager if we have such access why not use it!

Do not take me as an offense but i always felt a board solves more purpose if we can come together to make a difference in real world rather than pouring down our concerns in words.

For a real life example for people who want to learn! 3 years ago i was on my pulsar v1 at delhi on dadabadi road, (near mehrauli) i was wearing my thick benetton jacket which was a winter jacket with loads of warm lining and i pleaded my dad to get me gloves (i was in college then), wearing a thick denim and my ninja helmet. I was going down at a speed of 40 km/h (down hill) a fiat palio driver banged into me head on, i passed out for a minute world blacked out all akshay kumar action i planned went down the drain. Luckily that guy was kind he helped me get up, we were the only 2 on that road my jacket was ripped from left hand side to an unrepairable level, thickest leather gloves were ripped and helmet cracked! my knee bruised inside my jeans, my pulsar forks twisted to 90 degree (perpendicular to riding position) i thanked god that i was wearing enough protection may be more due to delhi winters. But yes first thing i did buying my new bike was to buy a DSG jacket! as i already had the experience.

However, i still believe we should come forward out in real and take initiative which no forum in the world is doing by educating ppl and asking govt to make a change.

I don't know how many losses do we really have to go through before most of us finally get this thing Drilled in our skull that a Helmet is not a poser's Toy...it's Rather the First and perhaps the best defense we have against some injury to our Head (I wont use the world BRAIN here as most of US don't have it at the 1st place).

Yes, few of us, would still talk the much cliche thing...jiski jaisey aayi hoti hai...woh waisey he jata hai!!!!!!!!!!!! And I would not like to debate on their beliefs but what Harm does it bring if our HEAD is protected/ Covered by a Helmet?

Just yesterday afternoon, I was coming from GK to IIT when a Biker(??) on a black 150 Pulsar zipped past me in a fraction of a second. I could barely see him in my RVM and he was gone past.... and I could see that he was wearinga Desi 200rs. Chaaap helmet.
Luckily I met him at the next redlight which happens to have a wait time of 60 seconds. I went near him and Asked- Is this a new Bike??
Yes was the answer. Dude, if you ride a bit slow each day, for another month, you will save enough money from the monthly fuel bill, that will get you a decent helmet to save your HEAD in case if you continue riding this way!!!

For a split second, he was dumbstruck, but the red light turned green and I could see a Rossi in him, zipp zapping through the maddening traffic. Phew!!!! some people just wont change.

Ok, I dont want to talk about anything at lenght, but I would like to say that a decent safety gear would anyways cost us less than 10,000.00 Rs. ( includes a decent helmet, a Riding Glove and a decent Jacket) which as per my belief is less than what we may end up spending at a Hospital in case of not wearing some of these tools.

Safety saves! Be responsible, for yourself and for the society too.

Believe me, death is a tragedy that has struck every living soul...its only the Untimely and Carelessness, that deepens the wound!
Peace!
Ride safe!

I may not a Matured Person / Rider in the eyes of many people, i know the fact,it is not the fact that i dont want to understad things, it is just that at my age it is just very diificult to understand the things that people try to make us understand..

I still remember the time I became a part of xBhp,many people guided me in the right direction as I used to ride like a maniac on roads.
Respected Mods, (Aryan and MG) had told me many times to ride in a better manner, all it took was a Close Sneak out that I had,to understand and to land in a Major Situation, it was that day and today's day Many Things have changed.

C_Sbk has been like an elder brother who guided me at each step where i went wrong, and My Sincere thanks to Born2Lead as well who made me realise what the need of a Riding gear is.
it is not only we who are living our own life for our enjoyment,there are many people who all are related to us some or the other way,
Parents of a person are the one who suffer an irrevertible Loss if FATE plays with the thier child's life, it is they.
Wearing a Riding Gear can save us from meeting a big disaster,or atleast minimises the after effects of an accident.

Everytime something or the other happens on a road, there is a sadness that creeps into me thinking about what happend to my beloved freind Hitesh Bhagel.
A person only gets a life once! Love it and Live it!

This article says exactly what was in my mind two years ago when the Traffic police decided to make Helmet compulsory for all two wheeler riders. But to the shock of all the concerned authorities, Barodians took to the streets protesting against the rule. Some even went to the extent of giving Dharnas in front of the High-court!!
The reasons ranged from the difficulty people face while carrying the helmet to utter BS like head getting heated up inside the helmet (the latter was from a Doctor-to-be in my neighbourhood).Eventually i am one of the very few people who is seen with a helmet on in Baroda.
Also i would like to add that people should atleast buy an ISI approved helmet and not just a Rs. 50 helmet to avoid penalties.
I think i'll send a link of this thread to some Traffic authority if they are ready to listen!!

Wearing safety gear is not an etiquette/luxury/poser charm its a habit; and like all habits that start young, they seldom die. Most of the times, we have grown up hearing tales about biking from family and friends that have shaped many of us. Statements like Helmets make you bald, Helmets can make you deaf, never use the front brake else you will fall, always raise the throttle when you start the bike so that it gets hot and so on...
Today with more and more exposure to biking as lifestyle and leisure sport, we are more aware of safety than our earlier generations. Thankfully, my family promoted safe biking from the time that I had a two wheeler in my hand. I used to ride to my college on a Bajaj Sunny with Studds RB2 Helmet, Nike thick Jacket and Leather gloves. People used to laugh at this but who cares...after all, its my call.
Printing a booklet may not be the ultimate solution. I feel that the change has to happen within us and we have to propogate it as much as we can. If each xBhpian convinces atleast two to five other bike riders to wear helmets(at least), it would be a remarkable achievement. Like all projects, this one must have a specific goal and a completion period.
@Sunny: Why not have a drive where xBhpians convince their near and dear ones, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, etc to wear safety gear; at least a helmet. Each convinced member can then spread it around later in the same way thus forming a web. Workshops can be held by experienced xBhpians in each city to demonstrate the benefits of having safety gear.

I am sure that if this generation is an educated one, they shall definitely promote better safety and riding etiquettes in the future generation.

To add to the points, I have seen many of them not locking the helmet which is again very dangerous and results in Helmet to fly away during a fall.

Please lockup helmets wearing on head and not on bikes handle or helmet lock while riding

I have seen a handsome variety of falls and falls that kill people on the spot or prety soon after. And about 70-80% of them were on scooters or 100cc & below bikes. Also, most Pulsar accidents (break locking up when trying to maneaver through traffic & particularly busses) I've heard of could have saved lives if they had a helmet on. When it caused death it was mostly a head injury. Recollecting a few incidents here -

One my distant relative skid and fell from a scooter at speeds like 30 kmph. He had a helmet on - a Studds. But the strap was not fastened. Died on the spot.

One guys on TVS 50 moped (now how fast does that go?) had to break suddenly, lost control, vehicle went into another direction, hit another stationary vehicle, heads on, gone.

My uncle and some 20 years ago was riding his scooter with a half face helmet on and suddenly a road side parked DCM door flung open. Bang - severe damage to scooter, he had some injuries and he said only the helmet saved him - the impact was hard.

Very recently, a Passion plus couldn't control a turn on NH9, went straight into a pit on right side of the road. I guess he was doing about 80KMPH... else that turn wasn't a bug deal though. Injured but that guy had his helmet on. He was not able to move but reached for his phone and was asking a person to call ambulance.

Our own xBhpian, accelerating at about 85-90 KMPH on AP SH1, a cow decides to jump onto the road. Bang... drag... bike totalled. He was dragged for over 10 meters on the road on his chest. He was walking back and calling us instead of lying in the hospital for about 6 months. What saved him that day was a GPR Helmet, GPR Gloves and DSG Nero Jacket. Anything less, we'd have rushed in for an ambulance first.

There are so many more... I can write just such anecdotes for at least 10 pages... but the bottom line is "Ride Safe & Wear Gear".

Some are morons and some are plain idiots. My Uncle at abt 50 yrs age rides a Crux & wants a helmet and not able to find one that fits his head. He realized the importance of it at this age and due to my & his son's pestering. I gave my Studds Bravo to him as that fit him. My cousin at abt 22 yrs age who rides a P150 questions me why he needs a helmet? Wanted to blast him there but that was in a marriage function. But the Uncle's son gave an apt. reply - "we want out father to return home safe".