I'm getting a Triumph Bonneville, and as I've been reading safety statistics on motorcycles it made me wonder what the good people of DP would think.
You are 36 times more likely to be in a fatal crash on a motorcycle than in a car. The most common reason for motorcycle crashes is they get hit by a car that doesn't see them.
Do you think a 16 year old should be able to buy a motorcycle? Should protective gear (helmets, leather assless chaps, etc) be required? Do you think there should be noise limits on the pipes?
This is a thread all about motorcycles and the law, so post your thoughts.
it's definitely dangerous. i ride in traffic as little as possible. i do ride to work rarely, but mostly stick to country highways.
a couple tips i've learned :
1. always wear the damned helmet. i know, wind in your hair and all, but get a cool looking helmet. i have one.
2. get a windshield. a bee sting at 60 MPH can really affect your ability to ride.
3. take a class. i took one that ate an entire weekend, but i learned at least one critical thing that could save me an accident. i know it sounds dumb, but i didn't know not to hit the brake while navigating a curve. the reason is because the small part of the tire touching the road when you're leaning has to be devoted to keeping the bike upright, not slowing down. i could have screwed up pretty good there.
4. most important of all : when you're at a stop light, flash your brake light. do this every time you're stopped and anyone might come up behind you. a texting teen will not see your brake light, but they have a better chance of seeing your flashing brake light.
5. tires.
6. tires. seriously. sink the money if they are old or bald. they might look good, but they are as hard as a rock. when i restored my bike and finally got the tires replaced, they showed me how hard they were, even though they looked fine. hard tires do not do well on corners.
ok, enough tips. to address the OP, no, i don't think motorcycles should be illegal. however, carry insurance, and keep a healthy fear of riding along with a confidence in your ability. i still prefer riding in low traffic situations, but it's possible to at least minimize risk in traffic. i just try to save riding in a stop and go city like the place where i work as a special treat that i don't do very often.