Crotch rocket motorcycle death statistics show that these supersport bike riders are 4 times more likely to die than riders of other types of motorcycles. Nearly 50% of the fatally injured supersport riders are under 30 years of age. Speed is a factor in 57% of these types deaths.
What is a crotch rocket?
A crotch rocket motorcycle – which is also referred to as a supersport motor bike – is a high-speed, high-performance consumer version of a racing motor bike. It has reduced weight, increased power for quick acceleration and nimble handling. It can reach speeds of 190 mph.
The need for speed
Research shows that excessive speed was a contributing factor in 57% of deaths among the drivers of supersport motor bikes.
What makes supersport motor bikes so appealing is also what makes them so dangerous: speed. However, the downside to all of that built-in speed is its propensity to hasten the death and serious injury of supersport motor bike riders.
Crotch rocket death statistics
Drivers of these high speed motor bikes are four times more likely to die than riders of other types of motorcycles. Speed is a contributing factor in nearly 60% of crotch rocket deaths. In 2021, nearly 50% of fatally injured riders were under 30 years of age.
Between 2017-2021, the claim frequency for supersport motor bikes was nearly 3 times the national average and was the highest of the 11 classes or types of motorcycles. They also had the highest “overall losses” at nearly 3.5 times the national average.
The IIHS has reported that even though supersport motor bikes only make up less than 10 percent of all registered motor bikes, they account for 20% of all rider deaths.
Injuries are more likely to be severe
Although riders of these high speed motor bikes are 4 times more likely to die than other motor bike riders, their injuries are more likely to be severe in the event of a crash. The most common injuries include: (1) TBIs; (2) head injuries; (3) spinal injuries; (4) broken bones; and (5) hand and wrist injuries.
Helmetless riding and fatalities for supersport motorcycles
Surprisingly, helmetless riding does not appear to be a contributing factor to the high death rate among riders of crotch rocket motorcycles. In 2021, 81% of the supersport motor bike drivers who died were wearing helmets. In fact, helmet use was the highest among these type of motor bike riders.
This goes against the conventional, statistics-based wisdom that wearing a motorcycle helmet saves lives. Since the repeal of Michigan’s universal motorcycle helmet law in 2012, the fatality rate for motorcyclists without helmets has been nearly twice that for helmeted motorcyclists and there has been a 14% increase in head injuries among hospitalized motorcyclists.
With so many deaths of crotch rocket motorcycle riders who were wearing helmets in 2021, this highlights how truly dangerous these supersport motor bikes are.
Insurance recommendations
If you are going to ride a supersport motorbike in Michigan, then you are legally required to carry motorcycle liability insurance. Coverage for first-party medical benefits is optional. However, if you plan to drive or ride a supersport motorcycle without a helmet, medical is required.
Under Michigan law, you must have liability insurance for your motorcycle with limits of $250,000 and $500,00 – although the law does allow motorcyclists to purchase lower limits of $50,000 and $100,000.
Motorcyclists who choose to ride without a helmet must have at least $20,000 in first-party medical benefits coverage.
Safe riding tips for supersport motor bikes
“No speeding” tops the list of the most important safe riding tips for supersport motor bike riders. Driving too fast is a contributing factor in 57% of deaths among the drivers of supersport motor bikes. Other tips include: (1) Not driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs; and (2) Not driving while distracted.
Injured in a crotch rocket motorcycle accident? Call the auto accident attorneys at Michigan Auto Law
If you were injured in a supersport motor bike crash in Michigan and have questions about your legal rights to pain and suffering compensation, economic damages and auto No-Fault insurance benefits, you can speak to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney at (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation. You can also get help from an experienced No-Fault insurance attorney by visiting our contact page or you can use the chat feature on our website.
(Sources: “Role of motorcycle type in fatal motorcycle crashes,” Journal of Safety Research; Rand Corporation, “Understanding and Reducing Off-Duty Vehicle Crashes Among Military Personnel”; HLDI – Loss Facts – December 2022 – “Motorcycle Collision Coverage”; IIHS-HLDI, Fatality Facts, “Motorcycles and ATVs,” posted March 2023; IIHS-HLDI – “Motorcycles”)
