Can bike riding be (almost) totally safe?

[jimster]

This is a bit of a rant; but I feel like it because of seeing all the posts about accidents on this post; and also my friends telling me I'm mad to enjoy motorbiking! It's just my own view, I know I might be wrong, but I'd be interested to see what people reckon.

I know lots of people think motorbike riding is dangerous; but I don't think it is *as long as* you ride with caution! The only downside is it makes riding less exciting; but I'd rather be alive Call me sad if you like.

I've cycled tens of thousands of miles (without incident) in lots of countries so I think my road sense is pretty good, even though I've got less than 1000 miles of (50-125cc) motorbike riding behind me, and have only rarely got over 50mph on my bicycle.

I know motorbikes are heavier than bicycles and thus brake slower, handle differently and are more vulnerable to slippery roads but I still think that, barring mechanical failures and the totally unavoidable accident (like someone hurling themselves in front of you) you can predict and avoid virtually any other accident.

Whenever I'm riding, I always assume that other people are about to do something stupid and act accordingly. If someone looks like they could be about to turn, I'd never overtake, and so on - basically just obvious defensive driving. I can't understand why people do it when I see riders overtaking on blind corners, doing 80mph in a 50mph zone and weaving in and out of traffic-jams at high speeds. I know there's a thrill, but my personal view is that it's just too dangerous.

So, I do feel very safe and I've never come close to having an accident. I'm curious to find out whether many people here have never had an accident? Or am I just being overly-optimistic.

I also think that a large proportion of bike riders are irresponsible but not all; so it winds me that if you tell people you ride a bike, they automatically lump you in with the majority and assume you're just a walking organ-donor. Is this a common experience? Do people on this forum think they're in the safe section of riders, or do you admit to taking unsafe risks?

I guess some people will say driving carefully neuters the whole point of motorbiking; but I don't agree. I love whizzing around; but I don't love taking silly risks.

[Zoffo]

I had two bikers go past me last weekend doing well over a tonne on country roads. I was going 80 and they just screamed by. TBH I almost shat misell it was so sudden. Remember thinking that they weren't long for this world. A mile later I came across the scene of the inevitable accident.
Some times it's not our fault but often it is. They probably felt good on their 600's screaming past some silly twat on a Blackbird. Luckily no one was badly hurt n but I could tell the guy recognised me and at that moment would have given anything to be able to go back in time and sit on my rear wheel instead of acting like a prat.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I don't think it's fair saying the majority are irresponsible. True, last weekend was stupidly high for accident rates, yet the majority of bikers I saw out were riding sensibly.

The first sunny weekend of every year is always going to spur people on to ride fast. For some it's there first decent ride after months of skating through winter shit, for others the first time they've been able to get out this year. Most of the time these riders probably ride a lot more sensibly, just the first sunny weekend tends to bring out the worst riding in people.

I admit I was guilty of this for a few miles, under-estimated one bend then got sucked into chasing a blade-mounted nutter for a couple minutes. IMO normally I'm a fairly steady rider. When you read these RIP posts the next day it hits home how stupid some of that riding was.

[G]

You give your average populace cars with the performance of bikes and see what happens.

I don't think bikes are specifically dangerous, but they do tempt people to take the piss a bit.

A lot of people probably went out for the first time for a 'proper' ride for a long time last weekend. Won't have helped the accident stats.

By the way, a decent motorbike should have better brakes than a mountain bike I reckon.

[Beef]

riding a bike can never be totaly safe but neither is crossing the road

it all comes down to your own judgement and observations
im not saying you have to stick to speed limits to be safe but stick to your own abilaties and remember you never know whats gonna be round the next corner

p.s no crashes in 2 1/2 years (touch wood)

[jimster]

[G]

A decent motorbike's braking is limited by the rear wheel lifting.

Therefore even more weight could possibly actually help!


Also, the motorbike will be much more stable at high speed I suspesct.


I doubt a road-racing push bike will have anywhere near the brakes of a decent motorbike.
From over 150mph on my r6 I can brake to under 50 in a couple of hundred foot I reckon!
(Gestimation taken from revvet straight at Snetterton.)

[mrchips]

I've never had an accident (plenty off road but thats another story) touch wood in two years of riding. If you keep reasonably close to your abilities and don't take the piss 24/7 you shouldn't have too much problems. The worse seems to be seeing the good weather and hammering into a left hander forgetting how to bank it over, happened me on a dry day a month ago. It involved me ending up in someones driveway but surprisingly I wasn't stirred up. Take it easy and you shouldn't have too many problems.
____________________
Northern Irish? www.nibikers.com

[Ste]

What you might consider to be really dangerous, such as weaving in and out of traffic, might just be an easy days ride to work to someone else.

Push bike brakes will be far less powerful than motorbike brakes but you've got a lot less to stop and from lower speeds.

Push bikes in my experience are far more dangerous than motorbikes.

[Retro-Man]

one piece of advice which has stood me really well,
without being over cautous no matter what signals are being given never assume another motorist is going to do what you expect.

Always assume that he or she could suddenly have cause to change their path/action.

do this and you can't go far wrong

Cheers
Retro
____________________
https://domharnessphotography.webs.com

[stinkwheel]

Trouble is that those "idiot throwing themself in front of you" moments do occur. I've had them twice, once with a pedestrian and once with a car. Had some close misses on several occasions.

I have had people run into the back of me several times.

You can also be caught-out by the road conditions. There is no-way of telling if someone has spilled a load of diesel or mud on the apex of the corner you are going in to.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Zoffo]

[zip70]

riding sensibly is all and well, and you have much less chance of crashing, but at the end of the day the reason most people ride is for fun and whats more fun than hanging right off round a 90mph sweeper
____________________
gixer 6

[Kickstart]

Hi

Yes there are twats on bikes, and we are probably all guilty of riding like twats occasionally.

Much of the risk can be removed be being careful, but you still have external effects to cope with. Not much you can do if someone in a passing plane drops a spanner on your head.

[stinkwheel]

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

On my little motorbike I'm fairly sensible, although im still earning so always think just after ive done something that maybe I shouldnt of.

However on my pushbike im a bit of a headcase, cutting up anything (including blocking a police cars way once in traffic where he could have gone were it not for me) Up and down kerbs, jumping off speed-bumps. I dont wear a helmet on my pushbike either (even though I own one and should) so i'm at a greater risk.

So relative to me personally, motorcycling is alot safer as im fully kitted up and alot more responsible and aware. I also listen to music in one ear (usually rock/metal which probably makes me more agressive) which obviously reduces my senses.

But I get a big buzz from being a dick*ead on my pushbike and its slower so therfore appears to be safer to everyone concerned, though I know that if I come off im more likely to crack my head on the kerb and have the lights turned off quickly (or extremely painfully and slowly over years as a vegetable), its a risk im willing to take.
Im here to live, that is how I do it most of the time.
____________________
Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[ts50x0]

i ride a cg and i can be a bit guilty of riding aggressivley when i can but on big country roads the big risk is what a car driver thinks of me, im only on a tiny bike and its probly not very visable, if a car driver is doing 80 and doesnt see me im fucked and thers not much i can do anout that. so its never really safe for me as theres nothing i can do about it most of the time, thats why i thinks its crazy to let 16 yr olds out on 30mph bikes, its dangerous enought at 55mph and i can remeber what it was like on my ts50 at 35, put me back on that thing and id probably be shitting myself.

[Zoffo]

There's a few (very few) places where I live that have nice sweepers that you can see all the way in and all the way out. You get a good view of the road and anyone on it for at least a half mile. The surface is good and there's no manhole covers. If I'm in a daft mood I'll go for it here but no where else. If you can't see your way round then don't push it.

[musclebiker]

no amount of safe riding will prepare you for the unpredictable roads, but it can greatly reduce the chances of collisions and accidents