Older motorcyclists 'more likely to be injured'

[Robbie8666]

just read this on BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21350883

[red98]

so older bikers are buying the bigger bikes ..........dont know what there on about 

[DryRob]

"more likely to be injured" is that by total number in the same crash scenario?

It would have been nice to see some of the data they used for this conclusions

The type of bike could play a part too, smashing into a set of handlebars on a cruiser is going to be a lot more painful than flying over the set on a sports.

[red98]

sounds like a dig at the "born again brigade" 

[DryRob]

they didn't even mention the age groups, they could have been 17-20, 21-24, 25-28 ... 56-59 60+

[adeejaysdelight]

It makes sence. The older you get, the less bouncy you are, reactions slow and eye sight worsens. On the flip side, older people are more cautious and less inclined to take an unnecessary risk (sometimes creating a new danger to others..?). I know this is going to provoke a reaction, but I would like to see a free driving/riding test for OAP's here in the UK. Sitting it every year, to ensure compitance and road awareness. If you fail, you get 3/6 months to re-sit and pass. If you fail again, that's it with the driving. Time to get the free bus!  :'( :'( :'(

[richfzs]

Read this yesterday, and this sentence really pissed me off.

Data on motorbike size was not available to the researchers, but they suggested that older adults were more likely to buy bikes with larger engines - leading to more severe injuries.

Complete bullshit on the researchers part - we've got no numbers, so let's just make up a story, putting bikers in a bad light, because it makes us look good.

I don't have the numbers to hand, but I've got a feeling most ksi accidents happen on town, where the power of the machine is irrelevant (and are more likely to be small commuter machines), and are as a result of myopic cages anyway.

Fecking shoddy journalism /rant

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[DryRob]

sounds like half arsed research to me. They must have used hospital records because  it is very short sighted to not ask what bike someone was riding in motorcycle crash research.

[adeejaysdelight]

Most KSI are men aged 40 - 49 on 600 - 1000cc sports bikes (in UK anyways). That is most, as in more than any other one group, not more than all other groups combined. More minor injurys happen in sub 126cc capacity with under 20's.

[Andy FZS]

I seem to remember reading there are more 40+ motorcyclists than there are under 40. When I was younger I would have remembered where I'd read it......

[Grahamm]

There is a good comment at the end of the article from Chris Hodder of the BMF that "There are plenty of post-test courses in the UK. If you are coming back to motorcycling it would be good to look out for refresher training. Those that ride regularly should keep their skills up".

I'm not so sure about the "bikes with bigger engines" argument, yes, they may buy bigger bikes, but it's the way that you ride that's important rather than just the engine size.

[DryRob]

Considering it's written by a health reporter you'd hope she'd be more meticulous when writing a story considering the potential for the wrong interpretation  to cause health scares.

[richfzs]

Aye Rob, you'd hope so, but then motorcycles are dangerous, so let's just scare everyone anyway. No danger of nobody's on one, eh? :rolleyes

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[Streetbudgie]

I wonder how much this 'Research Group' got paid to write this complete drivel, I could have summed the whole thing up in one sentence - older people are more susceptible to injuries following slips, trips and falls or other kinds of impact accidents.

Shock horror - old person gets broken hip when younger person gets bruises from same accident

Old bones lose their ability to flex. Nothing more to it that that.

The capacity and style of the bike has sod all to do with it, slide off a moped at 30mph and hit a tree or slide off a GSXR1000 at 30 and hit a tree - same result - you hit a tree at 30mph - ouch for the youngster, time in hospital for an oldie.

That's why kids ride like they are indestructible - they think they are and they are to a degree, more so than the over 50s.

[Tori]

Older folks 3 times more likely to need hospital care after an accident. I can believe that. Throw a 50 year old down the stairs, throw a 2 year old. Kids are more resilient, older bones are not so. Though throwing either is probably not a great idea.

Older folks are probably less likely to ahve that accident in the first place. That's what's missing isn't it?

[DryRob]

Older folks 3 times more likely to need hospital care after an accident. I can believe that. Throw a 50 year old down the stairs, throw a 2 year old. Kids are more resilient, older bones are not so. Though throwing either is probably not a great idea.

Older folks are probably less likely to ahve that accident in the first place. That's what's missing isn't it?

We'll never work it out from the BBC article, I found the research paper though:
http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/..._ahead_tab

[Poodyboy]

'OF COURSE old people are more likely to be hurt riding motorbikes.  Have you SEEN them in cars.

Plus, all that old people shaking stuff would play buggery with your counter steering.

[popeye72]

Counter steering what is that again :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin :evil

[JZS 600]

plus some of the older bikers still think they are indestructible!


(having come off my bike in 2011 and fractured my hip, I've taken myself off that particular list)

[caretaker]

tori, i thought your comment "throw a 50 year old down the stairs" was a suggestion. now my wife's in hospital with a broken hip. you'll be hearing from my lawyers.