Well here we are fellow Throttle Jockeys, on the thresh hold of spring. With warm days of spring just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about dusting off the two wheel demon and once again feeling the fresh clean air of spring on our face.
I have been thinking about this for some time now and thought it was the proper time to address a few things that will never cross the minds of most of us and the rest don’t want to think about and avoid the subject. However, the facts are facts and we should give living a long healthy life some serious thought. As many of you know, the year 2010 will undoubtedly equal 2009 with the deaths of more than 5,000 motorcyclist on our nations roads. This equates to about 15 per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I think most of us can relate to loosing a friend, acquaintance or loved one to the beloved motorcycle?
I’m sure some are thinking, where the hell is this guy going here? Well, I happen to think we can reduce our odds of being a casualty if we so decide? I have researched a few facts that I’ll share with you and some ways to improve your odds of survival. I went to this website The Hurt Study - Motorcycle Safety Information and Resources
And came up with some facts from the HURT study that put my mind in motion.
We as a group, own and ride what has been and may still be the fastest two wheel beast on the planet. It reaches triple digit speeds in the blink of an eye. I see threads every now and then about speeds in excess of 150mph. Great fun and makes ones eye bug out. But not once have I seen a thread about emergency braking from triple digits. Not a single one? Is there anyone who has tested the water (Other than on the track) and stood on the brakes at a buck fifty? I have my doubts. Certainly no one will practice this on the streets!
Here is the opening paragraph from the website above:
Braking is probably the most important action that a rider can perform. Braking allows us to quickly slow down and come to a stop before hitting an obstacle.
Most riders do not fully understand the distance that is required to bring the bike to a full stop. Braking distance increases with speed, and unfortunately the increase is not linear.
If a bike that is doing 30 MPH can stop in 33 feet doesn't means that if the same bike is doing 60 MPH would be able to stop in 66 feet, it actually will take 134 feet! The increase in braking distance is the square of the speed increase.*
I show you this to point out just how important it is to master the art of braking. It is a learned skill. Speed won’t hurt you but stopping will crush your bones depending on whether you stop with your brakes or allow a Ford F350 to do it for you!
I took a few highlights from the HURT study and listed them below. It’s worth your time to read.
4. In single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slideout and fall due to overbraking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.
All crashes due to these circumstances are totally avoidable!
8. The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.
This is referring to multiple vehicle crashes only.
11. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.
22. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.
This is the killer! 92% of crash victims are without training. I don’t think the MSF course you take to get your license applies here? How many of us have actually had formal training? How many have attended a track school for instance? I’m guessing about 92% of us have not?
24. Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident.
27. The typical motorcycle accident allows the motorcyclist just less than 2 seconds to complete all collision avoidance action.
With the two statements above in mind, how many of you really think you ride better and will maintain your reaction time while rockin to ZZtop? Remember, life and death can be determined in less than 2 seconds!
44. The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.
While we all ride with our noggin covered, how many ride with chest protection? I do on the track but I don’t on the streets. However, I think that is about to change for me.
While I intended for this thread to stimulate at least some of us to improve our braking skills, most of the stats mentioned above are food for thought.
The next tid bit listed below is from a motorcycle safety site. However, for me it rings so true.
5. Is braking a natural skill?
Braking, as with any riding skill, is a learned skill, not a natural one. This means you must practice the correct braking skills enough to make them an instinctive reaction before you can be sure that you will do the right things in an emergency. Overseas research has shown that, because of panic overpowering the rider's conscious reactions, nearly a third of all riders do absolutely nothing in an accident situation: they don't even apply the brakes!
If, however, your high level braking skills are so well learnt that they are instinctive, you will do it right, no matter what the situation. However, this requires you to do a lot of high level braking skill practice, the skills will not come with normal everyday riding.
Research has shown that panic tends to decrease your riding skills. Well, research has shown that the average rider can only properly concentrate on the use of one brake in an emergency so, unless you think you're road motorcycling's equivalent of a top motorcycle racer, we would suggest that you concentrate on getting the best out of one brake. Of the front and rear brake on a motorcycle, the one to concentrate on in an emergency is the front brake because if you get that one wrong, lock it up and don't correct that problem quickly, then you're going to crash..
I see lots and lots of street guys showing up at the track for the first time. Some have decent skills. Some have no fear of the throttle and some can drag their knee but I have yet to see a single one that fully understood braking. And to be honest, most really suck at brakes. I’ve had guys with 30 or more years of riding experience that were terrified of the brakes. You would be shocked at the guys who almost totally depend on the rear brake. The reason is they have no idea what the limit of the front brake is and it scares them to death.
It takes practice to overcome those fears but we all can do it. The best place to develop braking skills is at a track. You have control riders and instructors who are happy to give you guidance. Where else can you find a safe environment where everyone is going the same direction and you can exceed triple digits and nail the brakes at least 30 times in a 20 minute session? Then have an instructor drill you about the Do's & Don'ts.
Mastering the brakes is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself as a rider. Nothing else is more apt to save your life or avoid broken bones. Trimming 100’ off the stopping distance from triple digits through practice and instruction may come in very handy some day! Be Prepared for the worst and hope for the best!
I honestly believe the motorcycle death rate could be cut in half through proper training and skill development. Skilled braking would certainly save a large number of lives. Remember that 92% of crash victims have no training whatsoever! And,,,,,,,,, a full one third never even attempt to apply the brakes! That is not a coincidence!
I could add pages to this thread but it’s already long enough to be boring.
It’s very easy to go fast, the trick is to be skillful enough on the brakes to stop quickly and safely!
I have been thinking about this for some time now and thought it was the proper time to address a few things that will never cross the minds of most of us and the rest don’t want to think about and avoid the subject. However, the facts are facts and we should give living a long healthy life some serious thought. As many of you know, the year 2010 will undoubtedly equal 2009 with the deaths of more than 5,000 motorcyclist on our nations roads. This equates to about 15 per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I think most of us can relate to loosing a friend, acquaintance or loved one to the beloved motorcycle?
I’m sure some are thinking, where the hell is this guy going here? Well, I happen to think we can reduce our odds of being a casualty if we so decide? I have researched a few facts that I’ll share with you and some ways to improve your odds of survival. I went to this website The Hurt Study - Motorcycle Safety Information and Resources
And came up with some facts from the HURT study that put my mind in motion.
We as a group, own and ride what has been and may still be the fastest two wheel beast on the planet. It reaches triple digit speeds in the blink of an eye. I see threads every now and then about speeds in excess of 150mph. Great fun and makes ones eye bug out. But not once have I seen a thread about emergency braking from triple digits. Not a single one? Is there anyone who has tested the water (Other than on the track) and stood on the brakes at a buck fifty? I have my doubts. Certainly no one will practice this on the streets!
Here is the opening paragraph from the website above:
Braking is probably the most important action that a rider can perform. Braking allows us to quickly slow down and come to a stop before hitting an obstacle.
Most riders do not fully understand the distance that is required to bring the bike to a full stop. Braking distance increases with speed, and unfortunately the increase is not linear.
If a bike that is doing 30 MPH can stop in 33 feet doesn't means that if the same bike is doing 60 MPH would be able to stop in 66 feet, it actually will take 134 feet! The increase in braking distance is the square of the speed increase.*
I show you this to point out just how important it is to master the art of braking. It is a learned skill. Speed won’t hurt you but stopping will crush your bones depending on whether you stop with your brakes or allow a Ford F350 to do it for you!
I took a few highlights from the HURT study and listed them below. It’s worth your time to read.
4. In single vehicle accidents, motorcycle rider error was present as the accident precipitating factor in about two-thirds of the cases, with the typical error being a slideout and fall due to overbraking or running wide on a curve due to excess speed or under-cornering.
All crashes due to these circumstances are totally avoidable!
8. The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.
This is referring to multiple vehicle crashes only.
11. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, friends, entertainment or recreation, and the accident is likely to happen in a very short time close to the trip origin.
22. The motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without training; 92% were self-taught or learned from family or friends. Motorcycle rider training experience reduces accident involvement and is related to reduced injuries in the event of accidents.
This is the killer! 92% of crash victims are without training. I don’t think the MSF course you take to get your license applies here? How many of us have actually had formal training? How many have attended a track school for instance? I’m guessing about 92% of us have not?
24. Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident.
27. The typical motorcycle accident allows the motorcyclist just less than 2 seconds to complete all collision avoidance action.
With the two statements above in mind, how many of you really think you ride better and will maintain your reaction time while rockin to ZZtop? Remember, life and death can be determined in less than 2 seconds!
44. The most deadly injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head.
While we all ride with our noggin covered, how many ride with chest protection? I do on the track but I don’t on the streets. However, I think that is about to change for me.
While I intended for this thread to stimulate at least some of us to improve our braking skills, most of the stats mentioned above are food for thought.
The next tid bit listed below is from a motorcycle safety site. However, for me it rings so true.
5. Is braking a natural skill?
Braking, as with any riding skill, is a learned skill, not a natural one. This means you must practice the correct braking skills enough to make them an instinctive reaction before you can be sure that you will do the right things in an emergency. Overseas research has shown that, because of panic overpowering the rider's conscious reactions, nearly a third of all riders do absolutely nothing in an accident situation: they don't even apply the brakes!
If, however, your high level braking skills are so well learnt that they are instinctive, you will do it right, no matter what the situation. However, this requires you to do a lot of high level braking skill practice, the skills will not come with normal everyday riding.
Research has shown that panic tends to decrease your riding skills. Well, research has shown that the average rider can only properly concentrate on the use of one brake in an emergency so, unless you think you're road motorcycling's equivalent of a top motorcycle racer, we would suggest that you concentrate on getting the best out of one brake. Of the front and rear brake on a motorcycle, the one to concentrate on in an emergency is the front brake because if you get that one wrong, lock it up and don't correct that problem quickly, then you're going to crash..
I see lots and lots of street guys showing up at the track for the first time. Some have decent skills. Some have no fear of the throttle and some can drag their knee but I have yet to see a single one that fully understood braking. And to be honest, most really suck at brakes. I’ve had guys with 30 or more years of riding experience that were terrified of the brakes. You would be shocked at the guys who almost totally depend on the rear brake. The reason is they have no idea what the limit of the front brake is and it scares them to death.
It takes practice to overcome those fears but we all can do it. The best place to develop braking skills is at a track. You have control riders and instructors who are happy to give you guidance. Where else can you find a safe environment where everyone is going the same direction and you can exceed triple digits and nail the brakes at least 30 times in a 20 minute session? Then have an instructor drill you about the Do's & Don'ts.
Mastering the brakes is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself as a rider. Nothing else is more apt to save your life or avoid broken bones. Trimming 100’ off the stopping distance from triple digits through practice and instruction may come in very handy some day! Be Prepared for the worst and hope for the best!
I honestly believe the motorcycle death rate could be cut in half through proper training and skill development. Skilled braking would certainly save a large number of lives. Remember that 92% of crash victims have no training whatsoever! And,,,,,,,,, a full one third never even attempt to apply the brakes! That is not a coincidence!
I could add pages to this thread but it’s already long enough to be boring.
It’s very easy to go fast, the trick is to be skillful enough on the brakes to stop quickly and safely!
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My Busa has Breaks:wtf: 
