Interesting stats on motorcycle accidents

[jukief]

Thanks, Bob!

[CowboyBob]

Excellent info, I have been in the single vehicle , my fault accidentcategory many years ago. It Actually happened twice to me. Both times due to stupidity. Once was flying out of my driveway running late to work after a rain the night before and sliding out in the wet sand...scared the cr@# out of my sister! Tthe other was locking up the brakes and going into a tankslaper, slide from over 100mph....according to what the cop said from measuring the brake skid mark. Got banged up and took me about a week to get the bike on the road again. Both of these were within the first 6 months of gettin my license.

[2WheelFun]

Originally Posted by CowboyBob

Excellent info, I have been in the single vehicle , my fault accidentcategory many years ago. It Actually happened twice to me. Both times due to stupidity. Once was flying out of my driveway running late to work after a rain the night before and sliding out in the wet sand...scared the cr@# out of my sister! Tthe other was locking up the brakes and going into a tankslaper, slide from over 100mph....according to what the cop said from measuring the brake skid mark. Got banged up and took me about a week to get the bike on the road again. Both of these were within the first 6 months of gettin my license.

Some might say it's good to get those out of the way early...however we all know how easy it can be to drive crazy when you first get a motorcycle and have little experience. Glad you're still with us!

[ellalenell]

Last summer before getting my bike I was driving my car down the freeway. Checked my mirrors and blindspot (quickly) and changed lanes. Just about ran a bike off the road. I quickly got back over expecting the rider to give me a fistful/mouthfull as he went by. He didn't even look at me. Thought it curious cause I would've been ****ed at a driver not seeing me.

Now that I have my bike, I know if that would have happened to me, I would consider it my fault. I am now so concious of blindspots and not hanging out where a car would have a hard time seeing me.

[BamaBob]

5. Roadway defects (pavement ridges, potholes, etc.) were the accident cause in 2% of the accidents; animal involvement was 1% of the accidents.

Woo! my '99 accident puts me in the top 1%! (hit a deer).

I think that would be bottom 1%

[ridenagain]

I have 5 forward facing white lights on my bike. Three are always on at any one time. The main headlight obviously is always on. When on low beams, the lower two additional light activate, when in high beam mode the bar light activates. I use relays to assure the primary headlight fuse does not fail. The position of the lower two lights illuminate the front wheel and forks somewhat also giving night time visibility to lateral traffic from each side. Many other cycle riders have commented to me that I really can be seen well with this setup. I even been told I look like a Christmas tree. Well, if it works??

Even still, driving defensively is an even more effective tool.

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by ridenagain

Attachment 4294


I have 5 forward facing white lights on my bike. Three are always on at any one time. The main headlight obviously is always on. When on low beams, the lower two additional light activate, when in high beam mode the bar light activates. I use relays to assure the primary headlight fuse does not fail. The position of the lower two lights illuminate the front wheel and forks somewhat also giving night time visibility to lateral traffic from each side. Many other cycle riders have commented to me that I really can be seen well with this setup. I even been told I look like a Christmas tree. Well, if it works??

Even still, driving defensively is an even more effective tool.

Silly question, (maybe) But is installing a relay pretty simple. I am planning on adding a light bar to my bike, and the manufacturer recommends adding a relay. Now I am pretty good with wiring, electronics, etc. and am just curious if adding the relay is going to be a simple procedure, or a cuss-fest?

[ridenagain]

Hi Trike,

Installing a relay is quite easy. You will need some simple tools and only a basic understanding of electricity and several female electrical spade connectors.

You can buy a standard relay at any general auto parts store. (Pepboys, AutoZone, etc.) It will have 4 or 5 male end spade terminals on it. I used the one with 4 terminals. Look for one with a greater amperage rating than the new accessory being installed. The terminals are numbered and a reference is usually on the back of the package. I’m sure someone here is much more familiar with them than I and probably knows what each terminal number is. If I recall, the 4 terminals are power from battery or fuse, ground, power from current lighting circuit, and power feed TO the new accessory.

Sometimes the trickiest task is finding a good place to mount the relay. I’ve seen under the seat, under the fuel tank, in a side compartment, even inside of saddlebags. Just try to find a relatively dry spot and free of significant vibration.

Then you will need to locate the wires that feed power to the light or system you want to use as a “trigger” for the new accessories. Example: running lights are the new accessory. You want them to come on anytime the taillight is on. Find the power wire going to the taillight. (Not the ground wire). There are many places to find this wire or circuit and many different opinions on where the best place to find it is, just find it and splice into it using good electrical sense. In my system for the forward lights, the lower lights trigger from the lowbeam headlight circuit and the lightbar triggers from the highbeam circuit of the headlight. This required 2 relays. Then run a wire to a known well working ground point. Third, run a wire from the positive battery terminal to the relay. It is very very very important that this line be fused in some way. Use the new accessories current draw figures to determine what amp fuse to use. It is also a pretty good idea to be sure the bike you are working on will handle the additional electric load. If it will not, you will quickly toast your battery and possibly the alternator. Lastly, run a wire from the relay to the power side of the new accessory and hook them all up per the manuals. You’re done!!

Good Luck

[trikebubble]

Thanks man. I will keep a copy of this reply on hand.

[4jacks]

Originally Posted by whistle clean

This was my wifes situation when we were out riding and while making a turn she hit gravel and went down breaking her leg and getting a large gash above her knee. After shaking it off she got back on her bike and rode it home.

Your Wife Shook off a Broken Leg!!!!!

That's one Hell of a Woman *why is there no Thumbs Up Smiley*

Oh yeah, sorry bout bringing back an old thread, I was going through some old stuff and couldn't pass that one up...

I'm a newbie, sue me.

[GreenJello]

Originally Posted by Mr_Lycos

Woo! my '99 accident puts me in the top 1%! (hit a deer).

Me too. I hit a deer about a week ago.

I was a little banged up, (still am) with some bruises and road rash. Bike was still drivable, though the handlebars are bend, the sandlebags are chewed up, and the brake pedal's half ground off.

The cops were called, but the officer left it up to me whether or not a report would be issued. Considering the light damage to myself and the bike, I did NOT want a report, or to file a claim with insurance.

This make me part of the silent accidents that aren't reported. Most of the ones that seem to have made this report are VERY serious accidents, I'm guessing that the much less serious ones don't get reported (particular with bikes) because minor accidents can be fixed long before the costs exceed the insurance deductable.

[Thmastr]

hm thread evolved a lot since I last visted it....

I try to ride right next to the driver side window, so if the check their blind spot they HAVE TO SEE ME. if not I just down shift once or twice and twist the wrist. that usually scares them... a "quiet" sport bike and then suddenly it noisy as heck! a jump from 4k to 8 or 9k rpm usually does it...

half of the people dont see me... its ok.. im looking out for them...

[Bodie]

That report is 25 years old! I'm sure a lot of it is the same, but I bet a lot of it has changed too. There was no such thing as an "SUV" 25 years ago.

I wish someone would do a new study. I can't seem to find anything recent that's as thorough as the Hurt Report.

[CTRider]

Originally Posted by Bodie

That report is 25 years old! I'm sure a lot of it is the same, but I bet a lot of it has changed too. There was no such thing as an "SUV" 25 years ago.

I wish someone would do a new study. I can't seem to find anything recent that's as thorough as the Hurt Report.

And cell phones didn't come free in a box of Corn Flakes with 1000 anytime minutes attached, either. They came with a giant handset with the buttons on the back side and cost close to a dollar a minute to operate. In addition, your service areas were few and far between. Now people can yap all day long, anywhere. Sometimes progress isn't exactly progress.

[downtown_donna]

Here is another link for you:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-Safety/crash.htm

[NY_Guy]

Originally Posted by zedx11

I ride as if everyone is out to kill me.
I still ride agressivly and don't give way untill I absolutly have to. I replaced my horn with an air horn so they can hear me when I want their attention.

THEY ARE!!!

[OldDog]

Thmastr and jukief:

I understand that you want people to hear you, but I don't really think that they will unless their windows are down. I know that if I am driving down the highway with the a/c on and windows up and the CD playing at its "normal" volume, there's no way in h*ll that I will hear you - no matter what pipes or what rpm you are revving - unless you actually pass me. I might see you but not hear you - unless my windows are down.

I truly believe that I am a better driver since I starting riding a bike again.

[4jacks]

This seems to the most current NHTSA statement on Motorcycle safety.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/staticfiles...lmet%20Use.pdf

I think the five things that I’ve learned from reading up on these articles are:

Not Wearing a Helmet is Stupid
The Faster You Go the Quicker you Get Hurt
Inexperienced Riders Suck
Looking Cool Is Not as Important as Being Seen
Riding at Night, or in Adverse conditions isn’t a good Idea.

Taking all this into consideration, For at least our first year of riding, We are not going more than 5mph over the speed limit, I don’t care who’s waiting behind us.
And my wife and I aren’t riding at night or in any kind of precipitation.
And of course we are always going to wear our helmets, and I am getting her a nice jacket and gloves ASAP… She’s way too pretty to be sliding on the asphalt like that.

[Bodie]

Originally Posted by 4jacks

For at least our first year of riding, We are not going more than 5mph over the speed limit, I don’t care who’s waiting behind us.

Don't forget that a lot of speedometers are off by a good 10%. If you go 70 in a 65, you may actually be going 63, which might get you some dirty looks.

[4jacks]

yeah I just bought bigger tires for the civic to cut back on my miles
*looks away and whistles* so i never really know how fast i'm going..

Why are the speedo's off on bikes? do ppl change tire sizes frequently?