I found this on the internet...

Report Conclusions: Findings from the FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) data illustrate possible reasons for motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle motorcycle crashes:

Helmet use among fatally injured motorcyclists below 50 percent

More motorcyclist fatalities are occurring on rural roads

High blood alcohol levels are a major problem among motorcycle operators

Half of the fatalities are related to negotiating a curve prior to the crash

Over 80 percent of the fatalities occur off roadway

Undivided roadways account for a majority of the fatalities

Almost two thirds of the fatalities were associated with speeding as an operator contributing factor in the crash

Almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities occur at night

*Collision with a fixed object is a significant factor in over half of the fatalities

Braking and steering maneuvers possibly contribute for almost 25 percent of the fatalities

More riders age 40 and over are getting killed

Almost one third of the fatally injured operators did not have a proper license


I also read that the # of fatalities have more than doubled in the last 8-10 years!

what we do is inherently dangerous. So is riding a bicycle down decatur. We can do a lot to shift the odds more in our favor. The biggest thing is to educate ourselves and get better at not hitting things, running off the road and avoiding inattentive cagers. In 2007, for the first time in a decade, the percentage of single vehicle fatalities was over 50%. That means that the rider died because of their own mistake.

This is a book, not just a thread, but we could analyze this forever. Ultimately we can only improve what we can control...ourselves!

...I have been told by some cagers that I ride aggressively or that my bike is annoying. My comment is always...... " You looked up and saw me, didn't you?" I then smile and ride away.

...According to the Hurt report is was determined that 77% of motorcycle accident hazards come from in front of the rider, while only 3% approach from the rear. What's interesting here is that motorcycle pipes direct the vast majority of sound backwards where the least danger is, so for loud pipes to be truly effective safety measures they would need to be pointed forward where the greatest danger lies. That doesn't do much to support the proposition that loud pipes are a safely factor. The other serious problem I have with this supposition is that it is, at best, a secondary safety measure, not a primary or proactive measure. Assuming that the other driver will act with caution once you have identified your presence by the sound of your bike roaring up from behind is foolhardy at best. That's like assuming that if you were to wear a bright yellow safety vest, or full riding gear, you can relax because now you're protected! Lets face it, the best protection you have is that 3 pounds of grey matter between your ears, that and a constant awareness of your surrounding, and acting on the supposition that the rest of the motorists in the world are all idiots and its up to you and you alone to ensure your safety on the road. Relying on the other guy to act reasonably or safely just because you're making more noise than those around you is just asking for trouble!

As Neal Stephenson puts it in 'Zodiac' (The words in brackets [ ] were added by me.):

" First, a word on motorcycle safety:
If you've put yourself in a position where someone has to see [hear] you in order for you to be safe -- to see [hear] you, and to give a f**k -- you've already blown it." ...

Here is an article which essentially debunks the "Loud Pipes" myth:

Loud Pipes Save Lives or The Madness Behind the Myth

And a very relevant excerpt:

Here is an article which essentially debunks the "Loud Pipes" myth:

Loud Pipes Save Lives or The Madness Behind the Myth

And a very relevant excerpt:

WOW out of everything I put up on my post, you got LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES!!! Tell me where I wrote that!

Come on what WTF

How about we read what is actually written!!!

RANT OFF!!!!