Are motorcycles THAT dangerous to drive with proper gear and training?

I really want to learn to ride a motorcycle. If I do, I will be learning on a 250cc Ninja. I will be taking the MSF course. I will have a DOT/SNELL certified helmet, armored gloves, armored jacket, and proper boots. I am not a daredevil, and I am not buying a sportsbike to fly down the roads and weave between cars. I am simply buying one because they are an affordable means of transportation, motorcycling runs in my family, and it looks like a great hobby to pick up. BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM...





My dad doesn't want me to get one due to the dangers. I agree that riding can be dangerous, but he owns three 1,000+ cc motorcycles. He says that when he started riding that things were different, and people actually watched out for bike riders. I also agree with this, but if everyone thought like him, they wouldn't take up motorcycling because things aren't the same as they used to be.





I need you guys to help me show him that it's not so dangerous if approached correctly. Show me some studies!

Are motorcycles THAT dangerous to drive with proper gear and training?
Motorcycles are only as dangerous as the person operating the machine. If you disrespect the bike, it will kill you. Knowledge, training, and experience are what make a rider safe and able to take control in all situations.
Reply:Sorry but he is right - it is much more dangerous than a car. Basically what would be a fender bender could end up being a wipe out on a motorcycle.





Unlike a car you do not have the door, seatbelt, and air bag. And the worse part is that when you fall, you got 400 lb of metal tumbling with you that can pin you down (or pound you down).





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Also it doesn't matter if other cars are expecting motorcycles. I traveled to Hong Kong, Brazil, etc. where people ride a lot (because of gas prices) and everybody who rides been in the hospital.





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But we ride because it is so much fun.








Good Luck...





P.S. The previous person (above) say that the motorcycles are only as dangerous as the person riding it. NOT TRUE. I once got side swiped by a young DRIVER. I did nothing wrong in that accident. But unlike a car there was no SHELL around me to protect me.





P.P.S. You should ride because you enjoy it. Riding to save gas (and risk life) is not saving much.





P.P.P.S. Just like you can't prevent every accident in a car, you can't prevent every accident in a motorcycle. I've been riding since 1983 and I've owned 3 motorcycles so far. I just refust to PRETEND this is a safe sport. Look at the insurance statistics, motorcycle riders have much shorter lifespan. Oh but what a life.
Reply:It's a bit rich for him to say it's too dangerous when he has several bikes, as biker for life said its as safe as the rider.


It's funny the number of obvious non-riders that moan about how dangerous it is, like no-one has ever died in a car crash?!??





Helper - you should've anticipated that driver pulling out on you - a good rider would've
Reply:You can be very safe on the bike but unfortunately, that only matters if you are the only person on the road. As mentioned above, even if you do everything correctly, you are still vulnerable to the actions of other drivers ( many of whom are seemingly locked into their own little worlds while chatting on a cell phone and /or sipping coffee while driving a 2-ton vehicle at highway speeds )





The only statistic I can give won't work in your favour...it basically states that you are over 20 times more likely to be killed in a collision when on a bike as compared to in a car.





I do agree that your dad is being hypocritical here though. Yes, while things may have changed regarding the attitude of fellow motorists, he still owns 3 motorcycles ( so I can only assume he still rides ).
Reply:I certainly don't want to discourage anyone from riding, but all the training and body armor in the world won't save your butt if a car pulls out right in front of you. There are just so many things that wouldn't be an issue on a car, like hitting a deer or a dog, etc. that can mess you up big time on a bike. I hit a possum one night at 60 MPH and it was nothing short of a miracle that I didn't crash hard. That being said, there are many people that have ridden for years and never had a serious accident. As much as I love bikes, if I had a kid I wouldn't want them on a road bike either.
Reply:If you are an experienced, trained rider, that will cut the danger factor down alot. However most accidents are caused by cars doing a left turn infront of the bike. Unfortuneltly, you really don't have much control over what people in cars are doing. As far as whether or not it is safe, alot of it also depends on where you are located.
Reply:Motorcycles aren't anymore dangerous than cars or airplanes. The riders are dangerous. It's the guys that have no regard for the laws, road chemistry, or safety.





You see them out there with khaki shorts, a white-T and loafers doing 100+MPH lane spliting.
Reply:Use common sense and just look at the society around you to get an answer.


You will see many, many people on motorcycles on the road every day...Do you not?? Do you see all these motorcyclists getting killed? Like anything else there is a deadly accident here and there just like there is a deadly car crash here and there, but if motorcycles were that dangerous where riders were dropping like flies, then people wouldn't be riding them...obviously.


Ask your dad if he believes motorcycling is THAT dangerous, then why does he own three motorcycles of his own? Does he enjoy riding them as you would want to or does he have them for decoration in the garage?


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Reply:While your dad is right about things not being as they were, it's not quite as bad as he believes...


As a new rider, you would have a slight advantage over an older one. The advantage is in learning as things are now, not as they were. It's only a slight advantage, but it exists.


For the rest, it seems like you have the bases covered.





I don't have any references to studies.


I can only say I haven't died in 18 years.


Got hit once, walked away from it.
Reply:helper has it flat wrong. the bike is only as safe or dangerous as its rider.i have been riding for 30 years and i haven't been in a wreck. taking motorcycle safety classes are a good way to learn the skills you will need and i take one every 2 years as a refresher.you should also remember this"cars do not see you". my dad told me this one and i ride as if they don't see me and i own a honda gl1200 gold wing LTD. if your dad thinks its soo dangerous then why does he own any bikes at all? seems to me if he is that afraid of them then he should get rid of them. makes sense to me.



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