According to a recent report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 4,553 fatalities in motorcycle accidents in 2005. Those deaths include only the operators and passengers on the bikes. Agency officials could not say how many pedestrians or people in other vehicles died in these crashes, though statisticians are trying to get the data at The Times' request.
That's because it is very rare! The vast majority of motorcycle deaths are due to car drivers not seeing the bike or the rider's inexperience/lack of training.
According to eye witnesses, Boren accelerated with an open throttle from an intersection near the crash site. Dennison said his estimate of 80 mph at the time of impact was conservative. Boren possibly was exceeding 100 mph. The accident report puts the primary blame on Boren's speed.
I'm debating over the cost of restoring two old timers, buying a restored old timer, or just selling out for a new (almost) Triumph.
It still makes my neck hairs stand up when I see a kid on a rice-rocket wearing shorts, T-shirt, and tennies with his girl friend perched way up on back wearing heels, low cuts (gotta show the tatoo afterall), and a T-top - both with full face, flamed & striped, helmets on - sliding in and out of traffic and generally oblivious.
Watched a similar bunch (no passengers) holding a 70MPH wheelie contest on the Harbor Freeway - like the diamond lane was made just for them.
Seems like we used to have to have fallen down a few times before moving up to anything they'd even let on the Freeways.