Eisengeiste: Surprises Many, But Not Me...

January 21, 2005

JAB said...: It would be interesting to see the death rate broken down by brand and ccs. I'm wondering whether Hog bloat or torque is killing these guys. Are lighter bikes safer? Are mellower bikes safer?; January 21, 2005 at 9:49 PM
Viceroy De Los Osos said...: I doubt its ccs. I think what is going on is pretty obvious. Crotch Rocket deaths have remained static while inexperienced dentists/accountants on Harleys account for the increase.; January 22, 2005 at 10:06 AM
The Sum of All Monkeys said...: I remember back in the day (80s when I started riding) the larger, more powerful bikes were under-represented in accident statistics.

The assumption was that newer riders weren't riding the 'big bore' bikes and since new ( < 2 years) riders accounted for 1/2 the accidents...

So I'm guessing the issue is the same now as it was then: New riders = accidents.

The tired old saw is true: "There are two kinds of riders. Those that have crashed and those that are going to crash."

Better to get your crashing done when you're young and heal easily.

And the fact that so many of the 'new older riders' don't choose a good, lightweight and underpowered (hard to describe a 650 that does 0-6 in 5 seconds underpowered, but I digress) and instead use $15k+ of their middle-aged, disposable income to buy a Hardley Pighead 2000 or Suzonda Spineabusa has got to have a negative effect on the number of crashes.; January 22, 2005 at 10:55 AM