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Bad year for Motorcyclists where, Bavaria, or here in the US? Motorcycles are more hazardous than other types of vehicles anywhere. Just a basic fact, but hazards can be minimized greatly through rider training.
I MSF trained as many riders as I could! LOL! (I still tutor new riders.)
Actually, California has a climate that promotes motorcycling all year long. Therefor, exposure is higher.
Another factor is Californian's are affluent, They can/do buy more new cars/trucks than anyone. These new vehicles are loaded with driver distractions. This increase in driver distraction has proved to be problematic for motorcyclists. SMIDSY is becoming more and more popular.
What I tell students in class, "It's ok if you think the risk is too high for you. I'm here to help mitigate that risk." I've never had a student get up and leave after saying that. And I've been doing this A LOT of years...
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marodil85
I just searched and read that there's a lot going on in Southern California in terms of accidents.
Even I rented a motorcycle in L.A. last year
International motorcycling is quite dangerous when crossing over from RH drive to LH driving. (I do this often in Asia and Europe). USA had a double fatality last yr the first day UK visitors rented their motorcycles and stopped for gas and headed down the road on the wrong side.
Quite a wide variety of riding (and dangers) in CA. From jammed packed freeways to remote desert.
I have ridden quite a bit of CA (especially Northern CA sweeping highways and the sierras.)
Plan to bring an XS-650 and an XT500 to Bavaria for annual GTG rides.
This yr I finally survived long enough to be eligible for healthcare in USA (age 65), so I am riding a lot more, and even climbing ladders! On my 65th B-Day a group of 12 Harley riders / Law Enforcement were on a pleasure ride. and a Drunk pickup driver (unlicensed) crossed centerline (at noon time) and took out 8 of them (4 were killed). Less than 1 mile from my house (I ride that road everyday).
When I had my motorcycle, an experienced rider with a half dozen pieces of metal in his body due to accidents over the years told me "It's not if you will crash your bike, it's when". I did, and I lost my enthusiasm for the bike. It wasn't a bad crash, my front tire caught and jackknifed me to the ground with a force about equal to taking a belly flop out of a second story window. I was wearing a helmet, padded ski goggles and a heavy jacket. Took me about 10 minutes to realize I was in one piece and get up. I had the imprint of the goggles etched into my face for several days. Sold the bike 6 months later. A guy who worked with me and rode his bike to work every day, lost half his leg in an accident. Got a prosthesis and 6 weeks later continued riding to work on the bike.
The problem isn't the motorcycle, but rather all of the other drivers who are staring at their phones and not paying attention.
Not all the time. The motorcycle riders aren't always innocent bystanders. I've seen some morons on them around here (SC)
I took the MSF course at a Harley dealership in Alabama about 2 months ago with my nephew. We both enjoyed it.. Both of us, it was the first time on a motorcycle whatsoever. Kinda a bucket list thing for me, might be more serious for him.
I don't think it's something I'll continue with, but I certainly understand the attraction and am glad I did it.
Share a story.. When we took the MSF course, one of the bikes was down. When they took us on the dealership tour.. There it was in pieces. I, of course, had to ask.. And got the whole story.
A week or two before our course.. A woman had come in. On exercise 13 or so.. She somehow took off to the point they thought she was going to crash into a fence some 400 feet away, pulled a 270 degree turn, jumped a curb and crashed into a building.
I don't remember the exact exercise.. But we all just sat there going "How?". If I remember, 13 might be the one where you start and have to take the sharp right at the start.. Anyway, that was the exercise where she crashed, whether it's 13 or not, and she wound up failing the class ('natch) and causing significant damage to the bike.
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