# How Life Threatening is Riding On a Motorcycle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083 "2022-11-17T14:07:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/41 "2022-11-18T04:11:23Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Motorcycle riding has benefits too, not just risks. That’s an excellent point, and I’ll back that up by saying that my years of bike riding when I was younger had many moments of pure delight. Roaring up and down country roads in the early evening, experiencing not just the smells of the countryside, but the changes in temperature between hills and valleys, was about the closest I’ve ever felt to literally flying – not in the sense of piloting an airplane which I’ve also done, but in the visceral sense of flying like a bird. I was lucky that at the time I lived in a medium-sized town surrounded by lots of country roads and picturesque scenery. As for the risks, I never really had a problem or a close call, except I guess once when a van went by me at high speed on a city street. The driver was a complete moron, possibly drunk, and lost control a little further up the road, flipping the van upside down and crashing into a utility pole, bringing down sparking live wires pretty much almost directly in front of me. The accident had nothing to do with my motorcycle _per se_, but it did remind me of how vulnerable one is. Anyway, that was the only such incident in my entire biking career. I was young enough that I just put it out of my mind and continued happily biking. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/42 "2022-11-18T04:13:35Z")
I took a 40 mile ride once as passenger on a bike driven by a sensible, trustworthy driver. The entire time, I was thinking, “If something blows out and we’re going 100 k…” Did not enjoy the ride and never went near a bike again. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/43 "2022-11-18T04:15:20Z")
I got my motorcycle endorsement on my driver license when I was 17. I have lived years with just my bike as my only vehicle. I’ve fallen over a few times but have never broken a bone or even ended up in urgent care. I cried when I sold my last bike because that meant I really was too old and arthritis ridden to be able to swing my leg over the saddle anymore. I will be 65 next month. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/44 "2022-11-18T06:24:32Z")
Upon further thought about this, the last time I ever had someone on the back of one of my bikes, we were rear-ended by a drunk. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/45 "2022-11-18T11:45:07Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I got my motorcycle endorsement on my driver license when I was 17. I got mine when I was in my late 20s, without requesting it or completing the requirements. I just requested my renewal and when my license arrived it looked different. Since that time I’ve always been endorsed for car, motorcycle, and commercial truck (the smallest size). Pennsylvania screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/46 "2022-11-18T12:34:21Z")
That chart supports my desire to get a pet kangaroo. And makes me re-think my daily sausage consumption. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/47 "2022-11-18T13:28:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > 60 miles (= roughly 1 hour of highway) motorcycle riding is as dangerous as getting out of bed twice at age 45 But that increases when it’s the **[first 60 miles](https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrFG7mBhXdjE_0J.4NXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Nj/RV=2/RE=1668806146/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hg.org%2flegal-articles%2flittle-known-facts-about-motorcycle-accidents-31124/RK=2/RS=AXvTmPhBO8ykbjXlv_npbW1LN_o-)** ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/48 "2022-11-18T13:30:38Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I cried when I sold my last bike because that meant I really was too old and arthritis ridden to be able to swing my leg over the saddle anymore. > > I will be 65 next month. Have you considered a trike? Kinda dorky looking but at least around here lots of “senior” riders switch to them and seem to have a good time with it. It’s probably mostly the folks who ride as a social activity rather than just them alone with the wind and the trees. it’s actually pretty rare here to see a gaggle of 10+ touring motorcycles without a trike somewhere in there. Trikes are not seen so much among the crotch rocket brigade. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/49 "2022-11-18T15:37:06Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > That chart supports my desire to get a pet kangaroo. > > And makes me re-think my daily sausage consumption. > > mmm At this point, I’m thinking about just laying in bed and eating bananas. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/50 "2022-11-18T15:48:18Z")
The “eating sausage daily” thing is a bit of a freakout for me. A friend just gave my 108 frozen sausages (six packages of 18). I’ve been grilling 10 at a time and taking one or two for lunch every day. Free food, hey?! ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/51 "2022-11-18T15:58:42Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > First date with Ms. P was giving her a ride on my bike (it was her idea; she asked right after we met and we went the next day). Sounds like me, Mr C arrived on his full fairing BMW R65/80 idr? And much to the chagrin of my parents we motored away together. Came home in a torrential rainstorm laughing our asses off. Spent many rides on the back of that bike and others, Ducatis, Laverda, Moto Guzzi. I took the MSF and rode the wheels off a small Yamaha then picked up an Allazzurra 650SS. Put about 10k on it, parked it for good after the second child arrived. I never carried passengers. And I’d decline an invite today to hop on a sport bike, maybe a big cruiser I’d enjoy more. Down to two bikes in the garage. The Allazzurra is up for sale, pristine! ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/52 "2022-11-18T16:02:53Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > A friend just gave my 108 frozen sausages (six packages of 18). This place being what it is, and Dopers being who they are, I’m extremely confident that the majority of those who read this … did the math in our heads just to double-check 😉 Back to m/c … I always rode with the mindset well summarized by Nicolas Cage’s character in “The Rock:” > The second you don’t respect this, it kills you Obviously, a _slight_ exaggeration, but I never lose/lost sight of the power of a tiny slick spot or an inattentive driver or the guy behind me not stopping … I’ve also always been an ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) guy with a Kevlar riding suit and full-face helmet – even on summer rides in/through the dessert. Typical for a rider, I’m a reluctant passenger, too, but have learned – on numerous occasions – that we riders tend to make perfect passengers when we do dare do the [**pillion**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillion) thing. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/53 "2022-11-18T16:24:42Z")
I got my license in 1980 and haven’t had any problems. That aside, I wouldn’t recommend hopping on the bike of someone you don’t know. The cold hard truth is that the US motorcycle accident rate is mostly due to poor riding - too little training, too few actual riding hours, too little safety gear, often too much bike and even more often too much alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/54 "2022-11-18T16:53:31Z")
Location matters. I wouldn’t ride a motorcycle in a city or any heavy traffic. A rural highway on a sunny day is different. I only rode a Honda 125cc. That’s enough power for me. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/55 "2022-11-18T17:04:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I only rode a Honda 125cc. I got my son a dirt bike that size (IIRC) when he was 10. His mom wasn’t thrilled, but it was for use at my place only. After picking it up, I cleaned it (bought used) and started it up. It ran! Then I rode around my yard and there was a hump that let me catch air. Scared the crap outa me! ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/56 "2022-11-18T17:20:37Z")
You can get hurt on any motorcycle. I haven’t ridden in years. I worry more about injury and the recovery time. I’ve seen people on bicycles sprint down hills at crazy speeds. That would scare me more on a lightweight frame and skinny tires. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/57 "2022-11-18T17:23:21Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > even on summer rides in/through the dessert. Very wise; riding a motorbike is not to be trifled with. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/58 "2022-11-18T17:29:03Z")
> If you are riding on the back of the motorcycle, you should do these:… An entire page of instructions is way too much to have to think about to get from point A. to point B. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/59 "2022-11-18T18:31:09Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > exhaust pipes get very, very hot. I once jumped onto the back seat of a KTM off-road, not realising the exhaust is on the right. I got a fairly spectacular 15cm radius burn on my inner thigh from the exhaust ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083/60 "2022-11-19T01:07:09Z")
My first on the back of a motorcycle cured me of the desire to ride them…my friend said, just get on and hold on, I had flipflops and shorts on. He then wheelied up the street on a 250 dirt bike at about 50mph…he was a daredevil sort and went on to do bad things in life. Freaked me right out!! I stuck to bicycles until I hit a deer going down hill at about 40mph in the dark, I had a generator light at least, but deer are unpredictable… Had a helmet on so mostly ok, but lots of road rash. Made me realize that falling off surfing was much easier, water is more forgiving than pavement. I stopped riding fast downhill. Cruise around now. Plus Im 68 or so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-life-threatening-is-riding-on-a-motorcycle/975083.md?page=4)