Helmet Removal Etiquette

Monday, March 20th, 2006 at 8:11 pm by rhino

My buddy Terry recently asked my take on when it’s appropriate to wear your helmet when you’re not on your bike. The following is my response. While I don’t feel that I’ve considered every possibility, I offer this as a general guide. I’d be interested to hear what our readers think???

Terry -

Let me ask you something. My fellow riders here in Bingo were talking the other day. Is it OK to park one’s bike and walk to one’s desk without removing the helmet from one’s head? Is this cool? Uncool? Dorky? I never really thought about it. Is there are “correct” etiquette?

Rhino -

My personal opinion (and that’s all it is) is that anytime you start to walk away from the motorcycle, you should have your helmet OFF. It’s less intimidating to other people. Humans use facial recognition for comfort and security, so there will always be the illusion you are trying to hide your identity by keeping it on if you’re not riding. By the same token it’s OK to don your helmet, before you get to your bike, if you intend mount up and ride away. The only time I make exceptions to the previous statements, is if it’s really cold (and therefore the helmet is acting like a hat for warmth) or if I’m going to do a very quick transaction like get gas and pay an attendant or walk in the post office to mail a letter (but I always feel self-conscience when doing this). But keep in mind, anytime you approach some stranger in public with your helmet on, it can be intimidating and cause them to be suspicious of you. Also, if you are going to have to interact with someone with more than just a few words, it’s rude and hard to hear you with your lid still in place.

And always remove your helmet for a police officer!!!

All this applies to full-face helmets only. Which is probably why open face and flip face helmets are still very popular (I don’t think these ever need to be removed, if you don’t want too).

Sounds like a good blog topic (feel free to quote me).

Terry -

Sounds good to me. I agree with all you said. I also never take off my helmet when I’m just getting gas.

Good advice when talking to a cop. (But if he’s hitting me with his nightstick, I’m keeping the helmet on!)

11 Comments

I would definitely leave your helmet on until (shield down) you reach your desk…especially in the elevator!

I’m pretty much the same way. I feel weird wearing them even if its to go to pay for gas inside the station.

Comment by angrybob | March 20th, 2006 9:48 pm | Permalink

One time you should always leave your helmet on until you reach the safety of the bathroom or suchlike is when you have a bad cold and have sneezed several times on the ride in.

I try not to take my helmet off when paying for petrol during the winter months as it’s such a drag to take off gloves, inner gloves, buff etc. Lots of garages over here are now refusing to evn start the pump until you de-helm now though.

Comment by sparx | March 21st, 2006 7:32 am | Permalink

Since I am a pay at the pump kind of gal I generally leave my helmet on while refueling. I have seen some signs telling people to remove their helmets before making a transaction inside though.

For me I wear eyeglasses and ear plugs so peeling a full face off takes time. If I should ever get stopped by our police then I would definitely remove my helmet.
Hopefully the sight of my graying hair will convince the officer to go easy on me. :-)

Comment by Speed 4 | March 21st, 2006 7:55 am | Permalink

I have a “flip face” helmet and a most of recognized brands are now producing them (because of demand). I think this provides a nice alternative that doesn’t need removal but still provides excellent full face protection! Some of the standards (Snell comes to mind first) have trouble recognizing how to test these helmets but the DOT does and they conform.

KBC’s FFR is pretty nice and I tried on a Schuberth for the first time about a month ago (It also has the quick flip-down tinted visor inside the shield - tres cool!). I know HJC(SyMax), Shoei(Syncrotec) and Nolan(?) also make excellent offerings. Not sure about Arai?

Rhino

Comment by Anonymous | March 21st, 2006 8:42 am | Permalink

Anon. How do you find the noise of flip up helmets? Are they noticibly louder than the fixed chin kind as the press would have us believe?

Comment by sparx | March 21st, 2006 9:00 am | Permalink

sparx - yes they are louder, but how much more depends on the brand. Besides, I wear earplugs, so it’s not really an issue for me. But if noise is an issue for you, it would help to do some real world testing.

Rhino

Comment by Anonymous | March 21st, 2006 9:04 am | Permalink

Well even though I am “hair challenged” (nope not yet the Kojak hair style) I remove the helmet just to avoid people getting scared. Even though there aren’t that many bad biker cityzens we do always carry with us the image of the bad guy in black leather ready to fight with the chain (for those like me with a BMW getting the rear transmission axle out takes too much time), and as soon as you leave your helmet on people start to imagine you are going to robb them!
And as said above there are more and more places where you are asked to remove your helmet anyway! When they don’t ask you to pay prior to getting gas like in the Total gas stations a lot of bikers boycot in France.

Now if you’ve had an Aioli (see my note about Provence food and wine ), heavy on garlic maybe it is better to keep the helmet on (if it is a full face one). On the other side you could commit suicide doing so…hard choice!

Comment by Unicorn | March 21st, 2006 10:34 am | Permalink

If you are robbing a bank ensure you keep your helmut on. ;-)

Comment by Busa Rider | March 21st, 2006 7:25 pm | Permalink

I’m ugly, so I wear mine when I try and pick up chicks.

It doesn’t help all that much, but blocks a lot of the mace.

Comment by Jeff | March 22nd, 2006 3:11 pm | Permalink

This is something I think about from time to time, and it boils down to 1) will it take longer to take of the helmet, ear-plugs (if in) and head wrap (and then put everything back on) than it will to do ______. 2) will I have enough hands to cary everything? and 3) the level of non-biker interaction.

A number of times I’ll stop at a local liquer store to buy a soda as I roll into work. Hmmm…ungearing for a minute transaction? I don’t think so.

When I roll into work I generally have my tank bag, coffee mug and thermos. Not to mention my gloves and shades. Keeping my helmet is the easiest way to cary it. Luckily I don’t have to work in a big office complex. And also to my favor is that I work with a bunch of other bikers so they understand!

This question is simlar to wearing my leathers in public. Am I the only one that feels self-conscious wearing black leather chaps off of a bike??

Comment by VBiker | April 1st, 2006 12:31 pm | Permalink

Am I the only one that feels self-conscious wearing black leather chaps off of a bike??

Are they cheekless?

I actually think full leathers (the sporting 1pc race kind) for the around town stuff is a little obnoxious. I only wear my one piece suit if I’m going to the mountains. I have other stuff for around town. I am a super hero already…why would I want to look like one!

Comment by angrybob | April 1st, 2006 3:48 pm | Permalink

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