The nimbleness/braking/handling of a sportbike or the visual/audio of a chopper...which is safer?

[No H2O]

Recently in the DC area a couple bikers passed away due to injuries sustained in accidents from being hit by a car.
I used to think the fact that I could more easily maneuver a sportbike made it safer.
Now I'm wondering if the stunning visual and loud pipes of a chopper make me more noticeable and less likely to be hit.

 

[francoblay1]

“Your car/bike goes where your eyes go.”

 

[FrankBDPS]

Ask Eric about getting hit on a chopper. I'm sure he will have some words of wisdom. My opinion, in most cases it ain't the bike or the rider it's the fucking moron drivers who should not be behind the wheel of a vehicle. The trend now with young people is take away everyone's guns. If it were up to me we would take away any privileges to use any electronic device in a vehicle. Hand held or otherwise. And I won't even start about the irresponsibility of people who get behind the wheel of a vehicle and are all fucked up on dope,weed or booze.
.

 

[pknowles]

Seems to me that this is an exercise in futility . I don't think the type of bike is as relevant as the type of rider. Maybe you should add some more options with essay answers. Should get interesting. And, if you ate referring to riding in DC for me you need to add a neither is safe button. Any inner city is pretty much a hazard as far as i am concerned.

 

[BWG56]

“Your car/bike goes where your eyes go.”

And when approaching an intersection or cross traffic, until I make that eye contact with other drivers I assume they will pull out in front of me and I already have started slowed down. Chance favors the prepared mind.

 

[FrankBDPS]

Paul,I agree 100 percent inner city is more dangerous but as the number of vehicles increases so does the chance of a rider getting killed. But just like the kids we send to school have the right to be safe we as motorcycle riders have the same right and should be able to feel safe while riding. We should not have to go out in the middle of the desert to feel safe to ride. And as Ker said we need to take our own destiny in our own hands and look out for all the hazards on the roads.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

As to the poll, it sort of assumes that you also ridden both type of bikes.
Personally I have never been on a sports bike on the road and likely never will at this point in life (horribly uncomfortable for me)

Yeah, been in 2 accidents on the chopper -- both someone else's fault -- one rammed me at a stop light, other pulled right out into my lane from right right in front of me

Yes, distracted driving is an issue but one of the problems is tailgating is not enforced any more and is acceptable as the norm in high traffic areas! Combine that with our inherent invisibility and there you have it.

 

[francoblay1]

As to the poll, it sort of assumes that you also ridden both type of bikes.
Personally I have never been on a sports bike on the road and likely never will at this point in life (horribly uncomfortable for me)

Yeah, been in 2 accidents on the chopper -- both someone else's fault -- one rammed me at a stop light, other pulled right out into my lane from right right in front of me

Yes, distracted driving is an issue but one of the problems is tailgating is not enforced any more and is acceptable as the norm in high traffic areas! Combine that with our inherent invisibility and there you have it.

It is not reflected in the Poll. ?

 

[No H2O]

The trend now with young people is take away everyone's guns. If it were up to me we would take away any privileges to use any electronic device in a vehicle. Hand held or otherwise. And I won't even start about the irresponsibility of people who get behind the wheel of a vehicle and are all fucked up on dope,weed or booze.
.

Why is the AMA not pushing for mandatory penalties for drivers who hit bikers?
"I didn't see him, oh well" shouldn't be acceptable.
There are certain "automatics" already instituted,
e.g. you're impaired, you're at fault
e.g. you rear end someone, you're at fault (even if they idiodically slammed the brakes right in front)
So why not a mandatory 45 days in the pokey and a $40k fine? In other words you'll probably lose your job and a couple family vacations.
I've been lambasted for suggesting this in the past but I still don't think holding drivers accountable is the worst idea.

 

[Brandon Downey]

I have been riding since I was 15 years old. Riding (hopefully) forces you to be a defensive driver, it certainly has me. Fast forward to today, 25 years later, and I have not been in an accident with a car on a motorcycle yet. As I approach intersections I constantly scan all directions. I know there are unavoidable situations, but I have been fortunate not to find myself facing one. As far as type of bike, I feel that is irrelevant. People don't pay attention to the driving task at hand. Sadly, others pay the price.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

It is not reflected in the Poll. ?

As I said, the poll seemed to assume riding both styles so I didn't pick one since it would have slanted results of one style vs other which was the question/goal of the poll as I read it.

 

[SKOGDOG]

There are so many variables. Weather, type of road. Paul, Frank and Jersey Big Mike all make solid points regarding the array of risk variables that are probably better predictors than type of motorcycle. The agility of a sport bike might well be a slight advantage 1/2 second before impact.
A friend once said to me, "It's not a matter of if, but when you'll have a motorcycle accident." I thought about that, and reject it. The statement implies that bike riding is like Russian roulette--if you suit up enough times, statistics guarantee you'll get the bullet.
Motorcycle riding is like item response theory in statistics, noting that statistics only tell us about groups and probabilities, not individuals. It predicts in general that the next year of successful riding is a function of prior years of successful riding. I mean who is (percentage-wise) more likely to be injured, the first year rider or the person who has been riding ten years without an incident?
" I will ride my bike according to the rules of the road and other vehicles must do the same".----If this is what you think, you'll be injured. You can be totally in the right and in a wheelchair fed with a tube for the rest of your abbreviated days.
"I am aware that I am completely responsible for a safe ride" is the reflective mindset that will support riding with the 'lessons learned' we see posted on this forum. The popular word is Mindfulness. As I get older, this is always a danger, because of the tendency to go on 'Autopilot'.
The ability to 'stay in the game' and benefit from prior experience is all important in doing what we do.
p.s. Like Jesey Big Mike, I have not ridden a sport bike on the road, and cannot speak to it.

 

[SB03chopper]

It's Mind Set. Mind what your doing at all times, and Set out to be a fully defensive driver. Always watch what is a round you, look three cars a head of you, and look at your mirrors (so if they shake fix them). Use others mirrors to see inside, as what they are doing, and stay out the their blind spots. It does not really matter what type you ride, it is never think you have mastered it. As I have told my boys, if you think you mastered it, hopefully you'll be able to walk away from it when you go down. Sport bikes set lower, smaller, and more maneuverable, in turn less seen. Choppers bigger louder, and really not respected, because of the bad boy thought by others. A little more understanding of the road, right of ways, politeness, and awareness, would make it safer for one and all.

 

[Brandon Downey]

It's Mind Set. Mind what your doing at all times, and Set out to be a fully defensive driver. Always watch what is a round you, look three cars a head of you, and look at your mirrors (so if they shake fix them). Use others mirrors to see inside, as what they are doing, and stay out the their blind spots. It does not really matter what type you ride, it is never think you have mastered it. As I have told my boys, if you think you mastered it, hopefully you'll be able to walk away from it when you go down. Sport bikes set lower, smaller, and more maneuverable, in turn less seen. Choppers bigger louder, and really not respected, because of the bad boy thought by others. A little more understanding of the road, right of ways, politeness, and awareness, would make it safer for one and all.

I think you pretty much summed up the ultimate answer here brother.

 

[Jersey Big Mike]

It's Mind Set. Mind what your doing at all times, and Set out to be a fully defensive driver. Always watch what is a round you, look three cars a head of you, and look at your mirrors (so if they shake fix them). Use others mirrors to see inside, as what they are doing, and stay out the their blind spots. It does not really matter what type you ride, it is never think you have mastered it. As I have told my boys, if you think you mastered it, hopefully you'll be able to walk away from it when you go down. Sport bikes set lower, smaller, and more maneuverable, in turn less seen. Choppers bigger louder, and really not respected, because of the bad boy thought by others. A little more understanding of the road, right of ways, politeness, and awareness, would make it safer for one and all.

Like I always tell people about riding a motorcycle -- You can have one of two safety outlooks....

Realize that cagers don't see you and ride like you are invisible to them
OR
Ride like they are all aiming for you!

Personally, I prefer the later and even with that, it's not a guarantee of safe travels but I suspect its about the best you can do given what you can and can't control! It's why I made a conscious decision when I got my first bike -- If I'm on my bike - no alcohol at all -- PERIOD -- I've had my fair share of insults etc leveled at me for that but I don't care -- it's my line in the sand.

 

[Brandon Downey]

I second the no drinking while riding. I value not only my life, but my wife's too (as well as anyone caught in the middle of that poor decision). Plus, I worked my ass off to buy my dream bike and I sure as hell aint risking losing it like that!

 

[francoblay1]

.... -- If I'm on my bike - no alcohol at all -- PERIOD -- I've had my fair share of insults etc leveled at me for that but I don't care -- it's my line in the sand.

I ride much better with a couple shots

 

[Sven]

Street riding is unpredictable and if you do not except those aspects to its dangers, both on bike and 'the other guy' to take you out, this sport is not for you. Learning the ropes can cost you body parts. This is where the 'residual rider' comes in. An then there is that kind of rider leaving the sport. Try getting beat up and sit under bloody sheets for half a year healing, once you fly off a bike and witness ground/air as you head back to earth and that nightmare [tumble] begins... this being your new reality for a few seconds. Something like that kind of experience you kind of think twice getting back on, if not getting on one at all.

We are not looking at the politics and those societal issues, we are looking more at the 'residuals' and where on the fence do you sit? You're going to throw money at a bike and find out the reality of risk and if you start questing those dangers now, better you save the bucks and stick with the current American muscle cars being offered.

Sportbike vs. Chop wise:
1. Faster (200mph) vs. Grunt (140+mph)
2. Dual discs stopping quicker vs. Single disc and no ABS assist
3. Agile vs. Steering a brick at slow speeds
4. More ground clearance vs. Less clearance
5. Corners faster vs. Sketchy

Headlight on vs. Off and that safety issue says you are no more safer either way. Think cali motor patrol officers with lights on and they still get nailed at intersections.
Noise vs. Visual and that safety shit is still back in your lap. If you do not give 100% concentration to the crap going on in front (and rear) of your every foot of tarmac, use is up shit's creek thinking 'look at me' and yelling, 'Putt-Putt' as loud as you can scream is give me a fucking BRAKE... w/ABS anytime!

 

[SCOTTx88]

Been riding street bikes since I was 16, so, Thirty years worth. I've always said "watch what your doing, and everyone else at the same time". P.S. anyone local to Fredericksburg, The first Benefit for one of the fatalities family is April 21st.

 

[Reddickracing]

The govt or somebody had a good a idea a few years ago but hadn't heard anything else about it: Just about everybody got a smart phone nowadays they had talked about a mandatory update that prevented texting if gps indicated you were doing more than 15 mph. I guess the right person hadn't got killed by a texting or facebooking etc driver yet. Wont be long people will be on disability for thumb problems from all the scrolling