BBC article on motorcycle injuries

There was an article about motorcyclist and injuries on the BBC website today.

"Motorcyclists over the age of 60 are three times more likely to be hospitalised after a crash than younger bikers, a US study suggests."

I am sure that is true. As we get a little older, our reflexes are not what they once were and we are a little more brittle. Older riders have also had more years to accumulate all manner of injuries that could be reinjured in a fall. Many of us have moved from performance motorcycles to scooters. We are probably more careful now. I know that my riding style has definitely changed over the years.

When I was younger, I rode off-road, every weekend, for a number of years. I had a Suzuki TM400 and it was a very unforgiving steed. I got to experience every form of undignified dismount first hand. I believe that falling and learning how to fall prepared me for a lot of situations that I might experience today. There are probably many younger riders out there who will put themselves in harms way without such experience.

My wife has only been riding scooters for three years and the only thing that she rode before the scooter was a bicycle. She didn't have that kind of experience. I believe that she is at a disadvantage because of it but she probably learns more on every ride than I do.

I would think that the percentage of motorcycle accidents by older riders is relatively low.

People have asked us "Those things are pretty dangerous, aren't you getting a little too old for 2 wheelers". Well, that time is certainly not there for us yet. As long as we are physically able and the enjoyment of riding outweighs the potential risks we will keep riding.

Ride safe!

very interesting. Guess it's a good thing I'm sticking to cruisers rather than performance bikes.

And, when age truly catches up, and it becomes less able to keep the thing standing up at rest, three wheels are a godsend.

:flower:

Amen, told my wife that when I can't balance a bike anymore, whatever I'm riding will be triked. Of course, being only 38, I hope I have many two-wheeled years ahead before going to three.

Even without the 2-wheel experience, a lot of years of cage driving is helpful. Having been rear-ended 3 times over the last 20 years on my daily commute to work, checking who is behind me has become habitual. Matter of fact, I tend to profile who is back there, and if I don't like 'em, I am out of there!

-Gary M

Problem is as you get older you do not get better(from injury) quickly as you did when young. Another problem with older riders----they were never very skilled when they were young......that is why so many trikes....the ones no good young, get really bad older=trikes. Sidecars take another set of skills. I will be 74 in 90 days or so.

Then their is the problem of those who never rode a lot young and take up bikes late in life----many do a great job on learning the real skills necessary to stay alive and riding everyday.

GaryM wrote:

Even without the 2-wheel experience, a lot of years of cage driving is helpful. Having been rear-ended 3 times over the last 20 years on my daily commute to work, checking who is behind me has become habitual. Matter of fact, I tend to profile who is back there, and if I don't like 'em, I am out of there!

-Gary M

I think I am much more careful riding as I have aged. When I don't think it is safe for me to ride then I will give it up. Riding is the most enjoyable activity I do these days. I found the attached notice on facebook, it about says it all for me.

For some reason I can't attach the file.
Here is what it says:

Instead of telling someone who rides a Motorcycle how dangerous it is .....
Look twice before switching lanes, making turns or pulling out of a driveway.....stay on your side of the road, especially in corners, don't follow too closely.....keep you eyes on the road and off your cell phone....this is truly life or death

I'll pack in riding when I lose interest and to me that's a good a reason as any for hanging up my helmet. Using my Smart to tour makes more sense than fannying about on a trike in my later years. Two heated seats, full European sat nav, sequential/auto gearbox, paddle gear shifts, decent headlights, 300 mile tank range,etc. It's got four Darkside tyres on it too!

Meldrew wrote:

It's got four Darkside tyres on it too!

Is that legal

Meldrew wrote:

I'll pack in riding when I lose interest ... It's got four Darkside tyres on it too!

that's what prompted me to buy the S2000! If I want to be cold, I can always put the top down.

:flower:

honda_silver wrote:

Meldrew wrote:

It's got four Darkside tyres on it too!

Is that legal

Yup, and you've been right all along, you don't know jack about Darkside until you've tried it.

Bridgestone Hoops on my MX5 makes it handle really well in the twisties but the mileage I get out of them is crap. I think I'll go Darkside. If Meldrew has done it then it must be okay.

Hope you are enjoying the retirement Meldrew. By now you should be wondering how you found the time to go to work.

Cheers,

tarmacburner2 wrote:

Hope you are enjoying the retirement Meldrew. By now you should be wondering how you found the time to go to work.

Currently I'm getting to grips with packing up boxes for my move to York and wondering how I hoarded so much junk. For example I threw nearly 30 years back issues of MZ Rider and the first 4 years issues of Twist & Go into a recycling skip yesterday.

GaryM wrote:

Even without the 2-wheel experience, a lot of years of cage driving is helpful. Having been rear-ended 3 times over the last 20 years on my daily commute to work, checking who is behind me has become habitual. Matter of fact, I tend to profile who is back there, and if I don't like 'em, I am out of there!

-Gary M

In fourty years, I never had a rear-collision (knock on wood), but I do stay a safe distance off the cars in front of me and always keep an eye in the rear-view mirror.

This way I managed to escape a couple of times from disaster: once a lorry carrying a container with an open tail-gate was driving in the next lane, while I was in the right lane waiting to turn off. I saw the tail-gate sticking out, drove up to the curb and the tail-gate just missed me, but did hit the car in front at full blast, shattering it's rear end...

Another time I was stopped at the traffic lights when I heard the squealing of tyres on the wet tarmac. I saw a small car skidding in my direction, drove onto the curb (once more) and the lunatic learner-driver rear-ended the car that had been standing in front of me.

Conclusion: keeping ample space in front of you can also save you from being struck from behind...

I had a similar experience to the rear ender rodenbach experienced. I was in the second car at an intersection in Juneau, AK waiting for the traffic light to go green. Looking in the rear view mirror I saw a car coming up fast, too fast for the snow and ice covered road. I honked my horn at the car ahead of me as I pulled up on the sidewalk and part of someone's snow covered lawn. I just barely got out of the way when the oncoming car smacked the one that I had been behind. The driver in the first car came up to me and chewed me out for moving, he said if I'd stayed where I was he wouldn't have been hit. I couldn't argue his logic but for some reason didn't agree with him.

exavid wrote:

been behind. The driver in the first car came up to me and chewed me out for moving, he said if I'd stayed where I was he wouldn't have been hit. I couldn't argue his logic but for some reason didn't agree with him.

I believe it is called "Taking One for the Team" or not in this case!

Every chance that the car would have hit you and then pushed you into the car in front, then you could have chewed him out for not getting out of your way.

Cheers,

I was just chicken. I didn't need my car shortened. If the idiot ahead of me had even looked in his mirror when he heard my horn he could have escaped being rammed. Situational awareness is the key.

Alitumwa na ngoma yangu jungle

Whats This Mean?

I think it's Nigerian for, "Dear sir, you have won the Irish sweepstakes..."

Touch down

It is Swahali "Sent from my jungle drum"

Sorry, I thought most people understood Swahali, most Yanks are as good at Swahali as they are at English!

Cheers,

Much the same thing.

Very true. Complicated languages, as for English, hampered only by the people trying to use it and end up abusing it!

Cheers,

Welll sir, Ahm from Texas, Weuns gots our on Langwighe down hear.

Windrider wrote:

Welll sir, Ahm from Texas, Weuns gots our on Langwighe down hear.

Texas, shouldn't you be talking Spanish?

Saludos mi amigo,

That would be Spanglish.

I can parlay ding dong. ( throw the cow over the fence some hay)

Here on the West side of the pond we quit speaking English in 1776 after the divorce. Now it's American of which English is a quaint dialect. :lol!:

Somerled wrote:

That would be Spanglish.

I don't know Tom, considering the city we're in, Spanish sounds about right.