Cars R OK, but what kind of motorcycle do you have

Mechans

I have been riding about 12 years and have had about 12 accidents, mostly minor and mostly my fault, with only one not so serious injury.

Cytocycle is correct - proper protective clothing makes a huge difference and having learned to ride in the UK, where they take biking a bit more seriously, I have always worn boots, pants, jacket, gloves and full face helmet every time I get on the bike.

This won't prevent you from breaking your or back in a high speed incident, but it can eliminate many other horrible injuries. Perhaps more importantly, it shows a type of discipline and respect for the dangers of riding which is also a key to not becoming an organ donor.

In a comprehensive study of motorcycle injuries and fatalities, the DOT discovered the 3 most significant risk factors:

1) No Helmet!?

Doh...now I am all for personal freedom and perhaps not legislating this, but riding without a helmet is just plain stupid.

2) Sobriety?!?

Doh....Getting on a bike intoxicated is more than plain stupid, I might say suicidal.

3) Lack of "Visual Conspicuity"

This phrase translates roughly to "the car that mowed you over on your bike didnt see you"

Here, there are some counterintuitive statistics:

160 + MPH "sport bikes" which Cytocyle and I favor are "significantly UNDERrepresented in the accident data compared to cruiser or Harley type bikes.

On the surface, riding a bike with 150+ HP that can out accelerate any car on the road may seem more dangerous than cruising down to the grocery store on your Harley on a sunny Sunday.

In fact, however, you can get killed driving your Harley into the back of a car or a tree going as slowly as 25-30 MPH - especially if you're wearing jean shorts, flip flops and a bandana on your head after a few beers down at your local biker bar.

So if you want to try motorcycling, be sure to do the following

* always wear proper, protective clothing, and a brightly colored or white, full face helmet and factor a budget for all of this into the price of your bike

* understand that cruiser bikes are less visible to cars

* ride as if you are invisible, and every car is trying to hit and kill you

* ride as if you NEVER have the right of way - that includes green lights and intersections where the other guy has a stop sign

* Assume cars NEVER slow down or stop at red lights, stop signs and intersections

* take as much training as you can and read and study continuously

Bikes are great. Have fun. Ride Safely.

cwlondon

The two biggest causes of motorcyle injuries are rider inexperience and rider impairment. Car drivers are a major road hazard, but they can be dealt with by sober experienced riders. It's easy to ride a motorcycle, but it takes skill to deal with traffic. My girlfriend just got a Ducati and I've been teaching her what I know. The vast majority of the discussions are about traffic awareness and having the confidence to properly react to the unexpected.

I've been riding for over 25 years and have had nearly a half dozen minor get offs. While I attribute my longevity to my sharply honed rider skills there is an element of luck. I'm just glad to keep on riding.

AS always, ride like you're invisible because to most cagers, you are!!!

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As far as being a dangerous sport, well, that's hard to deny. Experience and good training, as well as common sense all pay off. Also, as has been pointed out, wear the best protective gear you can buy. Learning to ride in the dirt is a HUGE benefit as there is no better (and arguably safer) way to learn how to control a motorcycle. The very best riders I are all experienced dirt riders. The skills you learn in the dirt, where traction is a frequently scarce commodity, translate directly to the street. I've known many a dirt rider who thinks it crazy to ride in the street, not because they can't, but because of the other traffic and potential consequences. Interesting given my recent experience (see below).

I've been riding since 82', so 25 years now. What I've determined is best expressed by Robin Williams character in, hmmm, was it the move Dead Man(?): "Either you're a smoker or you're not a smoker. Determine which one you are and live with it." The same could be said about motorcyles (and any other of life's pursuits, which is the point the character is trying to make). I tried to quit riding once, but it didn't last long. They didn't have the patch back then though. OK, yes, I've been down a few times in 25 years. Nothing tragic though. You might ask same question of those who've driven a car for that long: how many of you have had a car accident? Really, what's the point. There's also a chance you're struck dead by some disease, or the victim of some terrible accident while walking down the street. Do you let those things determine how to live your life?

I say all this in a rather unique position: my leg is up on my knee scooter to keep the swelling down. I have a 4-inch incision scar on my right foot, and another smaller scar just below that one. Beneath the scars two large screws hold the bones of my feet together while the tendons heal. I am one month into a 14-18 week recovery, most of which is non-weight-bearing on that foot, from a lisfranc dislocation in my foot. Yes, you guessed it, from a motorcycle accident. The worst I've had in 25 years of riding and the only serious injuries ever incurred from riding (and I've been rear-ended by cages on the pavement twice). All that and I couldn't have been going more than 20mph up on a very remote and beautiful dirt road up on Entiatt Ridge. I've also dislocated my left shoulder. It was a stupid mistake having misjudged an obstacle, and I could have sustained the same injuries had I been riding a bicycle. Yes, I was wearing full protective gear and heavy boots. My helmet saved me from a head injury.

What will I do when I can walk properly again? Get back on my bike and ride, of course. How many of you who've been in an auto accident never drive a car again? When I had my accident I was on a camping trip with a group of about eight other riders. One was a middle-aged woman, who was riding pavement with her boyfriend on her Ducati (she had a Harley at home as well). Her occupation was as an ER Nurse. I asked her what kind of serious accidents she sees the most of at the metropolitan hospital she works at. She said that outside of automobile accidents, probably lawnmower accidents (mostly missing digits), believe it or not. Guess you folks who are mowing your lawns better think twice next time you get that death machine out. Maybe we should all just lock ourselves into a small room with a toilet a sink and a slot in the door where food and water is delivered three times a day?

Marco

Ah, I found the correct quote from "Dead Again" which is better than what I remembered, and quite to the point. The character Robin Williams plays, Doctor Cozy Carlisle, a de-frocked shrink working as a grocery clerk:

"Someone is either a smoker or a nonsmoker. There's no in-between. The trick is to find out which one you are, and be that. If you're a nonsmoker, you'll know. "

Marco