Motorcycle statistics: possible to remove the bad examples?

Factual Questions
21

My health care provider includes the “do you ride a motorcycle” as a scoring factor in your life expectancy plan. It has, not surprisingly, a negative influence on your life expectancy.

Many people ride for years safely. But the bottom line is that when something happens, you’re in a world of shit compared to being in a car. About 4 - 5 months ago, a motorcycle group, all older individuals, riding large Harley Ds was on a Sunday afternoon. They were riding legally, down a back country highway when some jerk in a Honda passed them at a high rate of speed. A car coming the other way freaked out seeing the high speed Honda coming in his direction, and over-reacted by steering into the group. Several died, several went to the hospital. All were careful drivers, riding responsibly, well dressed and following all laws. Like I said, it’s not you, it’s the increasingly common idiot on the road that is the problem.

BTW, I’ve got more than 100,000 miles on 2 wheels, and I won’t go near one now. I want metal and 5 airbags around me.

Edit. Here’s a linkto the story…

22

Nobody has suggested otherwise.

23

I really want a bike to cruise around on weekends and have some fun. However, EVERYONE (Note the ALL CAPS, Bold, Italic, Underline and Red Font Color for emphasis) I know that has owned a motorcycle has been involved in an accident wiht injuries or worse. Every single one. Some were minor injuries, some major and life-altering, some ended in death. Some were the cyclists fault, but many were the fault of others that just simply did not see the cyclist. Fortunately for me, my lust for riding is overcome by my very real fear of crippling injury or death.

24

One thing to look at is the insurance pricing for experienced motorcyclists. I haven’t had an on-road bike for a long time, but at one time, there was a steep drop in price if you had 2 or more years experience riding.

25

My assertion is that although these were not the rider’s fault, many (admittedly, not all) could probably could have been avoided or mitigated if the victim had been more proactive about their own safety (see post #19 for examples).

26

I’m not trying to prove that riding a motorcycle is as safe as driving a car. Some of the incidents described above would have resulted in severe injury or possibly death, even if there were nothing but cars involved in the incident.

I’ve been riding for years, but mostly touring and weekend jaunts up to the mountains. Here, as a reminder, are what I consider the factors in my favor.

[ul]
[li]experienced rider[/li][li]fully geared up with REAL motorcycle gear[/li][li]a midsize standard motorcycle, more on this later[/li][li]defensive, not aggressive driving style[/li][li]practice, practice, practice[/li][/ul]

When I say geared up, it’s not just for protection, it’s also to BE SEEN. This is what I wear, no kidding. Can you see it from this side? Yeah I thought you could. Here is my helmet. Nice bright white, so it’s easily seen. Also have real motorcycle boots, not cowboy boots!

As for the bike, it’s a midsize 650cc sport tourer. Why does that matter? Because it’s not an over-sized, under-performing monster 800 pound bike! If you’re driving a big cruiser bike, you have the motorcycle equivalent of an RV. It won’t turn, stop, handle, or accelerate as well as my bike. On a big cruiser, the transition from a situation you can handle to one you can’t happens instantly.

As for the poster who said that everyone he has ever known who had a motorcycle suffered from a major crash, just wow. Law of probability not working well for your friends, is it? I know lots of riders, some better than others. At least 20-30 people who ride often, not just once a month for a 1 hour trip. Only one has had a serious “off”, and he survived. He was 68 when it happened, and he broke an ankle, and fractured a bunch or=f ribs, as well as getting bruised all to hell.

27

I’ve seen similar studies on bicycle crashes, with the same overall trend: not being young in general, and having more experience and/or training both dramatically reduce crash rates.

As noted, of course the same reductions almost certainly also apply to car crashes, so your relative risk from riding might not be as different, thought your absolute risk of crashing is going to be a lot less than an inexperienced drunk 16 year old.

28

If the OP was a bike rider before he got married, his wife is crying about the airport that was already there. FAIL

I personally will not even go to Atlanta in an airliner much less on the ground. Very few major cities have a higher level of
‘dangerous, stupid, aggressive, idiotic’ driving public in the US of A.

If you are a mature, experienced rider who is always alert and on his game, you have the best chance.

Not many of us riders are 100% of the time and still an un-attentive cell phone using driver of an car can take out anyone on or in anything.

How would she feel about making the payments on a new TOP of the line Volvo for you or would she rather move to within walking distance of your work and live in what ever is available without regard to any inconvenience to her life? Does she really want you safe or not? What kind of food does she cook? How is her driving? Can she or will she drive in traffic? What is her feeling on rock climbing? What if you want to get a pilots license?

I don’t think your method of going to work is her problem.

YMMV

Oh, and by the way, how many of the posters to this thread have never known anyone who was killed in an auto crash? Cars are safe… right?

29

GusNSpot, some solid points.

If the OP was a bike rider before he got married, his wife is crying about the airport that was already there. FAIL
To be fair, I was on a riding hiatus at the time. Had ridden before, knew I would likely again, but wasn’t at the time.

I personally will not even go to Atlanta in an airliner much less on the ground. Very few major cities have a higher level of
‘dangerous, stupid, aggressive, idiotic’ driving public in the US of A.
Sure feels that way sometimes, but then again, I was in Washington DC last week, and saw some amazingly bad drivers. I suspect they are everywhere.

If you are a mature, experienced rider who is always alert and on his game, you have the best chance.

Not many of us riders are 100% of the time and still an un-attentive cell phone using driver of an car can take out anyone on or in anything.
I’m sure I’m not 100% all the time, but I’m better than this guy

How would she feel about making the payments on a new TOP of the line Volvo for you or would she rather move to within walking distance of your work and live in what ever is available without regard to any inconvenience to her life? Does she really want you safe or not? What kind of food does she cook? How is her driving? Can she or will she drive in traffic? What is her feeling on rock climbing? What if you want to get a pilots license?
She has a similar commute, drives a Civic Hybrid. She really wants me safe, but she realizes there’s some risk in any vehicle. She just thinks the motorcycle goes outside that comfort zone for her
I don’t think your method of going to work is her problem.

YMMV

Oh, and by the way, how many of the posters to this thread have never known anyone who was killed in an auto crash? Cars are safe… right?

30

A five mph accident in a car will probably not leave much of a scratch on the bumper. Can you say the same about a motorcycle?

31

:rolleyes: What is your point? That riding on a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than riding in a car?

32

I have complete confidence that, with my gear, I would get up and walk away from a 5 mph accident. Actually, I probably wouldn’t even go down. Depends on the circumstances, of course.

Regardless, you’ve made a few really broad sweeping statements, so there ya go. :dubious:

33

Injuries sustained on a motorcycle that would be very difficult or rare in an enclosed motor vehicle? Yes, every motorcyclist I know has had one, from the bike falling over and burning their leg to getting cut off in traffic and resulting road rash to brains on the sidewalk. There are definately bike people out there that love the experience and the lifestyle. By all means go for it. For those sitting on the fence–I recommend sitting a little longer.

34

And I seriously hope you ride safely for years to come, but in my opinion, based on my experience, it’s not so much a matter of IF as it is a matter of WHEN.

35

So, I reviewed your previous posts in this thread. What exactly is your experience?

So far your experience seems limited to quoting sensational news stories.

36

Actually, my only serious accident on a motorcycle was in town, at 30mph (maybe about 20mph when I went down). A truck in front of me rode over a 2x4 about 3 feet long lying lengthways in the road. It flipped up and landed so that I went over it lying the long way, my front tire half off half on it; the handlebars swung back and forth and the bike went down sideways. I was not wearing a helmet, I never hit my head. ABout 6 hours later, my ankle hurt for a day so I had trouble walking.

When I retired my bike, a Honda CX500, it had 100,000km (60K miles) and had been across North America 4 times. The only other time I fell was at 5mph in thick gravel turning into a rural gas station. I don’t recall any other close calls, but I did drive defnsively more often than not, and avoided very crowded travel when I could. I have heard stories about idiots cutting people off and even playing chicken by trying to brush close beside bikers, but I never experienced anytihng like that.

I like a car now because I have fond memories of driving on a bike in a snowstorm in upper Michigan in May and similar inclement weather. Turn up the heat, turn up the stereo - that’s the way to travel.

37

First , 4 years with a CZ 400 riding CMC and AMC motocross. Thereafter 3 years on a Husqvarna 400CR riding AMA desert, amateur class (we raced in with the professional class). 13+ years riding street. Starting with a small Honda 175 and ending with my beloved Kawasaki KZ 900 LTD, which was my only transportation for 18 months of those 13 years. Like I said, I’ve easily ridden more than 100,000 miles. So, It ain’t my first rodeo.

38

And the members of the SDMB willing to let this one ride? No wonder I stay out of GQ. You guys are too serious, and more than willing to let a cheap shot past. But really, would Ed? Cecil? SLUG?!?!?

39

As a long time rider (My first drivers license, was for a motorcycle, at the age of 16. I didn’t drive an automobile until after, I became 18. I’ll be 51 in Oct. and currently ride a Harley “Road King”. ;)) with many miles, on many different types of bikes, I will (reluctantly) have to concur with you, sir. :frowning:
If you ride long enough, it’s not a question of IF, you’ll ever crash/drop a motorcycle… It’s only a matter of WHEN, and how bad.:eek:

Always remember boys and girls… “Keep the SHINY side UP, and keep it between, the ditches!”:smiley:

40

Why so serious?

I certainly didn’t mean to offend anyone, what are you seeing that is so heinous in this thread?