Wisconsin law does not require motorcyclists to wear a helmet, unless the rider is 17 years old or younger. Despite the lack of legislation, many Milwaukee riders wear a helmet anyway, believing it is simply too dangerous to ride a motorcycle without one.

Twenty states (and the District of Columbia) have a mandatory helmet law intact, including Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusettes, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

Illinois, on the other hand, does not have any helmet laws, not even for minors.

But what do you think? Should the helmet law change in Wisconsin, requiring all cyclists to wear one, or should it remain the rider's choice? Do you ride with a helmet? If not, why?

Helmets are absolutely necessary. Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is plain stupidity. It's dangerous and adds unnecessary risk to a great pastime. I always wear a helmet and / or insist that the people I care about do, too.

Helmet wearing should be a personal choice. It's a rider's right to decide whether or not they want to wear a helmet. Riding without one definitely enhances the experience, and contributes to the motorcyclists' hardcore reputation. If you want to wear a helmet, more power to you. Just don't make that decision for everyone.