Just read about ANOTHER death of a motorcyclist in my county. What the hell is happening here at the mo? Seems to be atleast 1 fatal crash every week at the minute, I can understand the police presence! I know there's some great roads round here but no road, or motorcycle is worth putting your life on the line for... I know there can be extenuating circumstances out of the rider's control (shit car drivers, conditions etc.) but if its down to riding beyond your limits take it on track.. RIP to all the yorkies that have lost their lives recently.
Whereabouts this time YT ? Had noticed the frequency of reports of crashes seemed quite high on local news recently myself, and its not born agains either I think from the sound of most of them.
The one on A66 was an ex police who apparently had an heart attack whilst riding, but your right, does appear to be every week
Seems to be loads on the coast road.. yet all police presence is around seaways and squires. although there was a really bad crash down garrowby hill few weeks ago
Obviously I don't know anything about the incidents mentioned and such a shame, but IMO it must be down to the decent summer we are having? Don't know bout up there.... Here it's been sunny for weeks, more sun = loads more bikes on road. Bikes everywhere, and prob an element of people who don't ride much getting out there more and just a numbers things. More on road therefore more accidents unfortunately??
I suspect that you are right jimbo. Never seen anything like it though and I've been riding for about 4 years now. I think there will be many bijers who are rusty on the roads, I know that for me experience and regular road riding has saved my skin on more than one occasion! Just puts a right downer on what is otherwise an awesome hobby.
It's a little further north than Yorkshire but my parents are staying up on the coast just north of Whitley bay and there was a fatal bike crash on the coastal road by their cottage the other day. A bike part of a group didn't make it round a slight right kink and slid into an old stone wall. My dad said the helicopter came and the paramedics spent an hour working on the biker but then slowly left later without a passenger
When you think how easy it is to go and do DAS and walk into a dealership and walk out half hour later with a cbr1000rr starship and get out on the road. Plus how attractive the fast sportbikes are to none bikers. Can see how accidents like this will only become more common
Its also the massive difference in performance over Joe Bloggs in his Focus or whatever - most can simply not comprehend the performance a litre bike will provide I think Jimbo is right - just more miles covered by bikes this summer = more accidents some with resultant fatalities Makes you understand Police needing to do something at weekends etc.
Exactly why when you get a red hot Sunday, the police are everywhere! They obviously know the trends for accidents and weather and bikes is surely the key factor. Couple times I've been out lately at the weekend and its not worth going out, too many cars, bikes and police everywhere... Not that I'm anti police, they have a job to do and it's these days you tend to see low skilled riders being twats on high performance bikes when families are trying to have a day out - not surprising really they are out in force.... No pun intended...
I read somewhere that this was the 32nd fatsl crash this year, certainly the worst summer I can remember
Thing is they have now changed the rules on learner motorcyclists again and pushed the DAS age up to 24. Wrong move. There are very few people mine and fez's age or younger who have high powered sportbikes. Most will buy a clapped out old 600 but will ride it regularly and learn some valuable riding lessons on the road. Majority of accidents are older guys not necesarily born again but maybe sunny sunday riders on high performance bikes. Its ridiculous that just cos your my age or older you can do a cbt and a few lessons then go out and buy a blade/r1 or whatever. I think that in the circumstances of most on here experience speaks volumes in terms of skill abd safery in the road but just because joe bloggs has driven a car for years and has had life experience doesnt mean he will be any safer on a motorcycle than a youngster.
Don't agree YT... I'm not a great deal older at 29, had my 400 till 23, brand new R6 at 24, then the blade at 27... Yes I've gained prob more experience than most older guys as I've always done loads of miles and toured etc... But not many at our age around like that tbh But young blokes take more risk and I'm certain crash more... Don't think DAS at older age is a bad thing as hopefully we've grown up a bit since then, think the intention is to force folk to have a bit more of a schooling, get a small bike and learn our trade...
I am only going on what I've read heard in N Yorkshire jimbo, it always seems to be middle aged riders. Maybe us younguns just bounce better!!
I do prefer the way the new test is graduated its definately safer but why when you are 24 are you allowed to just skip all that and go straight on a rocketmachine??
Combination of a lot of things really, I reckon. Let's face it, most of us on bikes make pretty rapid progress, especially on country roads. We ride like speed limits don't exist and take liberties with the traffic laws. Average Joe Bloggs in his Focus isn't looking for things travelling at sport bike speeds. He's looking for cars and trucks travelling at car and truck speeds. I think that, as much as we'd like to blame everyone else, much of the blame lies with ourselves. The roads are exactly that......roads. They're designed to ferry people from one place to another. They're not race tracks but many of us treat them like they are. You're stringing the corners together, feeling fantastic and all the while ignoring the ever-present risks. Two sides to that really. It's your bike...it's your life.....you can choose to risk it if you want. BUT!........there's not just ourselves to consider. Some guy who was enjoying a drive out in the country with his missus suddenly has to live with the consequences of an accident because a biker was doing 85 along a country road and didn't realise there was a junction coming up. I understand why some members of the public hate our guts but it's the risk we take for our love of bikes. We know we're breaking the law. We know we're risking death but we do it anyway. It's really shouldn't be a surprise when it costs people their lives. Sad as it is.
Your prob right mate, but it's a numbers thing... More of them! Ave age of sport bike rider is way over 30... As not many young dudes have the cash for top end bikes. You'd have to compare %s of rider group age splits and accidents numbers.... Must be higher for younger dudes which is why our insurance is more etc.
Fair point... It should be bhp increments based on years riding not age if it were to be fair I guess...
