How Dangerous Are Motorcycles?

[@carl6936]

"I've been riding around all day and I'm not dead yet." Well that's me sold.

[@Lizlodude]

Today class, we shall learn about the dangers of survivorship bias

[@MRMeaws]

@@Lizlodude 🤓

[@viz12345]

I wonder whether he's dead by now or not...

[@tomtemple69]

​@@Lizlodude🤓🤓🤓🤓🤓

[@Milk_Bag67]

​​@@Lizlodudetoday class we don't learn that actually have survivorship bias here because people that die from motorcycles are not lost to the void of war death tolls

[@johnflynn6121]

Great video. I really like your channel. I was on the staff at the (US) Naval Safety Center when we did a serious statistical study on motorcycle safety. We had a lot of young sailors who were away from home with money in their pockets for the first time. A lot of them were buying bikes and a lot of them were getting hurt and killed. There were three top factors that came out of that study. If these factors were satisfied, motorcycle riding was shown to be only somewhat more dangerous than car driving. The top factors we found were: 1) Taking a comprehensive motorcycle safety course. 2) Not having ANY alcohol or impairing substances in your system. Forget the "legal limits," the stats said no bad stuff in your system at all. 3) Not riding at night. That's not to say one shouldn't ride at night or you can't be safe at night, just that the rider should be aware that his risks go up when he does. I follow those guidelines, including having taken four safety courses. I also do the following, which probably make me "less than cool," but whatever: Safety yellow helmet and jacket, aftermarket headlight and taillight bulbs that are about 50% brighter, ABS and an airbag vest (you should do an F9 review of those, BTW). I also follow the rules of the road, keep my speed reasonable and don't ride in even mild bad weather. I assume EVERY car that could possibly cut me off is about about to cut me off and I take every curve like there is going to be an oil slick around the bend. I also avoid riding too much bike for my abilities. I have a V-Strom DL650. I could have gotten a 1000, but the 650 is plenty for me. I have tried riding a friend's BMW 1200. It's fine for him, he is more experienced, but it was clearly too much for me. Even with all that, I have had some stationary spills and some moving close calls, but no crashes. So I think much more than with auto safety, motorcycle safety is something you need to work at.

[@OlafoWaffle]

Army Safety Center states similar things... Biggest factor next to booze is buying more bike then you can handle. All those mid-grade officers & senior NCOs with cash after a deployment suddenly feel more invincible than they actually are

[@MaximC]

What's really "not cool" is the mentality where taking care of safety can be seen as "not cool".

[@kennethkowalchuk7868]

I was in the Canadian navy in the early 80's and on both coasts an inordinate number of young sailors were dying or getting badly maimed on motorcycles. The combination of first bike (usually 750cc and up as no limit for first stage license as there is say in New Zealand where I live now-250cc.), first steady paycheck and first forays into alcohol which was cheap and plentiful in Canada's 'wet' navy.

[@chuckwalla325]

Are the study results available for public to view?

[@mattm9087]

Good info hear and well said. "there are bold riders and there are old riders. There are very few old and bold riders."

[@MHeadroom]

I’m a former highway patrol officer and have seen my share of motor vehicle accidents ( way more cars than motorcycles). For motorcyclist accidents ( including fatalities) it always came down to the following: (1) speed, speed and more speed,( 2) age i.e. young inexperienced riders riding well beyond their capabilities (3) riders failing to ride to road conditions and weather conditions, (4) substance use at time of accident i.e. alcohol and/or drugs; and (5) high powered bikes or poorly maintained machines, particularly brakes, tyres and lights. I ride and if you keep your distance, ride safely and within your skill envelope where you can react and mitigate your risks through avoiding other stupid road users you will find that cautious riding will ensure you think and anticipate your riding environment through strong situational awareness. Good riders realise the freedom and fun to enjoy their motorcycle on a public street whilst ensuring their own safety and the safety of other road users. Bad riders only think about themselves. Rain and night riding are my most avoided scenarios. Keep riding and ride safe👍😎

[@dreadlocsamurai4241]

Why no night riding

[@MHeadroom]

Wild animals are generally nocturnal creatures. You can’t control what they do and where they roam. Deer in the headlight scenarios and road kill generally happens late evening/night/dawn. You also don’t have the same read on road conditions relying purely on your bike’s lights. Other road users also can miss you entirely. So I minimise risk and avoid night riding

[@68orangecrate26]

Love your input… If done properly, riding provides mental and physical health benefits as well. 😎

[@MHeadroom]

@@68orangecrate26 Riding my Harley keeps me sane. You raise a good point with health benefits too👍

[@CaptainCaveman782]

I think age is more of a contributing factor than just riding experience. As you get older you tend to be more risk adverse, don't opt for sports bikes and your reasons for riding change (enjoying the weather day out, not chases speed etc). Also you're less cocky and aggressive on a bike. I'm well onto my 50s and riding since a teenager. All my buddies and family had accidents or near missed in out early 20s and really nothing since.

[@apotheosis117]

I came for the motorcycle stats. I stayed for the windmill facts.

[@surelyawesome4292]

Thumb'd for windmill facts.

[@ulogy]

Years later: TURBINES FOLKS. WIND TURBINES.

[@sulaimanveda1900]

They are a beuty, are they?

[@peteb6072]

😂

[@justin_lee3005]

I know this thread is pretty old. But in case you all care still, some more facts from someone in windmill construction. Windmill blades, some of the biggest windmills being put up in the U.S have 200 ft windmill blades. Speeds are alot lower then the video suggested, closer to around 120-150. By the time the concrete foundation is poured, dirt is piled back on top, wind the first base tube of the windmill is stacked, it will weigh over 1.5 million pounds. They are very, very, very expensive. Around a million dollars per turbine, and very expensive for wind farms to be built. All the electricity will not necessarily go to the town where they are built, some towers in Wyoming, may send power to California, or Florida or wherever it may be needed. Lastly, if you are ever asked for permission to have turbines placed on your land, id highly recommend saying yes, land owners are paid VERY HANDSOMLY. Paid per tower, and by the foot of wiring needed to go through their land. Hopefully you guys find these facts as interesting as I did, when is stated working, I love my job.

[@TweakedTay]

"Alright guys, we have some important numbers WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE If you choose to be better then average WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Remember to always try to gear up WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" - Ryan Fortnine.

[@Alienated420]

His names not fortnine lol

[@osmacar5331]

@@Alienated420 it's fontane

[@osmacar5331]

yyyeah sounds right

[@randomdude4669]

Fortnite*

[@m3rlaut]

Poggers

[@stephenmwyatt2]

THe best case for a motorcycle rider 1) Licensed and Insured 2) Trained at a Rider Course 3) Wearing a Proper fitting DOT or SNELL rated helmet with eye protection 4) Never exceed the speed limit by more than 50% 5) Make eye contact with cars that could turn left in front of you 6) Be aware of rear-endign cars and being rear-ended by a car, Never modify rear view mirrors. 7) Always be prepared to stop or slow down when you are on the left side of a car 8) Never weave in traffic 9) Never drive drunk or after drinking 10) Drive cautiously until you have 3 years of experience on the same bike 11) Never ride in someones blind spot 12) Look far down the road, at least 50 yards 13) Practice and perfect panic-stop braking 14) Practice and perfect counter-steering 15) Wear a vented helmet in hot weather, Have more than one Helmet 16) Keep newer tires on your motorcycle 17) Learn to ride motorcycles on the dirt 18) Avoid modifying your motorcycle mirrors and lights 19) Learn about "speed wobbles" 20) Keep away from cars *************************************** elements of a motorcycle crash traffic road conditions speed riding skills helmets /equipment attitudes bike position / location common motorcycle crashes: 1) Lose your line on a sweeper turn, left turns mean leaving the road on the right, or right turns can mean head-on collisions 2) rear ended - Sudden stops. Rear-end accidents resulting from following too closely or an abrupt stop hitting a car can result in serious injury or death 3) on-coming car left turn - 42% of all accidents involving a motorcycle and car. Usually, the turning car strikes the motorcycle when the motorcycle is: going straight through an intersection. Example #1, Car's view is obstructed - kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4TMeJmDfZKHq6M ; Left turn accidents. Right of way errors or misjudgments of distance while making a left turn are common causes of injury and death to motorcycle riders. 4) Passing cars 5) Unsafe lane changes. A driver risks colliding with a motorcyclist when he or she fails to check his or her blind spot or signal when changing lanes. 6) Car doors. Some motorcycle accidents occur when a driver opens the door of their parked vehicle in the path of an oncoming motorcycle. 7) Speeding. A leading cause of all types of auto accidents, speeding reduces a vehicle’s chance of seeing and reacting to other drivers in time to prevent a collision. The higher the speed, the greater the impact and the more severe the consequences. 8) Driving under the influence. Drivers who cause accidents because they were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs may face both civil and criminal liability. 9) Lane splitting. Driving between two lanes of traffic is called “lane splitting.” This practice is not legal in many states and is especially dangerous for inexperienced riders. It is legal and even encouraged in California and you should be aware of this. 10) Inexperienced drivers. Inexperienced drivers are likely to make unsafe moves on the road that could compromise the safety of other motorists. 11) Dangerous road conditions. Crumbling pavement, potholes, debris, and a lack of necessary signals and signs can all increase a motorcycle rider’s chances of losing control of his or her vehicle. 12) Motorcycle defects. The manufacturer of a poorly designed or manufactured motorcycle part can be held liable for any injuries or deaths arising from use of the defective part. 13) Hitting animals - 14) Panic-stop braking - 15) Exceeding the performance abilities of the bike 16) Potholes, things on the road 17) High Side Crash 18) Low-Side crash 19) Speed Wobbles crash 20) cars violating a motorcycles right of way 21) Bad motorcycle tires 22) Rider error 23) hot weather means way fewer helmets worn, and way more death. in 2015 Florida had 555 deaths, Hawaii is Wash D.C. had 3 , Helmet laws save lives *********************************************************** facts about motorcycles ************************************************************ 75% of accidents involved collision with a car, 25% are only the bike, 66% of crashes are the cars fault from not seeing the bike, left turns are ther main problem. Glare or other vehicles block view 50% of the time. Motorcycle failure are less than 3% of these motorcycle accidents, of those 90% are flat tires. 66% of 1-vehicle crashes are the motorcyclist fault, usually a low-side or losing your line. 2% hitting potholes or road hazards, 1% are hitting animals Deliberate hostile action by a motorist against a motorcycle rider is extremely rare. Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls. Weather is seldom a factor in 98% of motorcycle accidents. Most motorcycle accidents involve a short trip associated with shopping, errands, at the beginning of the trip. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor ( headlamps-on bright jackets, loud pipes) Motorcycle crashes often have fire associated Most crashes occur from 21 to 30mph, the fewest crashes occur at 86 mph 90% of crashes occur within 45° of either side of straight ahead. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is most critical for the frontal surfaces of the motorcycle and rider (lights, clothing). Riders between the ages of 16 and 24 crash the most; the least is ages of 30 to 50. 96% of riders are male, but the 4% of female riders crash more than men. Professionals crash the least. Laborers, students, and unemployed crash the most. Riders with tickets and other accidents crash 3 times as often. 92% of crashes have riders that were self-taught or learned from family or friends. 70% of crashes have been riding less than 5 months on the actual motorcycle. If you start on dirt bikes, you are 90% less chance of crashing on the street. Lack of attention to the driving task is a common factor for the motorcyclist in an accident. 45% of the fatal accidents show alcohol involvement. 90% of accident riders showed significant collision avoidance problems. Most riders would overbrake and skid the rear wheel, and underbrake the front wheel greatly reducing collision avoidance deceleration. The ability to countersteer and swerve was essentially absent. The typical motorcycle accident allows the motorcyclist just less than 2 seconds to complete all collision avoidance action. Passenger carrying motorcycles crash 70% less. The drivers of the other vehicle involved in collision are likely 20 to 29, or beyond 65 Large displacement motorcycles over 749cc crash 70% less, but have bad accidents more often. Motorcycle color has no effect on accidents. Motorcycles equipped with fairings and windshields are underrepresented in accidents. Motorcycle riders in accidents were significantly without motorcycle license, without any license, or with license revoked. Motorcycle modifications such as those associated with the Semi-Chopper or Cafe Racer are definitely overrepresented in accidents. bad injury happens 98% of multiple vehicle collisions, 96% of the single bike accidents; 45% had some injury. Half of the injuries to the somatic regions were to the ankle-foot, lower leg, knee, and thigh-upper leg. Crash bars are not an effective injury countermeasure; The use of heavy boots, jackets, gloves, etc., is effective but not against severe injury Groin injuries were sustained in 13% of the accidents, and typified by multiple vehicle collision in frontal impact. Injury severity increases with speed, alcohol involvement and motorcycle size. 73% percent of the accident-involved motorcycle riders used no eye protection. Approximately 50% of the motorcycle riders in traffic were using safety helmets but only 40% of the accident-involved motorcycle riders. Voluntary helmet use for crashes was lowest for untrained, uneducated, young motorcycle riders on hot days and short trips. The most deadly Injuries to the accident victims were injuries to the chest and head. The Helmet is the single critical factor in the prevention or reduction of head injury; (FMVSS 218, DOT, SNELL) Helmets do not reduce sound or field of view. 70% of crash victims had no helmet. 90% of crash victims have no insurance for car or motorcycle ************************************************************************** # riders by state Rank State # Bikes Population People per bike ************************************************************************** 1 South Dakota 69,284 816,598 12 2 New Hampshire 79,266 1,316,807 17 3 Iowa 173,929 3,050,202 18 4 Wisconsin 317,276 5,691,659 18 5 Wyoming 30,351 564,554 19 6 North Dakota 32,654 674,629 21 7 Vermont 30,070 625,909 21 8 Montana 46,996 990,958 21 9 Minnesota 240,288 5,310,658 22 10 Alaska 30,983 714,146 23 11 Idaho 62,576 1,571,102 25 12 Maine 50,318 1,327,379 26 13 New Jersey 330,470 8,799,593 27 14 Colorado 173,120 5,047,692 29 15 Delaware 30,494 899,792 30 16 Ohio 390,494 11,537,968 30 17 Oklahoma 127,140 3,760,184 30 18 Washington 220,856 6,742,950 31 19 Pennsylvania 404,164 12,717,722 31 20 Indiana 204,402 6,490,622 32 21 New Mexico 64,863 2,065,913 32 22 Rhode Island 32,989 1,052,528 32 23 Michigan 308,338 9,877,143 32 24 Florida 574,176 18,838,613 33 25 West Virginia 56,210 1,854,368 33 26 Kansas 81,354 2,859,143 35 27 Oregon 108,313 3,838,332 35 28 Nebraska 51,371 1,830,141 36 29 Arizona 178,890 6,413,158 36 30 Connecticut 97,960 3,575,498 36 31 Illinois 350,193 12,841,980 37 32 Alabama 127,255 4,785,401 38 33 Tennessee 168,408 6,357,436 38 34 Arkansas 76,293 2,921,588 38 AND THAT'S ALL YOU GET TO TYPE. IF YOU ARE TOO DRUNK TO WALK, DRIVE A CAR, NOT A MOTORCYCLE

[@NextGen_Pants]

Saved. Thanks for the stats. Where did these come from?

[@intellectborn23]

Thanks

[@JakubKazmierski]

Great post!!!!

[@marcd7332]

Excellent, I would change something tho, if you are too drunk to walk get an Uber

[@keijo8238]

stephenmwyatt2 DOT is not good

[@donmichigan8201]

50 years ago my mom said motorcycles are dangerous. I just fell off my couch and banged my knee on the coffee table. Mom never told me about couch danger.

[@ChocolatePie-by1ot]

Lol

[@GiveReallyGood]

Good analogy

[@brianw338]

Same

[@franjurado7188]

did you wear your helmet and pants with homologated knee protection, isn't it? ... no matter what you always must gear up !

[@guitardzan5641]

Moms are dangerous....Helmets and seatbelts don't seem to help.

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

"Is this stop sign for me?" Excellent postulation, hinting at an abstract existentialism but clearly of a self probing philosophical nature.

[@IkkeBareAnders]

I love this.

[@MaximC]

Now translate. 😄

[@Rumham666]

Shut up nerd

[@user-cx2bk6pm2f]

@@Rumham666 The weak minded has reared its ugly head.

[@CrowManJoe]

@@Rumham666 have you no wits ?

[@alecmcgregor8786]

I like that you calculated the ratio for crashes per kilometer rather than just crashes to crashes. Also like that you accounted for safety like not speeding You're definitely in my top 10 youtubers!

[@FortNine]

Thanks! The kilometer factor is very important here in Canada. People drive their cars all year, but bikes only get ridden for 6 months. ~RyanF9

[@christophhominger8062]

@@FortNine Hi, I know this is a pretty old video, but I just came across it. While I really like the message you put out there, and things like ABS and gear can really affect your ratio how much "unsafer" it is to drive a motorcycle, I do have a problem with most of the other things. Things like speeding, alcohol and being a driver unfamiliar with his car or driving in general are huge factors for car safety as well. So if I "reduce" my factor by not being an average rider, I also "increase" my factor by not being an average car driver. So if you take out alcohol incidents on bikes, you'd also have to take out alcohol incidents on cars. And without further knowledge I would believe there are more people driving drunk than riding drunk, so taking out that factor could actually make riding seem more dangerous. As I said, your point is still valid and I liked the video. But you were playing a bit unfair with your numbers there. ;) BR Chris

[@EricPerreault]

@@christophhominger8062 Exactly what I came here to comment as well. If he uses motorcycle stats for riders after 5 months of experience, he needs to use those for car riders after 5 months as well for the comparison to be valid. I still think the ratio will improve, maybe even approaching 1:1 after enough "good" factors, but not as much as he's implying in the video since the comparisons are between a particular kind of motorcycle driver versus only an average car driver.

[@smithsmith6402]

Another thing to consider is that all these factors aren't independant. People who have been educated, have experience, and obey the speed limit are far less likely to be the drunk drivers to begin with. Being a drunk driver implies you're probably missing a bunch of other safety factors to begin with. How much exactly is hard to say, and it's obviously still better to do all the safe things than not. But you can't just multiply all these things together to get the actual risk unless they've been filitered out in the original studies, which they almost certainly haven't because it's not trivial to cross reference all these things in every crash.

[@tomtemple69]

Not # 1?🤨🤨🤨

[@graydation]

There is one number you did not take into consideration... How many people do stupid shit on a motorcycle compared to how many people do stupid shit in cars.

[@C4H10N4O2]

If you really talk about numbers, there are a lot more cars owners doing stupid shits. With purcentage it's something else.

[@graydation]

You might want to re-read your comment... it doesn't even make sense.

[@C4H10N4O2]

Joe Gray I don't know if it make sens, I could explain it in french but I think it wouldn't be okay for you. I tried to said that the percentage of bikers being stupid is higher, but cause there are at least 10 times more car drivers on the road, there is still more of them. Is it better this way ?

[@graydation]

Still... you do not see cars doing stunts like wheelies and shit on public roads nearly as much as you see bikers doing it. Thats my point.

[@C4H10N4O2]

Joe Gray In my country, they do. But less than 2% of the vehicles on the road are motorcycle, that's pretty low.

[@heytheredontworryboutit7137]

You turned the camera off and walked right up to that windmill didn't you? Haha.

[@FortNine]

Allegedly. ~RF9

[@rollingsteady3107]

Walked? LOL

[@slowsteve3497]

Every class I’ve taken in the US claims that mile for mile motorcycle riding is 38 times more likely to die than in a car. Keep in mind that includes all riders including those who ride drunk, on drugs, speed etc. so if you are careful the risk is much lower. But I don’t know how to quantify it.

[@bernardschmitt6389]

@@slowsteve3497 1,000 deaths a year could have been prevented if people had a helmet on

[@opticalecho119]

@@slowsteve3497 I’ve heard 27 times more likely per mile as the figure being tossed around. Either way, people who are safety conscious are way safer than that number would suggest.

[@ChamplainValleyRailSnapshots]

I'm always amazed when I see guys rocketing out on their sport bikes in tank tops and shorts, wearing sandals.

[@munk_ken]

@@SamothRetsof that is, if they even wore a helmet. Otherwise, it's likely very quiet after the crash until someone else starts freaking out over a potentially vegetable-ized lump or lumps of human flesh in varying states of intactfullness. Aka, don't be stupid, at least wear some gear and save everyone else the disgust of cleaning you up.

[@MrSunrise-]

Heard this many years ago: "They lack imagination. What comes to your mind when I say 'pink eraser'?"

[@twrcrew8852]

@@SamothRetsof i actually look at them both long before and long after i got into motorcycles - and got the impression of a lower intelligence, impulsiveness, and immaturity. That impression never changed. Don't think it ever will. It never crossed my mind as cool, as even when I was a kid and saw someone on a crotch rocket in a tanktop, I was more disappointed that they WEREN'T in the cool power ranger suit, not thinking "cool. he wore nothing today!". What I really thought was he was too poor/ didn't happen to buy gear.

[@xXxLolerTypxXx]

I usually ride without my full gear. Not because I think it's cool or something, but because my cheap gear is uncomfortable as hell. I still always wear a helmet, a jacket and gloves though, and I ride slowly and defensively to at least try to make up for the risk I put myself in by not wearing protective pants and boots. I want to get some more comfortable gear in the future though. A leather jacket with cotton interior, not that polyester stuff, and a motorcycle jeans, as well as some boots that are actually comfortable.

[@twrcrew8852]

@@xXxLolerTypxXx sounds like you've never worn a mesh armoured jacket? I have a literal all-black apline stars zip up armoured jacket that is not only comfortable but never hot whilst actually riding the bike. It's hot if you're standing around in your house with it on, but once out on the road the air flows freely through it, and even at traffic jams, if there's even a slight breeze it feels just fine. in fact, I wear warm stuff over it/under it if it gets chilly. Leather anything sounds like absolute hell.

[@hommebizzare]

A lot of deaths here in Denmark are related to elder people picking up a motorcycle after not riding for many years. And I don't think you can compare mileage, I think a person that rides a lot is generally more safe on the road

[@sebastiangeorge7714]

People often forget to count in the km/year driven, when men have 30% accidents but drive 50% longer distances they are still the safer drivers. You can make that comparison with more factors to make it more accurate.

[@1harrismccarty]

The way people tend to drive cars, the people who ride a long time either have nerves of steel or are desperate for transportation. It's equal parts luck and skill on public roads when you're on two wheels lol.

[@just-dl]

I think the comparing mileage is more along the lines of "motocyclists spend less time on the road than drivers," so a comparable number of deaths would be shocking when the difference in mileage is very large. I think you're right about those who drive a lot are safer, generally. Ryan mentioned how long someone's had a bike. I think how long someone has been riding is key, too; a new rider who rides a ton won't start off as safe as a old rider, who rides less frequently. At least, I suspect stats would support that idea. The take away for me is, don't be average....take classes, know your bike, practice everything, AT(f)GAT(f)T, stay sober...and of course...be alert, every ride. Happy Riding to you in Denmark! :-)

[@MUSHIN_888]

Yeah man too true. There are some genuinely stupid/blind drivers hidden amongst us.

[@whywhatwhenwherewow]

@@just-dl I'd wager a new rider with 10k miles in their first year is safer than a 5-year rider with 10k total across those years. The long time, low mileage rider is never really improving their skills past a certain point: they're just barely doing enough to retain the basic competency they reached in the first year. It's this way with any skill, whether a sport, work-related, or anything else. With rowing for example: past the first 6 months or so, we generally regard getting on the water one hour per week as maintenance. It's every additional practice after that which allows real improvement. If you row once each week for 10 years, you won't be as good as someone who rowed 5x each week for 2 years. The only reason why motorcycles might not follow this trend as strongly, is age correlation to risk-taking behaviors. The 1-year, 10k mile rider would still be more skilled than the 5-year, 10k mile mile rider. But if they're even just 4 years younger they may have a higher risk tolerance (ride faster, corner harder, etc). This effect is interesting too, though, because the less risk averse rider will also develop skills faster, all else being equal, and be better able to handle "oh-shit" moments.

[@bos1756]

Before I started riding I thought I was going to be at least a little afraid of riding, especially in traffic, but to my surprise, I really don't have any fear at all when I ride. To the contrary, I feel like I am in complete control. I practice alot. I spent most of my time riding today just doing slow speed maneuvers. I ride within my limits, never do I compromise that. I like the 70% rule. Good one to live by. Anyway, stay safe out there. Keep the vids coming, always professionally done.

[@oldgeezerproductions]

I've been riding motorcycles, off and on, for 58 years (since I was 15.5) although there have been some real long dry spells in there. After many years of not riding, I bought a small displacement, 25 HP road bike about 2 years ago and I ride it a lot. Before buying the bike, I looked into what some great people have posted on safety and I was amazed at how things had changed -- for the better. Thanks to the many wonderful training and safety videos that teach road strategy and encouraged practice and more practice of those all important riding skills, I have learned way more in the last 2 years than all the previous years combined. Having said all that, often I am passed by fools (mostly on sports bikes) who suddenly appear out of nowhere and whizz by me maybe 50 MPH faster than what I'm doing (the speed limit). This isn't the only deadly foolish thing I see motorcyclists doing, like driving faster than traffic and appearing out of nowhere so that people in cars can't possibly see them in time to avoid a crash. When I see how so utterly foolish and reckless many people ride and how little time and though people want to give to training and practice, it is a wonder that so FEW motorcyclists are killed each year. I've had some "close calls" but by looking ahead, anticipating situations and having a backup plan and practiced road skills, they really weren't all that close. Things can happen to anyone at any time, but I feel much safer than the stats seem to indicate and I am satisfied that my risk is acceptably low. By applying these motorcycle safety principles to my car driving, I feel that I'm a much safer driver now than I ever was.

[@rrrandommman]

I love how quiet your bike is, and how respectfully you ride. Thanks for the break down on safety. Ride safe.

[@AdamOstridge]

I'm looking at potentially getting a bike in the not too distant future and your channel is not only informative, but also shows how fun, safe and friendly motorcycling can be! Thanks for the great content, I'm looking forward to more to come and hope to be watching as a fellow biker some time in the next year! Keep up the awesome work! :)

[@AV-zh6tq]

what kind of bike are you looking at?

[@AdamOstridge]

Currently thinking of picking up a ninja 250, there's a lot of motorway driving around me so I need something bigger than a 125 but I don't want to go crazy. Also considered a bandit 600 but figured that may be a bit heavy/powerful for a first bike. I've been driving for a good few years now which I think will also contribute to my road sense and safety :)

[@AV-zh6tq]

+Adam Ostridge I started on a 900 just take it slow though. but now i regret not getting a dual sport bike

[@dualsportcanada5184]

consider a dirt bike and being off road to learn how to ride a bike and build skills. if not take a driving course that places focus on how to drive a motorcycle. it is even worthwhile going to a road course and get racing instruction. you be asking why. well if your driving on the road you need skills to get yourself out of trouble. I have never had to go through a ditch but I am ready to. I could talk for ever but I think Ryan could cover it in his next video. How to become a safe skilled driver!

[@AdamOstridge]

Thanks for the tips guys, I'm UK based so there's not a huge amount of off road areas I could use a dirt bike with (as far as I'm aware) so I'm more interested in getting a road bike like a bandit 400 that's a nice happy medium. I'm a pretty safe driver already so I have no intention of going all "super-sport-bro" on this and will definitely be getting plenty of practice with safety courses, etc. before/after I get a license. The difficult part will more likely be convincing my family and girlfriend that motorbikes aren't inherently death traps!

[@mwsletten]

Excellent video. The term you're looking for (one used in professional aviation for some time now) is "risk management." You know what they are, so you take steps to mitigate them. Keep to the speed limit on roads with blind turns and hills; know where car drivers are most likely not to see you and prepare to stop/avoid; know when conditions increase riding risk (wet roads, fall leaves, winter gravel, etc.); and so on. Take an advanced rider course to learn how to better control your motorcycle, then practice, practice, practice. Most of all, set personal limits and stick with them. Every time you do something dangerous with no adverse consequences you reinforce the notion that doing dangerous things is okay. Ride fast on the track; ride smart on the street.

[@nimamesbah6964]

I love how he has been riding since he was 12, but still enjoys every little bit of it like its his first time.

[@blurglide]

Motorcycles have about 30x the fatalities per mile as cars in the US from what I remember. Wearing a helmet lowers your risk of fatality by 36%. Having antilock brakes lowers it by 31%. Just by doing these two things you've basically cut your risk in half. The next most important thing is don't be a squid or street rossi. Leave big margins of safety. These people are probably a huge chunk of the remaining fatalities. The rest are people who don't drive like they're invisible. Just assume people are going to pull out in front of you. For example, when I'm cruising down the highway and someone is in the left turn lane down the road, such that they plan to cross my lane, I look for other cars around me. If there are other cars, it's likely this person will see them and not turn. If there are NOT, I make note of that space as somewhere I can swerve, AND I flash my high-beams to make myself more visible. Also, do simple stuff like checking your tire pressure often. If you're on a country road at dusk or night, go slow as a deer might jump in front of you. Ride sober. Wear high-vis gear, especially at night. Also, don't get something super powerful for a first bike, especially if you're a young man! Get some experience first. Doing all that probably lowers my exposure to perhaps 3-5x the fatality risk of a car driver, or roughly 1/9 of motorcycle on average, which is far more manageable than 30.

[@alexramirez4274]

Wouldn't flashing your high beams signal them to go? That's kind of ignorant

[@darksin7]

As a friend told me once, just imagine all the cars want to kill you, and expect them to attack you at any moment. Ride defensively is the key.

[@alexramirez4274]

@@comedicsketches i can see the mindset. But in florida we communicate with our brights. When someone flashes you its and indication to do something. Thats pretty universal at least thats whats the internet says.

[@alexramirez4274]

@@comedicsketches it would be better to use the horn to grab their attention in my opinion

[@zyonsdream]

Helmets do not reduce the fatality rate by 36%.... they are 36% effective. That means, 36 out of 100 people should live if they crash with a helmet on. If a condom was 36% effective would you use it as your main line of defense? That squishy gray stuff between your ears will give you a higher survival rate if you use it to study the statistics that teach you where and how an accident is most likely to happen.

[@knightlautrec4311]

All the motorcycle deaths in my area in recent years have been down to two factors: recklessness and speed. In some cases there really is not a lot you can do (being pulled out on at a junction), but you can greatly minimise it by riding sensibly and being aware of problem spots i.e. junctions.

[@michaeljkasnter]

Your parents should be proud, you are such a good person, so well spoken!! Love your work F9

[@NAZLSI]

Hey FortNine, great video as always. It would be significantly more accurate to inckude serious injuries in your calculations though as well. Because in the end of the day 13.5 may not sound like much, but if you mention that there is an additional 30x chance of permanent debilitating injury then people will consider that equivalent in importance...

[@HotrodsMotorcycling]

I'm all about all the gear all the time, I don't care if it's 100 deg, I have it all on, and I believe seat time is the key, myself I ride about 20k miles a yr, I assume the risk, and do everything I can to reduce it, by taking classes, wear high viz, and practice ORM all the time....enjoyed the video.

[@viennapalace]

In 42 years of riding motorcycles almost everyday, I have fallen off & hurt myself badly enough to need time off work 3 times. In 21 years of living in a house with stairs, I have fallen down them & hurt myself badly enough to need time off work 5 times. Therefore, I conclude stairs are more dangerous than motorcycles...

Man what do you use to record your voice? It sounds crystal clear.

[@TheFunnyCamGuy]

For real

[@FortNine]

We use a Zoom H4N: www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-h4n-handy-recorder

Thanks! But I meant on board.

[@TheFunnyCamGuy]

Yeah like what mic do you use while riding

[@FortNine]

The one linked above. Ryan puts it in his pocket and clips the microphone under his helmet.

[@BenMcghie]

Good video. When I began to think about buying a bike, I started looking into it. I quickly found that a scary large percentage of bike crashes were single-vehicle incidents. And many of those involved alcohol. The next leading cause was unforced rider error. Not drinking and rider training go a LONG way to making motorcycling safer. Not freezing up when you hit a decreasing radius turn that you went a liiittle bit fast into... is a learned skill, not an innate one. Most bikes are way more capable than their riders. Beyond that, there are certain kinds of people that probably shouldn't ride. They are more finicky machines to maintain than cars, and have less redundancy if something goes wrong. And if something does go wrong... the consequences are worse. People that tend to drive distracted, or fail to maintain their rides... probably shouldn't ride motorcycles. You simply don't have the luxury of error on a bike. For myself, having ridden for 4 (5? not exactly sure) years, and keeping my bike insured year round, I don't feel more scared on my bike than I do in my truck. I've done about 110000km on street bikes now. Much of it in cities. You need to know your machine, and know that other motorists may inadvertently be out to kill you. Act accordingly and have fun. Motorcycling is fantastic.

[@MikaelLewisify]

Drinking and riding just should never ever be a thing, but neither should reckless speed and unskilled drivers, but here we are. All I can do is be smart and do my best to stay alive and have fun.

[@FlamingCockatiel]

My state's motorcycle licensing booklet began with questions like, "How do you handle power tools," or "Are you an aggressive driver?" I thought that was such a good thing to put up front. Everyone who's heard I took a course said that it was a good thing I did (although I think it could stand to be a bit more thorough). I'm glad I did.

[@carbonrrpilot]

my motorcycle is very dangerous, about month ago I was walking through my garage between my car and motorcycle and hit my shin on the footpeg..... that shit still hurts!!

[@BlockCylinder]

I saw this video last year when it came out. It was one of many videos I saw around that time as I was trying to decide whether to sign up for an MSF class and finally get my license. Almost a year later I own a 2012 Super Tenere and I've done a few short tours, and I'm loving it. Thank you.

[@okay_86]

I just crashed yesterday glad i had all my gear on

[@imexclusiv9742]

Oracle Gaming were you at fault?

[@FortNine]

Damn! Hope you're feeling better already? ~RyanF9

[@steveflow1332]

GoodmorningDan that's great

[@zilch7116]

GoodmorningDan saves lives and sometimes you don’t feel shit! It’s amazing

[@Cheezmonka]

I totaled my SV650 about a month ago; I came out of it with a bruised tailbone and very very minor concussion. Also glad I wore all my gear. For the record, it was a single vehicle crash (just me and the bike), but it was a fairly bad circumstance that lead to it, so the police and my insurance agreed I was not at fault. I'm just glad there was a friendly guy in an SUV that saw the whole thing and stopped to make sure I was ok until the EMTs and Police arrived.

[@rancidmarshmallow4468]

Ok, but that 13.5:1 is average to average. If you can choose to be better than average on a bike, you can do that in a car as well (like, obviously, you can also avoid drunk driving, or driving without a seatbelt) so the factor doesn't just go down on the bike side. It's more complicated, and hard to pin down what the ratio might be for a hypothetical 'safe' biker vs 'safe' driver.

[@LeoPrAn]

I don't know if it is because this guy is canadian, but he looks like the world's nicest motocyclist. Your videos are awesome!

[@dangrantofficial]

Another great video and thanks for sharing. I’m an inexperienced and learning motorcyclist; I’m also a father and husband that wants to come home from every ride - it’s really valuable for me to understand these controls to reduce the risk of injury or death. I’ve made commitments to myself and my wife around speed, alcohol, building skill, being visible (hi viz fluro colours), no night riding, no wet weather riding, and wearing full safety gear. I enjoy learning about what other motorcyclists do to protect themselves.

[@rogerkay8603]

I'd advise against no wet weather riding, never know when you'll be caught out in it and should build your skills there too so you're confident enough to get home. Its not difficult.

[@GaryMCurran]

Part two of the post below: 6. Rider Attitude. The guy, or gal, who sets out on a motorcycle with an attitude of 'I can do anything on my bike, nothing is going to happen to me' is only asking for something to happen to them, and soon. The guy who likes to do wheelies has removed 50% of his capability to control his motorcycle. More, actually. The person who likes to VLog and remove their hands from the handlebars to make a point, immediately loses his ability to meet unseen changes in the road surface, texture, or grip. Yes, I AM talking about you, Ryan. One hand, yeah, I can see that, but both? Not a good idea, particularly on an unpaved surface. But, that attitude, and now I'm not talking specifically about you, is one of 'I have control, I know what I'm doing, I've been doing this for long enough that I am on top of it' is the same sort of attitude that allows automobile drivers to text and drive, eat and drive, read the newspaper and drive, or whatever. It gets people hurt. You need to be 100% focused 100% of the time. This attitude needs to be checked every time you put on your helmet or your jacket, and mount your ride. You need to think, instead, 'I'm sitting on a 400-700 pound piece of metal hurtling down the road at 25 meters every second, and I have limited protection, and there are other idiots out here who don't see me, and will kill me given the slightest provocation.' Keeping that sort of mental attitude will keep you alive and in the game. 7. Rider impairment. You also mentioned alcohol, but let's expand that to ANY sort of impairment, from illegal drugs, to a head cold, and everything in between. Even the mental impairment of a stress related issue, a divorce, the prospect of losing a job, a health issue. Anything like that. Prescription drugs, over the counter drugs, being sick. Any and all of this puts the rider at risk, even on our hypothetical 1,000 mile trip. Yes, sometimes it is a risk we are forced to take, and as part of a good riding attitude, we need to make accommodations for such impairment, i.e., slow down some, be more aware of your surroundings, etc. 8. Motorcycle condition. In our cars, we tend to gloss over maintenance needs, until it gets called to our attention. 'Hey, had a flat tire on the way into work today, looked and all four tires need to be replaced!' In a car, that's a big problem, but not always insurmountable. Worn out tires on a bike can be disastrous, especially if you're not on 'race track' conditions on the road, or you have any moisture. Most automobiles don't worry that their drive shaft is going to break, fall off, or seize up, but failure to maintain your chain and sprockets on your motorcycle, keep the shaft drive lubricated, or make sure the belt isn't fraying and broken can lead to you having a major issue, possibly at the worst possible moment (like when you pulled out in front of that 18 wheeler to pass the slow car in front of you!). I could go on and on, but, if a motorcyclist takes all this into consideration, and is aware of what is going on around them, they can reduce the chance of an accident. Motorcycling does not HAVE TO BE inherently dangerous, at least any more than any other vehicle. It all comes down to what the rider is willing to do to make it safe.

[@kosmoto]

what's your problem?

[@GaryMCurran]

Kosmoto MY problem, or the guy above you? I have no problem.

[@kosmoto]

Gary C guy above me

[@kosmoto]

Gary C you made very valid points, shit was uncalled for.

[@GaryMCurran]

Kosmoto Thank you, sir, for you comment. It is appreciated.

[@StefsEngineering]

@5:15 it's even more impressive, the overall wingspan of a 747 is 68m in the last model. The biggest windmill by vestas at the moment has a rotor diameter of 162m. This means that compairing one wing to one rotorblade you get roughly 31m for one wing and 80m for one rotorblade

[@johnDukemaster]

Went for a ride in Sweden and ending up just under one of those huge windmills! Standing with my back against it, looking up just gave m the chills! See that enormous wing, almost in slowmotion, but when it passes ones head only a few metres away, it's big! So big!

[@ethanclark4116]

John Mård I was expecting another rhyme there at the end

[@blountfilms_au]

This man understood the assignment from his first video. Produce quality content putting motorbike riders at ease with confidence and style. Consider it achieved!

[@peter7624]

My mother told me that motorcycles were dangerous after I'd bought my first one. I'm still riding 55 years later with no serious accidents, just a few minor offs and collisions. I have to say that the pleasure so far outweighs the pain. in my experience.

[@taylor2105]

I wiped out today without much gear on... A sweater, riding gloves and a full face. Luckily it only took two more tries to make it up the gravel pile I was climbing. That's +1% for the drz 400 I'd say. Though the lack of gear is absolutely dumb... The sweater had vizzy stripes, but no armor. - 1% right there... The statistics you provide here are frightening. I started a local Facebook page dedicated to riders, and I've met some great friends through it. Lots of them, new riders with very little gear and sometimes way too much bike under them. I worry for these folks.

[@yugen8382]

Please tell me you wore a helmet

[@brianq7365]

Full face is a helmet

[@TobiasRieperGER]

The problem of danger isn't just the wrong geared Biker. Here in Germany the regular traffic (cars, vans, trucks) is the problem. Those vehicles have more and more driving assistants, buttons were switched to touchscreens with integration of multimedia and noone reads that damn 800 page long manual for the features. They are so overstrained with all the lights, 200 different beeps and focused to the mid console touchscreen, that it is no wonder, they don't notice their stupid driving. Additional to that bikes get more and more silenced, regular vehicles get more and more stucked up against exterior audio, so they either can hear the motorbikes. Eyes and ears are doing other stuff instead of watching the traffic arround them.

[@thatguyoverthere8097]

I have to agree, almost every new car makes practically the same warning noise for a million different things, from the parking brake left on, to a passenger not wearing a seatbelt to a car being 0.3cm in front of you, it's just ridiculous.

[@maqdev]

They are also getting nice safety features like autobreaking, blind zones detectors etc I Believe with full autopilots cars will become much less dangerous to motorcycles.

[@woolypuffin392]

I am from switzerland and i totally agree with you. I dont trust any car driver. I get nearly accidents at least one time a week in round abouts and entries to bigger roads.

[@marceldemir7514]

Big fan of your channel, I work in London. Roads are crowded and competitive. Saw a bad one. All three lanes doing 10mph. Motorcycle roaring between the lanes really moving. Driver begins to change lanes as a container truck passes to tuck in behind. Boom! Forks ripped off bike. We've all felt the buzz of doing that. I think controlling the monster within yourself that wants another toke of adrenaline is important. Life saving.

[@taffy1975]

Some statistics from Sweden (Official statistics from Trafikverket): * It's 2-3 times more dangerous to drive when it's dark * About 50% of all accidents with pedestrians happen after dark * 60% of all accidents happen between Friday and Sunday * 50% of all accidents occur in urban areas * 40-50% of all accidents are single-motorcycle accidents * The second most common accident type is where two or more roads cross. 50% of those accidents happen when a car makes a left hand turn and crosses the side where the vehicle is driving in the opposite direction. 20% are accidents where a motorcycle tries to overtake a car, which makes a left hand turn. 30% are accidents where a car is driving onto a road where a motorcycle is driving (probably not seeing it or mistaking it for a moped). * You are 12 times more likely to be injured on a motorcycle than a car * You are 20 times more likely to die * 40% of motorcycle drivers die on roads that are limited to 70-80 km/h. 22% on 30-50km/h. 16% on 90km/h. 6% on 100-120km/h. The rest it is unknown. * Super sports are involved in 40% of the lethal accidents, while constituting only 10% of the bikes on the roads * Of those killed within 4 years of getting a license, 70% died on supersports * Leg injuries are the most common injuries on a motorcycle * 90% of all killed or severely injured are men * 60% are caused by the human factor * 50% of all drivers who are killed in accidents with single-motorcycle accidents are intoxicated * 1 in 3 killed in accidents are intoxicated. Half of them by illegal drugs. * 30% of those killed in traffic are intoxicated * 20% of accidents are caused by tired drivers * 15% of all road users are involved in 50% of all accidents * A third of all killed on a motorcycle don't have a drivers license * A third of those killed drove someone else's bike * 32% of those killed on a motorcycle were not speeding. 32% were driving 10-30km/h over the speed limit. 37% were driving over 30km/h over the speed limit. * 60% of those killed were either intoxicated, weren't using a helmet, lacked drivers licence or drove a lot over the speed limit. A fifth of those killed had the speed as their only risk factor.

[@MrLastlived]

David, you are severely misinformed. But good try. OP, thank you for the stats.

[@TrNdke]

Awesome stats. As a motorcyclist and a former rideshare driver, all of that jives with what I've seen here in the US.

[@yugen8382]

U dont have a motorcycle yet but all i get from those stats is that how responsible you are on the bike determines if you make it.Id say that at least the 50%-65% of deaths you metioned are caused by irrespomsibility

[@moguls914]

This comment makes me want to get hammered and get my knee down at 2am.

[@carolean4360]

+David James Oh fuck off. Our nationalist party, SD, is the largest party in Sweden today. Oh and by the way, your newborn white children are a minority today with black, hispanic and asian babies being the majority, so shut the fuck up.

[@AtlasMays]

My fiancée is trying to make me sell my motorcycle because she is terrified of them. I've tried telling her about how the statistics aren't actually entirely accurate and how I'm always being as safe as possible while riding, but she refuses to listen. Eventually, i got fed up with it and told her that I'm not getting rid of the motorcycle, although I am prepared to hang up my gear for a while, but only if she agreed that in a year we will take a motorcycle safety course together so that she can experience it first hand. Her biggest problem with it, besides the statistics, is that she's never actually driven a motorcycle before. I'm not trying to get get addicted to driving motorcycles, but I want her to have first-hand experience with it before she tries forcing me to sell my favorite mode of transportation and exploration. Do you guys think I'm making a good decision?

[@mvl71]

RageCreator 2996 My wife isn't as scared as she used to be. I had to promise I would wear full gear at all times, but I was going to anyway so that was an easy promise to make. Going on a course together is a great idea. Just make sure you don't do it with a "told ya" attitude. Fear is always based on things that haven't happened yet, and if a course can get her educated about the _actual_ risks and what _you_ can do to minimize those risks, than chances are she'll let you drive your motorcycle without her being afraid for your life (is that correct English? It's not my first language). Fear is caused by ignorance. The more she knows from first hand experience, the less afraid she'll be. The rest is up to experience, so it's up to you to get home safe after every ride.

[@eyeballs50]

Your fiancée isn't your mother..if she can respect you're passions, she isn't in the right frame of mind. Be safe, but be firm..people get killed crossing the street..is she afraid to go for a walk? My mother was terrified of bikes, cars and just about anything else but I got a bike when I was 17 and have been riding ever since..40+ yrs..best hobby I've had and still do

[@philparkerus]

RageCreator 2996 I would tell her that you’re really passionate about riding and you’re willing to accept some risk in order to gain the enjoyment that motorcycles bring. You can promise to wear gear and ride defensively. But if she just can’t accept that then it’s time to part ways .... with the girl not the bike. Keep the bike.

[@cubanheelsbeerbelly]

Get a motorcycle air bag.

[@clarson2916]

You might consider taking some time off when she gets pregnant. Your children need you more than you need anything. When you have children, they are more important than you are. When they graduate from high school you are free to follow your personal passions again. In the end, it’s a very short time, and a small sacrifice to make for those who will always be the most important people in your life.

[@Tyykjen]

Your videos are really professional. I hope your channel grows! cheers from norway

[@kristiangurholt59]

Yey Norge!

[@nullified7376]

Pickle sickle

[@sebastian3358spawn]

New to your channel and i have to say i really like your energy. Keep up the amazing work. Greetings from Athens/Greece.

[@mrsnuggles3116]

Back when I was skydiving I mulled over a similar concept. I ran some of my own stats on American traffic and skydiving stats (I forget the exact datasets and year) and found that 1 skydive exposed you to the same likelihood of death as 26 miles on a motorcycle. Consideringthat a skydive takes about 20-30 minutes (plan ride, free fall, landing), and so does 26 miles on a motorcycle, riding and skydiving really feel like similar activities. Of course as you mention that is average, and there is a lot of room to get away from average based on gear, style, aggressiveness, sobriety, etc.

[@gailhakes2659]

Love the vid, awesome as always! I'm from the plains, so we have some windmills around. Generally, the wing is 85 feet (25m to the rest of the world) in length, but there are some bigger ones. Usually they are under 250' in overall height by having the 85' wing. Some off-shore and unrestricted airspace areas (when you get even further west) get larger wings, up to 105 feet. Now, say the wing does a rotation in 5 seconds of time, and we know the circumfrence is 2pi over R square, then we can get the speed. The raw calculation comes out in feet per second, but I can tell you from doing this caculation a few thousand times while I drive that generally the windmills run at around 500 mph at the wingtip even with a 5 mph wind or 45 mph gusts. They can turn faster, but they are limited so that the rotor doesn't make a 'whop-whop' noise like a helicopter, and over-rev can lead to fire, which isn't something they really want these to do. Thanks for all the great motorcycle information! You and the team set the standard!

[@BradleyTn20]

I have also heard that if you ride with a pink shirt and suspenders and can pull the look off as here then your risk factor drops to near zero. Be sure to pin this so everyone knows. Safety first.

[@vincentmcclain9307]

I am 63 ride a 2010 Roadglide custom my wife is 62 rides a 2017 Roadglide S 15 years on the road and 50 k , here are what keeps us upright 1) were off the road by 3:30 pm.2) we don’t ride at night.3) we do not drink while on the road.4) riding holidays Forth of July for example no good. 5) always a helmet and gloves.last week a car pulled out front of a rider going up hill he locked up and flipped over the bike we were walking and first there as we called for help he had a helmet and no gloves his Knuckles on both hands a mess.GLOVES.Ride the right bike with the most current upgrades, ABS, HID headlights, proper gear, have fun love this guys reviews be safe take a rider safety class

[@VladBorisych]

Your vlogs are awesome, man. Thank you!

[@gregg9694]

Things I do: 1. Armored Gear Pants and Jacket and helmet. 2. Not a drop of alcohol. 3. Have completed a motorcycle safety foundation course. 4. Leave large space cushions between myself and other riders. 5. Hands covering break and clutch and slowing down at every intersection.

[@xTYx728]

Grew up racing dirtbikes and have had a sport bike for 2 seasons now. And 2 days ago I just had my first real crash. Have (had) a gsxr 750 and totaled it because of gravel in a turn... Riding is dangerous but at the same time, if you're riding your prob not the type that cares.

[@musicauthority-d6g]

The number one thing that makes motorcycles more dangerous. is people in car's that don't don't pay attention to motorcycles. because they will pull out in front of you, or stop short in front of you. and simply not see you because they are looking for other cars instead of a motorcycle. I experienced that before when I had an older motorcycle. that wasn't equipped with ABS and was forced to lock up the brakes. when people would show their lack of attention paid to motorcycles. it's unfortunate that some people act like motorcycles don't exist. however your situation in this video is pretty nice. where there is practically no traffic and you're bike is equipped with ABS. it looks like you your ride looks like a blast with minimal traffic and beautiful scenery.

[@TomasUjhelyi]

They're dangerous if you make them dangerous

[@marcusbrasholt882]

I recently got my license and had to choose my very first motorcycle. I could go for a cheaper (used) option without ABS or a brand new one with ABS. I'm glad i choose the new one with ABS. Saved my life after driving only 400km. As an inexperienced rider i just panicked and slammed the brakes when a truck pulled out in front of me, and without the ABS i would probably have lowsided right underneath it. The great thing is that new motorcycles has to have ABS to be able to get license plates here in Denmark, a nice safety feature. I have a A2 license that restrict me to 48 bhp so i choose a 2018 duke 390 which has an ABS off option, so still a bit of versatility. Love your channel, keep the videos coming :D

[@quillmaurer6563]

I'd been thinking of this a lot. My mom and I are signed up for the motorcycle safety class in a couple weeks, after I'd been debating if I wanted to get into motorcycling for many years. I always thought it looked like fun, and an economical way to get around (commuting to work in particular). But I'd always debated over whether I was okay with the risk. Is it too dangerous? There's the stats that say it's dangerous, but I see plenty of idiots driving around, no helmet, drunk, hot dogging it, and so on. I have to imagine that a lot of idiots skew the data worse. Riding responsibly, being extremely defensive, riding safely and within my abilities, and with proper gear, it's not as dangerous as said data would have one believe. As to the feel of danger, if I always feel like I'm in mortal peril any time I'm on the bike, I'll have to find that out once I'm out on the road. But what really pushed me over the edge of going for it was my mom failing at her fundamental job of talking me out of it, instead she decided to do it with me - I think she's always been crazier than me, despite her age!

[@just-dl]

I'm officially a fan of your mom! I hope you have gone for it, or are still going to do it! :-)

[@quillmaurer6563]

@@just-dl In the years since, both my mom and I got our motorcycle licenses and I got a little Suzuki GZ250. My mom rode it a few times but never got comfortable, decided to not continue riding. I use the bike as my primary transport though, I probably put more miles on it than my car.

[@just-dl]

@@quillmaurer6563 I am happy for you! I had to look up the model...that is SWEET looking! absolutely love it! I may have tor revise my plans for getting back on two wheels...although I think a 250 might be a little tough on some of my hills/highways. Congrats on making the jump to the bike! One of my favorite youtube videos is about safety (Ryan from Fortnine - where he's talking as he cruises among windmills) - has great ideas about safety...after talking about how risky it is for the "average rider," he concludes about how to feel safe...don't be average! 🙂 Stay safe! Keep the shiny bits up, and ENJOY!!!!

[@quillmaurer6563]

@@just-dl Thanks! THe GZ250 is a good looking bike, but it's slow, I won't try to put it any other way. Marginally capable on the freeway, it will do it but it's a little frightening, you're flat out doing 65, overtaking is difficult and terrifying. Wouldn't attempt to do two-up on it except for surface streets. But it gets good gas mileage (65-70 MPG), was cheap, easy to work on, comfortable to ride, easy to park, and seems to be well made. The two ways I typically describe it are: "It's basically a riding lawn mower with the blades and two of the wheels missing" and "It is the absolute cheapest, lowest-power, most-fuel efficient, simplest, smallest, lightest, most minimal in every way, vehicle capable of getting my ass places. No less, no more." So whether it's a great or awful bike depends on what you want out of a motorcycle and how you intend to use it. For many it's an excellent starter bike, easy to learn on, indestructible, can't get you into too much trouble, use it a year then sell it on and get something bigger. But I've not felt a strong desire to get anything else, for what I need, why I want a motorcycle (minimalist practical transportation) it's relatively good.

[@just-dl]

@@quillmaurer6563 that’s awesome. If you don’t need to overtake at highway speeds and are doodling around town, it looks perfect

[@steampunk888]

A windmill, for all commenters, is a thing that uses wind power to slowly grind grain into coarse flour. They are fairly quiet, quaint things and often the subject of paintings and jigsaw puzzles. A wind TURBINE is a high-speed power generation device that is heavily engineered and also can be quite loud at close quarters.

[@steveflow1332]

When in doot throttle it oot

[@harshil102]

Two biggest dangers I face are both self inflicted: 1. Being in a hurry and taking more risk than I should. 2. Being aggressive/overconfident chasing a speed or turning thrill taking more risk than I should. I try to keep both in check and that's the biggest difference to personal safety. I think anyone honestly analyzing their own riding will find the majority of danger they face is self inflicted. "Cagers" being a danger is a thing. Definitely more close calls due to other drivers' actions than I face in a car, but I see a lot of excess focus on this risk which is in my opinion not the biggest risk and also not a risk that is necessarily in my own hands. Much more beneficial to focus on and improve the risk factors that are larger and self-controlled.

[@dualsportcanada5184]

next video you could do is what to do to become a skilled safe driver of a motorcycle for the street perhaps. I started as a kid at 8 years of age. lots of dirt bikes, I raced motocross, received racing instruction, I progressed to bigger more powerful bikes. going to a local racetrack for a track day is a good idea to be safe and build skills at speed. but u truly think that a dirt bike can teach you a lot. you will likely crash that a lot when pushing it but that is when you learn what rider inputs work and what doesn't, lol.

[@Prich319]

My first year of riding, I took a little road trip into Boston. It was a warm sunny day in May 2011, and was an uneventful trip until I got on Rt. 1 south. From Lynn to Revere, I passed quite a few wrecks, culminating in a half dozen car pileup in Revere. As I was approaching the Tobin Bridge, I changed lanes, and just barely avoided being sideswiped by a driver who screamed past me in the lane I was just in at a speed I estimated to be between 90~100 mph. Suffice it to say, I made it all the way to the Prudential building and back out of the city in one piece, despite the number of lemmings on the road that day. Since then, I've seen my fair share of bad drivers, from people texting and driving, running stop signs, being passed on a double solid when I'm already riding at the speed limit, and two occasions where they merged into my lane while I was still in it, (completely illegal btw.) one of whom was of course, on his phone. My bike has been hit twice while parked in front of my house, one of those was by a city utility vehicle, (the city reimbursed me for peanuts despite doing a considerable amount of damage.) and the other was a neighbor's party guest who backed their minivan into it, and shattered my front fender. Despite all of this, somehow bikers are regarded as the public menace. We don't call them "Massholes" for nothing.

[@sammyscrap]

When I started riding everyone at work started telling me how dangerous motorcycles a, re and how a coworker and his wife were nearly killed in an accident. I started asking about it and it turns out the accident was caused by a blowout from a tubed tire (Harley, get with the tubeless program) and they were wearing half helmets and no gear to speak of. So by virtue of running tubeless and always wearing gear if the same circumstance had happened to me the chance of even coming off was greatly diminished and an injury from such an event even more remote. I realized then that motorcycling is as dangerous as you choose to make it. It is not like driving in the sense that manufacturers are held to mandatory safety features like airbags and seat belts, and even if they were it's still your choice of what gear to wear and how/when/where to ride.

[@rpcheesman]

One factor that I've had discussions with other bikers is this: There's a gulf of difference between the 'weekend warrior' who goes out only on weekends in perfect weather, and those who ride daily all year round. Similar to the rate of accidents with those bikers in the first fie months, it's a skillset that increases the more varied conditions you ride. In a region like mine where the weekend riders all congregate (some amazing twisties around my neck of the woods), a vast majority of biker related accidents are those who visit the area only on specific and limited days. Also, as someone who has just picked up their first 'adventure' bike, I loved the enjoyment of riding something more technical rather than just faster.

[@DooHKang]

Thank you for the video. I have been bicycling for years and trying to get into a motorcycle now. The problem is, my wife does not like the idea. I do not intend to start motorcycling without convincing her first. I am not sure how long it would take, but I hope some point in this video helps.

[@Blueshade]

Get a Vespa! Cheaper and she will love it!

[@ricbarker4829]

One of the best tips for riding a bike - ride as if you are invisible. That way when someone fails to see you, you are already prepared.

[@gerardsss1]

Great reviews!! I ride with a Hit-Air airbag jacket. I already "tested" it once after slipping on gravel up in the Angeles National Forrest (Angeles Crest Highway). I would be curious to find out how much an airbag jacket -statistically- reduces serious injury in a bike drop.

[@NextGen_Pants]

I'd love to know about this as well. I've seen a ton of stories from people who have gone down with various air bag systems and always tell stories of little to no serious injury. I've yet to hear of someone dying with one on. I'm buying gear right now and a Hit-Air harness is definitely my next purchase before I get my bike.

[@jerothekiller]

I just love how worth it is to watch every single one of your videos, just bought my first bike and I just can't get enough of your channel, keep up the good work man!

[@sunnibird]

Many of the accidents that I'm been aware of are caused by the person in the other vehicle. One of the more common being someone making a sudden left turn in front of an oncoming bike. I know 3 people this has happed to. Two of them ended up with a shattered pelvis and the other with minor injuries.

[@tedg2085]

When I think of the danger side related to riding, I fear the consequences of certain factors that cannot be controlled... 1. Deer in my area are absolutely everywhere and tend to run across the road without any warning 2. People pulling out in front of me or possibly plowing into me at a stop So, I try to reduce my risks by taking simple steps. 1. Riding at much slower speeds during twilight hours when deer are most active 2. Watching drivers closely (covering brake lever when unsure or just reducing speed proactively) or watching in rearview mirror for someone who doesn't seem to be slowing down Everyone has their own way of rationalizing riding... but at the end of the day it'll never be as safe as traveling inside a steel cage.

[@StoutNerd]

I was driving as usual on my car a couple weeks ago and a dude simply decided to ignore a stop sign at full speed and totaled my car. If I was in a motorcycle, I would be dead. I was on 35mph and he hit me on the right wheel, my car lost control, it span 300 degrees and hit a post with the other wheel.

[@danielstifft2299]

a big MAYBE. My mate hit a car head on on his bike on a left turn, just flew over it and came out less hurt than the car driver. Yes you are more exposed to dangers on a bike and you could be dead on a bike, but so could you be dead in a car, consider that most victims of traffic accidents die in their cars not on their bikes.

[@shawncox6719]

If you ride and you've never experienced the benefit of ABS you owe it to yourself and your safety to test one. I've put probably 50000 miles on bikes over the years, was a motorcycle cop for 5, nationally certified Police Motorcycle Instructor, and the weakest link on a bike in an emergency is usually the rider, and the brakes. Threshold braking is a great idea but in an emergency you will usually over react or under react, your senses narrow and you lose feeling in your hands and feet first as your attention goes to other senses. It's possible to keep perfectly calm when you are in a situation where you KNOW you are going to crash, when you KNOW you will not come out unscathed, but it's doubtful. That's where ABS is such a god send. It takes that circumstance and removes one of the most problematic issues. Proper braking in panic mode.

[@barelyaninconvenience]

2 cars blocked and stopped my exit on a roundabout for NO discernable reason i know of,except one was a bmw driver and probably tried to piss other car driver off exactly at same time as i do 'lifesaver' coming off roundabout and shit my pants,emergency braked,lost front end and its me and my son[pillion] thats limping round,ye its dangerous out there

[@leanit5756]

Met a man just yesterday that is a paraplegic after his motorcycle wreck a couple of years ago. Heart breaker. When the legendary Danny "Magoo" Chandler had his paralyzing wreck in 1985, it really brought the "realness" of the dangers of this sport home to me.

[@baqcasanke]

Its a "wind turbine" not a "wind mill".... Wind mills grind wheat into flour etc. wind turbines turn wind power into electricity. Just thought you should know

[@Cosbob]

Baqca Sanke, at 9:09 he said, “you can apparently park a minivan on that turbine”.

[@marshallbaldwin5060]

My teacher lived next to a windmill farm, and he told me a fun fact about them. The tips can create such a difference in air pressure that it explodes the lungs of birds that fly too close. There was always a sad pile near the vicinity...

[@robertnice8532]

Ryan, have you ever crashed? I believe us riders are safer than the statistics tell us but accidents do happen. I wrecked once and close calls a few times ( slippery roads, distracted drivers etc. ) and although I feel safe I know ( just like in cars ) I risk death each time I'm on it. Great channel and content. Very enjoyable.

[@FortNine]

Hey Robert! Yep, I've crashed a couple times. Two major accidents stick out in my memory. The first time I was totally uninjured thanks to my own skill/preparation/gear. The second time I was an idiot, and I have to thank luck that I came out alright. Live and learn, don't make the same mistake twice. ~RyanF9

[@MikaelLewisify]

Unfortunately, the statistics usually don’t account for those of us who ride sensibly and responsibly. Usually.

[@BeefIngot]

Something it might be worth noting is that for lost of the factors listed, you can also lower your rates similarly in a car, which makes motorcycles still significantly more dangerous. The question is whether the absolute level of danger is acceptable for an individual personally

[@valhala56]

The fact is when your number is up it's up. Dying isn't the scarey part, it's being maimed and live that is scary.

[@clonkex]

The point is to delay your number coming up as long as possible.

[@marksarovich5534]

A guy on a plane was shaking badly. The dude next to him tried to reassure him by saying, "When your numbers up - your number's up." Then the scared guy retorted, "I'm not worried about my number being up. I'm worried about the pilot's number being up!!"

[@Shteenen1985]

I appreciate how alert and careful and skillful you are on a motorcyle 👍

[@mrmcbeardy9268]

Hey Ryan!! i know this was like 4 years ago, but i just watched it again after a debate with a family member (about motorcycles not being safe) and felt compelled to comment for others that might think similarly. I've been driving cars for 25 years now, and Ive been riding big bikes for almost 22 years. In that 22 years, I've e not had a single accident, and i don't plan on it anytime soon either. In my experience, I find motorcycles to be much more safe than people realise. There are many factors that contribute to this idea, which i will share here. Firstly, 2WD cars become inherently unstable once one drive tyre loses adhesion with the road, meaning it then becomes a bigger task again to control a 2 tonne lump of steel thats 2 meters wide and 4 meters long... and if a truck or SUV comes over on a car, then it is almost impossible for the car to then find some space to get out the way, especially in traffic. In such an instance the bike can accelerate between and get clear. Some will argue that cars are more safe due to having a protective cell around them, and although this is true in most instances, it won't help someone if an overly zealous trucker comes over on you around a corner or on a mountainous road, you'll be trapped in your car or potentially squashed, a situation that could have been avoided by being able to accelerate (or brake) quickly. A bike however, is narrow and compact, and has a much better power to weight ratio... and can therefore get out of the way much quicker than any conventional automobile. Also, a motorcycle has a much lower weight and therefore a lower inertia to slow down, affording most modern motorcycles a very impressive reduced braking distance over a car. Of course, these are don't make up for the fact that a motorcyclists only physical protection from impact/injury is their clothing. But the most important tool a motorcyclist has for preventing an incident in the first place, is the ability to have extremely good fields of vision with no pillars to restrict that view. A rider is free to look around much more effectively. There is also significantly less things on a motorcycle to distract the rider, unlike in a car. This tends to mean motorcyclists can be more present and attentive. Also, the longer someone rides, the better their judgement becomes, being able to intuitively determine what a fellow motorist might do before doing it. Also, the more experienced one becomes with their bike, the less they need to actually concentrate on the bike itself, and can therefore spend their time looking and scanning for potential threats and hazards. My instructor told me, "become so competent on the bike, that no matter what you ride, it only takes 1% of your concentration... so you can use the other 99% to watch your environment". That advice has saved my neck at least a few dozen times. A bike is also more stable at speed and around corners, due to the centrifugal forces at work, where as a car is only more manoeuvrable at slow speeds, and ingerantly more unsrable at high speeds. Like I say, Ive been riding for 22 years and not like a nana either. In 22 years, not a single incident, which i attribute to a) being able to see a situation before it happens, b) being competent on that machine to put it where i need it to be, and c) having the power to weight to be able to get out of a situation before it becomes one. In any case, just wanted to share a little. I hope you and all pur fellow riders stay safe out there. Keep the shiny side up all! 🤙💯

[@seansingh8862]

As someone who makes a living in part from an advanced understanding of probabilities, your comparison was good right up to the point where you started making risk adjustments to motorcycling, without making the corresponding adjustment to car driving. For example, if alcohol consumption increases the risk of motorcycle mortality by (e.g.) 10%, but only increases the risk of car mortality by 9%, then for someone who doesn't drink before operating a vehicle, the relative risk of mortality by motorcycle only decreases by 1%. I've looked at the publicly available stats myself, and there just isn't enough detail to paint an accurate individualised actuarial picture of how risky motorcycling is, but what is inescapable is that it is dangerous. It's not utterly insane like wingsuiting, but it is certainly one of the most dangerous mainstream activities around. Yes, we can mitigate those risks to some extent, but even if you ride with the conservatism of grandpa and the skill of Rossi, there are still plenty of wrong-place-wrong-time situations which will end a motorcyclist's life but will leave a car driver unscathed. The bottom line is that motorcycling is actuarially indefensible, but it is worth doing anyway because it is just f*cking awesome.

[@hi045]

dude ive been riding for about a month... and aside from the odd occasion ive never felt that unsafe, ive always had a blast, and as someone with severe anxiety my friends cant figure it out haha... but yeah your vids helped me get through my CBT so keep up with that :D cheers xXx

[@XxKINGatLIFExX]

It is interesting you say that, i have suffered with feeling anxious before and I am someone who enjoys bungee jumping and I look forward to highly risky things, like Motorcycling (I have yet to ride, but would want to.) I think it means your anxiety has something useful to do, and it is great to apply that to a risky activity that is dangerous such as Motorbiking.

[@hi045]

@@XxKINGatLIFExX you may be onto something there, I'm scared of heights so no bungee for me haha! For me my bike gave me freedom and a certain amount of indipendance, sadly I've been off the road since the lock downs due to my mental health getting worse and monetary issues, but mostly my head xXx

[@ChrisHardwickanimaladventures]

MC Rider says that the majority of motorcycle deaths are from people who are not wearing a helmet, most are over the legal limit for alcohol consumption, and most don't have a license. If you subtract out all those crazy people I'm not sure it's that much more dangerous than a car, in fact I've seen some really close calls where the motorcycle comes out without a scratch because a smaller vehicle has more escape routes. Could be safer LOL

[@westy5334]

Great views! Amazed to hear that mandatory training didn't exist in Canada prior to .... Was it a case of, buy a 1ltr bike and jump straight on - is that training only in Quebec.

[@FortNine]

Believe it or not, there was a time when getting your motorcycle license was as simple as checking a box during your car drivers' test. "Would you like a motorcycle license too? Yes/No." Crazy. ~RyanF9

[@Jagshemasher]

To ensure longevity on a motorcycle you need to be the kind of person who pays attention to safely (ATGATT), you wont go crazy fast on public roads or drive faster than you are able to stop in the distance you can see in front of you. You will not ride with alcohol in your system and you will assume every car driver on the road is comatose, cannot see you and will pull out in front of you without warning. If you want a very short motorcycling career, drive stupidly fast while weaving between lanes of cars wearing a tee shirt and flip-flops on a 600cc sport bike.

[@DA2THFA1RY]

They are only as dangerous as the people on the road, the weather and conditions of the road, and the way you ride. If it's bright and sunny out, with no traffic in sight, you probably won't die, unless you act like a hooligan.

[@birddaddydetta]

@Motorcyclist That's why you have to practise defensive riding.

[@suu2212]

8:35 - Canadian is riding on a gravel road and apologizing for it, but complimenting it at the same time. I enjoyed the commentary and stats.

[@BossManSays]

he wouldn't be a proper Canadian if he didn't say sorry at least once.

[@rebelguy9487]

Sore-ee......eh?

[@Dave0909]

surprising that speed only involved in 12% of cases

[@jimjones4841]

You gave me the confidence and product understanding to make an educated decision for myself. Buying my first bike next month!

[@jimjones4841]

Thank you btw cheers from LA

[@marcinlachowski5832]

I've done some calculations. According to statistics, in my country you have around 7% chance to die during 40 years of riding. Comparing to cars which is like 0.6%... Well pretty dangerous.

[@Cds2000Channel]

Marcin Lachowski It's nowhere that high, neither for motorbikes and cars

[@douglasfrantzen3011]

When they say that 25% of motorcyclist deaths involve alcohol, that doesn't necessarily mean that the rider was the one that was drunk which Ryan seemed to imply. Nothing gets me angrier than when I read a local news story about a cyclist getting killed by a drunk driver that has 4 prior convictions for DUI.

[@michaels5495]

Shouldnt you also look at the ratio of cars to bikes in canada? if there was 1 bike for every 5.5 cars, then the ratio would be equal. However, there are most certainly wayyy more cars than bikes. Doesnt that make it much more dangerous to ride a motorcycle, if the ratio is 5.5 car deaths:1 motorcycle death, but say there are 50 cars to every one bike?

[@FortNine]

I did take the ratio of cars to bikes into account... just didn't explain it that well in this video. You can see my detailed math here: fortnine.ca/en/how-dangerous-are-motorcycles/ Hope that helps! ~RyanF9

[@keithroy7884]

He actually did mention taking into account the numbers of registered vehicles, as well as kilometers driven. You should listen more closely.

[@Jack-bs5kt]

The only incident where a motorcycle is truly far more dangerous than a car and out of your control is getting hit by another vehicle at high speed. And how many of us have ever actually had that happen to us while driving a car?

[@TajnyTaktyk]

one answer. motorcycles arent dangerous. people are

[@HazDaGeek]

From a favorite author and rider, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” Hunter S. Thompson

[@Skfkf1393a]

While in debating whether I should get back into riding or not, I'm glad I stumbled across a fellow Canadian channel with high production values and excellent contents. My biggest fear of riding a bike is getting rear ended, T-boning a car making illegal turn, or getting side swiped by a semi. What is your take on the risk of these type of accidents? No matter how sensibly one rides one cannot control other idiots on the road and when you collide with other idiots bike provides so little protection over cages. Would latest airbag jacket provide much improved protection or is it just a gimmick?

[@FortNine]

I convince myself that all accidents are preventable. Whether it's true or not, I think that's the best attitude for staying alive. I watch my mirrors at stop lights, eye left-turning cars at intersections and pass semi trucks at full throttle (to get through the danger zone fast). Focus is everything when it comes to motorcycle safety. It's my responsibility to control uncontrollable drivers with foresight and escape routes. And of course full gear helps... those airbags help a lot. I personally don't use one, but the safety benefit is significant (mainly because they offer so much momentary neck support). Definitely not a gimmick. ~RyanF9

[@CaptainVelveeta]

If you look at the stats, I'll bet age range plays a big factor also. I owned a couple of dirt bikes as a teenager and I recently bought a street bike after not being on one for 30 years. I can say without a doubt , I trust myself TONS more now than I did then.

[@bobbybackmarker9665]

Bikes are dangerous. It's the danger that makes the challenge, it's the challenge that makes them great! Nice vid btw..

[@mvl71]

Bobby Backmarker Bikes aren't dangerous. Well, they're just as dangerous as cars. It all depends on who's driving it.

[@DMotovlogs]

Finally got around to watching the video! Nice little vlog. Having the "uncut" ride is nice; almost like we get to be there on the adventure with you.

[@jezlanejl]

Cars, Cars are the most dangerous things on the road. If everyone was forced to ride Motorcycles then the amount of deaths would seriously drop. The Air would be significantly cleaner and roads would be less congested. So if you have a car, bin it and get a Bike, Save the Earth and other people.

[@bandombeviews6035]

Harry Limes Rain is a thing Snow is a thing Passengers are a thing Cargo is a thing Long trips are things.