Top 5 Most Stolen & Crashed Bikes

[NC Hammer]

[From the Ontario East Retreads, July 2005 newsletter]

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies published a list of the top 5 most stolen motorcycles, and the top 5 most crashed biles:

Most Likely to be Stolen:
1. Suzuki GSX-R Series
2. Yamaha YZF Series
3. Honda CBR Series
4. Suzuki Hayabusa
5. Kawasaki Ninja Series

Least Likely to be Stolen:
1. Suzuki Savage
2. BMW R1200C
3. Honda Rebel Series
4. Honda Shadow Series
5. Yamaha V-Star

Most Likely to be Crashed:
1. Suzuki GSX-R Series
2. Kawasaki Ninja Series
3. Suzuki TLR
4. Yamaha YZF Series
5. Honda CBR Series

Least Likely to be Crashed:
1. Yamaha Virago Series
2. Honda Rebel Series
3. Suzuki Savage
4. Harley-Davidson FXR
5. BMW R1200C

What is interesting is that the most crashed bikes are all crotch rockets, while the least crashed are all cruisers. The reason this is interesting is that several news articles over the past year are reporting there is a growing problem of older Americans buying up big V-twin bikes and crashing them. Yet here, we have statistical data showing that it's actually the crotch rockets, typically ridden by younger riders that are most often involved in crashes. Progressive says that these statistics are based on claim data covering more than 2 million insured riders over the past 3 years. (Steve of Ontario East Retreads).

Most of us are riding a Big V-Twin Cruiser (yes the 1300 is considered 'Big' too) and will probably agree with this article. Although in the last few weeks there have been 2 fatal crashes here in Winston-Salem, NC that were not crotch rockets. One was a Trike ridden by an older guy who just left the bar. The other was a cruiser that was sandwitched between an 18 wheeler and the center cement barrier. He had no place to go. From what I have heard, he tried to slow down, but the truck came over, out of control, too fast.

I have been riding home from work at a normal (faster than the cars) speed and have had Crotch Rockets pass me doing wheelies and have wondered if I would see them later farther down the road in a ditch.

Opinions????

[rebls]

Not to catagorize but most of the Sport bike riders are younger, more aggressive riders. As far as cruiser's getting into more accidents, my guess would just more cruisers on the road is going to equal more accidents. Think I also read somewhere that most fatalities come within someone who has one year or less riding experience. The more you see on the road the more you can avoid putting yourself in a potentially bad situation. I know I learn something almost every time I ride, whether it be a nasty bump in the road somewhere or things that people do in cages that need to be avoided. Bottom line is the more experience you have the better chance you have to survive.