You hear a lot about close calls and danger when looking at motorcycles from the outside. I'm looking at motorcycles now for the first time, and my wife is concerned. As I just want a chill cruiser, I thought maybe some perspective from actual riders might help with the perceived danger. What do you guys think? Do you have any stories or opinions? Anyone experience any accidents that armor/air vests came in clutch? I appreciate any insight you guys may have!
Humans are wired to notice/recall the rare and the lurid. It's how we survived way-back-when. So we give disproportionate attention to crashes. For each crash-and every one of them is a terrible thing-you've got to figure close to a billion rides completed safely just that day. Motos are everywhere, and the most common individual transport in a lot of places. We don't have an organ in our brains for statistical understanding, this is why we just naturally come to believe motorcycling is more dangerous than it is.
Having said all that, it IS dangerous. Dress for the slide, not the ride. Because "debridement" (DO NOT look at the pictures) is just about the most painful procedure a human can endure AND it's success isn't great because of post-procedure infection. Am I sweating in my suit, helmet, boots, and gloves? Oh yeah. Because road rash SUCKS.