Flawed Report Raises Bike Ban Threat

Target: Sportbikes

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is trying to ban a huge, huge list of motorcycles by using bad science to demonstrate how dangerous they are.

To be sure, some of the bikes in the list are incredibly fast and dangerous but that doesn't make them death machines. The riders who treat them with no respect and ride like fools are the reason that they die. Any motorcycle (or car or bike for that matter) can be ridden in an incredibly stupid fashion that will end up killing you.

The list of bikers they want banned includes:

Aprilia
RST Futura, RS 250, RSV 1000 R, RSV 1000 R Factory

BMW
F800S, F800ST, K1200GT, R1200RT, R1200ST, K1200S, K1200R, R1150R, R1150R Rockster

Buell
All models

Ducati
1000DS, 620 Sport, SS800, 749, 749R, 749S, 999 Biposto, 999R, 999S, Monster S2R, Monster S2R 1000, Monster S4R, Monster S4R Testastretta

Honda
Interceptor 800, Interceptor 800 ABS, ST1300, ST1300 ABS, ST1300 Police MC, CBR1000RR, CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, RC51, 599, 919

Kawasaki
Concours 1000, Ninja 250R, Ninja 500, Ninja 650R, Ninja ZX-14, ZZR600, Ninja ZX-10R, Ninja ZX-6R, Ninja ZX-6RR, Z1000, ZR-7S

Suzuki
Hayabusa, Katana 600, Katana 750, GSX-R1000, GSX-R750, GSX-R600, SV1000, SV650S, V-Strom 1000, V-Strom 650

Triumph
Sprint ST, 955 Daytona, Daytona 675, Speed Triple

Yamaha
FJR1300, YZF600R, YZF-R1, YZF-R6, YZF-R6S, FZ6, FZS1000

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Which is to say, pretty much all of the sport bikes and semi-sport bikes on the street right now. But they overlooked the Harley Davidson V-Rod and a whole passel of cruiser bikes with enormous engines, bloated weight and terrible handling.

My V-Strom is a fantastic bike, it is comfortable, quick enough (but nowhere near a Gixxer or Kawa ZX-14) and very practical. I ride pretty fast and still maintain above 40 mpg fuel efficiency.

The IIHS has a bias against sportbikes that's well known and they've taken information and mashed it into a form that suits their preformed conclusions. Which is to say, they are engaging in false and misleading science.

The linked article explores the many flaws in the IIHS methodology and pretty well destroys any credibility the report might have had.