just how dangerous are motorcycles ? anyone ever get hurt?

7

79mongoose

Joined
Dec 14, 2004
Messages
77
Im having an itch for a motorcycle again, but a little worried about getting hurt? How dangerous are bikes and does anyone know someone who wiped out; or is the whole " dangerous bike thing" over played. I figure as long as your very careful and alert, id think you would be ok. anyone have any stories?
 
I put my Kawasaki ZX-6 through a minivan at about 70 MPH in 1995. I hit the minivan at a perpendicular angle after he blew a red light at approximately his front wheel and I was lucky enough to be thrown (along with the bike) over the hood and 40 or 50 feet. They say had it been a foot to the left and I would have gone straight into the passenger compartment and most probably died instantly. It broke and seperated my pelvis and fractured my saccrum along with massive tissue damage and took me 6 months to walk again... The good thing is that I got to experience pharmaceutical morphine and then live on Vicodin for a year. As for riding again, the first day I could walk on my own, I took a nice leisurely ride on a buddys bike upstate.
 
Life is a fatal disease. Have fun before it gets you anyway. Just watch where you're going.
 
The best place for a sport bike is the track. Nothing about sport bikes says "Hey, lets go cruse around the neighborhood!"

My uncles told me that instead of worrying about hitting people, worry about people hitting you. They told me that they've been rear-ended multiple times at intersections. Also being cut of by SUV's seem to be a big problem as well.

Check out Gixxer.com - forums dedicated to the Suzuki GSX-R, but have a large portion of members owning other brands.
 
My sister is a physical therapist and she says the worst (and most) injuries she comes across are from motorcycle accidents. Thanks to hearing her stories, I don't think I'll ever ride one again!

If you do though, just be as safe as you can. Wear a helmet and proper clothing and don't go too fast. (Obvious stuff, but still do it!)

~ashes
 
I used race moto-x and super-x when I was younger and still ride today(not racing) and rule number one is: your going to have a accident so don't be scared about it, If your scared about having an acciendent you will have one sooner.
I have broken more bones than I can remember but I still would have had it any other way, go for it.
I still go dirtbiking in the outback of Cambodia (when I'm there) there is nothing that gives you that feeling of isolaction it is a real buzz. Also done photo work for Angkor dirtbike tours even working for them these tours are fun real fun, again go for it. :D
edited: yeah always wear a lid for your melon, and boots. there are a number of other saftey gear but that one and two. :D
 
79mongoose said:
How dangerous are bikes?
Click to expand...

"Motorcycles, which are a small subset of all motor vehicles, are greatly overrepresented in fatal crashes in the United States. The death rate per registered motorcycle (59 per 100,000) is more than three times the death rate per registered passenger car (17 per 100,000). Death rates calculated per vehicle, however, do not take into account the substantially lower mileage traveled by motorcycles. Per mile traveled, the death rate for motorcycles is estimated to be 22 times higher than the comparable death rate for passenger cars."

"The motorcycle fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is about 20 times that of passenger cars. Motorcycle operator error was identified as a contributing factor in 76 percent of fatal crashes involving motorcycles in 1994."

Analysis of Fatal Motorcycle Crashes: Crash Typing from FARS Data by David Preusser, et al (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 N Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201; ph 703-247-1500) (July 1994) [HE 5616.5 .P7]

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/PPSC/Research/june95.htm

maximus otter
 
My wife's son from a previous marriage was killed when he was 16 by going off the road and hitting a tree. My youngest son, also from a previous marriage, was killed when he was going too fast and tried passing on the right. He hit a parked station wagon killing him instantly. He was 25 and left two babies.
I see close calls way too often by people on motorcycles. It's a wonder there isn't more deaths.
On the other hand if I were younger and could hold one up I would love to have a bike.
You not only have to watch yourself, you have to watch everyone else on the road as well!:grumpy: :(
 
One thing I have to say about bike riders...
they lose the fear of crashing while driving a car...
 
Ashes said:
My sister is a physical therapist and she says the worst (and most) injuries she comes across are from motorcycle accidents. Thanks to hearing her stories, I don't think I'll ever ride one again!

If you do though, just be as safe as you can. Wear a helmet and proper clothing and don't go too fast. (Obvious stuff, but still do it!)

~ashes
Click to expand...
I agree with Ashes, I have been plowed into by cars twice, been rammed sideways by another bike going 55mph that drug me 30 feet,knocked me out and couldn't walk for a week. I got back on after I recovered. Other than that it's fun. Watch your bike if you get another one, we had an attempted break in at 4:30am to get our HD out of the garage... police said 5 were stolen that night.
 
Cindy Denning said:
Watch your bike if you get another one, we had an attempted break in at 4:30am to get our HD out of the garage... police said 5 were stolen that night.
Click to expand...
Did you have a knife handy to stab the thief? :eek: :p
 
My best friend is dead because of his motorcycle. Enough said.
 
Our own Blilious was killed in a motorcycle accident. When I was working ambulances and ER's, I saw lots of very seriously injured people who were in motorcycle wrecks. :(
 
I've been riding since I was 7, I'm currently 44, I've lost friends to motorcycle accidents, and walked away from a few myself.

Motorcycles are inherently dangerous, but can be driven safely, wear the proper gear, pay attention to everyone around you and drive like everyone is out to kill you.

Riding take practice and skill, I see kids, 17 years old riding motorcycles that are able to reach speeds in excess of 160 MPH, these bikes are designed to race on a closed course where there are no telephone poles, railroad tracks, pot holes or cage drivers on the same road.

People die in planes, cars, boats, motorcycles and walking across the street, so in answer to you question, motorcycles in and of themselves are not dangerous, it's the people on and around them that can be.

On a final note I have a friend who had ridden nearly as long as I have, he's traveled by bike cross country 4 times, in all that time he's walked away from 12 accidents.

He finally gave up riding 2 years ago, I asked him, "What took you so long?", he said,"13 is my unlucky number so I quit before it was too late."
 
Talk to anyone who works in an ER, ask them what they think about this. I think "organ donor" will be mentioned.

If you ride a motorcycle you will have a motorcycle wreck, and chances are very good that you will get messed up.

That said, there are few things I have enjoyed more than driving my friend's old Triumph around on the Appalachian Parkway.
 
nifrand said:
...Carefullyer
Click to expand...
:D

I used to believe that everyone should get a motorcycle licence first when they learn to drive, this will accomplish several things at the same time.

1) It teaches the driver that everything on the road is bigger than you and there by more dangerous, hence you learn to maneuver, and pay close attention to your surroundings.

2) If your a bad driver it'll get you off the road quicker,(I don't mean they should get killed in an accident, although when I conceived this idea that was my belief) there by keeping the bad drivers of the road.

3) When you do pass the test for you auto licence you will be more aware of other bikers on the road there by making it safer for bikers on the road.

JMHO :)
 
The motorcycle is not dangerous, neither is riding one. The danger lies with the rider and his attitude. Those who ride recklessly, endangers not only their own life but others as well.

If you ride carefully, and take all the necessary precautions, it should be as safe as crossing the street. It's much more pleasurable too. I have riding a bike for about 30 years. Love every minute of it.
 
I'm with golok on this. I don't have a lot of experience with motorcycles and haven't ridden in years but my two accidents (fortunately minor without serious injury) were caused by 1 - rider inexperienced and pushing it a bit too far and 2 - rider intoxicated. Both mistakes could have turned out a lot worse.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top