I think there are many reasons sport bikes have more fatal accidents per whatever that number is but one reason is the motorcycle press-not all but some big name magazines. Too many covers and articles are about sport bikes in some extreme photograph. Kids see this, think it's cool and want to impress their friends.
I did stuff when I was young that I wonder why I'm here now but you couldn't get into too much trouble on a 4 hp Cushman. If I had had a super powered, light weight sport bike, I would have probably hurt myself.
A few months ago I bought one of the higher circulation magazines with a doctored photo of a 'Busa and rider on the cover that appaeared to be airborne. The check out kid noticed my riding gear and asked what I rode.
"Oh man, I want one of those!" His eyes lit up and he pointed to the magazine and then went on and on about the performance of that bike.
'Kids don't try this at home doesn't cut it.' As long as people under some age(22?, 25?)can buy 150 hp and they read these magazines and see the articles about extrememe performance, they are going to die in unequal proportion to other riders.
Sure, 'gentlemen and ladies of a certain age' buy most of the cruisers but most of us have the sense to look past what we see in movies and magazines and ride safely with all the gear, all the time no matter what we ride or drive.
Riding a motorcycle is dangerous enough without a young person on an over powered machine that only experienced and skilled riders should be able to purchase and ride.
