Need Advice for getting started

[RhadamYgg]

Have you taken a look at the Hurt Report? It's pretty old now (early 1980's I think) but still useful. There hasn't been another study since as solid methodologically.

Yeah, the hurt report has a lot of good data in it. Unfortunately, the pdf copy I got of it had a lot of errors in the numbers. But the essence of the report seems pretty good - and I saw one part of the report validated by current statistics. They had a recent run of statistics - and the 25 or 30 percent of accidents involve non-licensed riders was the same number based on recent year accidents. And the fact that people who don't carry insurance are more likely to be involved in an accident.

I think - the fact that they haven't done another Hurt report style investigation is a sign that the government really doesn't give a flying f*** about riders. This is unfortunate, as I suspect riding may become a larger source of transportation in the future.

Hey, if you carry less mass with you - then you use less energy to move that mass.

RhadamYgg

[MZ33]

Its led me to second thoughts about getting a motorcycle, but when I go over the statistics from the NHTSA - motorcycling is only slightly more dangerous than riding a car - in particular with the 80% chance of being injured if you are riding a motorcycle in an accident.

Yeah, I know. I used to be a trauma nurse, and when my husband first told me he'd always wanted a motorcycle, my response was: "You volunteer on the trauma ward for three months first, then we'll talk about it."

[flynrider]

I think - the fact that they haven't done another Hurt report style investigation is a sign that the government really doesn't give a flying f*** about riders. This is unfortunate, as I suspect riding may become a larger source of transportation in the future.

I've been hearing rumors for a few years that the U.S. DOT was going to fund another study. I could've sworn I read somewhere late last year that the new study was finally funded. The downside is that the results won't likely be available for a couple of years.

A new report would interesting, though. I started riding in 1980, when the Hurt Report was first done. A lot has changed since. Bikes are a lot bigger and faster and rider training was mostly unheard of back then. Most states only required that you ride around a few widely spaced cones in a parking lot to get a license.

[jstark47]

I've been hearing rumors for a few years that the U.S. DOT was going to fund another study. I could've sworn I read somewhere late last year that the new study was finally funded.

Yeah, I was thinkin' that too. Checked AMA, and there it is: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2007/study.asp

[RhadamYgg]

I think - the fact that they haven't done another Hurt report style investigation is a sign that the government really doesn't give a flying f*** about riders. This is unfortunate, as I suspect riding may become a larger source of transportation in the future.

I've been hearing rumors for a few years that the U.S. DOT was going to fund another study. I could've sworn I read somewhere late last year that the new study was finally funded. The downside is that the results won't likely be available for a couple of years.

A new report would interesting, though. I started riding in 1980, when the Hurt Report was first done. A lot has changed since. Bikes are a lot bigger and faster and rider training was mostly unheard of back then. Most states only required that you ride around a few widely spaced cones in a parking lot to get a license.

Wooo, so you survived 1980, eh? Looking at the statistics, 1980 was the worst year for motorcyclists, with 5184 deaths - and far fewer motorcycles on the road at that time.

They talk about how risky riding is now - but 1980 was worse.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

I've been hearing rumors for a few years that the U.S. DOT was going to fund another study. I could've sworn I read somewhere late last year that the new study was finally funded.

Yeah, I was thinkin' that too. Checked AMA, and there it is: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2007/study.asp

You know, a lot of information is around regularly that - while not on a par with the Hurt report - it is pretty good.

http://tinyurl.com/3aoakm

Of specific interest are:
Motorcycles
Pedestrians (more pedestrians die every year than motorcyclists - with the exception of 2006)
NCSA Crash*Stat (DOT-HS-810-892) January 2008
Research Note (PDF) - Released: 11/02/2007 (Motorcyclist bodily injuries)
Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2007
NCSA Technical Report (DOT-HS-810-834) (PDF) - "Fatal Two-Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes"
Crash*Stat (DOT-HS-810-820) (PDF) - "Comparison of Motorcycle Rider Fatalities in Traffic Crashes, 2005-2006"
2006 FARS/GES Annual Report (DOT-HS-810-818) 2/14/08 (PDF) - "2006 FARS/GES Traffic Safety Facts Annual Report (Final Edition)"


In particular - the "Two Vehicle Motorcycle Crashes" document - contains findings for limiting your exposure to fatal motorcycle accidents.

RhadamYgg

[flynrider]

Wooo, so you survived 1980, eh? Looking at the statistics, 1980 was the worst year for motorcyclists, with 5184 deaths - and far fewer motorcycles on the road at that time.

They talk about how risky riding is now - but 1980 was worse.

I didn't die, but I didn't escape unscathed either. Since I was learning on my own (no MSF course available back then) I had a couple of minor crashes and one major one in 1980. Fortunately, it gets better with experience. I haven't put a scratch on a bike for over 15 yrs.

[kvrider]

Ben, Riding is very fun and rewarding. Everyone here is giving great advise. Be aware of the risks and take the course. Then decide if riding is for you. And to the poster above. I am not spamming the boards with my site. If I take the time to offer my advice, and the info is on target with the original post I feel that posting the link to more information has done no harm. The community is about giving good advice to other bikers just like this forum. So don't be a hater. I am just passing on some of my past experiences... not selling snake oil my friend.

[oxbow1]

The best advice I got before my BRC was to consider the level of risk riding a bike entails and to ask yourself if you are willing to take it.