"Motorcycles push the limits of speed, safety"

[bungbung]

Motorcycles push the limits of speed, safety
Government reports fatalities up 71 percent in just six years
By Kevin Tibbles
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 7:15 p.m. ET May 10, 2005

CHICAGO - For thrill seekers, motorcycles have always been an adrenaline rush. But today's fastest-growing craze — ultra-powerful, super-fast sport bikes — have made motorcycling more thrilling and more dangerous.

"It's like riding a roller coaster," says one rider.

"The speeds are unbelievable," says a law enforcement officer.

They push 200 miles per hour.

Dean Campa turned Los Angeles streets into a speedway on his sport bike. He was caught and jailed for two years.

"It's an addiction, that you got to learn to turn on and turn off," says Campa.

Others aren't so lucky. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says fatalities have accelerated 71 percent from 2,294 in 1998 to 3,927 in 2004.

But it's not just the young and fearless who are dying. More and more older riders are buying these heavy, powerful cruising machines and hitting the highway — even though many are inexperienced riders. In just 10 years the age of the average motorcyclist has risen from 27 to 41. And of the increasing number of fatalities, 60 percent are over the age of 40.

Margit Showalter's son, Michael, was 41 when he was killed on his bike.

"Just because he can have a Harley and doesn't get the proper safety instructions, he needs to realize that he's endangering himself and his family," says Showalter.

Chicago's "Number One Stunna's" club is more than 200 strong and has not lost a single member. The club says safety comes first.

"It's real easy to get caught up in the speed thing and trying to get a name for yourself out here in the street and wanting to test your limits," says president Reese Golladay. "But you can easily end up in what they call a 'panic mode.'"

But for many on two wheels, that cocktail of speed, power and youth still proves too attractive — despite the risk.

[Sutage]

Thats bceause they can buy any cc motorbike straight away, they need to add the 250 restrictor like we have

[Waylander]

Why do I get the feeling that most of the 60% over 40 actually died of something that has nothing to do with motorbikes. Yes bikes are dangerous all of us know that and execpt it. Yes a degree of training in motorbike safty is a nesecity (sp) but it requires the rider to make sure he/she does this. I also wonder how many of those fatalities are the cause of the rider or some dumb arse cager fucking shit up.

[zeRax]

But for many on two wheels, that cocktail of speed, power and youth still proves too attractive — despite the risk.

hell yea its attractive

[Waylander]

Thats bceause they can buy any cc motorbike straight away, they need to add the 250 restrictor like we have

That wont change anything. What needs to be done is a required safty course for bikers AND cagers. Just better driver/rider education. I didn't have to deal with the 250 restrictor thing and I turned out fine. That's becouse my dad taught me how to ride and taught me not to be a jackass on a bike.

[Biff]

Thats bceause they can buy any cc motorbike straight away, they need to add the 250 restrictor like we have

Yup - I'm sure it's a contributing factor. In the UK the restriction is 125cc. Although I think you can fast track to a bigger bike if you're over 21.

The fact that older guys are getting into biking for a first time is a worry though. Primarily because they have years of experience under their belt driving, more disposable income than ever, are in need of a mid-life adrenaline boost and may not have had a crash in a car in years, or ever. So they're full of confidence, and over-confident, and without the skill and experience of biking to back up that confidence.

I lost two guys that worked for me over a three year period back in the UK, both through biking accidents. Both were in their 40's with families, one rode a Blade as a first bike, the other a Gixxer 750. Both had very little experience, yet thought they were the dogs danglies when they walked into work in their race replica leathers. I used to cringe watching them ride into the car park in the mornings attempting to park their bikes, as their skills were obviously lacking. I even offered to pay for them to join me on an advanced riding course. Naturally, the fact that I was about ten years younger than then they thought they were above it. Bloody shame.

RIP guys.

[madboy]

I'm with waylander here... 250 restriction means jack. I ignored it completely. Not making light of the recent tragic events with Flyin (RIP), but i understand he was on a 250. Problems cannot be solved by cc ratings and govt regulations.

[Deano]

A modern 250 2 stroke can easily do over 200kph - in fact so can the 4 strokes nowadays, so the 250 restriction means little.

[Mr Skid]

That wont change anything. What needs to be done is a required safty course for bikers AND cagers. Just better driver/rider education. I didn't have to deal with the 250 restrictor thing and I turned out fine. That's becouse my dad taught me how to ride and taught me not to be a jackass on a bike.

Well said.

It's just as easy to crash a 250cc sports bike as a 1000cc sports bike. Displacement restrictions are a very blunt tool used to deal with a complex issue.

A better option would be a learner approved list of bikes such as in NSW http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/...iceriders.html

But *even* better would be rider training and safety courses as part of the licencing process.

For m/c learners it's more important than for learner drivers. Unless you come from a m/c family you won't have the experienced riders to learn from, and the cost of mistakes is much higher than in a car.

[FEINT]

maybe cage drivers are getting worse?

[Waylander]

Well said.

It's just as easy to crash a 250cc sports bike as a 1000cc sports bike. Displacement restrictions are a very blunt tool used to deal with a complex issue.

A better option would be a learner approved list of bikes such as in NSW http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/...iceriders.html

But *even* better would be rider training and safety courses as part of the licencing process.

For m/c learners it's more important than for learner drivers. Unless you come from a m/c family you won't have the experienced riders to learn from, and the cost of mistakes is much higher than in a car.

Agree with you there other than the higher price than a car. If you wreck a bike yea the price is higher for yourself, but if you wreck a car you could be doing more damage to others than yourself. Driver training is just as of not more important than rider training as far as safty for others are concerned. Restricting learners to certain bikes isn't really nessecary. You could have a person who's never touched a bike before hop on one and ride better than most racers and you could have someone hop on a 125 or 50cc scooter and wreck the damn thing within five feet. Just better training is needed.

[Motoracer]

Rider training has to be improved for sure but obviously it is a lot easier to stack a near 200hp bike with a bigger mass than a smaller bike with around 1/4th the hp. I reckon the cc restriction definetly has it's value as well.

[Sutage]

That wont change anything. What needs to be done is a required safty course for bikers AND cagers. Just better driver/rider education. I didn't have to deal with the 250 restrictor thing and I turned out fine. That's becouse my dad taught me how to ride and taught me not to be a jackass on a bike.

Thousands and thousands of dead people obviously disagree with you. Having a 1000 cc sports bike for a first bike? Best way to meet an early grave. 250cc bike at least have some limits, plus the acceleration is a lot slower. Having the 250cc limit definately helps, means you can learn to ride without having to learn how to control 1000cc's powering what? 160kgs? The power to weight ratio of that is insane for a first time rider.

Sure your dad taught YOU, but not everyones dads ride, or teach them.

[Waylander]

I might be wrong but everything I'm saying here is just my point of view. I'm not basing it on anything other than my own experiances so I'm allowed to be wrong. If someone wants to go and get imself and R1 or a Ducati 998 or whatever he should be allowed to IF he can prove that he is mature/smart enough to handle it withough being a dick and doin wheelies and stoppies at every chance. Kids and teenagers will allways mimick what they see isn't this the same reason we have boy racers? They see drivers on tv racing or doing burnouts and what not then they want to go out and do them. Same thing with riders. They see guys on the race tracks taking corners at whatever speed and guys doing stunting and such and think I can do that then go out and by a big thou bike becouse that's what they ride on tv and start doin that crap. If for instance everyone that bought a first bike regardless of age had to go to a rider training in order to actually get the keys we would see less and less of these idiots.

[outlawtorn]

Thousands and thousands of dead people obviously disagree with you. Having a 1000 cc sports bike for a first bike? Best way to meet an early grave. 250cc bike at least have some limits, plus the acceleration is a lot slower. Having the 250cc limit definately helps, means you can learn to ride without having to learn how to control 1000cc's powering what? 160kgs? The power to weight ratio of that is insane for a first time rider.

Sure your dad taught YOU, but not everyones dads ride, or teach them.

wot he said