Frankly, I have no interest in dying - at least not right now.
But, when I ride, I am often asked why I would do such a crazy dangerous thing, as motorcycling? Yes, motorcycling can be dangerous, and you may even get killed as a result, but undertaken the right way, the risk is comparatively low. Seriously, compare it to the popular sports of base jumping, wing gliding, big wave surfing, alpine climbing, deep sea diving - all notably more dangerous than riding motorcycles. Threats to life and limb on motorcycles come in two distinct types -
a) those that the rider has control over, and
b) those that he or she has little control over.
There is an incredible range of statistics on deaths of motorcyclists. Surprisingly most serious accidents happen in the type (a) accidents - those where we have control over ourselves. For example, 45% of serious accidents in the state of Victoria last year, were from riders who were either unlicensed or alcoholic - or both. We have control over these things. Licence tests are there for a good reason - most riders actually learn a thing or two from the process. Secondly, a high preponderance of crashes are "single rider" where he or she were "not in control of their motorcycle" and rode off the road, usually from a corner. Clearly poor skills, tiredness, in-appropriate machinery or sheer speed play a significant role here. In my recent incident (November 7, 2015) where I rode off a corner and onto the road, I was fully to blame - too fast, a dangerous hard new tire fitted and being tired from a very early start in the day. My bad. Get over it. And learn a lesson for next time. Sorry friends and family you also just have to get used to the fact that I tend to ride hard and fast most of the time and therefore my risk goes up. This is what I love to do.
For those who are un-licensed I have little sympathy. Do the course if you want to live. For those who drink, I know full well I cannot stop you. I have a very personal rule (for me) - NEVER ride if I have had more than one beer, even to the corner. After I set myself this very hard rule, it made a very big difference to the way I planned some of my rides.
1. My first suggestion to all riders is this - prepare for the day you have an "off". It WILL happen eventually. One year in Sydney I saw 12 accidents with the Sydney HOG group, in most cases individuals riding off the road. Not one was serious enough to require an ambulance attend. In each case the rider looked a little foolish - and will go home to learn how to counter-steer properly (for example).
2. Wear good gear all the time. When I crashed in November 2015, I was wearing a full armored race suit, gloves, flip-face helmet and armored boots. All were damaged or destroyed completely, but I had no skin abrasions to start. Just a few broken ribs and a hand that have repaired. By comparison, a friend who attended hospital in Rapid City SD during the Sturgis festival, saw over 400 riders in there, with appalling skin abrasions and head injuries, because most Americans don't wear full leather and rarely ride with a helmet. While I respect their decision to do so, and I will fight for their rights here, my personal view is that they are plain stupid. I think it is un-cool not to wear a helmet.
3. Understand that there are a few "objective dangers" where your control over the situation is minimal or nil. Such as when a deer or a kangaroo jumps out in front of you, or a rock or tree falls from the side of the road (which kill riders ever year), or lightning strikes you, or a car comes around a corner on your side of the road, or a bridge or road edge has washed away and is un-marked. Yes, you could travel REALLY slowly and pay much more attention but you cannot always control these events, despite excellent planning and preparation.
3. What is NOT an accident? I have had non-riding friends and spouse give me a hard time when my bike arrives in the garage with a scratched crash bar, or broken clutch lever. Get over it - everyone drops their bike in a parking lot, or on a slightly graveled corner or on the side of the road once in a while. I have literally lost count of the number of times this has happened to me. This is NOT a crash, or a wreck! ( I have twice had to explain to a Sheriff that my bike lying on its side on the median was not an opportunity for him to claim it as a "wreck"!) And that Wonderful riding community always comes to hand and helps lift the bike up - every time. I just love that!
So, strive to stay alive. Do the right thing and wear the right gear. Don't ride when drunk. Understand that riding at night may involve encounters with animals. Then, go and have fun. Besides you could be struck down tomorrow walking across a pedestrian crossing, and wouldn't it be a pity if you had NEVER rode a motorcycle and had that glorious experience!
