CRASH STATISTICS

[KDCruise]

Guys,
From a bikers point of view, I was thinking today about crash statistics on our roads ( wherever you are ), and the things we as individuals can do to reduce our own risk of being involved in a road traffic accident.

The types of roads we negotiate varies to certain extent depending in what country you are in, and the associated laws with those roads. Additionally there are various courses available ( some highlighted on this site ), which claim to improve rider skills and awareness.

We are all aware, and frustratingly so, that Mr and Mrs ' I didnt see you ' exist, and they will remain with us for as long as we have roads!

But what interests me, which comes away slightly from the usual topics of safety, being roads and restrictions, laws and speeds etc, is the type of bike we ride.

How many riders, actually ride a bike that suits the relevant use? Example being, why by a superbike, if your commuting to work, say 15 mile round trip everyday? Is that necessary ? Do you need the power of a 600 - 1000, for that type of use? Sure if your qualified to do so, you can but whatever you want, but are you putting yourself at risk by not buying a more suitable bike for the relevant use? Obviously you could argue that if the rider is competent enough, he/she can use any bike.

Further more, it would be interesting to see the crash statistics, say over a year, between superbikes and cruisers. Whether that be in one state in the us, or over here in the uk.

Is the slower approach to riding on a cruiser, safer than the incredible speeds reached by superbikes? Are cruisers involved in less road traffic accidents? If involved in a road traffic accident do you stand a higher risk of serious injury on a superbike or a cruiser? All road traffic accidents are different in some way or another, and I know its difficult to generalise on such topics, but it just grabbed my thoughts today. I appreciate also that such topics are complex and can expand into other matters of riding, so my thoughts have been kept short.

Statistics of the above would be very interesting, as would the input of all riders with varying experience.

[Skier]

I can't recall any studies doing a good job looking at the accident rates between different styles of bikes. It's also a gray area with bikes blurring the line between cruisers, standards, dual sport and sports bikes.

A good chunk of motorcycle fatalities are single-vehicle accidents: the rider blows a corner, fails to handle an obstruction on the road, etc... According to NHTSA DOT HS 809 360, almost 50% of fatalities fall in this category. My belief is the motorcycle the rider is piloting has less to do with the accident than how the rider handles the situation.

The "slower approach" to riding on a cruiser is muddied in statistics: cruiser riders are more likely to be in a fatal accident because they are more likely to ride under the influence. Over 50% of motorcycle accidents involve a rider under the influence of alcohol. I believe over 75% of those accidents involved a cruiser style bike.

My belief is if a rider gets proper training, uses their head and practices their skills they will vastly reduce their risk on the road. Sadly, a majority of riders do not do this and it shows in accident statistics.

[jstark47]

How many riders, actually ride a bike that suits the relevant use? Example being, why by a superbike, if your commuting to work, say 15 mile round trip everyday? Is that necessary ? Do you need the power of a 600 - 1000, for that type of use?

Don't know UK motorways, but here I use the power of my 1000 every time I merge onto I-295 during rush hour. People aren't going to yield and let you in, you have to make your own way. 98 horsepower helps (and is damned fun, too! )

......but are you putting yourself at risk by not buying a more suitable bike for the relevant use? Obviously you could argue that if the rider is competent enough, he/she can use any bike.

As I also have a lower-powered bike, I'm not sure how using that bike on the interstates would put me less at risk?

[TrueFaith]

Well, I remember in the mid-eighties when 1000cc sportbikes became the rage there wasn't a week that went by when some kid didn't kill himself on one. I remember one story in the newspaper in particular where a kid had just bought a big Honda Interceptor (not the 500cc) just that day and when he opened it up on a busy street he T-boned a car and went through the driver's door, killing himself and critically injuring the car driver.
Things haven't changed much since then. Last year they found a kid's body in the woods off a main road near here. They knew he had been dead for a day or two, but they couldn't figure out what killed him. It wasn't until the next day that they went back to investigate and found his motorcycle a few hundred yards from where his body was found. They suspected that he had crashed late at night on a curve and there were no other vehicles on the road to see it. He may have survived the crash and just bled to death with cars passing by within feet of him the whole next day.

[b!keR]

this is the reallity.You can be killed by the car when you crossing the road.Thats the sad.

[flynrider]

Sure if your qualified to do so, you can but whatever you want, but are you putting yourself at risk by not buying a more suitable bike for the relevant use? Obviously you could argue that if the rider is competent enough, he/she can use any bike.

That's exactly what I would argue. If, as you say, the rider is competent, where does the additional risk come from?

I'll certainly be the first to agree that a liter sportbike is not very practical for a short commute, but in capable hands, that shouldn't make it any more dangerous. It might be less comfortable and a waste of money, but that doesn't equal higher risk to me.

[Flesher]

...Last year they found a kid's body in the woods off a main road near here. They knew he had been dead for a day or two...

The helmet didn't give it away? ... or was he squidly with no helmet?

[Tennif Shoe]

Does having a sport bike mean one is likely to speed? Does riding a cruser mean you go with the slow appoch to life? I ride a cruser with a heavy hand, and while I have had sport bikes blow past me, I have been know to blow past a sport bike a time or two. Some of these cruser are hitting the roads with engines equilvent to most midsized cars. What kind of pickup do you think a 120 cubic inch v twin has. Belive me it may not be as quick as 1000 cc sport bike, but it is big enough to get you in trouble. One of the things I truely belive the cruser have the sports dont is the LOUD exhaust. more crusers have these type of exhaust and can be hear better. Just remember loud pipes saves lives.

[TrueFaith]

Flesher,
Apparently a squidly kid out for a late night booze cruise. No mention of them ever finding a helmet at the scene.

[dr_bar]

Actually there is one statistic that you might want to think about...


Re-entry riders aged 45 and up are the fastest growing portion of motorcycle fatalities in the country.

I'll bet the majority of them are riding cruisers because it's the thing to do when you reach that age. (Chime in if you think I'm wrong there.) You'd think that a "Re-entry" rider would have a better skill set, but that's not exactly right. They may have a skill set, but it's 25 - 30 years old and rusty as a bike that's been sitting in the weather for all that time. Over confidence, a vastly changed technology in the bike industry, and a totally different amount of congestion on our roads, all work against this group of riders.