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'Supersport' motorcycles especially deadly, study finds
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Kawasaki "Supersport" motorcycle enthusiasts prize such high-performance machines as this Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, but a study finds that these drivers are being killed at a much greater rate than those who ride other types of bikes.
By Martin Zimmerman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
1:34 PM PDT, September 11, 2007
Drivers who use high-performance racing motorcycles, which are popular in California, are being killed at a rate three times higher than those who ride all other types of bikes, according to a study. FOR THE RECORD:
An earlier version of this article said drivers of "supersport" motorcycles were being killed at a rate nearly four times higher than drivers of other bikes. They are being killed at a rate three times higher.
So-called supersport motorcycles have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially among young riders looking for an extremely fast, lightweight bike.
They have starred in such speed-culture movies as "The Fast and the Furious" and are often referred to as rice rockets, a nod to the popularity of Japanese-made models such as the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R.
This high performance comes at a cost, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which conducted the study on motorcycle safety.
"Supersport motorcycles are indeed nimble and quick, but they can be deadly," said Anne McCartt, the institute's senior vice president for research.
The institute's findings come at a time when motorcycle ridership -- and motorcycle-related fatalities -- are on the rise. Nationwide, total registrations climbed 51% from 2000 to 2005, according to institute, and registration of supersport bikes jumped 83% during that same period.
Meanwhile, motorcycle fatalities in the U.S. have more than doubled in 10 years, reaching 4,810 in 2006, accounting for 11% of highway fatalities.
In 2005, supersport motorcycles had a death rate of 22.5 per 10,000 registered bikes, according to the institute. That compares with 6.5 deaths per 10,000 touring motorcycles, a class that includes such bikes as the Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide, and 7.5 per 10,000 motorcycles overall.
Supersport bikes are designed as racing bikes and are then modified for highway use -- hence the emphasis on speed.
"Supersport motorcycles have such elevated crash death rates and insurance losses because many people ride them as if they were on a racetrack," McCartt said.
In 2005, speed was cited as a factor in 57% of supersport riders' fatal crashes, according to the institute. That compared with 22% among fatalities involving touring bikes.
The Ninja and the Electra Glide provide a vivid example of how motorcycles differ in power and weight. The 2006 Ninja generates 111 horsepower while weighing 404 pounds. The Harley produces 65 horsepower and weighs in at 788 pounds.
The smallest supersports typically have 600-cc engines, but the biggest models top 1,200 or even 1,400 and can reach speeds approaching 200 mph.
Although supersports have by far the highest death rate among motorcycles, the fatality rate for touring bikes saw an ominous rise from 2000 to 2005, increasing from 5.3 per 10,000 to 6.5.
The institute found that alcohol was a factor in 26% of fatal accidents involving touring bikes in 2005, compared with 19% of supersport fatalities.
martin.zimmerman@latimes.com
