“oil patch, some sand or gravel”
Oh, I just assumed that’s going to happen eventually. Then the laws of physics come into play. You’re going around a corner at 85 mph and go down. At this point you go straight, which means you leave the road at something close to 85 mph. If there’s anything solid (rock, tree, armco barrier, car in other lane, etc) in the way, you’re going to hit it at that speed. Could really ruin your day.
Unfortunately, even riding sensibly that patch of oil, sand or gravel may take you down someday, although at a more reaonable pace you might be able to ride it out or avoid it. If not, that’s where good gear comes into play, so as to avoid road rash and such. I think a good helmet is a good idea, too, but I’ll leave riding gear choices up to the person who has to live with the consequences. Of course, even at a more reasonable pace, if you slide into something solid, or get run over by a car in the other lane, even wearing the best gear, chances are you’re going to be seriously injured or dead. Motorcycling IS an inherently risky activity. I choose to accept those risks, for myself. And I’m willing to let others make the same choices and decide what kind of gear, including a helmet, that they want to wear.