When you cut out really young people, inexperienced riders, people who haven't taken the MSF, intoxicated people and those on 600cc sport bikes... fatalities on a bike go down a great deal.
Many, but not all motorcycle wrecks are preventable. The guy in his mid 50's touring all around the US on his 1800cc Gold Wing is far far far less likely to get killed than a 21 year old who has 'a few drinks', and tries to impress his friends on his 600cc superbike around the city (and not wearing any gear).
Take joy rides. Learn how to use your bike. Hit the mountains. Don't be afraid of cornering- just learn how to do it. Night riding is sub-optimal I will agree, but don't be afraid to just slow down. A country road that I might rip down at 100mph during the day might become a 20mph road for me at night in the fog with bugs, recently rained on roads and deer.
Make sure your bike is well lit and you're wearing all your gear that you can stand to wear. If you're in SF like many people on HN, the weather is amicable to wearing almost full gear every day. In Austin or somewhere else hot, I doubt you could wear full gear in the summer.
Many, but not all motorcycle wrecks are preventable. The guy in his mid 50's touring all around the US on his 1800cc Gold Wing is far far far less likely to get killed than a 21 year old who has 'a few drinks', and tries to impress his friends on his 600cc superbike around the city (and not wearing any gear).
Take joy rides. Learn how to use your bike. Hit the mountains. Don't be afraid of cornering- just learn how to do it. Night riding is sub-optimal I will agree, but don't be afraid to just slow down. A country road that I might rip down at 100mph during the day might become a 20mph road for me at night in the fog with bugs, recently rained on roads and deer.
Make sure your bike is well lit and you're wearing all your gear that you can stand to wear. If you're in SF like many people on HN, the weather is amicable to wearing almost full gear every day. In Austin or somewhere else hot, I doubt you could wear full gear in the summer.