preliminary crash test results...

[carlo]

This is going to be interesting.

For those who think "it's not a matter of if, but a matter of when", I can safely say that's a myth.
I've got well over 200 responses, and I've compiled 120 of them so far into a spreadsheet that lists number of years riding on the street, amount of riding, given as a number of 1 to 7 (not necessarily related to how many days of the week they ride), how many times they've crashed on the road and when the most recent crash was.

Out of those 120 respondents, I've got 19 so far who have been riding for 16 years or more (3 of those over 40 years!) who have never crashed a motorcycle on the road.

I'm not ready to say totally unequivocally that experience makes a difference, but the numbers appear to support that theory. Pending compilation of all the numbers, it looks like a majority of the respondents with the most experience have gone without crashing for at least half the total years they've been riding, since they last crashed. There are many long-time riders who crashed very early in their lives as motorcyclists, and never crashed again.

To everyone who has responded to my survey (and those yet to respond); thank you!

More to come....

[TOM-CAT]

I think I would have to take a better look at your numbers, but it sounds like a lot off ppl have crashed. Even those that crashed a long time ago still crashed right?:thinking:

It sounds like, You are saying that since 100% of those who ride have not crashed the myth is busted?:thinking:

But I am really hungry so I could be totally readin this wrong right now....

I will check back later.

Oh and yeah I will try to fill out the survey soon... :smilewink

[carlo]

I think I would have to take a better look at your numbers, but it sounds like a lot off ppl have crashed. Even those that crashed a long time ago still crashed right?

It sounds like, You are saying that since 100% of those who ride have not crashed the myth is busted?:thinking:

But I am really hungry so I could be totally readin this wrong right now....

I will check back later.

Oh and yeah I will try to fill out the survey soon... :smilewink
The point is that for some reason, there is a small percentage of long-time motorcyclists who have never crashed. What did those guys do that the other 80% of us didn't do? Pure luck? Or was there something about the way they rode, and the attitude they had when riding that helped them avoid the many mistakes that most of the rest of us have made?

The more important point (which appears to be borne out by the numbers) is that experience does make a difference. I haven't done anything but just look at the numbers, but it appears that a large majority of the motorcyclists with 15 or more years of experience have gone for over half their riding lives without crashing.
It also appears that among that group, most of those crashed within the first several years of riding, and never crashed again.

In my own case, I've been riding on the street since 1969, and my last crash was in 1977, so I crashed 4 times within 8 years while I was leaning to be safe, then reached a level of skill and situational awareness that has kept me safe on the street ever since then.
I've had many, many close calls, and a lot of those would have resulted in crashes if I didn't have the experience I do.

[FJMam]

Carlo,

I guess the next step is to survey those of us that haven't crashed and find out if there is a commonality.

Interesting stuff. thnx

[Evileye]

My thoughts,there is prob a connection between riding style vs risk. Increased speed aggressive cornering and braking. crashing resulting form making a mistake vs other vehicle?

If you go down the diffrence in the outcome may be gear(protective). I saw a guy riding in shorts( if you have had serious road rash) you know what I mean.

He is right, skill level can save your butt,in a tight spot.Or prevent a situation.

[FJMam]

Lots of people out today with shorts, tennis shoes and short sleeves. On top of that they are probably out for the first time all year. Not a good combo.

[Jane Honda]

Lots of people out today with shorts, tennis shoes and short sleeves. On top of that they are probably out for the first time all year. Not a good combo.

+1

[Rex Raider]

when i started riding it was on a suzuki tm 125 dad got me for my 14th b-day with 2 years of off road exp. i knew what a bike can and can not do. when i turned 16 i got a honda cb 175 street bike and i used the skills from the dirt biking to the street.
no wrecks to date.

[dansrc51]

Lots of people out today with shorts, tennis shoes and short sleeves. On top of that they are probably out for the first time all year. Not a good combo.
+1000


f-ing squids!:censored::yell::censored::yell::bash:





sorry, got smiley happy for a second. or is that frowny happy?

[FJMam]

love those little heads.....

[FJMam]

i knew what a bike can and can not do. when i turned 16 i got a honda cb 175 street bike and i used the skills from the dirt biking to the street.
no wrecks to date.[/QUOTE]
I've heard this all my riding life. Dirt riders have a better handle on what 2 wheels can and can't do. I never had the opportunity.

Instead...My dad wanted my to have my pilots license when I was 16. :smilewink ( didn't solo, didn't happedn :frown: )

[TOM-CAT]

...with 2 years of off road exp. i knew what a bike could and could not do...So then did you spend those two years learning by crashing (on the dirt)? Not everyone has the opportunity to learn (crash) on the dirt. Some have to start on the street and thus, that is where they do their crashing.

I am of the mind set that in order to learn you will at some point scew up. This can be as small a lesson as a puker moment, or as large as a major crash. Furthermore, those that learn the fastest are often the ones who take the biggest risks (this is obviously not true 100% of the time), there by increasing the likelyhood of a crash.

Those that make it an entire riding career without crashing are most likely both causious and lucky. Luck will always be a factor in determining who goes down and who doesn't. A few drops of oil on the road surface can be all it takes to drop even the most causious and/or skilled rider.

But lets face it, you can almost always tell who is going to go down and who is less likely to go down, just by watching or even talking to a rider. No one was supprised when I went down, least of all me. I jumped in over my head and paid the price. A very small price to pay, for an eye opening lesson. One I would most likely not want to un-learn. So, to me, crashing is just part of riding. This doesn't have to hold true for everyone, but it holds true to me.

Everyday that I pull my bike out of the garage is another day that I tell myself, I might not be riding home at the end of the day. But if something happens I hope that I will still be able to ride another day. (With a brand new bike :rad:, just kidding I love my bike :redface: :ride:)

:idunno::blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah:blah-blah

[Rex Raider]

doing it in the dirt is fun, try it you might like it.
just finish going thought the yamaha dt 175 i got last Thursday runs good, it will run better with a new set of point.

a little smaller cc then i've been looking for but it will do for now. for 200 bucks and a little elbow grease could not pass it up.

[Rex Raider]

i've definitely had my share of close calls, keepen one eye on the road and one on gramps and one on the dog is hard, but try to think ahead give yourself time and space.
i've have found my dirt biken days have come in handy when i have to go off roaden unexpectedly.