| Author | Message | ||
     Buellinachinashop |
Interesting article in Sunday's Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel. Due to the increase in motorcycle deaths in riders over 40 and with the involvement in alcohol, it looks like the MSF is going to be doing a new safety study that may impact laws such as the helmet law. http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=632867 | ||
| Diablobrian |
I'm happy to hear that they are adding funds to the national study instead of trying to fund another study themselves. The "Hurt report" is extremely out of date and the data collected has almost no bearing on what is happening today. Oh yeah, as someone who has been held together literally by leathers and soft tissue...ATGATT That is: All the gear all the time. You are at the greatest risk on the short rides where your guard is down. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I was shocked to see the ages of almost half the fatalities. 40+. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm glad they are doing more study, and look forward to the data. I bet my key take home conclusions from the Hurt report will still stand though: 1) Drinking any alcohol and riding is stupid. 2) Having dirt experience and riding is smart. 3) Getting safe experience and training is smart. 4) New riders on big bikes is stupid. 5) Riders that make bad decisions off the bike (no insurance, no license, etc) make bad decisions on the bike. 6) People riding race replica bikes (provided they actually ride them) crash a lot. The one big change they will probably find is that young people used to be mostly stupid, and older people used to be fairly smart. Now I think more young people are smarter, and more old people are stupid... if you know what I mean... and age has a lot less to do with accident rates these days. All IMHO of course, but I bet I'm right. | ||
| Slaughter |
I think a motorcycle-oriented group like MSF conducting the research MIGHT be a good thing - rather than some other advocacy group with some "safety" points to make to the general public. The stats tell me more that Darwinism is NOT effective. By time of death, they're past prime breeding age. Amazing that such a large percentage are without helmets and under the influence. I won't overstate the obvious. | ||
| Jaimec |
I'd question #6... and I don't remember anything in the Hurt Report pointing anything out like that either. There was a very POORLY run study done by the IIHS in the 80's that started with the conclusion that liter bikes were more dangerous, and then they went after the data to prove the foregone conclusion. The AMA had a field day with that! Jess Kraus was the author of that fiasco if I recall correctly. Older riders are often "returnees" who figure they don't have anything to learn. Then, they just buy the biggest bikes they can (because they have the money and can afford it) and go show it off to their drinking buddies (Can you say "RUB?"). Younger riders are getting their licenses through State training programs so they're getting on the road right. My thoughts as a former MSF Instructor (certified in 1990, lost certification this year due to inactivity). | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"6) People riding race replica bikes (provided they actually ride them) crash a lot." If younger riders are those buying crotch rockets, and I believe they are, then you'd be right. I thought I read tword the end of the article that younger fatalities are speed related. | ||
| Rainman |
Younger fatalities tend to be speed related, if I remember my stats correctly and Jamiec hit it with the old guys (my age) coming back into bikes and buying Road Kings and stratoliners. No one wants to start out with a 750 anymore, especially over the age of 50 and that's a problem. | ||
| Eboos |
Most cruiser riders don't give much of any thought to safety gear. They seem to feel it isn't necessary since they arn't "going fast". | ||
| Diablobrian |
A lot of cruiser riders actually ridicule those that wear more than the bare minimum required by law. I've actually been told "If you're a good enough rider you don't need it" by a guy in a novelty helmet (Missouri is a helmet law state). It actually turns my stomach to see what some people go riding in. They have far more faith in everyone else on the road than I do. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
I went into Hartford Harley Davidson this past saturday morning wanting to look for 2007 V-Rod closeouts. As I walked in one of the service guys was walking away laughing saying....."Nice helmet, where's the race today?" I give alot of credit to the guy on the sales floor, he said.."don't listen to him, he'll be dead soon." | ||
| Ceejay |
From what I've noticed, the folks who aren't wearing a helmet have never been in an accident-hopefully they can continue to feel that way. Ohio doesn't have a helmet law after six months of having your license-could be part of the problem-nobody wants to look like the new guy. But like DBrian stated, people around here look like they are going to the beach(the closest decent beach is about 2.5 hrs away) | ||
| Macbuell |
It doesn't surprise me that a high number of motorcycle related fatalities are for people over 40. You have a lot of baby boomers that are buying their first motorcycle and they are buying big cruisers that handle like crap, brake horrible which makes for a bad combination when it comes to accident avoidance. Add in inexperience and then lack of proper gear and it all adds up. Oh, and add on top of that the fact that many riders now like to go on "Poker Runs" which to me is just another name for a pub crawl and that's just stupid on a motorcycle. (Message edited by MACBuell on July 17, 2007) | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Here in Wisconsin, Poker Runs are weekly events. One bar to the next. Its like snowmobiling but more dangerous. Its my choice to wear protective gear and not ride drunk or impared. I hate to say this, but in some cases there's people who need choices made for them. That's the sad part. | ||
| Swampy |
I'll be riding in a memorial poker run the end of this month. Go ahead and ask how the two went deceased....any guesses.....drinking and riding. Why I am going.....I guess I can show my kids that in the midst of all the mayhem, you can still have fun being sober. Another is the family treats me very well. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Don't get me wrong Swamp, I like the premise and the thought behind Poker Runs, I just don't like the sloppy mess they can become. | ||
| Diablobrian |
You know the part that confuses most people? I am anti helmet law, but pro (full face) helmet. I do not believe common sense should be legislated to us. | ||
| Blake |
"By time of death, they're past prime breeding age." Speak for thyne own self.  | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Iam guilty of riding without a helmet. It should be your own choice. It was my choice to own a bike, should be my choice how I ride it. However, I wont ride again without a helmet and gear after learning my lesson the hard way. Some people need to be taught or learn the hard way. An education no matter how taught is very valuable. Poker runs are just another reason to go drinking around here. Been on quite a few but never drank. Only do the ones with meaning. IE Memorials or MDA runs. Guys that get back into riding are usually the ones that do buy the biggest bike and think it'll never happen to me. EGO! That being said, if I get approached by a younger person, I always try to steer them the right way. As an older biker I feel its my duty. Can only hope whatever I teach them will sink in and make them a better rider. And this scar is from........MAN DID THAT HURT! Not a matter of if you'll crash but when. | ||
| Jaimec |
Odd... we have poker runs here all the time, yet drinking is never a part of them. I guess because (at least the ones I attend) are all AMA-Sanctioned... and in order to get that sanction there is a strict "no alcohol" policy. Of course, that won't stop a few hammerheads from drinking along the way, but they didn't get it from the organizers. |
