You hear a lot about close calls and danger when looking at motorcycles from the outside. I’m looking at motorcycles now for the first time, and my wife is concerned. As I just want a chill cruiser, I thought maybe some perspective from actual riders might help with the perceived danger. What do you guys think? Do you have any stories or opinions? Anyone experience any accidents that armor/air vests came in clutch? I appreciate any insight you guys may have!
Humans are wired to notice/recall the rare and the lurid. It’s how we survived way-back-when. So we give disproportionate attention to crashes. For each crash-and every one of them is a terrible thing-you’ve got to figure close to a billion rides completed safely just that day. Motos are everywhere, and the most common individual transport in a lot of places. We don’t have an organ in our brains for statistical understanding, this is why we just naturally come to believe motorcycling is more dangerous than it is.
Having said all that, it IS dangerous. Dress for the slide, not the ride. Because “debridement” (DO NOT look at the pictures) is just about the most painful procedure a human can endure AND it’s success isn’t great because of post-procedure infection. Am I sweating in my suit, helmet, boots, and gloves? Oh yeah. Because road rash SUCKS.
I rode for forty years in US, UK, EU. Sport bikes and tourers. But I quit because too many car and truck drivers are paying too much attention to their phones while driving.
As everyone else here has stated. Be responsible with it. It IS inherently more dangerous, but you can limit your exposure. Seriously…ride like you’re invisible to cars. In my opinion, most (not all) motorbike accidents are preventable and are largely caused by the rider going too fast for their skill level or not paying attention to their surroundings.
The dangerous part is that small and minor mistakes can have huge consequences, they are not proportional. But there are many ways to mitigate the risk and I think it all starts with attention to detail and all the other good suggestions made in this thread.
I have a Helite air jacket that I bought after being in an accident last year that I’m fairly confident would have prevented the injuries that landed me in the hospital if I would have had it at the time. I’m now in process of upgrading to a bike with ABS brakes
Most motorcycle crashes happen at low speed, then inexperienced riders, then after winter, or something like that. So, ride year round, a lot and always fast (don’t).
Fortnine has a good video about it with some statistics, it kinda boils down to always wear all the gear, like others here have said, and ease into it after a break. Whether it’s a week or 6 months, a day you haven’t ridden, is a day you’ve lost feeling for YOUR bike. (that last sentence is my addition)
I ride a lot, have for years, ride like a hooligan sometimes and have laid down my bike 3 times, all below 30km/h.
Statistically, it is more risk than a car. But like any risk, you can mitigate parts of it. As mentioned, accidents have patterns. Learn how to navigate intersections, how to identify and prepare for potential right-of-way violations, and how to reduce your speed during a corner. Take at least a basic rider course. Understand your limits. Over confidence is extremely dangerous, particularly for new riders. Never mix bikes and intoxicants.
This sounds like a lot, but its really a few hours of work and taking it easy while you learn.
