Some interesting and disturbing figures

[Cormanus]

There's no helmet law in my state, which I'm fine with. It's common to see stereotypical "lifestyle bikers" cruise past without a helmet (or any other gear for that matter), but I'm always astounded when a helmetless guy flies by on a Goldwing or BMW. Certainly, these guys should know better, shouldn't they?

[GoldOxide_imp]

I give up trying to understand. I just don't want to be near an incident where the riding group has to clean up the pumpkin seeds.

[peterbaron]

Exactly ^

[Stichill_imp]

As others have said, it's demographics as far as the number of fatalities vs. age group.

I attempted to follow the "under 29" cohort from 1978 and project them forward every decade.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Hmmm, don't like that 50+ age group trend.

* Could it be because we still "think" we are 30 and can handle the bike like in our youth?
* Or, many buy large bore, high torque Lazy Boy models and fail to react (and clearly see with aging eyes) to situations that need nimble responses?
* We are retired people who ride, simply pile on the mileage thus increasing the probability of an incident?

However, the statistic is death. It would be interesting what the stat looks like for just injured?

[Pauley]

Great set of stats. I like it. Thanks for posting.

I think the groupings of engine displacement are not well thought out. Maybe <500, 500-999, 1000-1400, >1400 would tell a more complete story; 0-1000 cc just lumps together too many interesting factors. Also, grouping standards and cruisers together sort of offends my sensibilities .

[GoldOxide_imp]

Speaking to other riders, there is those 50+ who continue to demand the Gold Wing. Certainly there is familiarity, ego, and the option to choose the convenience of a Dual Clutch Transmission. You have others choose HDs, and still others using reliable sport touring models.

But I have noticed some now considering 750 cc and under as their way out of riding. Many have been eye'ing 500 cc. I find this somewhat "new", but understandable if the 50+ demographic does not want to give up riding totally, but to size down appropriately.

[offroadfx4_imp]

Another statistic that boggles the mind....about 7000 people die in the U.S.every day.

I just try to block most of it out, but I do find my motorcycle prevention strategies carrying over to my cager habits....drives my wife crazy ;-)

[GoldOxide_imp]

Ha! She should be grateful.

My first license was for car. My first vehicle was, reluctantly at the time, a used motorcycle (due to extreme budget constraints). I thought, what the heck have I got myself into? (all my friends were driving mommy/daddy's car). I thought, ugh, gotta get from point A to point B. However, I took it seriously and did riding school and adopted all the good habits right into my automobile driving habits. No regrets. All my passengers, both bike and car, no regrets.

Feel good. Be safe. Be happy!

[Stichill_imp]

As a guy who started riding at 49 and is now 56, I'm probably not representative of most riders my age. Most riders my age have probably been riding since they were younger or returned to riding later in life.

As a new rider, I approached the challenge of learning to ride very comprehensively. For me it was less about the acquisition of mechanical riding skills than it was about understanding safe road strategy. I was fortunate to be mentored by some very competent and safe lifelong riders where I work who take safe riding very seriously. I read numerous books and resources about safe riding and riding proficiency and watched hours of DVD and YouTube safe riding videos before I even thought about enrolling in an MSF course. I did not even purchase a motorcycle until after I'd successfully completed the MSF course.

So, while an advantage to starting young might be better eyesight and quicker reflexes, an advantage of starting older might be a more studied, methodical approach to the craft of riding. I'm not sure that that advantage necessarily follows a guy who started young without every really learning about motorcycle dynamics or safe road strategy, but has nevertheless accumulated substantial miles and years of riding experience on the road in the ensuing decades. I think it might be these riders who encounter elevated risk as they age: the advantages of youth are gone but they never really acquired fundamental safe riding techniques and strategies. As an anecdotal example, when I was in my first month of riding a lifelong rider knowingly cautioned me: "Only use your rear brake. If you use the front brake, it's very likely to cause you to wreck."

I'm now entering my seventh year of riding and I'm confident that I'm riding at lower-than-average risk by avoiding / eliminating the known risk factors. I do have proper training, I am familiar with how to operate my motorcycle, I do avoid riding at night, I do not drink and ride, I do understand how to safely negotiate a curve, and I do practice emergency braking.

All that being said, I can tell that age does work against a rider. Reactions are not lightning-quick. Eyesight is not optimal. Attention lapses occasionally. Securing the chin strap is sometimes forgotten. Fatigue sets in earlier.

Regarding bike size/weight vs. age, I think this has more relevance in terms of low-speed handling and maneuvering. There are a lot of guys on the F800riders.org forum who are well past 70 and have down-sized to the 800cc bikes from the larger 1200cc models to feel more confident moving the bike around in the garage and managing it at low speeds or at stoplights.