stevewfl
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posted January 13, 2008 01:03 PM
Media attacks FL sportbikers & mentions ZX10/R1
Motorcyclists Dying For The Love Of Speed
By STEPHEN THOMPSON, The Tampa Tribune
Published: January 12, 2008
The past week on Pinellas County roads drove home a deadly trend on two wheels.
On Monday, a Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle ridden by Craig Hales hit a sport utility vehicle with such force the impact caused the SUV to flip. Hales, 22, and the SUV's driver died in the Palm Harbor wreck.
On Wednesday, Lawrence Kwiatkowski, 29, died when his Yamaha R1-1000 motorcycle hit a pickup at high speed in Clearwater.
Florida motorcycle deaths rose from 164 in 1997 to 521 in 2006, according to the latest official statistics available. That translates to a death rate more than double 10 years ago, from 1.07 per 100,000 people in 1997 to 2.9 per 100,000 in 2006.
More recently, in statistics released this week, the Tampa Bay area's biggest law enforcement agencies reported more people killed in motorcycle wrecks in 2007 than they did in 2006.
In Pinellas County alone, at least three other motorcyclists, in addition to Hales and Kwiatkowski, have died in the past month.
Agencies don't keep track of motorcycle types, but Hales and Kwiatkowski were riding machines with significantly higher death rates than standard or cruise motorcycles, according to an analysis released in September by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The Kawasaki Ninja and the Yamaha R1-1000 are sport bikes, high-powered motorcycles where the rider leans over the gas tank. Sport bikes have more horsepower and weigh less than cruising-style motorcycles made popular by Harley-Davidson. They also go much faster.
"The bikes are dangerous," said Lindsay Marino, whose 21-year-old boyfriend was killed in August when his Kawasaki sport motorcycle struck a guardrail on Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg. "To get your bike up to 80 is quick. If you fall, you just go flying. A rock in the road can just throw you off."
The 24-year-old elementary school teacher described the death of boyfriend Nick Kopplin as a painful lesson: "After something like this happens, it makes you more aware of both motorcycles and the people in the cars, that stuff can happen in a matter of seconds."
Motorcycles Gain Popularity
Though local dealerships report a slight drop in motorcycle sales from 2006 through 2007 - they blame a stagnant economy - they say that is not typical of what has been happening the past decade. Motorcycles are increasingly popular, they say.
The insurance institute reports an increase of more than 50 percent in motorcycle registrations from 2000 through 2005 nationwide.
At Kawasaki of St. Petersburg, the price for a sport motorcycle ranges from $3,000 to $11,700, and none that leave the sales floor is supposed to go faster than 186 mph, in accordance with regulations, said Leon Beckner, part-owner of the shop.
Typically, men younger than 30 - such as Hales, Kwiatkowski and Kopplin - ride sport motorcycles. Often with an air of invincibility, they can be seen riding in small groups, popping wheelies on long stretches of highway or bridges or racing among themselves. Above all, they love speed.
High speed was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol as a factor in the deaths of Hales and Kwiatkowski, with Hales reportedly riding his Ninja at more than 100 mph when he struck the sport utility vehicle. Friends were told Kopplin was going 90 mph and his helmet split on impact.
In the eyes of some, it is much too easy for young men to acquire the motorcycles.
Francois Buder, a German who sells a specialized high horsepower motorcycle, the European Streetfighter, from a shop in Pinellas Park, says there are fewer fatalities in his homeland because there are more restrictions.
For instance, in Germany, a 21-year-old cannot operate a 1000 cc motorcycle before logging two years without a traffic citation on lower-horsepower bikes, Buder said. Also, no motorcyclist gets a license unless a certified instructor has witnessed him performing a variety of maneuvers during a three-day period, during the day and at night, he said.
A friend of Buder's who works at a Pinellas motorcycle dealership told him of a sale where a young man, accompanied by a parent, walked in, demanded a 1000 cc motorcycle instead of the 600 cc recommended by a salesperson, and then fell off it when leaving the parking lot.
"They have no experience," Buder said. "They have no clue what's going on."
Florida Requirements
Compare Germany's level of oversight with Florida's.
In the Sunshine State, a person who is 21 or older only has to pass a written and skills test to get a motorcycle endorsement, with no training required, said Ann Nucatola, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles. Only people younger than 21 must complete a Florida Rider Training Program, she said.
The requirements become a tad more stringent July 1, when all drivers, regardless of age, who do not have a motorcycle endorsement will have to complete the training program to ride or register a motorcycle.
Law enforcement agencies, however, say they come up against motorcyclists for whom laws and regulations don't mean much.
Hales and Kwiatkowski had histories of violating traffic laws. Hales was ticketed for speeding four times in the past five years, and at the time of his death his license had been suspended indefinitely, state records show.
Kwiatkowski also had been cited for speeding and for driving without a license, though his license was valid Wednesday night, state records show.
Bob Jones, one of St. Petersburg's two motorcycle officers, says he often comes across motorcyclists who never had the required endorsement.
People who ride responsibly take a hit when others don't.
"There are just riders out there who give them a bad name," said Justin Greene, assistant sales manager at Barney's Motorcycle & Marine, a Bay area motorcycle dealer since 1951.
Beckner, the Kawasaki dealership owner, agrees.
"There's a lot of kids in their 20s who drive them," he said. "There's a time and place to act like an idiot, and it's not U.S. 19 at 3 o'clock in the afternoon."
Reporter Mike Wells contributed to this report. Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@ tampatrib.com.
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oldkawboy
Needs a job
Posts: 2125
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posted January 13, 2008 02:01 PM
No doubt riding motorcycles are dangerous and going fast increases the risk but I am more concerned with drunk, chopper builders coming at me on the wrong side of the road.
Dan
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kawpower
Zone Head
Mr kawasaki 2 you!
Posts: 887
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posted January 13, 2008 02:04 PM
Motorcycles dont kill people, people kill people.
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Cecil County 2010 Motorcycle ET Champ. 9 Wins- 4 RUs .06zx14 turboed for 2012 .
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FASTESTbusaAROUND
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
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posted January 13, 2008 02:45 PM
No matter -- perception is everything. The masses that perceive that bikes, especially sport bikes, as deadly, will always perceive that.
Fact is that many of the sport bikes are ridden the way the article describes; we all know that.
The tighter laws and penalties are starting to propagate to other states and provinces, as well as substantial insurance increases following. Not much we can do about any of this IMO.
I agree that bikes don't kill people and it's people that do that, but the bikes give most of us HUGE balls and that's ultimately what kills us sportbike riders; that and moron and drunk cagers with no regard for anyone.
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FYYFF!!!
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zx12mark
Pro
Posts: 1654
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posted January 13, 2008 03:28 PM
it's all true. so how are we going to save our hobbies before the government bans our bikes on the public roads.....i have been riding on the streets since 1973 and i hate those jack offs fucking it up for me.
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stevewfl
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posted January 13, 2008 06:01 PM
big media, big brother, and the insurance industry are loving us in FL because of a few idiots on sportbikes
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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johns
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posted January 13, 2008 07:44 PM
Perception is everything and we are all paying the price for the squids that don't have any respect for anyone else. I have or had a very good friend who rode the backroads here in kentucky with little or no respect for people in cars. He would pass over double yellows sometimes coming into blind corners. He never saw a problem with this because he got away with it and he didn't see the starteled civilians in the car he just squirted around swerve onto the shoulder after unexpectedly being passed by a fast sportbike where they thought nobody with common sense would pass. He also didn't see or care when people in cars would shake a fist out the window after being passed on the interstate by him on the rear wheel at 80+. He had superb riding skills both as a drag racer and street rider and he honestly felt it was OK because he was in control. No he isn't dead, I just had to stop riding with him after a 30 year friendship because I didn't want to be part of that scene anymore.
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KillaKAW4Life
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posted January 13, 2008 08:50 PM
I agree with the article, but there was some info left out. Like, Did the vehicles make left turns in front of the bikes. That seems to always be left out. Im 25 and bought my first bike when I was Barely 19 or was it 18. A 98 ZX9R, and yes I had a speed problem. Even past my dad one day at over 100 and he reemed me out saying that I would never stop the bike if someone pulled out in front of me. Nevertheless, 2 wks later it happened just as he said.......nowhere to go but into the car. I'm Blessed.
It is true, I had never had a class......just riding dirt bikes and 4 wheelers as I grew up. I did have a motorcycle license but all I had to do was ride to the stop sign 150 yds up the rode and turn around......TEST PASSED. More stringent laws like mandatory 3-day classes would help a lot. The next is like he guy said in the article........Theres a time and place to act like an idiot. For me the time was right but the place was wrong.
Next thing is that the Insurance companies CRY!!!!!! that bullshyt all day long. I drive all over East TX for my job every week day and see car wrecks all day long.......especially in the mornings and evenings. You can't tell me that our bikes cause more damage and cost then all of the cages on the road. Very rarely do I come around on a motorcylce accident and at that case it is usually ONE sided.
And Last, it also has a lot to do with the crew that any one of us rides with. Ride with A-Holes and you will most likely ride like an A-Hole more than often.
Oh, and how about the US do like (Europe or whatever country that was on Superbikes) and open up Stunt parks for all our wonderful stunters. I'm not that /boldgood to be beyond the occasional wheelie but for others they don't mind the pain of a Fack up. But this would cut down on stunuting on public roads.
Like someone said they look at us like Jack ARSES cause how fast we go at times but still look at the STATS.....Whats the RATIO OF CAR ACCIDENTS TO BIKE ACCIDENTS AND THE ESTIMATED COST FOR 2007?
Ok and finally the last thing. I called for insurance on an 08 zx14 an my insurance company told me 300/mth. Got Damn I should buy an Escalade. Or how about two bike and just put liability on both. Went to the dealer and the insurance company there told me 310/mth WOW! (cause of the type ond how big in CCs of the bike). ?.......How many zx14s just run up and down the road hitting curves like crazy and poppin wheelies and doing stoppies. very few like stevewfl. (no disrespect intended).
Finally StateFarm told me 64/mth NOW THATS MORE LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!!! They even sent me the qoute verify it. 
Also everyone who rides should have atleast one child.............That will definitely calm down all the bullshyt we do out there on these bikes. SURE CALMED ME DOWN ALOT
And if that doesn't work, then Hit a car or go down at speed and see how the ground feels................
AND IF THAT DOESN"T THEN SOONER OR LATER "NATURAL SELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE".................................Bet you'll calm down then.
I'm finished my report mommy
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qwick
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posted January 13, 2008 10:54 PM
You notice they stated that "Agencies don't keep track of motorcycle types" when it referred to their death rates. But then claims that the "sport bikes" have a significantly higher death rate than standard or cruiser bikes. I agree that speed usually is a factor in a collision with a sport bike, BUT it's usually from the result of a cage driver who has failed to yield to the bike. I can tell you this... in this area, the most common cause of motorcycle collisions is driver error. Error on the part of the motorcycle operator themselves. And what kind of motorcycles you ask are involved in this? No, it's not the "sport bikes"... it's the cruiser bikes. Middle aged riders, some who haven't rode in years and decide to get involved with friends who have bikes and others who have very little or NO experience at all who decided that it would be cool to start riding a motorcycle, having the wind blow through their hair with no protective gear on what so ever. And most of these collisions involve just one vehicle as a result of the rider misjudging while maneuvering, usually in a curve or while trying to slow or stop.
Now I'm sure you'll agree that public perception of sport bikes is not very well liked, but heck when you have motorcycle TV shows that air footage of 20 to 30 bikes at a time riding wheelies down the Interstate through traffic and just flat out terrorizing the public roadways it's no wonder why people have a poor opinion of the average sport bike rider.
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kawabunga
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posted January 14, 2008 03:14 AM
Motorcycles are like guns....they are inanimate objects and can do no harm if in the hands of a responsible person. I have been riding since I was 5...that makes 49 years of riding...I have made many pilot errors and been victim to other people's errors. I do wreck estimates at the dealership I work on a daily basis. 95% of the bikes are sport bikes with the owner being usually under 25, first bike and less than 400 miles on it, some with as little as 80 miles. Inexperience, bravado, video games, the desire to be Valentino Rossi or be the next great american stunt rider are all contributing factors. Most have 1000.00 deductables on their insurance and do not have any money to repair the bike correctly, they hope for a total but it doesn't always happen so they just put a lever, handlebar etc....just to ride. The financers are not requiring comprehensive insurance, if they did the young riders couldn't afford the insurance, hence no bike sale. Back in the mid 80's with the introduction of the 900 Ninja was the beginning of high insurance and bike sales slumped. No insurance, no financing. Now you just get a Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki card with a 10-15k limit and buy a bike on it, just like a VISA with 35.00 a month payments for the first year then 450.00 a month for the rest of your life..lol...the manufacturers are more to blame for this issue than anyone else. You can even buy a Kawasaki on a Honda card or vice versa. Rediculous ! They try to promote safety but it's hard to advertise a bike that looks like it's going 100 mph sitting still in a TV commercial. I am all for legislation for rider safety and education as well as a graduated program for young inexperienced riders. If you see someone being an assclown when you're riding...don't wave at them or give them the thumbs up...give em the finger...enough fingers and maybe they will get the message. The more I type, the more pissed off I get about this subject. I also believe before you can get a license to drive a car, you have to have a motorcycle license only for one year, male and female. Then when you get behind the wheel you will be aware of what the motorcycle rider has to deal with and be more aware of them being out there. This would create better drivers.
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bigdtd
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Interceptors
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posted January 14, 2008 03:46 PM
steve you know those articles are full of shit, the st pete times said the ninja weighed over 900 lbs lol, the guy was hauling ass and a gas guzzling suv did a uee in front of him, both are dead end of story, it is all natural selection.
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stevewfl
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posted January 14, 2008 07:29 PM
ya I know, but you know how they are, hyping newspaper sales, politicians, and corporate insurance institutions.
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ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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b03818
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posted January 14, 2008 07:54 PM
They will prob. start an increased age limit to buy or try something like not giving insurance to anyone under a specific age. There are many way to keep you away from them. Just like full auto weapons. You now have to have a class three license and pay $200 a year. Back in the day you could buy one just like you could buy a regular rifle or shotgun.
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Superman T
Pro
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posted January 15, 2008 08:43 AM
quote:
big media, big brother, and the insurance industry are loving us in FL because of a few idiots on sportbikes
+1
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