What are we doing wrong?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,086
Likes: 154
From: Buffalo, NY
Local newspaper ALWAYS posts mc deaths. Of the 12-15 around here, I believe only 2 were the result of a cager. The most recent, 3 riders hit the back end of a truck at 110 on the thruway, truck going like 55-60.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 148
Likes: 5
From: twinsburg, ohio
I was reading this morning about another biker killed yesterday when he ran off a curve and crashed into a wall. No other vehicles were involved.
There was two statistics the instructors told us at the motorcycle safety course that have stuck with me;
1. Over 50% of motorcycle deaths are single vehicle accidents.
2. Over 50% of motorcycle accidents involve alcohol.
The fix for the alcohol statistic is obvious, but how can we fix single vehicle accidents? I see these single vehicle motorcycle accidents a lot in the news, usually on curves. But I have personally passed a couple of accidents the last couple of years where the rider ran off the curve. What are we doing wrong?
Beary
There was two statistics the instructors told us at the motorcycle safety course that have stuck with me;
1. Over 50% of motorcycle deaths are single vehicle accidents.
2. Over 50% of motorcycle accidents involve alcohol.
The fix for the alcohol statistic is obvious, but how can we fix single vehicle accidents? I see these single vehicle motorcycle accidents a lot in the news, usually on curves. But I have personally passed a couple of accidents the last couple of years where the rider ran off the curve. What are we doing wrong?
Beary
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
From: Roseville, MI
Inexperience, alcohol, excess speed and distracted drivers are probably in the same percentage as they were before. I think we are reading about more accidents simply because there are more riders on the road these days.
What they don't tell us, is how many motorcycles went through the same curve each day without incident?
What they don't tell us, is how many motorcycles went through the same curve each day without incident?
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 756
Likes: 2
From: Southern Calif
Accidents
Every experienced rider knows you cannot let your guard down, ever.
I realized myself after riding the Street glide for 20,000 miles, I've gotten much more comfortable and can handle her alot better than when I first drover her off the lot, but I know better than trying to bite off more than I can chew. Geeze, these bikes are in excess of 800 pounds, it's like trying to control an elephant
I realized myself after riding the Street glide for 20,000 miles, I've gotten much more comfortable and can handle her alot better than when I first drover her off the lot, but I know better than trying to bite off more than I can chew. Geeze, these bikes are in excess of 800 pounds, it's like trying to control an elephant
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 93
Likes: 1
Because the average biker doesn't know the first thing about braking in a turn - and that is don't brake in a turn! However, there is a way to do it but most guys just think if you hit a turn too fast you can just brake like a cager - wrong!
Roll off, straighten out, THEN brake! It takes practice, because it goes against instincts since you are not laying into the turn harder, but instead you straighten out INTO the danger area (outside of turn).
Roll off, straighten out, THEN brake! It takes practice, because it goes against instincts since you are not laying into the turn harder, but instead you straighten out INTO the danger area (outside of turn).
Last edited by Jon 2005 Road King; Jul 27, 2011 at 12:14 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 903
Likes: 8
From: California
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Don't ride beyond your limits and don't drink and ride. Simple.
Drew
Drew
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: NW Washington State
I'd say speed and inexperience kill the most...add alcohol and I'd bet that stat goes way up. I have to agree and disagree with Jon 2005 above. Agree that most people (especially new riders) lack the ability and experience to safely brake in a turn. But disagree in the fact that experienced riders should know how to and use trail braking when necessary. IMHO, new riders should learn this technique. Effective trail braking is a very effective method to slow while in control during those "OH SH*T" moments....decreasing radius blind curve with a deer standing in the road for example. Trouble is, it takes a lot of practice and experience to master trail braking in order to be ready for those "special" moments we all have. My humble opinion, too many people take thier riding skill for granted and don't invest in themselves through genuine practice and evasive control techniques. If people took their riding technique as serious as they took other aspects of their life, we'd see far fewer of these single vehicle road departure accidents.
