Crash Science
Crash Science is about the science behind motorcycling. This section describes Crash Science articles from previous issues. If you would like to order the magazine in which an article appeared, please fill out the subscription form by checking the "Back Issue" box and indicating the appropriate month.
June 2008 Common Motorcycle Crash Scenarios
I rely primarily on my bikes for regular, day-to-day transportation, and hardly a day goes by without me witnessing an unsafe, inattentive, or downright stupid move by (mostly) car and SUV drivers. Although I am quite fortunate not to have been a participant in any crashes, last month I realized that I had experienced serious 'near misses' for several days in a row. I decided to keep track of these close calls, and see if it would be statistically possible to actually witness one such event, each day, for a whole week. Without tempting fate in any way, and without provoking or otherwise contributing to an event (other than being on my bike at that instant in time), I was able to record seven near misses in seven days. Most of those seven encounters are fairly common crash scenarios between motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles that most of us will likely encounter at some time…
May 2008 Lane Splitting—How Fast is 'Safe?'
California provides numerous unique and memorable aspects when it comes to motorcycling. Some are positive and motivational (year-round mild weather, diverse scenery, challenging roads, and ocean vistas), while others are less so (congested freeways, traffic jams, road rage, and clueless drivers). One of those that seems to garner the most attention, nationwide, is that California is the only state that allows lane splitting—the sharing of a single lane of traffic by two vehicles (generally a four-wheeled vehicle and a motorcycle)…
April 2008 Increase Your Following Distance When Behind Cargo-Carrying Vehicles
Riding on the street can be a challenge to even the most experienced rider—distracted drivers, careless pedestrians, stop-and-go traffic, roads in poor condition, and numerous other perils all conspire to make a rider's life difficult. On each and every one of my rides, my personal experience has been one of constant vigil, scanning, and anticipating the worst—and quite often, despite such preparations, I continue to be amazed at the hazards that are thrown my way…
March 2008 Three Bad Arguments Against Wearing Good Gear
As spring approaches with its longer days and nicer weather, we'll be seeing more and more riders out on the road. Most will instinctively grab a helmet (whether out of conviction or because state law mandates it) and throw on a jacket, but what is really alarming is how few of them consider protection of their lower extremities (legs, knees, and feet). On hot summer days, I often see riders wearing shorts, tennis shoes, or even nothing but flip-flops while riding 65 mph (or more) on the freeway. There are most likely a number of reasons why they choose to ride with such a high degree of exposure to their extremities: some are concerned that it's too hot to wear bulky, heavy gear; others feel they don't have the time to change from beach wear into riding clothes; and some most likely consider shorts and flip-flops a ’Äòcool look' that is sure to impress friends and the opposite sex. Let's address these common arguments…
February 2008 Motorcycle Handling Myth #4—A Motorcycle Can Easily Outrun the Police
This month, I will address the last of the four major motorcycle handling myths that I introduced over the past several issues. This particular myth is somewhat different from the previous three. In addition to having a scientific basis, it also has a strong sociological aspect—that of an unfounded belief in the supremacy of the motorcycle over all other road vehicles. In other circumstances, such a vigorous 'pride of ownership' might be admirable, but in this case it gives rise to fatal misconceptions…
January 2008 Motorcycle Handling Myth #3—Acceleration is Easy to Control
This particular myth has probably been responsible for more rider-fault crashes than any other cause. All too often, an inexperienced or novice rider buys the most powerful sportbike he can afford, thinking that he will be able to safely control it no matter what situation may arise. Once on the road, he may decide to 'open it up' just a little bit to enjoy the feeling of power; or, he may simply attempt to reposition his right hand on the throttle. In either case, to his horror he finds out that the bike is accelerating beyond his comfort level and rapidly going out of control…
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