email from bernd tesch bookstore/website info

[klrz4ever]

Just had a big article on Baby Boomer bikers in the local paper, so here's your Friday fact fix: Bike sales 2001: 850,000 (up 20% from 2000) Bike sales 1992: 278,000 "Professional" types buying bikes in 1990: 17.3% of total sales "Professional" types buying bikes in 1998: 26.5% of total sales Retired folks buying bikes in 1990: 2.2% of total sales Retired folks buying bikes in 1998: 6% of total sales Women buyers (probably 2001): 8% of total sales Typical first time buyer spends $6000-8000 on a new bike (guess they're not buying KLRs!) Motorcycle traffic deaths went from all-time low of 5% of motor vehicle deaths in 1997 (2116) to all-time high in 2001 of 7.3% (3067). Quote from NHTSA: "There's no question that there is some correlation between the fatality increases and the sales increases." My comment: Yes, but has anyone looked at other factors for the increase in fatalities, like all of the red-light-running, cell- phoning, newspaper reading, make-up applying, dimwitted, and distracted cage drivers that are constantly trying to take us out? TGIF! __Arden

[dale_johnson13]

--Snip

> Bike sales 2001: 850,000 (up 20% from 2000) > Bike sales 1992: 278,000 > --Snip> Motorcycle traffic deaths went from all-time low of 5% of

motor

> vehicle deaths in 1997 (2116) to all-time high in 2001 of 7.3%

(3067). --Snip I also read somewhere that a HIGH % of the deaths on motorcycles didn't have motorcycle license's Dale

[Combat_Tourer]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "klrz4ever" wrote:

> Just had a big article on Baby Boomer bikers in the local paper, so > here's your Friday fact fix: > > Bike sales 2001: 850,000 (up 20% from 2000) > Bike sales 1992: 278,000 > > "Professional" types buying bikes in 1990: 17.3% of total sales > "Professional" types buying bikes in 1998: 26.5% of total sales > > Retired folks buying bikes in 1990: 2.2% of total sales > Retired folks buying bikes in 1998: 6% of total sales > Women buyers (probably 2001): 8% of total sales > > Typical first time buyer spends $6000-8000 on a new bike (guess > they're not buying KLRs!) > > Motorcycle traffic deaths went from all-time low of 5% of motor > vehicle deaths in 1997 (2116) to all-time high in 2001 of 7.3%

(3067).

> > Quote from NHTSA: "There's no question that there is some

correlation

> between the fatality increases and the sales increases." > > My comment: Yes, but has anyone looked at other factors for the > increase in fatalities, like all of the red-light-running, cell- > phoning, newspaper reading, make-up applying, dimwitted, and > distracted cage drivers that are constantly trying to take us out? > > TGIF! > > __Arden

Re: Your comments. Those things are constants and have been for years. What isn't is the recent surge in older people (mostly men) with lots of money, buying motorcycles. Most of them will buy very expensive, large bore and heavy machines. Most of them have NEVER ridden a motorcycle in their lives, or at best once or twice a long time ago. Inexperience has as much to do with accidents and dying from a crash as those things you mentioned. But at least it something one can work on. I believe I read the average age of the typical motorcyclist is 38.5 years old (I'm 39+ and therefore above average) six years ago it was something like 27 years old. Another factor that shouldn't be overlooked is mixing substance abuse with riding. It is still the leading factor in motorcycle fatalities. Anyway, it's just numbers. I wish for once they would post these numbers right next to the same for cages. That way, it wouldn't seem so alarming. Todd (Springfield, VA)

[dale_johnson13]

http://www.hwysafety.org/news_releases/2002/pr011002.htm http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/TSF2000/2000mcyfacts.pdf

[klrz4ever]

> > My comment: Yes, but has anyone looked at other factors for the > > increase in fatalities, like all of the red-light-running, cell- > > phoning, newspaper reading, make-up applying, dimwitted, and > > distracted cage drivers that are constantly trying to take us out? > > > > TGIF! > > > > __Arden > > Re: Your comments. > > Those things are constants and have been for years. > Todd (Springfield, VA)

That's true, but where I live they have gotten much worse over the years. As people spend more time in their cages commuting, they try to make the time productive by doing all sorts of things that take their attention away from driving. They are also getting more aggressive in their driving habits. I frequently see people exiting from the fast lane across two other lanes of traffic. That wasn't happening a few years back. The other day, I saw someone turn left from the bike lane when the left arrow on a 2-lane-plus-left-turn- lane street went green. I'm ready for most kinds of traffic shenanigans when I ride, but that one set me back a bit. As long as I'm ranting a bit, in my experience and opinion, cell phones far surpass SUV's as the worst threat to motorcycle safety to come along in a long time. I'm not a big fan of daytime running lights either, as I think they tend to hide motorcycles in a sea of lights. Taking a chill pill now, __Arden

[kcuf_oohay_666]

I for one never apply my makeup while driving my SUV. I put it on before I leave home. Nail polish is another thing.

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "klrz4ever" wrote: > > My comment: Yes, but has anyone looked at other factors for the > increase in fatalities, like all of the red-light-running, cell- > phoning, newspaper reading, make-up applying, dimwitted, and > distracted cage drivers that are constantly trying to take us out? > > TGIF! > > __Arden

[Dave Morrow]

> I'm not a big fan of daytime running > lights either, as I think they tend to hide motorcycles in a sea of > lights.

I originally thought this as well, still do mostly. Another aspect I considered that made me reconsider a bit was this: Cagers mostly don't see us because they are not looking for us, not because we are hard to see. Most people drive by habit, where repetitive actions like scanning for oncoming vehicles is done mostly subconciously. The conscious thought processes are focused on the turn or whatever they are planning. We are not seen because they are looking for a predetermined set of visual signals to indicate it's ok to pull out or turn left or whatever. Our daytime headlights are generally quite visible, the problem is that people are not including them in their subconcious criteria. *IF* the dreaded daytime running lights causes daytime headlights to be a feature people look for it would be a good thing. Just a crackpot theory but what the hell. -- Dave Morrow IS Manager R.E.Warner & Associates Westlake, Ohio 440-835-9400

[Darrel & Deanna]

Here's food (stats) for thought: In 1998 BAC rates at or above .10% for vehicle operators involved in fatal crashes were 36% for motorcycles, 29% for light trucks, 25% for passenger cars, and 3% for large trucks. An additional 9% of motorcycle operator fatalities had a BAC of .01 to .09% (impaired). 45% of motorcycle operators killed in single vehicle crashes, and 62% killed in weekend-night, single vehicle crashes were intoxicated. Helmet use rates for intoxicated motorcyclists are lower than for those who are sober. Impaired motorcyclists involved in crashes are more likely to be speeding than those not drinking. Source: "National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety" a joint publication by U.S. Dept of Transportation (Nat'l Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF); DOT HS 809 156 Nov 2000, p 25. There are a lot more things to consider other than alcohol use and there is an urgent need for a modern nation-wide comprehensive study on motorcycle accident factors. The only extensive motorcycle crash study to date, is the infamous "Hurt Report" of the late 1970's and it only covered SoCal. No national data exist concerning the effect of rider training (rider training and licensing barely existed in the 1970's). Motorcycle design and performance have changed significantly as has protective gear, traffic volume, motorist awareness (Arden alluded to this one), and many other things that may effect crash avoidance and injury. But again, no data exist to determine how these things effect bike crash avoidance/survivability. That said, the thing that bothers me the most is that regardless of the number of motorcycle registrations over the years, the rate of alcohol related fatal motorcycle accidents seems to stay constant at 40 - 50%. If only we all could save the drinks for the campfire... Darrel A12 --Snip

> Bike sales 2001: 850,000 (up 20% from 2000) > Bike sales 1992: 278,000 > --Snip> Motorcycle traffic deaths went from all-time low of 5% of

motor

> vehicle deaths in 1997 (2116) to all-time high in 2001 of 7.3%

(3067). --Snip I also read somewhere that a HIGH % of the deaths on motorcycles didn't have motorcycle license's Dale

[em905069]

Below is a copy of part of an email I just recieved from motorcycle adventure author Bernd Tesch. I had sent a post to Ted Simon's group looking for info on where I could buy a used copy of the out of print Two Wheels to Adventure by Danny Liska. Tesch owns the rights tot he book in Spanish which being about 600 pages long is useless to me in any other language other than english. I had seen his website before and it is full of info on motorcycle travel especially in Europe/Africa etc. Bernd asked me to post this info to the BMW group (a BMW friend of his forwarded my original posting...I guess Bernd thought I was part of the BMW group.) Anyway I thought I would post his email with webiste address at the end. Many of you I am sure are aware of this website but there have to be a few people out there who have not. Because of language differences I am not sure what he means by saying Cycle World know much less than he does. He is of course a published motorcycle adventure writer who apparently has the largest collection of motorcycle travel books. He has a very indepth website and is apparently striving to make his information available to many languages. Hell we could sure use more guys like this out there. OKay here is his partial email and if anyone has or knows about a copy of Liska's book please drop me an email. I will find it sooner or more likely later...much later. Dear Everett Moore, > from Bernd Tesch in Germany a friend from BMW-M nchen send me your email. I thing you did not search for "Liska" in www.google.de . Then you would have find me. Anyhow I am the owner of the largest library of Motorcycle-TRAVEL- Books in all languages 1910-2002 about >350 titles. AND I contacted most of the authors like Danny long befored he died. Cycle World's Adventure Touring magazine list this as the best motorcycle adventure story ever written or something to that degree.

>>this is very nice but they know much much less less than I know.

But I have written in my book "Motorcycle Adventure Tours" (264 worldwide Motorcycle-Travels which are published as books) that it is one of the very best books. THAT counts. The English version is out of print since a long time. Danny printed 6.000. Because it is a private book you will not find it in libraries...I suppose. The Spanish version is still avalaible from me. Yes I offer as well the largest amount of Motorcycle-TRAVEL-Books worldwide. AND: I own about 600 slides of Danny Liska about his next tour 1962- 64 "North Cape - Capetown". AND the Spanish Version of the manuscript. I will try to publish this. Because I am a one man-show I am searching for sponsors for this first Trans-Europe and Trans- Africa Tour. Of course this tour was with a BMW ! I will ask the sender of this email to me, Dr. Markus Gr. from BMW if he can help to publish this book because he has one of the highest positions of BMW- M nchen now. He get s a copy! What happens to Ted (Simon ?). In the moment Ted should be in his house in California having done a lot of his second RTWorld-Tour after 25 years ! Dreaming of the next part in which he promised to visit me in Germany/ Zweifall 4th time! Everett, could you please publish this information in the BMW-Group ? Thanks says www.BerndTesch.de