Motorcycle Safety Primer

[Administrator]

Motorcycling has always been about fun and without a doubt it can be a blast, but it’s not a video game, or a trip to an over-safety-engineered amusement park.

Like a lot of higher-stakes adrenaline rushes, riding is a measured gambit, and one to always maintain a healthy respect for. But most people know this already, so what is there to talk about right? Wrong.

Even the best riders crash. Sometimes it is their fault. Sometimes not. Does it really matter if you or someone you care about goes down and gets hurt? Sure it matters on one level, but even more important is ensuring it does not happen in the first place – or if it does anyway, you are as prepared as possible.

Unlike automobile driving, motorcycling involves far more variables to pay attention to. These include details involved with protecting yourself, improving your ability and focus, making sure your machine is in good working order, and watching out for the other driver.

Riding takes more skills and focus than driving a car, and the penalty for getting it wrong is usually more severe. As such, we’ll hit some of the high spots to stay mindful of.

Gear

Though most states don't require you to wear one, we can't think of a good idea not to put on a helmet when you ride.

Nearly two-thirds of American states now require no helmet for most riders, or certified motorcycle-specific clothing. It may be your right not to wear these, but never is it a good idea.

All sanctioned racing requires full coverage helmets that meet minimum certification standards, and head-to-toe protection. If the pros know the gear serves a life-saving purpose, doesn’t that suggest everyday riders should follow their example?

True, it can be tempting on a hot day to forget the leather or textile, but why take that chance? There is gear made for every climate from cold weather to super hot.

Road rash and broken bones are serious business, as many an experienced rider can tell you. With no crash cage around you, and the increased likelihood of one day hitting the ground or another immovable object, why risk it?


More: Motorcycle Safety Primer on Motorcycle.com

[Jag30]

Good words of wisdom.

[medic3825]

Great Post !!

[2011MatteOrange]

Yes it Sure is!

[Shorty Steve]

Great article, and it covers things most riders don't know.
I retake the MSF course every 5 years to keep sharp, and yes I proudly wear the patch on the front of my leathers.

[Exredninjaguy]

I never got a patch

[Glock-45]

Very good article with words of wisdom.....

[StPeteAPB]

Great conversation starter. But, I don't agree with comparing motorcycle racing gear requirements to what we do/need on the street. Yes, when a motorcycle goes down, more chances than not the rider will get hurt. But, you cannot compare motorcycle racing to street cruising the same way you cannot compare Indy 500 racing to driving a car.

I am not arguing against helmets, so please don't take my words this way. What I'd rather see is a statistic that shows the severities of injuries suffered with or w/o a helmet in an accident.

Per this article Deadly motorcycle accident statistics:

• Per registered vehicle, the fatality rate for both motorcycle operators and passengers is 5.5 times higher than that for passenger car occupants

• Per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are about 35 times more likely to die in a car crash than people traveling in passenger cars.

• During 2007, 50% of all fatal motorcycle crashes involved collisions with another type of motor vehicle in transport. Of these two-vehicle crashes, 78% of motorcycles involved were struck from the front. Only 5% were struck from the rear.

• In 25% of fatal motorcycle crashes, the motorcyclists crashed into a fixed object like a telephone pole or a concrete abutment.

• Speeding was a factor in 36% of fatal motorcycle crashes during 2007. This compares with 24% for passenger cars, 19% for light trucks and 8% for large trucks.

• Florida (530), California (495) and Texas (375) had the highest number of motorcycle fatalities in 2007.

• The NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,784 motorcyclists from death in 2007. If all motorcyclists had worn helmets, an additional 800 lives could have been saved.

• Helmets are considered to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists. This means for every 100 motorcyclists killed in crashes while not wearing a helmet, 37 of them could have been saved had all 100 worn helmets.

• Sadly, use of motorcycle helmets in the U.S. has declined by 13 percentage points to 58% in 2007 from 71% in 2000.

Back to the helmet thing ... look at this this way:

You are gonna ride with a group of 99 other bikers and none of you are wearing helmets.
You're going riding for the next year around this great country of ours.
37 of you need to say your final farewells before you embark; 'cause you're not gonna make it back.

OK, that's a bit extreme, I know. But, it's much more compelling.

[2011MatteOrange]

I don't know about all the statistics... to me they are usually compiled by people who know nothing about riding, have never rode, or by young cops writing reports that are inexperienced in cycles in general so they can't accurately determine how it happened.

I've been in two mishaps, neither my fault. I blew a front tire on my Road king at 40. NOT sure why but it just came apart. I managed to keep the bike up until I stopped but broke my foot trying to keep it upright as I came to a stop.

secondly I got t-boned by a pick-up.

both accidents I was not wearing a helmet and I was fine... you'd be surprised just how well your body involuntary does what it has to to protect itself from head injury

I just consider every good ride a lucky ride. screw statistics!

[cypress]

Originally Posted by StPeteAPB

You are gonna ride with a group of 99 other bikers and none of you are wearing helmets.

You're going riding for the next year around this great country of ours.
37 of you need to say your final farewells before you embark; 'cause you're not gonna make it back.

OK, that's a bit extreme, I know. But, it's much more compelling.

What statistic supports the comment about 37 not making it back? I don't follow.