[BraveMan]

[BraveMan]

Ping (bump?). . .

[doodad]

Like the song says, “you need horse sense to handle horsepower.”

[bill1952]

When a cruiser rider switches to a sport bike, the dynamics of riding are profoundly different, according to Stern.

No they aren’t.

[Hardastarboard]

This is basically thirty year old news. Harry Hurt, a professor in a Southern California college, did a study of motorcycle accidents back in the late 1970's and found that 70% of all fatalities are from riders on "new" (they haven't ridden it before) motorcycles. The danger fell dramatically after the first 90 days. So if you're going to get killed, it will be on that new bike you bought this spring, before July. After that, ride like an idiot. :-)

He also found that 90% of fatalities were from head injuries, the same percentage as in cars (THERE, you "donor-cycle / murder-cycle" haters).

I'm quoting these numbers from memory, so if you google "Harry Hurt motorcycle fatalities" and I'm wrong, don't beat me up. I didn't have the time to check out every link this morning.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

About 40 years ago (give or take a few decades), I would give a lecture on motorcycle safety once/month. The salients facts were concerning when accidents happened - it the first 1,000 miles, on a different bike, and within the first 90 days. Intersections were death traps, and cars were at fault in an accident 85% of the time.

Be very careful on a strange bike, no matter how long you have ridden a motorcycle.

Enjoy.

[ovrtaxt]

The study also found that riders of cruiser bikes, such as Harley-Davidsons, who switched to high-performance sport bikes like Suzuki GSXRs were 3 1/2 -times more likely to crash.

No kidding. The familiarity of being on a bike probably insulates the rider from the sensible fear that rice rocket speed should instill.

[ArtDodger]

Actually the phrase is, “It’s as easy as FALLING off a bike.”

[Smokin' Joe]

Performance bikes need performance riders. The more responsive, the less forgiving.

[strange1]

been riding since '73, have to say when your ticket is up, it's up. Car, truck, merry-go-round.

ride like ya stole it...

:)

[rock_lobsta]

"They take classes and do really well on a 250-cc (small) street bike and then go out and buy the biggest Harley they can possibly find.

I doubt that most of them bother taking the MSF class. Kind of reminds me of some YouTube videos of these idiots wrecking their brand new 1800cc Hogs in the dealer's parking lot.

Frankly, I'll take my 400cc Burgman any day.

[Global2010]

I was very relieved when my sons Dad sent a picture up to us of his new bike.

It was a 4 wheeler ATV.
Perfect for the old geezer.

[moonman]

Back in 1991, when my two kids hit the teenage years and wanted to ride on the back with dad, is when I sold my bike.

[varyouga]

The study also found that riders of cruiser bikes, such as Harley-Davidsons, who switched to high-performance sport bikes like Suzuki GSXRs were 3 1/2 -times more likely to crash. That's more than double the risk they would have if they had just switched to another cruiser.

Sport bikers, on the other hand, could reduce their crash risks by more than one-third just by switching to a cruiser, according to Progressive.

The headline is wrong. It doesn't say both changes are more dangerous. It says cruisers are safer in both cases. Switching to or staying with a sport bike is more dangerous than staying or switching to a cruiser.

[Kozak]

This is a GREAT way to mitigate our generations effect on Social Security and Medicare.....

[papasmurf]

A fool and his bike, are soon parted.

[martin_fierro]

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[FrankR]

"When a cruiser rider switches to a sport bike, the dynamics of riding are profoundly different, according to Stern. "

A lot of it has to do with the rider, as well. More than once I have been cruising (in my car) down the expressway at about 70 mph when - seemingly out of nowhere - a group of 6 or more "crotch rocket" biker zoom by me like I was standing still, and going out of sight in seconds...they're probably doing over 100 mph at the time. Not only does it startle the hell out of me when they zoom by, but they are generallly racing each other.

I used to ride dirt bikes (the motorcycle kind) and learned way back in the 70's that automobile drivers show no concern to motorcyclists and tend to see them more as "bicycles" that can stop on a dime. That's why I bought a trailer back then, just to get me to the woods where I could ride in relative safety.

To paraphrase an old adage, "God made crotch rockets to keep idiots off of Harleys".

[Sensei Ern]

Why the changes? Much of it can be explained by a growing pool of baby-boomer motorcyclists, including those returning to riding after years out of the saddle.

Based on that, my wife's insistance that I get rid of my bike in 1992, and then allow me to get one in 2006 was all a plot to make me crash and kill myself so she could collect the insurance.

Truth be told, I had a 1100 Full dress Yamaha for years. Then, after a 13 year hiatus, I got a 750 V-Twin Kawasaki Vulcan...a cruiser. The weight balance shift is something I still haven't gotten used to. As soon as this is paid off, I am going back to a tour style. I don't like a cruise seating. It feels like I am in a rocking chair.

[zeugma]

Especially with a new bike: "It's a good idea for riders to take it out for a couple of shakedown cruises in a parking lot before hitting the open road," Stern said.

Where's Captain Obvious when you need him?

Stability on a bike is largely a combination of riding position, balance and power. When those things change, of course you have to get used to the new feel before you get too cocky.

 

[Condor51]

Way back in the stone age (my youth) - when I went from my 150cc Suzuki to a Harley Sportster XLCH ₍₁₎, it was like a pilot going from a Spad to an F-86 Sabre.

Straddling a Sportster back then was almost a sexual experience. That throbbing 4 stroke V-twin engine and straight pipes was .... orgasmic.

(1) Real Men kick started their bikes then ;-)