Re helmet safety: Daytona, the home of Speed Week and Octoberfest, hosts a million motorcycles between both events. Helmets are not a part of Florida law and the wearing of one is left to the rider. The local paper, The Daytona Communist Journal, reports on each and every wreck and whether or not a helmet is worn. Most of the fatalities were not wearing one.
Many years ago, riding a 750cc Matchless motorcycle, I rode down what I thought was a familiar street about 11:0'clock at night. It turns out I made the turn a block early and the street I was on was a dead end cul de sac. After winding out second gear to about 75 MPH I looked up and there was a HUGE concrete block wall. I tried to lay the bike down but the speed was too fast, the distance to short and I hit the wall head on. The wreck collapsed the front forks into the engine, crushed the front tire/wheel and crushed the fuel tank. I went over the handlebars upside down and backwards with the back of my head hitting the wall. I woke up with the ambulance attendants trying to stop the bleeding and was alert enough to name a hospital. Four days later I was discharged with a huge scar, concussion, injured shoulders and hands. My helmet was at home.
About three years later while riding a Harley Sportster, XLCH, at around 5:O'clock in the morning, tired as can be, I pulled out from a dirt road and accelerated hard to about 70 - 75 miles an hour onto a three lane highway. Unfortunately a car pulling out failed to take my speed into consideration and wound up clipping my rear wheel. This was not a good thing. While tumbling down the road at that speed I was able to observe sparks and flames coming out of my bike every time I faced that direction. The seat of my jeans was destroyed, my hands, sans gloves, were covered with road rash, my leather jacket almost destroyed and my helmet severely scratched. I got up, put the bike on its wheels, picked up the left handlebar and rode two hundred miles home. I had learned my lesson and had my helmet on my head instead of the dresser. Except for my hands and pride all was well.
Helmets are cheap. Cheaper than heads. At 20 - 25 mph however I do think a lightweight bike helmet is sufficient.
Mike