[JavaBrewer]

The stereotypical HD rider is supposed to be a rebel tough guy. It's hard to pull that image off when you're wearing a helmet. In States that enforce the helmet law they ride with the beanie style protest helmets that will offer limited, if any, protection. Edit - not to make this a HD bashing thread the stunting sport bike crowd have the same "bold" image to uphold.

I think most folks just don't really understand how fragile the human body/head is. Try dropping a watermelon out the car window at 25+mph and see what happens when it hits a curb.

I have never ridden a motorcycle without a helmet but then I liked motorcycle helmets and thought they looked cool. Now in my 10+ years of road bicycles I refused to wear a helmet on training rides cause I thought bicycle helmets looked stupid. Pot meet kettle...

Jeff, very sorry that you lost a friend. RIP.