Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Led to Increase in Overall Highway Fatality Rate in 2005.

[sailordave]

I can think of several reasons for an increase in motorcycle fatalities.
1. inexperienced riders heading out on the road with little to no formal training
2. inexperienced riders heading out on the road riding a crotch rocket and riding like they're in a motogt race
3. inexperienced riders riding on a bike too big for their lack of skills
4. inexperienced riders riding without proper protection
5. increased cell phone use while driving-talking and texting while driving
6. selfish, arrogant, egotistical, drivers who think they own the road and ignore the traffic around them
The list could go on and on

If I decided to get a two wheel vehicle I'd probably start with a high powered moped capable of going a little more than 55mph to drive to and from work only. I'd then move up to a roadster starter bike. I'm a laid back kind of driver so I'd never get a crotch rocket and any parent that chooses to buy one for their teenager should also invest in a cemetary plot and a casket for that same teenager.

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by worthywads

Simplton solution, ban black leather protection.

If you don't know enough to make yourself visible on a motorcycle, you shouldn't be riding.

How hard is it to choose a white full-face helmet rather than a black one? Or worse yet, a black beanie helmet?

Jeff Dean sums it up better than I can: http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/opinions.htm


Harry

[worthywads]

Originally Posted by Earthling

If you don't know enough to make yourself visible on a motorcycle, you shouldn't be riding.

How hard is it to choose a white full-face helmet rather than a black one? Or worse yet, a black beanie helmet?

Jeff Dean sums it up better than I can: http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/opinions.htm


Harry

I didn't bother reading through the entire Jeff Dean site trying to figure out your point. You apparently have an opinion, please articulate.

As it stand you are doing a good job of insulting bikers that wear black leather, good luck taking your case beyond your keyboard.

[Chuck]

Again, can we take it easy on this thread too?

I bet we can present our viewpoints somewhat less abrasively.

[Earthling]

Originally Posted by worthywads

You apparently have an opinion, please articulate.

I saw a guy on a motorcycle today, Father's day, giving his daughter a ride. He was dressed in black from head-to-toe. Low-beam headlight, he was riding along, making no effort to be visible to other motorists.

My opinion? Jeez, do I have to draw a picture? I gave you a link to an excellent article, complete with photographs, by a long-time motorcyclist, with excellent advice on motorcycle safety.

My opinion, if you can't deduce it by now, is that motorcyclists have to put effort into their own safety. As a first step, they have to stop making themselves invisible to traffic by choosing black helmets and black apparel. A study shows that switching to a white helmet reduces a motorcyclist's accident rate by 24 percent.

How am I insulting motorcyclists by offering them valid advice on survival out on the mean streets? Anyone who takes offense is obviously being defensive, and has his own attitude problem.

Look, I don't really care how many bikers get in wrecks; I'm primarily interested in looking out for number one. I've had excellent results by putting effort into riding safely, and I recommend all motorcyclists, especially new ones, do the same.

Study the Dean web page. The vocabulary isn't that tough, and it isn't a long read.

Riding motorcycles on public roads is dangerous, but can be made safer with effort. I look around, and I see that the vast majority of bikers are not putting in that effort.

My advice is aimed at new bikers, those who choose to ride to save gas, and for other reasons.

Ride safe.

Harry

[Earthling]

Worthywads, if you don't ride a motorcycle, what are you doing in this thread?

Harry

[worthywads]

Originally Posted by Earthling

The rising death rate is easily explained by older riders wanting to impress people by riding dressed in black from head-to-toe (the worst thing you can do on a bike), wearing fake beanie helmets, with low-beam headlights, with no training, on bikes too large for them, who have no clue what counter-steering is, and don't have enough sense to use both brakes. Instead, they panic, lock up the rear brake, and slide into trees, guardrails, etc. Ignorance kills more bikers than anything else, and there is an overabundance of it out there.

Bikers are their own worst enemies, although most car/bike collisions are the fault of the car drivers. But dressing all in black like a ninja assassin or cat burglar is the dumbest thing you can do, and is what all the bikers dudes are trying to portray as their testosterone-soaked image.

Harry

My point is even if you are correct in it being so easily explained by the more than half dozen different things listed above besides wearing black you aren't going to win any converters by telling someone to there face you think they are trying to be a ninja assassin or cat burglar or testosterone soaked. Worst and dumbest are very subjective and can be considered insulting too.

By your logic no one here that doesn't own an SUV can comment in SUVs related threads. My abrasive comments to you are relevent to your abrasive approach, which doesn't have anything to do with whether I ride or not.

[Chuck]

I'll admit to being more than a little amused by the bikers dressed like cat burglar or ninja assassin, but please let this discussion take a higher road and be less gritty if you know what I mean.

[worthywads]

Originally Posted by Delta Flyer

I'll admit to being more than a little amused by the bikers dressed like cat burglar or ninja assassin, but please let this discussion take a higher road and be less gritty if you know what I mean.

Sorry, I see my approach to letting Earthling know that others might find his comments unfriendly hasn't worked well. Must stick to the facts.

[Chuck]

I was saying Earthing could be less abrasive in a diplomatic way, but worthwads - please also play nice.