Posted on 01/15/2005 12:38:29 PM PST by martin_fierro
Motorcycle safety activists worried about baby boomer deaths
By DAVID SHARP
PORTLAND, Maine — Mike Cullinan broke up with his girlfriend and started a new life. Part of that new life included buying a big Harley-Davidson motorcycle: a 620-pound Dyna Low Rider with a 1,450-cc, fuel-injected engine.
At 38, Cullinan was undergoing just the sort of transformation that happens to many men approaching middle age: empty nest, divorce or just plain old mid-life crisis. Those riders, mostly baby boomers, are driving up the number of motorcycle registrations nationwide.
They also make up the fastest-growing segment of motorcycle deaths.
Across the country, the number of motorcycle fatalities among riders in the 40-plus category has jumped 200 percent over the past decade while deaths among riders under 30 actually dropped, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"It´s really kind of astonishing: The ages of these fatalities are so high. You would think it would be all of the young kids on those fast bikes, but it´s not," said Carl Hallman, highway safety coordinator with the Maine Department of Public Safety.
According to NHTSA´s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, the mean age of motorcyclists killed rose from 32 in 1994 to 38 in 2003. The surge in deaths among older riders helped to push motorcycle fatalities higher overall. They jumped by nearly half during the past five years, from 2,483 in 1999 to 3,661 in 2003.
In Maine, 22 people were killed on motorcycles in 2004, the highest level in a decade. The numbers are even more dramatic in Vermont and New Hampshire.
In New Hampshire, 29 died, compared to nine the year before. In Vermont, there were 11 fatal crashes, more than in the three previous years combined. In all three states, riders in their 30s and older accounted for the most crashes.
Safety experts say many older riders are either returning to the sport after a lengthy absence or have no prior experience.
"From a career standpoint, they have a little extra time and a little extra disposable income. The kids have grown up, so they´re looking for hobbies," said Rae Tyson, a NHTSA spokesman who specializes in motorcycle safety.
That fits with the experience of many instructors.
"I´ve seen a definite increase in men in their 40s and 50s getting back into motorcycling. They haven´t ridden in 20 or 30 years, so their skills are rusty. Motorcycles have changed, and they´re getting bigger motorcycles. And they´re getting on without a refresher course," said Cathy Rimm, program director for Motorcycle Rider Education of Maine.
No one knows exactly why baby boomers are dying at a faster clip on motorcycles because there hasn´t been a national study of the causes of motorcycle accidents since the late 1970s, Tyson said. Motorcycle groups are pressing for an update.
Big, powerful bikes appear to be part of the explanation. NHTSA data show that both engine displacement and fatalities among riders with the largest class of engines rose during the past decade.
Safety officials say older riders thinking about hitting the open road should recognize that their eyesight and reflexes aren´t what they once were. They also say the importance of a refresher course cannot be overstated.
"In our experienced-rider courses, we do take into account the way your body changes, that your reaction time will change and that your eyesight will change. There are changes older riders should make," said Mike Mount, spokesman for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in Irvine, Calif.
In many ways, Cullinan fits the stereotype of an older rider.
The repair shop manager from Standish hadn´t ridden for 15 years, and his life underwent a big change when he broke off a relationship.
He spent more than $18,000 for his ride, a black low rider with chrome. He freely admits bravado played a role, along with enough income to make it a reality.
"I went for the largest bike I could handle, or that I hope I can handle," he said.
Though Maine and many other states require classes or clinics for new riders to get motorcycle licenses, there are no such requirements for a license holder who decides to get on a bike for the first time in decades. No state requires continuing periodic education, said Kathy Van Kleeck of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
Cullinan said his eyes were opened by the statistics. He has bought a helmet, which is not required in Maine, and he´s taking a refresher course this winter so he´ll be prepared for taking to the roads this spring.
"I´m hoping I will learn something that´ll make me safer," he said. "I´ll be riding this spring and summer with my eyes open."
But a little JSP1 insight here: dump the whole mess and go for one of these paul yaffees--
Now, Don't complain about the brake pedal, hey, it's already the new, improved, forward placed, ergo design, don't have to go out, up, over, back, and down as usually since 1903 now offered to you for your riding pleasure by H-D! The greatest feature it has --- It works. :-)
You want innovation? Call BMW. :-)
Sir Safety Dude!
And One More Thing......... (heheheh)
Noticing how easily the E-Glide handles, you can now understand how the Harley drill teams can move so well.
Hint -- : V-Twin ergonomics stabilize significantly at high RPM when traveling at a minimal MPH. IOW, you can slow dance in the parking lots if you keep the rpms elevated.
It works! Try it. :-)
Define better. If I give the Japanese credit it's for the Wing. It has a lean angle significantly deeper than your Ultra so I'd give it the edge in Handling. The real advantage the Wing has is the engine. It's not only much, much faster than your twin-cam, but it's an engine with a duty cycle of 300,000 expected miles between rebuilds. Your Ultra only has a duty cycle of 100,000 miles. Granted that's amazing for an air-cooled engine, but that's exactly the downfall: The limitations of an air-cooled engine.
Mine is faster. :)
What do you like better about the R1200GS as compared to the K1200RS?
RamS
........ 1991 K 100LT abs and still loving it. ([: ^ )
Special 5-day intensive courses became popular, where someone without any experience of bikes at all could train and then pass. These courses were expensive, so of course the people who could afford them tended to be older. This led to a rash of accidents as blokes with five days experience under their belts rushed off to buy Honda Fireblades and stacked themselved up on the first corner!
GS can go offroad. :)
Playing devil's advocate, how does the engine size make a bike more or less dangerous? A R1 is not a beginner's bike but neither is a R6. If you don't know how to countersteer and keep the bike under control, it doesn't matter what type of bike you are on, you are going to go down.
Generally, it was the acceleration that caught them out, going too fast for the corner according to accident reports. Passing a test on a Honda 500 didn't quite prepare them for that!
How about the Engine comparison for the R1200GS as compared to the K1200RS??
I am primarily a Road Warrior and only rarely go off road as when at a campground, etc. I also have the problem of being "Inseam Impaired" so that I am not able to ride the Off Road versions.
Thanks,
RamS
You're right about that.
I am glad this bike (Yamaha Road Star) is a slug, since it has kept me out of trouble so far.
I remember reading some things in 'Bike' magazine (British publication) where they went over this. The feeling I got was the report put out by the government on this was very politically motivated.
I love the engine in the K12. It is amazing. Very smooth. I haven't ridden the R12GS, but my friend who has one says it is equally smooth believe it or not. I trust his opinion since he also has a R1150R and has ridden both the K12RS and R1150GS. All BMW dealers offer test rides. Go in and see for yourself. :)
I also have the problem of being "Inseam Impaired" so that I am not able to ride the Off Road versions.
There are a lot of 'shorter' riders on the offroad bikes. There is a lot that can be done to lower the seat height. I am on the tall side (6'3) but that has its disadvantages also. I can't fit on most of the sportbikes out there. :(
Check out the Short Bikers List FAQ:
http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.faq.html
and Short Bike List:
The top speed of the Suzuki SV650 is in then 130 range, whiich isn't fast when compared to liter + performace bikes.
It's quickest on twisty hilly roads like we have here in Western Oregon. It's the most fun bike I've ever owned. :)
Isn't the Yamaha Road Star one of the most popular metric V-Twins to hop up?
It seems I've read about some kind of records they've set at the drag strip.
I think it was perhaps politically motivated to some extent, but the number of fatalities amongst over-40 inexperienced bikers did rise, according to a friend of mine whose a bike cop and who had to attend a fair number of accidents.
I understand your complaints about the Wing, and I share many of them, however, most of my complaints about the Wing are my complaints about the Ultra, and to a lesser degree even the Road King and it's ilk.
In the HD lineup, I'm a Sportster fan, always have been. To me, it's just the elemental Harley. I feel more in tune with the bike, and the bike more in tune with me than on any other model. That's not to say that my next bike won't be a Triumph Bonnie. It's also a very elemental motorcycle.
Still, even though I'll never own one, I respect the Wing like few other bikes. Low maintence, excellent handling, powerful engine, and a duty cycle that rivals Honda's autos. Your complaints about the revs and power has pretty much been solved with the latest offerings. The 1800 is much torquier than the 1500.
It's gratifying to think that Road Stars *might* set records.
Yamaha launched Road Star with the goal of having it customized -- when the bike was first released, there was already a large Yamaha catalog of add-ons (mostly "billet" junk -- expensive aluminum-shiny things to hang on every surface). I'm still waiting for an oil cooler add-on. Anyway, there is now an approved "Commander" hop-up kit (pipes, jets, ignition module) that leads to an across-the-range improvement in rpm and hp.
The Road Star comfort range tops around 75; a larger front pulley wheel would help.
One of these days I'll have to buy a real speed demon (Hayabusa or whatever). It's amazing to me that a smaller (650 cc) bike could go 130; the Road Start tops out around 115.
Yes ~ the modern 600cc four cylinder motorcycles are faster than the 1100cc motorcycles of the early 80's. The SV659 is a 90° V-Twin and isn't quite as fast as the 600cc four's. 11 second quarter miles at 110 mph aren't too shabby though for a 650cc V-Twin that costs around $6K (before you do anything to the suspension, intake and exhaust.) :)
A few months ago three of us were riding the back road twisties here, one rider ( a professional AMA racer) was rehabilitating a broken arm and was getting back in racing shape, he was riding a Suzuki GSX R 1000 like the one he races. The other rider; his physical therapist was riding a Suzuki SV650/S which has a small fairing and I was riding my SV650 which is unfaired.
Naturally the pro was much quicker than us, it the twisties we all were pretty close, because the SV650's handle so well, a little straightaway and the GSX/R is gone. When we hit Crow Rd. it has some pretty straight stretches, the pro said he never went over 160 mph and the therapist and I were right together and he said we hit 130+ ~ I was too busy hanging on to look at the speedometer ~ when you reach 115 mph on an unfaired bike, it gets pretty uncomfortable with the wind tugging at your old carcass. :)
After we finished our ride we stopped for coffee and did a little bench racing. The pro's name is Jimmie Moore and I don't know if he's still racing as he lost his main sponsor after his get off at Brainerd last year, he's around 30 and the therapist is close to 40, I was 73 at the time, but had a birthday in October and am now 74. The therapist is a pretty good rider, he does track days, etc and is very into it.
He was very surprised that the old curmudgeon hung right with him and passed him a couple of times, I've just been riding a long time with some very good riders, both in the dirt and on the street. The list names of the pro riders I've ridden and hung with is quite long, going back to Joe Leonard and Dick Bugsy Mann. :)
Clearly you've been riding a long time... Congrats on staying so healthy and active. I started riding 38 years ago, and have ridden a mix of smaller bikes for the most part. (A long time ago I commuted on a Honda Trail 80 with footpegs on the fork, so I could foot steer.) These days I commute on a Road Star about 500 mi per month. When I'm rich and famous (sometime after I grow up), I'll need to buy a Triumph Rocket to park next to the old 2010 Hayabusa.
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