Motorbike Safety?

Question

I'm about to start taking motorbike lessons but there are a few things I'm not sure about and I would appreciate your opinions.

Firstly, I've been told by various people that one of the biggest dangers faced by a motorcyclist is cars pulling out without seeing them, and this actually happened to my boyfriend last summer. Is this type of accident very common?

What are the other types of hazards associated with motorbikes?

Also, how much protection does all the safety gear offer if you crash? I'm prepared to spend alot to get the best quality stuff, leathers, back protector, boots, gloves good helmet etc. Can you recommend any good brands for women?

One more question, my bf is buying me a motorbike for when I pass my test. I'm 5'4" and 118 lb. I want a sports bike. He reckons 600cc so it will last but I'm worried it might be a bit big and powerful. I don't want to kill myself. Do you think it would be better to start of with something a bit smaller?

Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

from experience...left turner are our most lethal threat. usually is found in the turn only lane, at intersections, and on roads backin up traffic waiting to turn. sport bikes have a much slimmer profile than cruisers, and this makes them even harder to see.
ur only countermeasure to this is to run with the high beams on at all times in the day, and if ur bike is able to use the modulating headlight, get that instead.....those will paint a bike from a much farther range. never ever trust a turn signal. assume the car cant see u at all times.

another threat: the tailgater. we can stop in much shorter distance than cages, and if we have to clamp down on the brakes for something, that dumbazz is gonna roll right over us. always check the mirrors. if he looks too close, tap the brake lites a bit. dont even think about tryin to brake check him, u will lose if he isnt watching.

to help cagers see u, u have to put the bike in a position to be seen. i ride with the mantra.....if i cant see him, he cant see me. i'll ride close to the center line in traffic, always running the high beams on, and always be able to see the car coming up ahead fully. never tailgate. i prefer no less than 3 car lengths. what a car can get away with in hitting, u might not be able to. u need to be able to suddenly brake and swerve, or swerve then brake. remember, u cannot do a brake and swerve at the same time...they must be separate and apart.

always at a minumum wear jeans, over the ankle boots, leather jacket and gloves, and the best helmet would be a full face 1. in summer tho, full face also tends to be pretty hot. leather will protect against rash alot better than jeans, but in the summer, its very hot.

1st bike: if u have to get a sport bike, start small. no more than a ninja500. its better to start with a small 1 and work ur way up...water cooled engines pack more power than u'd think.

Answer 2

Most motorcycle accidents happen at intersections. Other vehicles taking the motorcyclists right of way. A good majority of those are due to the motorcycle exceeding the speed limit.
The number 1 item for safety on a bike is ...... YOU.

I highly recommend you attend a good safety course like those offered by the MSF http://www.msf-usa.org/ before you get on the streets... this could very well save your life in a panic situation!!!
Safety gear is you airbag, your seat belt, your doors etc.. without safety gear you might as well just jump off an overpass into oncoming traffic. Hitting a light pole or a car with your body at 100 mph it might not do much but make the rescue teams job easier at cleaning you up. But for normal accidents, good gear means the difference between a funeral or a couple days off from work.

Don't make the error many new riders do and skimp on the cost of gear. It doesn't have to be the more expensive, but get good quality. Everybody wants to save money by buying a $50 helmet. After 3 or 4 cheap helmets I got me a Shubert and had it for almost 4 years before I replaced it with a new Shubert. $400 a pop, but at what cost can I replace my head?

Enjoy riding, it's an addiction not a passion ;-)

Answer 3

Enroll in a motorcycle safety course they will teach you everything you need to know about what dangers you need to be aware of and how to avoid them. They will also go over riding gear and motorcycle operations.

Here in PA they offer free motorcycle safety course and provide motorcycles for the course, They are 250's and most of them are Honda Shadows. These are good training cycles and are not very expensive. However, if this will be your first bike buy used and pay cash, get the experience of riding before moving up to bigger and more expensive bikes. I have had friends who bought big bikes like Goldwings and rode only a few times then selling them at a loss because they weren't ready for a big bike. Nothing wrong with starting small and working up to bigger later on. In fact the smaller bike will normally sell quicker when you are ready to move up, then use the money for your next bike.

Source(s):

25 years motorcycling, owner of Goldwing and Harley Sportster, member of "HOG" and Christian Motorcyclist Association.

Answer 4

Cars turning left in front of us is the main hazard we face.
Good riding habits, ongoing safety training and the awareness that cagers are jackasses will help to keep you out of trouble.
Read this: http://www.clarity.net/~adam/hurt-report.html