by Cheryl Burger

Created on: June 25, 2008   Last Updated: July 09, 2008

Should motorcyclists always wear helmets? As a pioneer in the motocross scene, as a woman biker in the early seventies, we never straddled our bike without putting on our lid, meaning helmet. First of all there are young kids watching all of the excitement, and are watching closely at those that they want to emulate. We should always set and give informed and responsible impressions. For the kids that are running along the sides of the track, they aren't watching to see someone crack their pumpkin as they take that off camber turn, and you can't manage it and, smack! Trees don't move when you hit them. Being safe and having fun is the entire essence and romance of going fast and winning trophies with a motorcycle!

None of us expect to buy a machine as powerful as a motorcycle and even less would think that they would end up in an accident. But,it does happen, and when it does, the head is usually the first part to act as a brake, and the skull or the neck are not designed for this purpose. However, for all of those kids out there wanting to ride, and you dress the scene and use proper precautions, it is the best time you will ever have and memories galore. So, parents keep the kids off junk and put them on a bike, you will also enjoy this scene, trust me. And it will become a family event every other weekend.

Our family is like any fun loving bunch always looking for something, to not only challenge our minds but also our bodies. Our only daughter was about three, and she would fit on the gas tank between her daddy's legs as we would ride and she would tell her daddy to go faster daddy, faster. After saying this, some that have never tried riding would say this was totally irresponsible, and I would say you are so wrong. This affair we have called a family, has taught our daughter how much you need to work individually and as a team member in life, and it instills good values, trust and connections that stay with you for life. She has learned that being safe, starts with the right equipment, like the correct boots, chest protector, mouth protector and the list goes on. And our little girl would say, " Mommy here don't foget your lid!" Of course, I put it on and she learned that the best part of having fun such as this, is first and foremost being safe, so we can "continue" to have more fun the next time.

And then of course I must add this part for clarity. We started out as roadsters riding the pavement, and then we fell into the motocross action later on. So I would say with total conviction that your chances of getting severely injured on the road is even greater. And if you have ever had road rash from dumping your bike, then you know that the first thing you do is reach up and check your head, and then take that ever humble sigh, as you remember you had your helmet on today. So, now all the ribbing from all of your biker buddies doesn't quite cut it, once you have had the fear of smacking the brainum underneath the cranium now does it? Roger DeCoster, was a pro-racer in the seventies, was quoted as saying something along these lines; " If you have a five dollar head then leave the pot off (another term for helmet) but, if you value the contents of it, your family, yourself and other things like walking and speaking and stuff like this, and the fun you enjoy so much...put a lid on, and remember you still look cool! So if he thinks it is the way to go so do we. What is the harm, and it would cut down on insurance costs and there is nothing that will replace your health once it is lost, and it could only take that split second. So wearing a helmet is the only way to go, do it for the fun of it!

Learn more about this author, Cheryl Burger.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.