I was thinking of getting a bike, but wanted some opinions on how dangerous they really are. It sounds like a stupid question, but I hear mixed things. Obviously if you are careless, I'm sure they are extremely dangerous. At high speed, if you fall, you're done. Other cars can also be the problem so it's not always in your control. My mom wouldn't be happy about it thats for sure.
Motorcycles - How dangerous are they?
- Thread starter buster
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That about sums it up.
Well, you won't have to worry about buckling up.
I'm not an anti-MC Nazi, however a man with children to support should never be on the street on a MC. (Proving that there is hope for humans, this is not a large demographic) I've seen the remains far too many times, however.
Winter sucks. Then someone rear ends you and you die.
Winter sucks. Then someone rear ends you and you die.
I've ridden dirt bikes since the early 70s still keep a couple around to ride. I consider dirt bikes fairly safe as long as to ride within your own limits.
However I only rode on the street less than 3 years many years ago. After to many close calls on the street it became obvious to me on the street many people in cars just don't see bikes. Sometimes they look right at you and pull out right in front of you. Its kind of like they look right thru you.
Even if you ride safe on the street you will find yourself in situations that are near heart stoppers. Hint, big heavy bikes with so so handling are not the best ride to be on if you lack experience on bikes. I kind of cringe every time I see a street rider or coworker on a dark bike in dark clothing.
However I only rode on the street less than 3 years many years ago. After to many close calls on the street it became obvious to me on the street many people in cars just don't see bikes. Sometimes they look right at you and pull out right in front of you. Its kind of like they look right thru you.
Even if you ride safe on the street you will find yourself in situations that are near heart stoppers. Hint, big heavy bikes with so so handling are not the best ride to be on if you lack experience on bikes. I kind of cringe every time I see a street rider or coworker on a dark bike in dark clothing.
Motorcycles are dangerous.
Riding motorcycles on the street is very, very, very dangerous.
Three guys that I went to high school with are now dead due to motorcycle crashes and I am only 32 years old.
A few years ago I just had to have a motorcycle. I bought one. Found it boring and uncomfortable after the new wore off. Let it sit in garage for a few years. Sold it. My wife and kids need me way more than I need a motorcycle.
Riding motorcycles on the street is very, very, very dangerous.
Three guys that I went to high school with are now dead due to motorcycle crashes and I am only 32 years old.
A few years ago I just had to have a motorcycle. I bought one. Found it boring and uncomfortable after the new wore off. Let it sit in garage for a few years. Sold it. My wife and kids need me way more than I need a motorcycle.
Its the other folks in cars you have to worry about. Driving amongst drunks and distracted parents driving tanks is scary enough on 4 wheels surrounded by sheet metal.
for financial/health/safety/comfort reasons, two wheels will never trump good ol' 4 wheels.
for lifestyle/recreation/freedom/adrinaline rush/sport, 4 wheels will never trump 2 wheels.
with that said I don't care for riding sport bikes or cruisers on the street. I am a dirt biker at heart and own a dual sport for the times I feel like riding on pavement. I would consider a super-moto bike for a good case of hooliganism. I prefer to travel by car.
good gear and a motorcycle safety course will improve your survivability significantly.
for lifestyle/recreation/freedom/adrinaline rush/sport, 4 wheels will never trump 2 wheels.
with that said I don't care for riding sport bikes or cruisers on the street. I am a dirt biker at heart and own a dual sport for the times I feel like riding on pavement. I would consider a super-moto bike for a good case of hooliganism. I prefer to travel by car.
good gear and a motorcycle safety course will improve your survivability significantly.
One more thing...
Keeping you scooter in perfect shape will make it much safer [brakes, tires, engine,clutch,etc..]
When I worked for Honda, crashed bikes always seemed to have around 2,000 miles on them. At that point for a new rider, it seems confidence goes up beyond ability and safety.
Things are worse now for bikers with all the SUV and cell phone operators.
And let's face it, we are going to want to wring out that powerful motorcycle every now and then, which reduces any margins for error.
Keeping you scooter in perfect shape will make it much safer [brakes, tires, engine,clutch,etc..]
When I worked for Honda, crashed bikes always seemed to have around 2,000 miles on them. At that point for a new rider, it seems confidence goes up beyond ability and safety.
Things are worse now for bikers with all the SUV and cell phone operators.
And let's face it, we are going to want to wring out that powerful motorcycle every now and then, which reduces any margins for error.
Motorcycles are dangerous. I drove street bikes for over 20 years, managed to break a big toe, but had lots of close calls. One problem is that if you don't ride on a regular basis you loose that that edge that keeps you alive, the edge being aware of road conditions and especially cars. As I recall the accdent rate is very high for the first year and then drops off kind of quickly.
The classic accident is a car pulling in front of a bike because 'I didn't see it' or because they don't care (they pull in front of my 3/4 ton pickup so I know that they don't care), the bike rider stomps on the rear brake, the rear end breaks loose, the guy does down and slides into or under the car. I practiced HARD shutdowns from 120 mph and above on off ramps, to keep it instinctive and to make sure that everything was working ok. You learn that it's all front brake in a panic stop.
The safest spot for me was in the #1 lane slowly passing traffic, but it also meant that my points were always maxed out.
Older guys buying their midlife crisis Harleys are in a bad spot as they don't always have the reflexes needed to stay out of trouble, and when they pack it up they don't heal as well as younger riders.
Wear boots, pants, gloves, leather jacket, and a helmet. Dirt bike riders get in lots more accidents, often the weekend ride ends when run out of parts to replace the broken stuff, but typically the accidents aren't as bad. The best street riders started in the dirt, and then moved up in bike size as their skills improved.
I do love bikes. My now antique stock 1983 Suzuki would do the 1/4 mile in 11 flat, 0 to 60 in under 3 seconds, for less than $3000 new. I typically got 45 mpg with regular not quite legal driving, and put over 80k miles on it before it was stolen. The liter bikes these days run 10 flat in the 1/4 mile and top out up to 190 mph. But I don't know if I'll ever get another, and now have as 'vehicle fun' with my diesel pickup.
The classic accident is a car pulling in front of a bike because 'I didn't see it' or because they don't care (they pull in front of my 3/4 ton pickup so I know that they don't care), the bike rider stomps on the rear brake, the rear end breaks loose, the guy does down and slides into or under the car. I practiced HARD shutdowns from 120 mph and above on off ramps, to keep it instinctive and to make sure that everything was working ok. You learn that it's all front brake in a panic stop.
The safest spot for me was in the #1 lane slowly passing traffic, but it also meant that my points were always maxed out.
Older guys buying their midlife crisis Harleys are in a bad spot as they don't always have the reflexes needed to stay out of trouble, and when they pack it up they don't heal as well as younger riders.
Wear boots, pants, gloves, leather jacket, and a helmet. Dirt bike riders get in lots more accidents, often the weekend ride ends when run out of parts to replace the broken stuff, but typically the accidents aren't as bad. The best street riders started in the dirt, and then moved up in bike size as their skills improved.
I do love bikes. My now antique stock 1983 Suzuki would do the 1/4 mile in 11 flat, 0 to 60 in under 3 seconds, for less than $3000 new. I typically got 45 mpg with regular not quite legal driving, and put over 80k miles on it before it was stolen. The liter bikes these days run 10 flat in the 1/4 mile and top out up to 190 mph. But I don't know if I'll ever get another, and now have as 'vehicle fun' with my diesel pickup.
I've nearly been rearended by a goober on a bike. He must have thought he could do like in video games and tailgate someone and then whip it around the car. Idiot.
Lots of good info here. People younger than 40 or someone with younger children really shouldn't ride. You wil lay it down, make no mistake, and the asphalt always wins.
I started riding in 1980 and having small children at the time, I knew it was a bad idea. I started riding again in 2001 at the age of 55. Haven't laid it down in these last 5 years. I only ride 5 miles or so into town.
I have a Kaw EX 250. Previously had a Kaw 650KZ and Honda 185XL
I started riding in 1980 and having small children at the time, I knew it was a bad idea. I started riding again in 2001 at the age of 55. Haven't laid it down in these last 5 years. I only ride 5 miles or so into town.
I have a Kaw EX 250. Previously had a Kaw 650KZ and Honda 185XL
The actual bike is not dangerous. It's the ppl in cars that are the problem.
Other cars are the biggest danger, and that's NEVER fully under your control. If you lay it down at high speed, you might get away with it if you're dressed right (and there are no cars around).
A good friend of mine lost his leg below the knee after a goober turned in front of him on a nice, sunny middle of the afternoon. 'I didn't see you.' Almost 8 weeks in the hospital before they decided to amputate. $250k settlement from goober's insurance.
Every little thing becomes a real hazard on a bike: railroads, puddles and spills, parking gates, long shadows, low speed instability, CARS. Your mom will be much happier riding along in your Miata.
Yep, when the guy looks over his shoulder to change lanes, sees nothjing there, and then custs across a motorcyclist performing an "undertaking" manoeuvre at two times the speed limit...the car driver is at fault.
Seriously, of all the bike accidents I've seen in this area (heaps), they are nearly always the responsibility of the bike rider...but this is a ruralish area, and we have some of the most "sporty" roads in the state according to the bike magazines.
At 36 I was about to get a bike, I thought it was a good idea. Then one day, travelling down the putty road (another scratcher's haven), I pulled over to let three bikes past. two corners later, there's a guy in the middle of the road with an additional joint in his arm. I parked my 4Runner as a barrier to protect the poor bugger from all of the other idiots, who I was trying to flag down, only to be met with a flash of headlights, adrop a few gears and flatten it...only to nearly rear end a parked car.
That being said I have mates who ride (fast and safe), but they've been riding dirt bikes since 8 years old, and have some extraordinary skills hard wired into their brain.
Seriously, of all the bike accidents I've seen in this area (heaps), they are nearly always the responsibility of the bike rider...but this is a ruralish area, and we have some of the most "sporty" roads in the state according to the bike magazines.
At 36 I was about to get a bike, I thought it was a good idea. Then one day, travelling down the putty road (another scratcher's haven), I pulled over to let three bikes past. two corners later, there's a guy in the middle of the road with an additional joint in his arm. I parked my 4Runner as a barrier to protect the poor bugger from all of the other idiots, who I was trying to flag down, only to be met with a flash of headlights, adrop a few gears and flatten it...only to nearly rear end a parked car.
That being said I have mates who ride (fast and safe), but they've been riding dirt bikes since 8 years old, and have some extraordinary skills hard wired into their brain.
My dad and older brother had bikes, so no big surprise when I got started on a bike. Started on a moped, then a 125, then on to bigger iron. That's not including dirt bikes, and earlier bicycle experience.
No doubt a lot of kids blast around at silly speeds and injure themselves, and some elders who never had a bike and think they can ride a Harley. Outside of that, cars and bad roads are the biggest menace.
Do all you can to protect yourself, but you can't buy experience. I now have three kids and stopped riding. A few months ago a female friend was sitting at a traffic light in Hartford CT about one block from her home. Car came up behind and didn't stop, killed her instantly. There is nothing you can do to fully protect yourself.
No doubt a lot of kids blast around at silly speeds and injure themselves, and some elders who never had a bike and think they can ride a Harley. Outside of that, cars and bad roads are the biggest menace.
Do all you can to protect yourself, but you can't buy experience. I now have three kids and stopped riding. A few months ago a female friend was sitting at a traffic light in Hartford CT about one block from her home. Car came up behind and didn't stop, killed her instantly. There is nothing you can do to fully protect yourself.
buster, save your money and spend it on the supercharged Saturn Sky when it comes out later this year.
My brother in law has been in the ICU for the last 2 months after he blew a stop sign on his m/c. He's making progress, miraculous progress IMO. The small mistakes are terribly amplified on a bike.
Our pastor's son just put down his bike last month due to gravel on a turn. Luckily he only scarred up his shoulder and broke only his finger. He was fortunate as can be.
Bikes were fun when I was younger. Now, I want the safety of a car while travelling.
How 'bout a frontal crash air bag? Check out the new Honda Goldwing: http://news.com.com/2061-10801_3-5855018.html
In a car, the air bag deployment won't toss you out the back of the vehicle!
Dangerous? You're definitely rolling the bones moreso with a bike than a car. Unless it's an Isetta.
My brother in law has been in the ICU for the last 2 months after he blew a stop sign on his m/c. He's making progress, miraculous progress IMO. The small mistakes are terribly amplified on a bike.
Our pastor's son just put down his bike last month due to gravel on a turn. Luckily he only scarred up his shoulder and broke only his finger. He was fortunate as can be.
Bikes were fun when I was younger. Now, I want the safety of a car while travelling.
How 'bout a frontal crash air bag? Check out the new Honda Goldwing: http://news.com.com/2061-10801_3-5855018.html
In a car, the air bag deployment won't toss you out the back of the vehicle!
Dangerous? You're definitely rolling the bones moreso with a bike than a car. Unless it's an Isetta.
Are you that old?quote:
Originally posted by ToyotaNSaturn:
You're definitely rolling the bones moreso with a bike than a car. Unless it's an Isetta.
quote:
Originally posted by XS650:
Are you that old?quote:
Originally posted by ToyotaNSaturn:
You're definitely rolling the bones moreso with a bike than a car. Unless it's an Isetta.
Somehow, I can't see Buster in an Isetta...LOL.
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