Is there a way to be safe on a motorcycle?

"Anon" (tjsielsistneb) 06/30/2014 at 12:26 • Filed to: None

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I long for a moto guzzi v7 or a triumpth Street triple. The only thing is that I don't possess the suicidal spirit most motorcyclist have. So is there anything I can do to ensure I don't suffer an early death? I know to take a safety course and also wear good safety equipment.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:29

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Do you live somewhere with lots of bikes? It definitely helps when drivers are used to them.

Don't ride like a hooligan when there are other vehicles around. Leave plenty of space. Look ahead.

The hooligan part might be hard, since those are hooligan bikes

mike > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:29

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all gear all the time. if you don't feel on your a game don't get on the bike. these are two things i have learned from all my bike riding buddies. If you feel groggy or out of it don't ride the bike to work... be a cager for the day.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:30

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No. Even if you ride like a nun, which would be no fun and would look a little ridiculous, another motorist, or worse, a truck, could still take you out through no fault of your own. Even safe motorcycle riding is extremely dangerous.

MIATAAAA > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:30

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Take a course. Full face helmet, padded jacket and pants, boots, gloves. Ride defensively.

DipodomysDeserti > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:31

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Being aware of what's going on around you is another big one. Expect that other drivers do not see you and drive accordingly, because half the time they don't.

mcseanerson > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:31

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The real problem isn't that motorcycles are unsafe, it's that you like many people are under the illusion that cars are safe. You could get in a fatal car accident any time.

thebigbossyboss > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:31

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Try to not pass me with your girlfriend (in short shorts) on the back in between my car and the jersey barrier at the end of the merge lane. You can merge and then pass, and you won't be a motorcyclist sandwhich.

There was a large gap in between the lead motorcycle and the rest of the pack so I felt no need to move over since there was little traffic behind me.

Montalvo > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:31

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Apart from that there isn't much you can do. As long as you are not in a car or something enclosed, you will always be very exposed and vulnerable to other things. The best safety features will be your own foresight and reflexes. You have to treat all other things on the road like they are out to get you.

PS9 > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:32

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Move to a planet with no people on it.

Seriously, all you need is one absent minded or psychotic motherfucker with a carmageddon fantasy to fullfill to ruin your day forever. If people can forget to take their kids out of hot cars before they are killed by the heat, they will totally forget to look both ways before you come barreling in with nothing but a helmet to protect your squishy insides.

Textured Soy Protein > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:33

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Airbag vest.

Anon > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 12:33

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This is true, but what coukd be a fender Bender in a car could be a fatal accident on a bike.

yamahog > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:34

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Don't kid yourself. If you are not solidly OK with the possibility of death no matter how safely you ride or how well prepared you are, this is not for you.

At highway speeds, all a full-face helmet is going to do is give your family an open casket wake.

/buzzkill

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:35

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When you drive one you won't care about safety. You will be too busy smiling.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 12:35

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Motorcycles are much less safe though

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:36

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There is no 100%.

Proper safety training, good gear, and riding inside your (and your equipment's) limits all contribute to a good chance of long life as a motorcycle rider. HOWEVER, anyone who tells you will NEVER get hurt on a bike is wrong.

There's just a much higher opportunity to be injured on a bike than in a car. I've been down, I've looked at my own bones poking out of my arm due to a compound fracture, I've been glad my gloves and pants were as well armoured as they were so I only needed to imagine what it would look like with my skin pavement worn instead of the kevlar, I've had to pick up a 430lb bike by myself in the mud, I've gotten wet and cold in the rain, terrified when it started snowing, and had my knees cooked by the radiator fan in traffic, but I keep coming back.

Maybe I'm crazy, or maybe it's really worth it...

TJDMAX > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:36

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Just be smart. Be defensive not aggressive. Being a rider I can say that it is all about watching other people and planning ahead. No other driver should ever just "surprise" you. If you are smart and leave yourself an out and don't box yourself in you will be fine. You become very good at reading other drivers and anticipating their next move, and this is very helpful for avoiding accidents.

mcseanerson > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:37

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It could go the other way around too. Something you could easily slip through and totally avoid thanks to your smaller size and more nimble nature of your vehicle could end with you getting t-boned in a suburban. The whole thing that has brought this on for me is bikers always talk about how they're invisible to other drivers. I've come to realize this applies to Miata drivers as well.

mcseanerson > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 12:38

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Motorcycles have different safety, I'm not so sure I'd state it as simply less anymore.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 12:42

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How are motorcycles as safe as cars? They are less visible, have zero safety features, and if they get in a crash, the rider will come out second best to whatever other vehicle was involved. Everyone knows of a story of someone killed in a motorcycle crash that would've been survivable in a car.

JEM > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:43

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Besides the Safety Course (which I think should be mandatory for EVERYONE with any kind of license...) and the right gear.

Yes.

Be constantly aware of everything around you at all times, and learn to predict what cars are going to do next and spot drivers/cars that are likely to do something sudden. That distracted minivan mom? She will never see you in the blind spot, so don't ride in it (don't ride in anyone's when at all possible). You don't even need to go for your license/get a bike to start practicing this stuff: Start checking every intersection for someone who could pull out at any second. Look way ahead of the car in front and keep appropriate following distances. Religiously check all mirrors. The more you can practice doing this in a car, the better you'll be on a bike. This is what I did for a year after getting my license, before finally getting my bike just recently.

Also, I'd say get a beater first bike, something not so nice and powerful, in like the 500cc range before getting either of those.

Reigntastic > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:45

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Other drivers are the problem, not that motorcycles are inherently unsafe.

Best advice I have is to ride like everyone is out to kill you, and don't be afraid to accelerate or change lanes accordingly. Counter-intuitive, but often speed is your best friend for getting out of a bad situation.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > JEM 06/30/2014 at 12:47

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Yes, all good advice. It's so ingrained in me now I forget to even mention the "trust no one" clause of motorcycling... I drive like that too... I make WAY more eye-contact with other drivers than I used to...

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > mike 06/30/2014 at 12:47

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This.

mcseanerson > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 12:48

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Motorcycles can be had with TC and ABS. You can buy gear that has airbags as well as being covered head to toe in leather with reinforced armor. They are less visible in some situations. My Miata may be wider but it's lower and to a lot of taller vehicles I am less visible than motorcyclists. Most importantly what would you rather have: A minor fender bender where you come out fine or an accident you can potentially avoid with your smaller size and and greater agility.

I never said they had the same safety just that it isn't so much less safety. but different safety. There are some situations the car would be better off but there are some situations that a motorcycle might be better off. My original statement comes back to the illusion of safety in cars. People die in cars, we just try not to think about it.

Curt Styler > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:48

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ATGATT. All The Gear All The Time.

That's Helmet, Jacket, Pants, Boot, and Gloves. And I don't mean blue jeans and a track jacket. All motorcycle grade gear with slide protection and a DOT/ECE rated helmet.

If you want to be extra safe, get some hard armor for under your jacket and maybe a neck brace.

I'm looking to get a bike by the end of summer, but I'm budgeting about $1500 for gear to go with it. It may seem like a lot, but it's a fraction of even the smallest medical bills for a crash.

You can't be 100% protected on a bike, but good gear can go a long way to helping in the event of a crash.

Finally, be safe when you ride. Not all motorcyclists are suicidal. I spent 4 years in Daytona Beach for school and have seen many kinds of riders. You can always tell who should have a higher insurance premium just by watching them ride.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 12:49

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My only accident that resulted in serious injury (beyond a bruised butt and ego) was due to a 95-year-old man in a 450SL who couldn't see motorcycles.

McLarry > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 12:49

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To say that you need not address safety issues inherent to motorcycles because other safety issues are likewise inherent to cars is a pretty ridiculous false premise...

mcseanerson > McLarry 06/30/2014 at 12:51

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I never said you should not address safety issues of motorcycles. You should absolutely address safety in any risky situation. Just like wear your seatbelt and be attentive while driving a car you should wear your gear and be extra attentive on a bike.

McLarry > Textured Soy Protein 06/30/2014 at 12:51

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Whoooaaaaaaah that's crazy!

leicester > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:55

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If you consider motorcyclists to have a "suicidal spirit" stay in your car.

If you want to rephrase your paradigm,

Take a class

Spend more on safety gear than your 1st bike

Purchase said beater bike. Accept that it will find its most stable position. On its side.

Goof around in empty parking lot practicing everything you learned in that 1st class.

Pick the bike up.

Take another class.

Upgrade brakes and suspension.

Get some track time or another class.

Upgrade the bike when being a skilled rider outranks being a dumb boy.

Be dumb anyhow.

Take another class.

Don't ride with idiots. Sometimes you have to ride with them to learn that they are idiots. Don't stick around in that case.

Don't be the idiot.

Upgrade the brakes and suspension.

Track time or another class.

Repeat as necessary.

desertdog5051 > Anon 06/30/2014 at 12:56

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My questions for you are: How old are you now? What is your level of previous riding experience? How long (years) have you ridden continuously? If some experience, what size and type of bike?

If you do not have a lot of experience under your belt, then you are starting on bikes that are way beyond your experience level. I recommend to people who are lacking experience that they buy a used bike like a Honda Rebel or something in that size range. Small, light, forgiving and easy to gain experience with and are still capable of taking you on highways. Ride that for at least a full year/season and graduate yourself up as you gain experience.

McLarry > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 12:57

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"you should wear your gear and be extra attentive on a bike" - I'd lead with this next time, then.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 13:03

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The number of accidents which motorcycles avoid due to their small size are far outnumbered by the number of motorcyclists killed in crashes where the safety of a car would likely save them. Let me provide you with some evidence:

1) A prominent lady in our town turned her Audi left at the top of a blind hill. A motorcycle was coming the other way. She didn't see it, and the motorcycle hit the front right fender of her car at 40mph. This would've been a non-serious injuries accident if it involved 2 cars. The motorcyclist flipped over the front of the Audi, and was killed upon impacting the pavement, despite his helmet.

2) When I was standing outside a store a year or stow ago, a car stopped short for some pedestrians in a roadway. The new, possibly ABS-equipped sport bike behind him locked up the back wheels at 25mph, fell over, and the biker broke his leg. They would've been a non-injury fender-bender in a car.

3) A friend of my dad, who was a motorcycle safety instructor, was killed when a big-rig turned in front of him on a surface street. Had he been in a car, he would've been more visible, and would also have had more protection.

4) When my dad was out of college, he thought about buying a motorcycle. On the way back from a bike dealer, he came over the crest of a hill on the interstate to find that traffic had stopped. He locked up his wheels and put the car in the ditch. This is a situation which occurs often on heavily trafficked interstates, and if he had been on the motorcycle he was looking at, he would likely have been seriously injured.

5) These statistics. Motorcycles are five and a half times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than cars. The rate of motorcyclist fatality per miles ridden is 35 times higher than that of car drivers.

So there are really 2 answers to your statement. One, many crashes which occur in cars would be possibly, but not likely, avoidable on a bike, but would much more likely be fatal. Two, the figures don't lie. Bikers die at a faster rate than motorists.

Audi-os, Amigos! > Anon 06/30/2014 at 13:10

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They are not safe, and never will be safe. But they are very fun, and that's why you get them.

Also wear protective gear (helmet, jacket, riding pants, gloves, the works) no matter how hot or cold it is. This will minimize injury as much as is possible, which is not very much.

anothermiatafanboy > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 13:11

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As an NA Miata and Ninja 650R owner....I can verify this statement. People swerve into my lane without seeing me weekly, whichever I take..

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Curt Styler 06/30/2014 at 13:13

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Riddle? That's where I learned to ride, it was nice because everyone is used to looking for bikes. All my crashes were my fault, riding beyond my limits.

thebigbossyboss > Anon 06/30/2014 at 13:14

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Check this link out! All the gear!

http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/everything-you…

deekster_caddy > Anon 06/30/2014 at 13:15

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I really enjoy riding. I used to have a dirtbike, and riding backwoods trails was a ton of fun. The feelings of opening it up on a straightaway, or being technical in the woods are not reproducible on the street.

I know too many motorcyclists who have been hit by cars, laid down their bike to avoid a hit, been rearended while stopped at a stop sign or intersection... I would never get on another motorcycle with the friggin morons who drive most cars today. Riding is great, if you live in Vermont and have lots of winding valleys to cruise, by all means go for it. But if you live in a more urban area, forget it. Just my opinion, for whatever it's worth, but for me 4 wheels good all the time.

Quick side note - I am a pretty observant driver and try to be very aware of my surroundings. Saturday afternoon we are going for a drive. Merging onto the highway, I get up to speed, see an opening, check my mirrors, look over my shoulder... I think I know where everything is. I merge into the right lane and surprise!!! There is suddenly a motorcycle right behind me. Did I cut him off? Did he come in from another lane? Was he going really fast and I just missed him? I have no idea. This is the first time EVER for me that I completely missed a bike (with his lights on). I don't think I cut him off, but I did not see him.

The kind of defensiveness you need to ride on a busy highway is something that really can't be taught. You have to be anticipating what everybody you can see is going to do, all the time, plus anticipating that three of those idiots are going to do something you weren't anticipating.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 13:16

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I'm not sure if this set of incidents is a rebuke to Alec Issigonis, or merely a reinforcement that motorcycles are inferior to small cars in that the latter have *something* present. Mini injuries were higher than other compact cars, but nowhere near those of motorcycles - perhaps active safety just isn't *enough* of the picture, but it's certainly more effective than people credit.

(Sir Alec was widely credited with saying that the safest car was one nimble enough to stay out of accidents, here paraphrased somewhat)

McLarry > Anon 06/30/2014 at 13:17

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Of course you can, but you have to be smart about it... Motorcycles carry quite a lot of inherent risk so 'guarantees' of safety are out the window, but they can still be operated in a safe manner (the same could be said of bungee jumping...rock climbing... The rope could break, yes, but for that reason there is extra caution regarding the state of that rope before you use it). Also, there's no "do A and B and you'll be fine" answer, I think it's more a matter of proper training and skill...you have to know the right thing to do for every situation, and not just know it but be able to do it without spending time thinking about it. You have to know your equipment, what its abilities are, and how to assess it for flaws that might affect roadworthiness. Also, as others have said you should wear the gear. However, don't let yourself get drawn into a false sense of security because you're wearing armor...don't count on the gear to save you, think of it more as a last resort. Maybe more like a parachute than a seatbelt is what I mean...you definitely never get in your plane without your parachute, but you also never contemplate a stunt thinking "well heck, if it goes wrong I've got my parachute...".

mcseanerson > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 13:17

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Bikers safety gear is not installed in their bike. It is up to the biker to purchase and wear safety gear. That can account for statistics. As for #1 a head on collision is rarely a fender bender. #3 was probably more visible on his bike then I am in my Miata. SUVs and Semis do not see me because I am very low down.

McMike > Anon 06/30/2014 at 13:21

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Staying upright is about 25% skill and 75% common sense.

Skill means that you're able to stop, corner, use your front/rear brake accordingly, and ride without falling over (in good and bad weather)

Common sense means you change your habits when the weather gets bad to compensate the bad weather, as well as for the OTHER motorists lack of common sense when visibility and the road surface gets bad.

Common sense also means that you need to be ready for surprise gravel, traffic, riding outside your limits, red light runners, no-signal lane changers, drunk drivers, and careless, blind drivers that don't see you.

Common sense means that you always have a way out. Grass, median, ditch (which is softer than a rear bumper), shoulder - doesn't matter. Have an escape route. Always.

I've been riding on the street for almost 25 years, and have only fallen off once. Thank god it was at 15mph when I gave it too much throttle over a wet metal bridge joint. My common sense failed, and I went down. (I should have pussyfooted when I was making my turn, but I didn't. I oversteered, lifted, then took a trip to the highside.)

I have had plenty of close calls that could have turned out a lot worse.

You can smell bad drivers a mile away. You can profile them by how fast they are moving, their change of pace, whether they are paying attention. Their hand movements, etc.. If I see a motorist in the lane next to me hovering, I expect them to come over. I either squirt past them, or hang back. You have to think for them, too.

I never ride directly next to someone. I always sit even with their front bumper of further ahead of them so it's obvious they'll see me. You have to think for them, too.

As I approach an intersection and someone is sitting at the stop light, I cover both brakes expecting them to pull out. I watch their head to make sure they look my way as I get closer. If they have not, I lift and start watching their front wheel because you'll see movement there first. Most of the time I go through intersections covering the brakes then sigh in relief when I have made it through. You have to think for them, too.

You can't stop as fast as a car can, so back the fuck off. (yes, yes, your Ninja can stop as quicker as the Grand Prix full of day laborers you've been tailgating for the last two miles, but when's the last time you practices threshold braking?) That Pontiac has ABS, you don't. That Pontiac won't fall over if it locks up the front wheels. You will.

Most of the reasons people go down are due to others, and their own lack of common sense that puts them in danger.

Remember, "Oops, my bad. Let's exchange insurance information" is hard to do when you're laying in the back of an ambulance.

Reigntastic > anothermiatafanboy 06/30/2014 at 13:22

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Yep, similar experience for me after switching from DDing an 09 250r to my SW20; both were bright colors and loud, and both still get ignored.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 13:26

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Even a helmet and pads can't save you nearly as well as a steel frame, seat belts, and air bags. In #1, A t-bone collision with a left-turning car at 40mph may not be a fender-bender, but it is rarely fatal when it involves a car, thanks to the aforementioned safety features. #3 I know it may seem like no one notices a little Miata, but trust me, a bike is even harder to see. It's smaller.

Imirrelephant > Anon 06/30/2014 at 13:26

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There are ways to be safer on a motorcycle. Rider training and always gear up are two of the best ways to be safer. The fact is that you are less protected and can be more seriously injured in the same crash than you would be in a car. It all comes down to personal choice.

I love riding. I don't ride as much as I would like b/c of my wife's very real concerns for my safety. I have lost other riders that I have known to incidents where they did everything right, but a car/truck not paying enough attention hit them. Does it make me love riding any less? No, but that is my choice.

If you ride now and are scared to move up to a bigger bike, maybe don't go so big. If you don't ride yet, a Speed Triple is not a good first bike. A little fear in riding isn't necessarily a bad thing. Respect for what the bike is capable of and what it will do to you if you push it beyond your abilities is better. Whatever you decide, your knowledge and experience are the biggest factors in keeping yourself safer when riding.

deekster_caddy > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 13:27

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It's the things that are out of your control that you can't predict or plan for. Those are the times where it's nice to have 4 wheels and a steel cage around you. Here's an example for you - my brother was driving a '68 Buick on the highway, cruising down the right lane (4 lanes his direction), going near the speed limit. Traffic was medium-heavy, lots of cars on the road. Somebody else coming the same direction in an F150 was far exceeding the speed limit and weaving in and out of traffic. They cut across 3 lanes to the far right and rearended my brother's car. The back end of his car was crushed and pushed sideways, he shoots left across 4 lanes of traffic and plows into the left guardrail. The car spins around a few times, destroying the front and rear against the guardrail and comes to a stop. The car is a misshapen wreck except for the passenger compartment - my brother was fine. The F150 was stopped and the driver was fined for reckless driving. It's front bumper was pushed in a little.

If that had been a motorcycle instead of a car? The rider would most likely be dead. No amount of defensiveness can prepare you for that situation - guy wasn't in your rearview mirror, you were driving safely, had plenty of stopping distance, etc. Came out of nowhere and wham! That guy would have hit whatever was in the right lane, big old Buick or motorcycle or whatever

I'm just trying to give a good description of how hard the impact was - the point is that the impact was hard enough to shove that big Buick across all the lanes and that would have launched a rider pretty damn far, leather and helmet or no.

mcseanerson > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 13:28

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I'm telling you it isn't a matter of seems like anything. I am dodging near misses left and right. My whole argument isn't that bikes are safe. It's that cars aren't as safe as you think.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 13:29

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Any sort of small convertible, really. I've nearly been run over in an S2000.

mcseanerson > deekster_caddy 06/30/2014 at 13:31

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The way you described it I'm shocked someone in a car survived it, much less a '68 Buick. My argument has never been that motorcycles are safe, it's that cars are not as safe as you think they are. Anytime you get behind the wheel you could die.

yamahog > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 06/30/2014 at 13:32

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I've had to pick up a 430lb bike by myself in the mud

Before my father would give me the FZ6, I had to pick it up with a full tank and get back on in under 5 seconds flat, which I still practice. This could definitely save my ass because my height (or lack thereof) leaves me at a higher risk of putting it on the ground when stopping short.

Bird > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 13:34

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I'm replying since you guys decided to start sharing your comments to the main Oppo page...

1-4 aren't facts. They're anecdotal evidence. Only number 5 could be referenced as a 'fact'.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 13:39

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Your Miata is less safe than the average car, and the average motorcycle is less safe than your Miata. It's that simple. If I rammed my car at 45mph into the side of another car, I would have a better chance of surviving than you would in your Miata, and you, in turn, would have a better chance of surviving than someone on a motorcycle. And no, most accident scenarios are not something where a small, light bike can simply swerve and be nimble and avoid a crash. They may do that sometimes, but even the best rider can't count on that saving them every time.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > leicester 06/30/2014 at 13:39

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"Don't ride with idiots" is my co-worker's #1 rule. He used to ride around with some of his sport bike friends but they routinely did triple digits every chance they got and tried to drop a knee whenever possible. He started riding alone when he got his hayabusa so that he'd actually avoid being a red smear on the pavement.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Bird 06/30/2014 at 13:43

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True. But those stories aren't unique to me. Ask anyone, and most people will be able to tell you about someone they know who was killed on a motorcycle. And most of those incidents would be more survivable in a car.

The "facts" of those anecdotes are that those situations would've undoubtedly turned out better had a motorcycle not been involved.

Squid > Anon 06/30/2014 at 13:47

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Drive a miata around for a while, or any other tiny car for that matter, to get the feel of being invisible to other motorists. Realize that on a bike you have to avoid everyone and if you are not capable of actively planning your route through traffic and reading others driving behaviors then a bike may not be for you yet.

If you get a bike get all your gear and wear it. If you want to ride and it is 110 out, put all your gear on and know you'll be hot as fuck. Gear is what keeps you alive if you crash so spend as much as you have to on yourgear and take your motorcycle safety course and pay attention to what you are doing and you'll live.

Bird > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 13:47

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Exactly why they're anecdotes. I'm not arguing with you over content...those just aren't facts. And there is no such thing as the 'facts' of an anecdote.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Bird 06/30/2014 at 13:48

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Okay, I will agree that there are no "facts" in an anecdote. But I did say, "let me provide you with some evidence," not, "let me provide you with some facts".

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > yamahog 06/30/2014 at 13:48

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As the mantra goes, it's not if you fall. It's when you fall.

BoulderZ > Anon 06/30/2014 at 13:48

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A few possible factors to consider:

1) Be conscious of when/how you ride. Just like we all should "drive like we mean it" in cars, ride aware and with purpose. Slipping in to routine or autopilot is when you're not paying attention, opening yourself to your own mistakes as well as those of others.

2) Consider where you are. Not all countries, states, counties and cities are equal when it comes to collision and fatality rates. Check out table 110 in this doc (p 182 in the PDF reader), listing traffic fatalities per 100,000 vehicles (WV is worst on that one) registered and per 100,000 population (ND appears to be the worst on this score): http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812032.pd… There are interesting data out there on collision rates, too, not just fatalities, usually collected/published via insurance. As you might guess, risk is not uniformly geospatially distributed. Here's a more visual way to look at it, too: http://map.itoworld.com/road-casualtie…

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > mcseanerson 06/30/2014 at 13:49

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You are correct that cars are dangerous but there is no doubt that fatal accidents are more common for motorcycle riders. I'm not sure how this debate lasted so long...

Diesel > yamahog 06/30/2014 at 14:02

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The danger sensation is exciting. The challenge is to find new dangers.

-Senna

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > yamahog 06/30/2014 at 14:10

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Y'know I don't think I could pick my bike up and get back on in five seconds. Ten maybe, but five is pretty damn quick. Kudos.

Decay buys too many beaters > BoulderZ 06/30/2014 at 14:13

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Holy crap, this is eye opening. There have been 5 motorcycle fatalities on my favorite 15 mile route in the past 10 years. Turns out there were no other recorded vehicular fatalities of any kind.

leicester > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 06/30/2014 at 14:16

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yes, speaking from experience on both counts....

yamahog > JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t 06/30/2014 at 14:23

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Bro, do you even lift???

/s

MIATAAAA > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 06/30/2014 at 14:26

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Also ask anyone who works in an ER. You can see the proof after you work in one for a while.

BoulderZ > Decay buys too many beaters 06/30/2014 at 14:35

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I know, right? At first, you look at it and think, "Well, duh, lots of fatalities where there are lots of people." Then you notice that there's a lot more variance than simple population density explains, and some really strange departures from the expected pattern.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > yamahog 06/30/2014 at 14:56

1

Hey, my bike is really tall and its centre of gravity is too. That’s my excuse and I'm sticking to it.!

Curt Styler > Santiago of Escuderia Boricua 06/30/2014 at 14:57

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Yup. AE, Graduated December 2011. Sadly I never had a bike while I was down there, but I did learn a ton about driving defensively. Because Florida.

Diesel > McMike 06/30/2014 at 15:28

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I agree with the thinking for them. This is the best skill I learned riding a motorcycle. I can apply it while driving a car. That's why I am accident free my entire driving career.

bob and john > Anon 07/01/2014 at 07:39

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ok, long story short. A bike is more dangerous then a car. no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

HOWEVER. if you ride within reasonable limits. and pay freaking attention to the road and your surroundings (much easier since your not adjusting the radio or the cruise or the air con or anything...unless ur on a goldwing) it can be a safe, fun hobby.

keep your distance. ride defensively. let the asshole who just cut you off on his way. its a very different mentality then in a car, and if you can get into the mentality, its fun.

also, a 25k super bike will hang all day long with a 250k super car.

SantaRita > Anon 07/02/2014 at 11:49

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suicidal sprit? hardly. i've been riding a decade and it's safest when you keep your wits and use your senses full time. Wear all the gear all the time. ATGATT. Dont compromise there. It's you're only protection from the unexpected.

practice panic stopping. Practice the low speed stuff where the momentum isn't carrying the bike's weight and get leaning/turning often so you'll have the most important skills, stopping and avoidance with more control. In the process read rear read. proficient motorcycling is a great primer book.

going fast is easy, turn the right tube. the rest will keep you from ditches and hood ornaments.

SantaRita > McMike 07/02/2014 at 11:53

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all great advice above, especially thinking for the rest of traffic. That swerving minivan...the one with the lady on her phone, eating a big mac & putting on makeup with 4 kids in the back....yeah... don't expect her to be able to drive too!

SantaRita > mcseanerson 07/02/2014 at 12:03

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That tradeoff between complete physical exposure and your arguably beneficial size (when hit, you're hitting a small thing with a very big thing) results in much greater proportion of injury and death per capita. While in some cases it might go your way, Statistically speaking it is simply less safe than driving.

It is also a lot more vividly consuming sensory experience, you'll get stuck in traffic less and you can choose to have safety gear that either a power ranger or a cowboy (depending on style) would be at home fighting baddies in.