I thought I'd start a weekly post about my thoughts on topics discussed on the Dawghouse 2-wheel Radio show. It's live on WJFK in the Washington DC area or you can stream it live Sunday Mornings at 10am http://www.wjfk.com. If you missed it or want to refresh the discussion check out the podcast at http://www.dawghouseradio.com .
The first topic I want to comment on is motorcycle death statistics and the relating lack of a license. Having worked with the police departments in Northern Virginia driving a tow truck, I have cleaned up my share of motorcycle accidents. The statistics discussed today said motorcycle deaths were up about 80% where the rider was at fault and the fact that there are around 60,000+ people without the endorsement. I'm just wondering what percentage of those fatalities were sport bikes and what percentage were cruisers. (notice I didn't say imports to Harley's. It's not a question of the nationality of the bike. It's the style in question) Now don't get me wrong here. I'm not saying "guns kill people". It's a fact that, very rarely, the bike doesn't cause the accident. It's the rider. I'm just a firm believer that sport bikes are generally a type of bike that should only be ridden by someone who has the self control not to get stupid with it on the road. They, the bikes, have the power that'll just get out of control if you let it. It's the reason I don't have one. I'd kill myself on it. I get that power under me and it would take control.
Let me move on from my rant and get to the topic of having a license. If you can't get a license then you shouldn't even have a motorcycle, unless it's a show bike that never touches the road. I won't even get started on the stupidity of Florida's law that allows riders to not even have to have insurance at any level, unless you ride without a helmet that is. If you don't have the skill to get the license...get off the bike.
Boring and stroking was also discussed today. We actually talked a little about this in school last week so it was good timing for me because it actually helped me understand what the guys were talking about today on the show. This isn't something you need to do to a motorcycle unless you just want more speed. It's nice to get a little more pep but, for me, I'd rather have reliability so there is only so much I'm willing to do to my daily rider that will effect that. When you grind down the thickness on your engine and push it harder it stretches the engine out and wears it down. It's like steroids in a human body. Sure they make performance better but in the long run, if it makes it to "the long run", it will require a lot of extra maintenance and parts replacement.
If speed is what you crave, believe me when I say I like it, then by all means get that speed. Just keep it off the road where you can hurt someone else.
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I do know the statistics, and I'll bet more sportbike owners know them as well, the majority of deaths every year in virtually every state are on sportbikes. It has nothing to do with the bike, but everything to do with the mentality of the rider. You can't head out onto the street with the mindset of a Moto GP racer and expect a good outcome. The fact is that those trained on the racetracks of the world will tell you the streets are not the place to practice your racing skills. Streets are all about defensive driving. And that's a skill that most riders do not have. Many develop those skills over years of riding. Many learn them by taking the advanced rider training program. But too many learn they lack that skill from a hospital bed, or worse, don't get a chance to learn.
ReplyDeleteWe were actually having a discussion during break last night about this. We pretty much all came to that same conclusion and the fact that the most dangerous fact about riding on the street like you're on the track is that the streets aren't set up like the track. Cars, pot holes, debris in the road, pedestrians, and guard rails make it 100 times more dangerous. It's not just sport bike riders that have that mentality problem. Cruiser riders do too.
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