interesting read

[gossman_imp]

http://www.iii.org/issue-update/motorcyc...o.facebook

[emptysea]

Thanks for this. I am an insurance agent and this will be very useful to my clients...and not just the two-wheeled ones.

[Cormanus]

It's an interesting read indeed.

[Henrik_imp]

I am actually surprised with the number of states that do not have a universal helmet law. I thought there were only a handful of states left where you could ride without a helmet, but it turns out to be a majority, at least if you are over 20.

Helmet laws always remind me of when I was in Vietnam when they brought in a helmet law. For those who have been to Vietnam, you will know that the roads are covered with millions of riders mostly on small bikes like Honda Super Cubs and scooters. Well, the day I arrived in Hanoi, there was not a single rider with a helmet as far as I could see. The following day the law took effect, and there was not a single rider NOT wearing a helmet as far as you could see.

[metallyguitarded_imp]

I read that article with great interest, trying to mentally check off the factors that lessened my risk of dying. Helmet? Check. Speed? Well...half check. Age? Darn, not looking too good. Not as bad as over 60 but you're telling me those young kids who the article describes as preferring super sports are less likely to die?? The knuckle heads I see going triple digits and weaving in and out of traffic during rush hour?? Riding between 9pm and midnight? I'll give myself a 3/4 check for this one. I try not to ride during those hours but it happens.

Another concern of mine - I ride the brand of motorcycle most stolen, in the state with the greatest number of motorcycle thefts, in the city with the third greatest number of thefts. I'm hoping interest lies more with the CBR and thieves are much less likely to steal what they view as grandpa's bike. With such a small presence on the moto landscape, there can't be much of a market for stolen CB1100 parts (or bikes for that matter).

[AndyHe_imp]

I found this section interesting:

"Antilock Braking Systems (ABS): ... The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) said in March 2010 that motorcycles with antilock brakes versus those without are 37 percent less likely to be in fatal crashes. The IIHS’s affiliate, the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), found that collision claims were filed 23 percent less often for antilock-equipped motorcycles than for the same models without antilock brakes. Medical claims related to riders’ injuries were 34 percent less frequent than with bikes that did not have antilock brakes. HLDI studied ABS and non-ABS versions of 22 motorcycles from the 2003-2012 model years. In addition the 2012 analysis found that motorcyclists with antilock brakes were 30 percent less likely to have a collision claim within the first 90 days of a policy and 19 percent less likely afterward."

ABS is the chief reason I went with the EX model. I know many people think that ABS isn't all that great on a bike and I'm not trying to open a can of worms here but it's interesting to see the numbers.

[OldF7Guy_imp]

I read that article with great interest, trying to mentally check off the factors that lessened my risk of dying. Helmet? Check. Speed? Well...half check. Age? Darn, not looking too good. Not as bad as over 60 but you're telling me those young kids who the article describes as preferring super sports are less likely to die?? The knuckle heads I see going triple digits and weaving in and out of traffic during rush hour?? Riding between 9pm and midnight? I'll give myself a 3/4 check for this one. I try not to ride during those hours but it happens.

Another concern of mine - I ride the brand of motorcycle most stolen, in the state with the greatest number of motorcycle thefts, in the city with the third greatest number of thefts. I'm hoping interest lies more with the CBR and thieves are much less likely to steal what they view as grandpa's bike. With such a small presence on the moto landscape, there can't be much of a market for stolen CB1100 parts (or bikes for that matter).

I am surprised by this as well. I know for a fact I am a smarter, and more careful rider and much more alert than I was at 20 or 25 years old. Plus, back then we didnt have 150 hp missiles to ride. We thought a 60 hp 650 was the end all. Not sure was is killing the older guys at a higher rate. Slower reflexes come to mind but that is kinda weak. Young guys here on crotch rockets run the living daylight out of them and will scare you half to death when they pass you.

[redbirds_imp]

I read that article with great interest, trying to mentally check off the factors that lessened my risk of dying. Helmet? Check. Speed? Well...half check. Age? Darn, not looking too good. Not as bad as over 60 but you're telling me those young kids who the article describes as preferring super sports are less likely to die?? The knuckle heads I see going triple digits and weaving in and out of traffic during rush hour?? Riding between 9pm and midnight? I'll give myself a 3/4 check for this one. I try not to ride during those hours but it happens.

Another concern of mine - I ride the brand of motorcycle most stolen, in the state with the greatest number of motorcycle thefts, in the city with the third greatest number of thefts. I'm hoping interest lies more with the CBR and thieves are much less likely to steal what they view as grandpa's bike. With such a small presence on the moto landscape, there can't be much of a market for stolen CB1100 parts (or bikes for that matter).

I am surprised by this as well. I know for a fact I am a smarter, and more careful rider and much more alert than I was at 20 or 25 years old. Plus, back then we didnt have 150 hp missiles to ride. We thought a 60 hp 650 was the end all. Not sure was is killing the older guys at a higher rate. Slower reflexes come to mind but that is kinda weak. Young guys here on crotch rockets run the living daylight out of them and will scare you half to death when they pass you.

So many of the 60+ riders are actually "newbies". Most of my acquaintance, are newly retired and have either never ridden before or not since their youth. The kids are grown and now they want to enjoy the things that have been denied to them by obligations of work and family life. Instead of starting small with a 250 and some basic training they go to the local Harley dealer and buy the biggest cruiser on the floor. It's only reasonable to presume that this is not a good plan.

[DGShannon_imp]

I read that article with great interest, trying to mentally check off the factors that lessened my risk of dying. Helmet? Check. Speed? Well...half check. Age? Darn, not looking too good. Not as bad as over 60 but you're telling me those young kids who the article describes as preferring super sports are less likely to die?? The knuckle heads I see going triple digits and weaving in and out of traffic during rush hour?? Riding between 9pm and midnight? I'll give myself a 3/4 check for this one. I try not to ride during those hours but it happens.

Another concern of mine - I ride the brand of motorcycle most stolen, in the state with the greatest number of motorcycle thefts, in the city with the third greatest number of thefts. I'm hoping interest lies more with the CBR and thieves are much less likely to steal what they view as grandpa's bike. With such a small presence on the moto landscape, there can't be much of a market for stolen CB1100 parts (or bikes for that matter).

I am surprised by this as well. I know for a fact I am a smarter, and more careful rider and much more alert than I was at 20 or 25 years old. Plus, back then we didnt have 150 hp missiles to ride. We thought a 60 hp 650 was the end all. Not sure was is killing the older guys at a higher rate. Slower reflexes come to mind but that is kinda weak. Young guys here on crotch rockets run the living daylight out of them and will scare you half to death when they pass you.

So many of the 60+ riders are actually "newbies". Most of my acquaintance, are newly retired and have either never ridden before or not since their youth. The kids are grown and now they want to enjoy the things that have been denied to them by obligations of work and family life. Instead of starting small with a 250 and some basic training they go to the local Harley dealer and buy the biggest cruiser on the floor. It's only reasonable to presume that this is not a good plan.

Exactly! That skews the statistics as a bunch of old farts, that have never been on a bike in their life, suddenly want to cross off an item on their bucket list. So, down to the Harley dealer they go, and buy way too much bike.

Witnessed it a few month back, as an old guy on a loaded out bagger, with wife on the back, started around one of the few traffic circles we have in the Houston area. Kept creeping to the outside, because he had no skill to turn the beast, hit the curb, and off into the grass they both went. Narrowly missed slamming into a fire hydrant. No business on a bike by himself, much less with someone on the back.

Maybe I am just as stupid as he, but I keep telling myself that my 40+ years of riding experience are to my advantage, as opposed to my age being a detriment.

[metallyguitarded_imp]

I read that article with great interest, trying to mentally check off the factors that lessened my risk of dying. Helmet? Check. Speed? Well...half check. Age? Darn, not looking too good. Not as bad as over 60 but you're telling me those young kids who the article describes as preferring super sports are less likely to die?? The knuckle heads I see going triple digits and weaving in and out of traffic during rush hour?? Riding between 9pm and midnight? I'll give myself a 3/4 check for this one. I try not to ride during those hours but it happens.

Another concern of mine - I ride the brand of motorcycle most stolen, in the state with the greatest number of motorcycle thefts, in the city with the third greatest number of thefts. I'm hoping interest lies more with the CBR and thieves are much less likely to steal what they view as grandpa's bike. With such a small presence on the moto landscape, there can't be much of a market for stolen CB1100 parts (or bikes for that matter).

I am surprised by this as well. I know for a fact I am a smarter, and more careful rider and much more alert than I was at 20 or 25 years old. Plus, back then we didnt have 150 hp missiles to ride. We thought a 60 hp 650 was the end all. Not sure was is killing the older guys at a higher rate. Slower reflexes come to mind but that is kinda weak. Young guys here on crotch rockets run the living daylight out of them and will scare you half to death when they pass you.

So many of the 60+ riders are actually "newbies". Most of my acquaintance, are newly retired and have either never ridden before or not since their youth. The kids are grown and now they want to enjoy the things that have been denied to them by obligations of work and family life. Instead of starting small with a 250 and some basic training they go to the local Harley dealer and buy the biggest cruiser on the floor. It's only reasonable to presume that this is not a good plan.

Exactly! That skews the statistics as a bunch of old farts, that have never been on a bike in their life, suddenly want to cross off an item on their bucket list. So, down to the Harley dealer they go, and buy way too much bike.

Witnessed it a few month back, as an old guy on a loaded out bagger, with wife on the back, started around one of the few traffic circles we have in the Houston area. Kept creeping to the outside, because he had no skill to turn the beast, hit the curb, and off into the grass they both went. Narrowly missed slamming into a fire hydrant. No business on a bike by himself, much less with someone on the back.

Maybe I am just as stupid as he, but I keep telling myself that my 40+ years of riding experience are to my advantage, as opposed to my age being a detriment.

I tend to agree with you. At some point, the detriments of age will surpass the advantages of experience. I hope that I'll know when that day comes and I hang up my helmet before I learn this truth the hard way.