Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Ok I found something interesting and should clear up a few misconceptions, the data is from the USA but still I feel it is relevant.

http://www.clarity.net/~adam/hurt-report.html

Good reading . Scanning through briefly picks up some key points

Point 7. Most accidents involve the motorist not seeing us.
Underlines the importance of being aware when you can't be seen and to always assume that they haven't seen you

Point 12. Accidents happening close to home. This seems to be common in Aus from what I've seen previously. I guess the message is never relax even when you think you know the roads etc

Point 24. The impact of training. Pretty straightforward, but I would encourage those that have never done any to do some.

Point 25. Unfamiliarity with the bike seems to be a big factor, so take it easy for quite a while on a new scoot. The dirt bike experience bit is interesting although not totally surprising. I think this is probably to do with braking ability.

Point 28. This is exactly the same in Aus from some previous stuff I've seen. Most people on bikes unfortunately can't brake properly. You should be able to emergency brake to a point where the front wheel is just off locking at whatever speed you are going to ride at.

Point 29. Looks like on average you've got 2 seconds to do something. The only way to cope with this is to train at braking and swerving until you don't have to think about it and to be ready ie whenever you sense you're in danger be on setup and ready to brake.

How scary is point 44. 40% of Americans in bike accidents wear helmets Phaaaark. It's a worry

Glen wrote:...
How scary is point 44. 40% of Americans in bike accidents wear helmets Phaaaark. It's a worry

There are a number of states over here that don't require helmets. Proponents of no helmet laws believe that if they have a bad crash then they'd rather die than possibly be paralyzed and in a nursing home.

I suppose each to their own but I believe this is another way that Darwinism is alive and well. They tend to self-select themselves out of the gene pool. And this is just my opinion...

MixMasterMandy wrote:

Glen wrote:...
How scary is point 44. 40% of Americans in bike accidents wear helmets Phaaaark. It's a worry

There are a number of states over here that don't require helmets. Proponents of no helmet laws believe that if they have a bad crash then they'd rather die than possibly be paralyzed and in a nursing home.

I thought it was cos they hadn't got a brain to protect!

MixMasterMandy wrote:I suppose each to their own but I believe this is another way that Darwinism is alive and well. They tend to self-select themselves out of the gene pool. And this is just my opinion...

MixMasterMandy wrote:There are a number of states over here that don't require helmets. Proponents of no helmet laws believe that if they have a bad crash then they'd rather die than possibly be paralyzed and in a nursing home.

I had to watch a video once which dealt with the after effects of a bike accident in the US, where the victim had precisely this attitude.

Unfortunately from a fairly minor accident which wouldn't have typically hurt his head if he were wearing a lid, he ended up permanently brain injured. As a result he was totally dependant for the rest of his life and it pretty well stuffed the lives of his family, being the ones left to clean up the mess.

I guess the theory is OK so long as you make sure that whatever you hit, you do so really hard and preferably head first.

I think your right though, leave the rest up to Darwin.

Just out of interest Mix Master what time is it where you are?

it's a little before 11:00PM. time for bed.

1pm here in Melb, night night Amanda

MixMasterMandy wrote:it's a little before 11:00PM. time for bed.

even tho it is 1pm in melb.... i'd like to be in bed