I too am the only one in my family (of five boys) to pick up riding. i've let one of them ride my 954 and he liked it but nothing came of it. they look at me as the black sheep. I admit to riding without a helmet on the cruiser, but never once did i get on my sportbike with out my jacket nor my helmet. along with tall steel toed boots and gloves. i still wear my armored textile jacket and boots and gloves on the cruiser but not the helmet. Once i get a matte black helmet i may wear it more.