June, 1973. Great Britain. Ted Heath is the Prime Minister…
Princess Anne is shacked up with Mark Philips…
and Wizzard are at number one.
Lost in the small print of the newspapers is a new law for bikers. Despite MAG’s best efforts, it became compulsory to wear a crash helmet.
The debate goes on but who would ride without one now?
Depends on the situation, but 90% no I wouldn’t
I didn’t wear a helmet until I visited my cousin in hospital around 1971 … he was a farmhand, and had hit a cow on the road to work one misty morning, going right over the bars breaking both wrists (sporty clip-on bars) and a few other cuts and grazes. he felt it was thanks to his helmet that his head was OK, and sent me out to buy one straight away.
I was also an early user of seatbelts, before the law came in… maybe I’m more safety conscious than I think I am!!
Although…
France and Italy took longer to enforce and I used to occasionally ride there without one until something hit me on the forehead and it hurt, a lot. I stopped, put my lid back on and have wore one ever since!
I didn’t start riding until 1979 so it has always been law during my time on bikes. Couldn’t even consider riding without one…. 
I had been riding for 6 years. I certainly usually wore one, but not always. If it was a warm day and I wasn’t going far… Remember that you’re immortal at that age.
Obviously I have never ridden without one, I really couldn’t imagine it, but in over 50 years things will be incomparable to how they were in so many ways from the volume and type of traffic on the road to new cars with technology that distract the driver and encourage them to look inwards, the size and power of motorcycles typically ridden, peoples’ attitudes towards others…but in today’s climate which is my only motorcycling reference point there is no chance I would go without.
I understand all these comments… although I ride at my daughter’s farm in NZ without a helmet, and it is fantastic to have the wind in (what’s left of) your hair!
A couple of years back I was checking my bike over for an MOT and went out for a short test ride in just my ordinary jeans, trainers and a jumper. I did wear my helmet, but without my customary earplugs, and it was a reminder of how carefree motorcycling used to be in the '70’s, just jump on and go… 
Like many of our more senior citizens I started riding before crash helmets were compulsory. I did not use a helmet that often (madness I guess). I cannot perceive riding today without a helmet and full protective kit.
I have been reminded on how important riding with full protection is, by an accident last week only a couple of miles from my home. A young lad on a motorbike with no helmet or protective kit was involved with a car. Airlifted to hospital in a vary bad way.
Sorry if I’ve told this story before - back in 1969 my mates and I all passed our tests on Lambrettas with a borrowed helmet (which you had to have to sit the test), but we didn’t wear it on the way to the test centre - we carried it on the scooter floorboards and only put it on at the traffic lights round the corner from the centre!
After the test it was back on the floorboards and ride home! I guess we thought a helmet was too uncool and would spoil our Mod haircuts!! 
There have been a couple of bike crashes outside our house, the last one on a scooter which was totaled (not even recognisable) and the car he hit/hit him had deployed it’s airbag. His helmet was about 30yds from where he was lying so I don’t actually know if it gave him any assistance but he was conscious and just wanted to leave before the police arrived!
I came off four times in my distant youth (one inexperience, one stupidity, one low speed SMIDSY and one 70mph tyre blowout on the M6 
). I was wearing a helmet on all four occasions, but didn’t hit my head once. Not sure if that proves anything one way or another.
The throttle on my Harris Magnum stuck open one night coming out from work and threw me off the back. Knocked me out from hitting the ground with the back of my head and the force broke both visor pads on my Arai. I am convinced I wouldn’t be here without a helmet that day.
Harris Magnum…!
oooh Hark at you, all posh and trendy in yer youth..!
I’ve always been told I was trendy…
WAS ……..! That’s the word ..!
