Local newspaper ALWAYS posts mc deaths. Of the 12-15 around here, I believe only 2 were the result of a cager. The most recent, 3 riders hit the back end of a truck at 110 on the thruway, truck going like 55-60.

 

Thank GOD I quit drinkin' in '08 or I would be missing the curve!

 

How many of the single bike accidents involve alcohol would be a better stat.

 

Inexperience, alcohol, excess speed and distracted drivers are probably in the same percentage as they were before. I think we are reading about more accidents simply because there are more riders on the road these days.

What they don't tell us, is how many motorcycles went through the same curve each day without incident?

 

Every experienced rider knows you cannot let your guard down, ever.
I realized myself after riding the Street glide for 20,000 miles, I've gotten much more comfortable and can handle her alot better than when I first drover her off the lot, but I know better than trying to bite off more than I can chew. Geeze, these bikes are in excess of 800 pounds, it's like trying to control an elephant

 

Because the average biker doesn't know the first thing about braking in a turn - and that is don't brake in a turn! However, there is a way to do it but most guys just think if you hit a turn too fast you can just brake like a cager - wrong!

Roll off, straighten out, THEN brake! It takes practice, because it goes against instincts since you are not laying into the turn harder, but instead you straighten out INTO the danger area (outside of turn).

 

I second that as well. Speed is the big killer along with riding beyond ones own skills.

 

Don't ride beyond your limits and don't drink and ride. Simple.

Drew

 

I'd say speed and inexperience kill the most...add alcohol and I'd bet that stat goes way up. I have to agree and disagree with Jon 2005 above. Agree that most people (especially new riders) lack the ability and experience to safely brake in a turn. But disagree in the fact that experienced riders should know how to and use trail braking when necessary. IMHO, new riders should learn this technique. Effective trail braking is a very effective method to slow while in control during those "OH SH*T" moments....decreasing radius blind curve with a deer standing in the road for example. Trouble is, it takes a lot of practice and experience to master trail braking in order to be ready for those "special" moments we all have. My humble opinion, too many people take thier riding skill for granted and don't invest in themselves through genuine practice and evasive control techniques. If people took their riding technique as serious as they took other aspects of their life, we'd see far fewer of these single vehicle road departure accidents.

 

Stay awake and pay attention.