Working as a paramedic I've picked loads of bikers up and I would say about 8/10 are knocked off by car drivers who didnt see them so make sure you have your lights on day and night it makes a big difference to how you're seen. The other 2/10 were bikers pi**ing about and they are usually fatals.
Go for it! I dont own a bike anymore but I've always been a bike person and most of mates are bikers and there is nothing quite like a countryside ride on a nice sunny day 😄
All it takes is a car/driver that is not paying attention. You have two wheels they have four, slight bump for them not problem, slight bump and you are on the ground, road rash is nasty my friend, I have had it! They scrubbed the asphalt out of me with a hard brissle brush, the WORST pain I have EVER been in! It was on my side, arms and legs..Took them 2 hours just to clean it with the brush. Then the next day they scrubbed the wounds again to make sure thay got out all the rocks out.
That having been said, I still ride motorcycles
They are not safe but sure are fun!
Just keep your head on a swivel, always watch out for the other guy and never think you have the right of way!
It is not a question of IF you will get in an accident, but WHEN...
So be careful ALWAYS
Remember to be aggressive in traffic on a motorcycle. If you just go with the flow someone in a car will hit you. If your pace is faster than the other vehicles you will be less apt to be hit by a driver not paying attention. This is not the safest way to drive a car, however. Offensive driving for bikes. Defensive for cars.
BTW Bikes are not that safe. I have had friends with broken bones, road rash, even one that had all of the skin/muscle ripped of his forearm to his wrist by a telephone pole guide wire, and he was wearing a full leather suit. He is just now gotten about 15% usage back in his hand. Also the brother of one of my riding friends has permenant brain damage from one of his spills. He now cannot drive, cook or anything that is even slightly dangerous. He just can't think fast enough to get him out of situations. I know of someone who decided to pass a slow moving car and ran head on into a RV killing him instantly. Two weeks ago a fellow rider blew a turn and fell 300 feet down off the side of a mountain and had to be life flighted to the nearest hospital. So there not that safe they are very fun however.
motorcylces are deffaintly dangerous. My dad is a doctor and he said after the first two years of his residency he sold his bike after seeing all the trauma that follows biking accidents. He said he's had over 20 poeple in the last ten years who had biking accidents and are now paralyzed in some way. I believe though if your safe and smart they can be safe. The other day though i was driving on the park way and these dumbasses on ninja;s were speeding in and out of traffic like it was grand theft auto or somthing, those are the people that end up dead "try and test that and your bound to get served"
I wanted a bike for years, but I'd had a crash when I was 18, not my fault a BMW cut me up around a blind bend and when I ditched the bike into a hedge my head found the only telegraph pole for a couple hundred metres, so I was concussed for a few days, lost a tooth, damaged arm and knee etc. So because of this when I wanted to get one about 6 years ago my wife was wayyy against it cos they are not safe, now we are no longer together I'm thinking to get one, even though they are not that safe it's a chance you take. Hell you take a chance stepping out of your front door. - get one.
I like motorcycles, but doubt I'd ever get one as I'm too small (only 5ft tall). As a driver though, I do find it quite annoying how some motorists just weave in and out of traffic - safety is down to the driver.
You get your good drivers and your crap drivers or just twats who just don't care that causes accidents.
I just came back from Vietnam recently - the majority over there use motorcycles, but I was too scared to cross the road on my own!