Black Sunday?

[Daffyd]

Good point, but what about the, say, ten y/o ones, prior to the common use of these aids?

[EJK]

I know I'm likely to be pilloried for this. I also know that in all of the incidents on Sunday the biker was not at fault, AFAIK.

However, a factor that is never mentioned is the fact that bikes, especially sprotbikes, are becoming more powerful and faster.

Is their performance outgrowing the abilities of their riders? Do riders need to look in the mirror and ask that person, "Do I have the skills and the reactions necessary to safely ride this bike in any road conditions?"

Take out the crazy amount of horsepower and you'll have one of the safest bike money can buy.

Light and easy to handle.
Traction control helps you prevent low/ highside accidents (to a certain point). Watch https://youtu.be/1_d5-bq2C30.
Safe ABS braking for that emergency "drop the anchor" moments. Also prevents deadly wheel-locking on wet days.
Bonus: Have modern sporty tyres and you have tonnes of grip you'll probably ever need (depends how you ride tho).

Strictly in that regards, modern bikes are safer compare to even pretty late 2009 Yamaha R1s

[Moise]

It's not just sportsbikes, some of the adventure bikes are pretty mental too.

There aren't many of the latest sportsbikes out there, most people seem to be buying cruisers and nakeds.

[Mike.Gayner]

I know I'm likely to be pilloried for this. I also know that in all of the incidents on Sunday the biker was not at fault, AFAIK.

However, a factor that is never mentioned is the fact that bikes, especially sprotbikes, are becoming more powerful and faster.

Is their performance outgrowing the abilities of their riders? Do riders need to look in the mirror and ask that person, "Do I have the skills and the reactions necessary to safely ride this bike in any road conditions?"

On the open road I'd feel safer on a modern sportsbike than on my Kawa 2-stroke with its cheese chassis and drum brakes any day. The technological improvements are not just speed, they're handling and stopping too.

[Tazz]

I know I'm likely to be pilloried for this. I also know that in all of the incidents on Sunday the biker was not at fault, AFAIK.

However, a factor that is never mentioned is the fact that bikes, especially sprotbikes, are becoming more powerful and faster.

Is their performance outgrowing the abilities of their riders? Do riders need to look in the mirror and ask that person, "Do I have the skills and the reactions necessary to safely ride this bike in any road conditions?"

If all those crashes on the weekend were indeed not the result of rider error due to a 'powerful and faster' bike than nostalgically safe days of yonder, then you've kinda already answered your own question on why an apparently non existing factor is not mentioned.

That said, you can corner too fast on a CT110, you can have a head on over taking poorly on your tractor Harley Davidson, you can crack over 200 on a 20 year old bike, the common denominator there is you and your decisions/skills.
On that note even the licensing system is definitely harder than it was even 10 years ago.

[AllanB]

Fact is roads are also significantly busier.

In 1980 when I started riding the population was 3.1 million and we were one car families.

Now 4.5 million - two plus cars in most driveways.

Plus those jellybean coloured fucking road cyclists on the decent roads early each weekend. Bastards.

[Daffyd]

Take out the crazy amount of horsepower and you'll have one of the safest bike money can buy.

(depends how you ride tho).

Strictly in that regards, modern bikes are safer compare to even pretty late 2009 Yamaha R1s

With these two comments you have backed up my theory.

[Daffyd]

If all those crashes on the weekend were indeed not the result of rider error due to a 'powerful and faster' bike than nostalgically safe days of yonder, then you've kinda already answered your own question on why an apparently non existing factor is not mentioned.

I don't think you read my post properly... I also know that in all of the incidents on Sunday the biker was not at fault, AFAIK.

I was referring to m/c accidents in general.

I would be interested to know what types of bikes are involved in these situations.

[ellipsis]

apart from mine, mine is awesome.

...I've only ever see you turn left, so I'll have to reserve judgement...

[EJK]

With these two comments you have backed up my theory.

If you are stating that "gigawatts of horsepower" makes modern sportsbikes dangerous then... tis a bit biased don't you think? You are only looking one side of the coin (shit, can't think of a better idiom. Someone, quick! Help!).

[Daffyd]

If you are stating that "gigawatts of horsepower" makes modern sportsbikes dangerous then... tis a bit biased don't you think? You are only looking one side of the coin (shit, can't think of a better idiom. Someone, quick! Help!).

No, I'm not saying that as such. I'm saying, "Modern sportsbikes with 'gigawatts of horsepower' COULD be dangerous IN THE WRONG HANDS, ie the inexperienced."

Take my situation for example... At 73 I have the benefit of a considerable amount of experience, but I would never claim to be an expert rider. Because I am 73 I have a highly developed sense of self preservation. Maybe I am 73 because I have a highly developed sense of self preservation. After all, I have survived nearly four years of riding in the Philippines.This is an attribute that is developed over years of life experiences and does not automatically come to teenagers or even those in their 20's.

Therefore, when/if I buy a bike on my return to NZ, it will not be a super powerful sportsbike, but something 'more suited to my age and lifestyle.' (And, of course, my budget).

[rastuscat]

Just thought I'd mention that 1973 was the worst year on our roads. 843 died.

At a time when families mostly had only 1 car. And the population was 2 million ish.

We've come a long way.

[pritch]

I know I'm likely to be pilloried for this. I also know that in all of the incidents on Sunday the biker was not at fault, AFAIK.

However, a factor that is never mentioned is the fact that bikes, especially sprotbikes, are becoming more powerful and faster.

Is their performance outgrowing the abilities of their riders? Do riders need to look in the mirror and ask that person, "Do I have the skills and the reactions necessary to safely ride this bike in any road conditions?"

For a minute there I thought that post was from Cassina.

[awa355]

No, I'm not saying that as such. I'm saying, "Modern sportsbikes with 'gigawatts of horsepower' COULD be dangerous IN THE WRONG HANDS, ie the inexperienced."

They were saying all this back in the '70's. "69hp? just bloody ridiculous, where the hell can you use that kinda horsepower"?

[rastuscat]

A bit off topic but I also see problems with our ability to go buy whatever rocket ship we want. Bloody risky freedom, that.