With yet another summer of record gas prices looming just over the horizon, more and more Americans are turning in their wheels... or at least a couple of them. Sales of motorcycles and scooters are up 8 percent over 2005, and according to the American Motorcycle Association, 35 percent of its members intend to ride more this summer because of gas prices.
Of course, it's probably possible to poke a mathematical hole into this rationale with but a few pecks at the ol' calculator, unless one chooses only the most frugal of two-wheeled conveyances (and a look at the best-selling list, full of Harleys, indicates that this is definitely not the case). According to one dealer, "People are looking for reasons to justify that want, and gas prices do that." Not like there's anything wrong with that, of course; we'd just be a lot happier if new riders would get some training before hitting the streets so that the annual death rate reverses its decade-long ugly trend.

 

alot of the cycle wrecks I have seen are do to the bike riders fault. Either going over the speed limit, following to close, improper lane use, drinking or just plain not learning how to ride good enough before they really hit the road. Flame on

 

No, that's pretty much dead on. I have proof...

Motorcycles are really nice, but listen... if you can have an accident in a car, you can have an accident on a motorcycle. Maybe one with a car, which is obviously gonna win, and usually really badly for the cycle rider, but even due to freakish circumstances, like gravel you don't see, or a slick spot... all kinds of ways.

You are, in effect, naked on a bike. There's no protecting you from your circumstances. Cars are built today to protect you as much as possible from anything that's been experienced and can be dealt with. Airbags, crumplezones, 5 MPH bumpers... seat belts... all that kind of stuff. Whereas a motorcycle has none of these things. Well, I hear they have ABS now, which is good, I suppose.

Now, does all that discourage me? No. But anyone who uses motorcycles takes a calculated risk *every* time they ride, regardless of training. Anyone who says otherwise is being ignorant or stupid, and anyone who tries to argue against THAT is just plain stubborn or *really* stupid. Facts and statistics do not lie.

Even still... I want to ride, and I will. I won't live in a cave forever.

Keep the shiny side up, but dress like you're gonna have a get off anyway. I'm glad I did. Almost worked... (full face helmets are now a must, thanks.)

 

No need to flame you, you're correct. A lot of cycle wrecks are caused by dumb decisions of the rider. However, the majority of motorcycle - vehicle accidents are the fault of the car driver as proven by almost every statistic I've seen. The most common excuse - I didn't see him.

 

yeah, most bike wrecks that involve more than the single rider is the other person's fault. cars love to pull out in front of motorcycles. nice advice houtex, dress for the wreck, not for the ride; another of my favorites, sweat wipes off, road rash doesnt

that being said, I want a bike, but I'm going to start with a MSF course, then buy gear, then a small bike to start off

 

People think I'm nuts, because regardless of temp I ride w/ my helmet, jeans, boots, and an armored leather coat. I've had the unfortunate experience of getting intimite with a Hyundai (his fault btw), and I was lucky enough to learn my lesson and ride w/ appropriate gear now. (including loud pipes )

 

Gas Prices????
I spend less on gas for my Stang in a year than it would cost to buy a used moped.
Even my DD uses only $1000 of gas per year at today's prices.
You drive bike because you want to drive a bike.
Around here that's only 8 months a year max anyway.

 

Moving to General Vehicle Discussion, but will leave link . . .

 

Can you post some of those stats or at least a link to those stats. Thanks. I am going off personal experence and what I have seen and heard from friends and family. My best friend and wife's cousin both their fault both dead. My Father not his fault but dead just the same. More recently a guy my daughter works with dead not his fault. So many others where is was the bikers fault most were going over the posted limit. I can see where a lot of cars didn't see the biker because the biker was going over the limit which never seems to be part of the stats. It would be hard to prove any way. By the time the car driver seen them it was to late for the biker.

Not arguing your point I'm sure your right.

 

I've seen some posted before at hdforums.com and xlforum.net, but I haven't frequented either site in a while and w/ my job currently (handling insurance claims 12hrs/day from Ike) I won't have time to search real soon. But, I'll shoot you a PM if I come across the info.

 

I'm glad to see that more people are riding. It raises awareness of the general population of drivers and forces them to pay more attention. Good for everybody....car drivers included. Also, some bikes may or may not get better mileage than any particular car(mine gets 50 mpg), but they still use less resources overall. They contain fewer plastics, metals, etc. to produce and they cause less wear and tear on the roadways. Here in the northwest, you can ride about 8-9 months of the year and be pretty sure you won't encounter ice on the road. You do have to be ok with riding in the rain though.

As for poor driving, that has very little to do with what vehicle you choose to drive. You're alot more likely to pay big for a mistake on a bike though, which is why I always wear protective gear over all my joints and vital organs.

 

I believe that there are instances where a motorcycle/car collision is outside of the motorcycle's control. BUT, I believe the majority of them could have been avoided by the motorcycle. Everytime I hear about a motorcycle crash and get all the info, I ask the question "what did they do wrong/what should they have done". Usually you can find one or more actions that would have let them avoid the accident.

Yes, if I continue to ride I know I will be involved in an accident, but I try my best to make sure that it's difficult as it can be for that to happen.

 

Why do you think I'm building a motorcycle lol