Mad Mike
Well-known member
In the last 10 years I can recall about a dozen serious crashes (rider injured, bike totaled), either with folks I was riding with or acquaintances that weren't down riding. 2 involved lost lives. All but one rider was over 40 and most riding 900+cc bikes, were competent but not what I would consider expert riders. Off the top of my head, these were the bikes, gender, and decade of the riders.
Victory, 60s
GoldWing, 60s
Harley x2, 50s
Harley, 50s
K1600, 50s
Stateline, 50s
Versys, 60s
BMW C650, 50s
BMW C650, 50s
Now, I'm in my 50s so this list might be slightly biased to folks I cross paths with while riding. I've ridden with a lot of different people here and there, I think it's more the fact I like touring more than other forms of riding these days.
My feeling is a lot of competent but not expert riders find themselves with bikes larger than their skills, particularly big cruisers. They can handle their bikes well during normal riding conditions and situations. Accidents happen when they get caught outside their comfort zone -- usually too fast. If memory serves me correct, each of the accidents noted above was a rider failing in a turn on an open road, except for the Goldwing -- which was a lapse in defensive driving on a congested urban road.
I stopped doing the group ride thing 5 years ago as the accidents started piling up. I'll still ride in groups, but only with people I know operate at the skill level of the group -- or smart enough to stay back if things get too spirited.
I've kept myself off the GWS and RIP pages for decades, I chalk that up to practice, defensive riding skills, and keeping inside my skill envelope.
Victory, 60s
GoldWing, 60s
Harley x2, 50s
Harley, 50s
K1600, 50s
Stateline, 50s
Versys, 60s
BMW C650, 50s
BMW C650, 50s
Now, I'm in my 50s so this list might be slightly biased to folks I cross paths with while riding. I've ridden with a lot of different people here and there, I think it's more the fact I like touring more than other forms of riding these days.
My feeling is a lot of competent but not expert riders find themselves with bikes larger than their skills, particularly big cruisers. They can handle their bikes well during normal riding conditions and situations. Accidents happen when they get caught outside their comfort zone -- usually too fast. If memory serves me correct, each of the accidents noted above was a rider failing in a turn on an open road, except for the Goldwing -- which was a lapse in defensive driving on a congested urban road.
I stopped doing the group ride thing 5 years ago as the accidents started piling up. I'll still ride in groups, but only with people I know operate at the skill level of the group -- or smart enough to stay back if things get too spirited.
I've kept myself off the GWS and RIP pages for decades, I chalk that up to practice, defensive riding skills, and keeping inside my skill envelope.