Topic: Accidents, why so many?

[sparty]

Guys,

Since the weather has grown better, I have seen a lot more bikes on the road this year than previously.  I have also seen or read about a increasing number of motorcycle accidents in my home area.  Over the past four weeks, we have had at least eight motorcycle rider deaths and many more injuries, some of them very serious head injuries.

Here is a quick list of some accidents I remember:

1. Rider - high speed - failed to negotiate a turn, result telephone pole impact - death
2. Rider and passenger - head on with a car - rider dead, passenger lost a leg
3. Rider - lost control on loose gravel, hit guard rail, no helmet, head injury
4. Rider - slow speed in a construction zone, car made U-turn into her path of travel, life flight to hospital, DOA, no helmet
5. Rider - sport bike, high speed in traffic, clipped a car, lost control hit another car, died at scene
6. Group of riders, two lost control and took out several other riders, all but one okay.  One guy, in coma, no helmet.
7. Rider lost control of new sport bike, launched himself into heavy traffic, crushed by a truck
8. rider and passenger, bike stalled in traffic, hit from behind and side, broken pelvis, ankle, and legs.

This and more in about a month.

What is going on?

Stay safe.

Sparty

[dusterdude]

i know it sucks but,all but 1 or 2 were rider error.

[nickjtc]

Improper attire. Who in their right mind rides without a helmet?

Lack of training.

Poor group riding etiquette (side by side rather than staggered).

And so it goes.

This is a recurring them at this time of year:

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=22035.msg227343#msg227343

[eldar]

I bet a lot of it is people getting too large a bike and not being able to handle it from not enough experience.
With gas prices, people are looking at bikes seriously now and so more are coming out than ever before but many buy big bikes cause they are told to by some other schmuck or they do not wear a helmet or take a rider class.  So with all the new riders, more accidents will happen.

[sparty]

I realize that, but are these guys and gals just newbies, or idiots?  Maybe a combination of both.  I am no angel, and I do use my bike's "power" now and again.  I guess that I coud become a statistic of rider error, but I think that my experience of 22 years of riding bikes, helps me out.  I started riding at 12 years old.  I slowly worked my way up to some vey powerful bikes, now it seems like I am working myself down.  

I remember reading in the new Motocyclist mag about a father who wrote that his son was riding for about six months and wanted a new CBR 600RR, the dad told him that he needed more seat time before he was ready for that bike.  His son bought the bike anyway and was killed on it not long after.

With many of today's bikes making insane power, I think that we fail to appreciate just how dangerous that power can be in the hands of a novice or beginner.  When I bought my first Ninja 600R in 1990, I was in no way prepared for the power that bike had, I was only 17 and thought that I was invincible.  Luck was on my side and my dad made me sell it before I hurt myself.

The neighbor's kid (18) just brought home a GSX-R 600 about three weeks ago.  He just completed the MSR course a few weeks before.  He already has about $1000 worth of speed accessories on it.  I am just waiting to see how long before he gets a ticket or in an accident.  

Tomorrow is bike night at the Lube.  I should video some of the crazies as they arrive and leave, some are just out of control.  This is what gives riders a bad image.

Sparty

[eldar]

Thats just it. A lot of this comes down to the rider not being able to handle the bike. Guys are real bad. It has to be the latest plastic or the biggest v-twin or they get this idea that their buddies and even people they will never talk too, will think they are not a man unless it is huge.kinda goes back to the whole penis envy thing I suppose. Women are usually put on whatever bike their man thinks they should ride.

[nickjtc]

Women are usually put on whatever bike their man thinks they should ride.

Too true. Although there is an ever-increasing number of gals who go out 'bike shopping with an open mind. especially the ones who have taken training.

When I was instructing it was always illuminating to see the testosterone-filled jocks trying to impress with their skills, only to be humiliated when that diminutive gal aced her test.

[sparty]

Women are usually put on whatever bike their man thinks they should ride.

Too true. Although there is an ever-increasing number of gals who go out 'bike shopping with an open mind. especially the ones who have taken training.

When I was instructing it was always illuminating to see the testosterone-filled jocks trying to impress with their skills, only to be humiliated when that diminutive gal aced her test.

Years ago, when I took my safety course, we had two guys in our group who were just not very good riders.  They were all over the place.  One even dumped the bike in one of the practice sessions.  Somehow they both passed the skills test.  I think that was a joke.  I think the instructors did those guys an injustice, they should have had to repeat the course.

Sparty

[gregimotis]

We/ve had two accidents here in recent weeks both went this way:


Police officer observed rider performing 'acrobatics' and attempted to pull bike over.  Bike attempted to escape, failed to negotiate traffic.  One accident was actually two bikes and three people - two dead, one badly hurt.



"

[BobbyR]

4 and 8 were innocent except for not wearng a helmet, which is not smart. They may have been new or they may have had enough hours in which they think they have it all figured out. It happens to Pilots, Drivers and Boaters also. I been riding since 1968 taken the courses and I figure I really don't know Jacks**t and have been very lucky. Oh yeah I do know something - not to push it.

[Lumbee]

...I follow the "Ride it like a Moped" montra.  Thats slow accelleration (no more than your honda civic would do) stay within the speed limit, and give yourself about twice the space between you and the car in front as you do in your car.

[csendker]

I certainly understand the big-bike theory.  I recently had the opportunity while on vacation to ride a Yammy 1100CC V-Star & a Victory 1500 CC something-or-other model.  Holy-crap! The sheer weight was incredible when compared to my 550 - when standing, I dared not to lean hardly at all figuring the 'point-of-no-return' was barely off center.  Turns were way harder - not as much lean and waaaaaaaaay more momentum.  And the power - especially the Victory - was awe-inspiring (eloqunet way of saying mortally-terrifying).  When I got back hoe and on my 550 it seemed like I was tooling around on a little dirt-bike.

I noticed that if I have the power, I'm really, really tempted to use it.  With even a minimal wringing-out, we were doing 70 mph, uphill, in 3rd with throttle to spare.  And I think it was a 6-speed.  Maybe if I ran it all the time the thrill would be less, but I seem to be enjoying the power-band of my 550 more often now.  Couple that with the weight of these monsters and I can see how many, many people lose it on virtually any turn.  I guess power & weight may not be the best combination.  That's one reason why I started on the 550, I figured that 1/2 the weight of a big V-twin would be a much better starting point.  And if I dumped a $350 bike, I would be less likely to slit my wrists than after trashing a brand new $15,000 machine.

It does seem like there's a lot more bikes running this year than previous.  It's made worse as it's the start of the season (at least here in Buffalo) so people are still not as aware yet. Let's hope no one here becomes a statistic.

[nickjtc]

I think the instructors did those guys an injustice, they should have had to repeat the course.
Sparty

That's what we made people do; or at the very least they had to attend extra training.

[BobbyR]

I think with zooming gas prices you will see more bike than ever. I am seeing scooters on some insane NY highways. More weekend warriors will commute on very busy roads. The body count will rise. But, like they told me in the Advanced Riders Course, "you manage the risk".

[masonryman]

When I took my riding test we were told, if we put our feet down on the course or dropped the bike, even in practice you would not pass the test.

 I showed up on a 185 enduro and they would not let me test because it did not have DOT approved tires, Another rider intervened and let me take the test on his Goldwing (my street bike at the time was a 1000r ninja)  I had never even ridden a bike with bags. It was 1988 and I was 19.

There have been 3 very bad bike wreaks in three days
* 69 year old man turns across traffic to pull in drive way, crossing in front of a bike on the highway, head on crash biker lifelined.
* 72 year old biker goes down in median unknown why sever leg injury.
* Drunk bike drops bike leaving bar, head injury

[seaweb11]

99% of the time when I have had a close call.........it was my fault.
Even if a car pulls out in front of you."which they have" if I had been riding within a reasonable speed for the circumstances, it wouldn't have been such a close call.

Even when I ran over that Fu&kin Deer 2 summers ago

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````if your going to play in traffic, play safe

[Gordon]

99% of the time when I have had a close call.........it was my fault.
Even if a car pulls out in front of you."which they have" if I had been riding within a reasonable speed for the circumstances, it wouldn't have been such a close call.

Completely agree!  In all but a few select situations, a wreck involving two vehicles requires two inatentive drivers (or riders) to happen, no matter who was "legally" at fault. 

[DarkRider]

Three accidents i know of here...one i know very personally because i was in it..

My own accident...acclerating from an intersection on wet pavement just after a rainfall..loose throttle grip lost adheason with the throttle sleeve giving me a false feeling as to just how much throttle i was giving the bike...gave it too much and the tail kicked out from under me...luckly all i had was a rashed bike and some bruising...

younger rider on a newer sport bike...was riding at excessive speeds and stunting in a residential zone. hit a parked truck. Died at scene of accident.

rider and passenger unsure of the exact details but rider DOA and the passenger seriously injured.

I find it amusing everytime my riding buddies insist i ride my VF into the ground and get something newer and faster. My thoughts on that are this..uh yea so i can get killed that much faster..no thanx...At one point i had worked myself up to far more powerful machines then my VF..(1993 Honda CBR900RR, 02 Yamaha R1)...but i had a really bad accident on a friends 99 Yamaha R6. After i got out of the hospital i sold the R1 (i had traded in the CBR for the R1). So like the others i made my way to the most powerful bike i could handle then worked my way down to an older superbike...my current VF Interceptor. Now theres a regret from when i sold the R1. The kids dad bought it for him because it was one of the newest and fastest bikes out there at the time. Less then a week after purchase the kid rams the bike head on into a semi...there was more bike left then there was rider...and when one considers the biggest part of the bike left was half of the engine block....you can imagine whats left of the rider...

[sparty]

Another local accident yesterday!

Woman in a car being followed by a bike with a rider and passenger.  Car slows to make a right hand turn, bike begins to pass, car then decides that it wants to turn left and hits the bike sending rider and passenger into oncoming traffic.  The woman in the car was on her cell phone the entire time.  The rider, a former wrestler friend of mine, has a broken back and pelvis.  He does have movement and feeling in his legs and arms, which is good, but it will be a long recovery.  The passenger broke a wrist and had road rash.  Both were wearing helmets and leathers.  The bike was a 2005 Bandit 1200S, now it is a pile of plastic and metal.

Sparty

[DammitDan]

Warm weather makes people do crazy things.

I was driving back from Nashville with my mother in the car, it was about 9pm and dark outside.  I was going between 80-85mph and was about to pass a large slower moving pickup towing a horse trailer moving about 70.  So there's already a 15mph difference between me and the pickup.  I'm in the left lane ready to pass, and in my right side mirror I see these 3 headlights speeding towards me.  I see one pop up a little bit from a sudden increase in speed, and I think to myself, "Oh #$%*, these idiots are going to try to squeeze between me and this horse trailer."  Sure enough, the first sport bike roars by me at about 110mph with just enough room to squeeze through.  Then I see the second rider a split second later speed up trying to squeeze through at 100mph+.  Had I not literally *stood* on my brakes, he would have either clipped my hood or slammed into the back of the horse trailer.  The third rider was smart and hung back until he could safely pass me.  And of course, my mother started telling me how dangerous motorcycles are and how she hopes I never ride like that, and I have to reassure her that those people were idiots and their actions give motorcycling a bad name.

The margin of error for the first rider was right on the line, but the margin for the second rider depended totally on my actions.  He would be dead right now if I hadn't been paying attention to my mirrors.  It just goes to show you that you can't control the actions of idiots on overpowered vehicles.  They feel the need to push the line and play with death in traffic.  And if they keep pulling stupid stunts like that then they are bound to be just another statistic.

[eldar]

Well there are certainly different types of accidents. you have the stupid accidents from #$%*heads pulling stunts on their plastic. Then you have people not experienced enough for a big bike. Those seem to be the most common when it comes to rider error.

I love to get on the gas, but I only do it when no one else is around. I do not do stunts though or ride stupid in traffic. When making a lane change, I look more than once. You have to if you want to live! Cause those same idiots on plastic also drive cars the same way!