Stop Crashing Alone.

The first thing I should probably mention is that this site (and my three books and podcast) don’t address the most common topics in motorcycling, like selecting riding gear or getting the most out of your first rally.

Instead, they focus on helping riders understand how motorcycles work and why they crash—topics that have mostly been glossed over in the mainstream motorcycle mega books from the past.

The Crash Data

When I first started riding, I read every crash study I could get my hands on, and I came to this uncomfortable conclusion.

Riders are crashing and dying in RIDER-INDUCED single-vehicle crashes (all by ourselves) at the same rate (or higher), making the same mistakes our grandparents did decades ago—even with mandatory training, better brakes, and better tires.

An NHTSA study in 2012 found that motorcyclists were 26 times more likely than car occupants to die in accidents (per mile traveled).1 A similar NHTSA study in 2018 showed that riders are now 27 times more likely to die in motor vehicle traffic crashes.2

This website and my books are my attempt to be a part of that.

Lowsides and Highsides

The most important topic I write about is lowside and highside crashes (what are they, what triggers them, and how riders can avoid them). This is because 1) most motorcycle books and training avoid the topic altogether, and 2) most lowside and highside crashes are rider-induced and avoidable.

I also write about rider fear, proper braking habits, the importance of ABS and Stability Control (ESC), and understanding countersteering with your head so you can make your motorcycle go where you want it to go in a pinch.

In the end, I believe all riders can change their chances of crashing. Can you reduce your risks to zero?

Absolutely not!

Skilled riders crash and die every day when there was NOTHING they could have done to avoid it. But it is also true that under-skilled riders crash and die every day when there WAS something they could have done to avoid it.

A Fresh Approach

Riders are crashing in single-vehicle crashes (all by ourselves) at the same rate we did generations ago. Why is this acceptable?

Why don’t all riders who have taken hands-on training know what triggers most lowside and highside crashes? Why is there so much hate for ABS? Why isn’t the crash data showing improvements?

The only logical conclusion is that the training isn’t working.

We need hands-on training that spends less time on selecting riding gear and more time on understanding countersteering and why riders crash.

We need to boldly expose the lazy myth that loud pipes save lives.

Crash Studies

We’re also missing the mark on motorcycle causation studies. 

Whether your passenger was wearing gloves has nothing to do with whether you understand how to ride a motorcycle, and it certainly isn’t a good indicator of how likely you are to crash.

I shared what I think about the Motorcycle Causation Crash Study (MCCS) that was published in 2019 in another article. Here, I’ll make the point that the entire MCCS had two sentences about ABS and nothing about Traction Control (TC) or ESC.

Why is this? Was it too hard? How can it be that these life-saving electronic systems that DO keep riders from triggering single-vehicle crashes were left off the list of things to study?

We can do better than this. We MUST do better than this.

Not Rocket Science

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure all this out.

Riders crash and die every day because motorists don’t see them.

Riders crash and die every day because they don’t understand how to use countersteering to keep from going wide in a turn and crashing. 

Riders crash and die every day because they locked up their rear tire (by over-braking) or spun their rear tire (by over-accelerating)— and lowside or highside crashed.

Riders crash and die every day because they’re too stubborn to embrace electronic systems like ABS, TC, and ESC that prevent crashes.

Riders crash and die every day because they refuse to use their front brake enough—probably because someone told them they’d be catapulted over the front handlebars if they did—even though this is never the case with normal motorcycles.

In large part, the riding community is killing themselves.

Mandatory ABS and ESC

And last but not least, we need Congress to mandate ABS and ESC on all on-street motorcycles sold in the U.S. If this site or one of my books makes that happen one day sooner, this journey has been more than worth it.

We can do this if we work together. And the first step in this process is to admit there’s a problem.

—David

Important Links (Start Here)

  • Learn more about David here.

  • Contact David via LinkedIn here or by email: david@motorcyclesmarts.com

  • Follow Motorcycle Smarts on Instagram here (coming soon).

  • Read some of my most popular content here.

  • Browse all my articles here.

  • Read my Purpose and Vision here.

  • Learn more about becoming a sponsor here.

  • Read my best advice for experienced riders here.

  • Listen to Ed Housewright interview me on BMW podcast here (coming soon).

  • Rider Coaches: Get a free copy of my two skills books here.

  • Read my Open Letter to Congress asking them to mandate ABS and stability control on all motorcycles sold in the U.S. for on-street use here.

Here’s a recent email:

“I’ve completed several rider training courses here in New Zealand, and not one instructor has ever talked about lowside or highside crashes (or what triggers them)—or the importance of using your front brake. Nor did they in any of the basic rider courses I’ve completed along my journey. Several riders in my riding group are in the process of completing more advanced courses and have told me the same thing. Thank you, David,  for educating riders.”

— KR from New Zealand

Warning

Every time I suit up to ride, I weigh my options and evaluate my risks. As long as the pleasure of riding overshadows the additional exposure, I’ll continue to throw a leg over and strap on my helmet. When it doesn’t, I’ll stop riding. 

The risks are real. Motorcycle crashes—sometimes caused by negligent drivers—can cause serious injuries, even death. In my books and on this site, I attempt to present accurate information that will ultimately make you a safer rider. But I’m human. My advice may not apply to every rider in every situation. Please seek lessons from a licensed instructor. 

Ride safely and at your own risk.

David is NOT a motorcycle instructor. He’s just a mechanical engineer who loves dissecting how motorcycles work. He also enjoys taking complex ideas and making them simple to understand. David worked at NASA (the space place) for over thirty years. He left in 2022 to write and pursue other callings.

David is also happy to help authors, training organizations, and the business sector (on a consulting basis) if it’s a good fit. Contact information is below.

david@motorcyclesmarts.com

You can also find David on LinkedIn, where he mostly writes about space.

Update

Because of feedback like this, in 2024, I completely rebuilt this website and added some of my best content that made it into my two skills books—and some that didn’t. Having meaningful content here will almost certainly reach a wider audience. It felt like the right thing to do. My goal for writing books was never financial. My goal was to help one rider—which is exactly what my motorcycle mentors did for me. 

Additionally, with the help of corporate sponsors, I hope to give away 1000 copies of my books to riders (and coaches) worldwide who might not normally purchase a skills book.

NOTE: Copyright laws limit the amount of content from my books that I can publish here. I have not exceeded those limitations. I unpack each topic in more depth in my books.

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The Motorcycle Smarts Book Series

Motorcycle Smarts

Book 1 in the Series.

“This is by far the best motorcycling book I have read. This book is very readable. I learned more of importance about motorcycling safely than I did in the two MSF courses I took.”
— L R Libsch on Amazon
Motorcycle Dream Ride

Book 2 in the Series.

“Very well-written book about a motorcycle journey from Alabama to Alaska and back. When reading the book, I felt like I was along on the journey. Good insight as to what to expect, but not too much detail to be cumbersome. Organization of the story and writer methods were appreciated.”
— Mary R. on Amazon
Motorcycle Hacks

Book 3 in the Series.

“I have been riding for 60 years and learned new things in this book. Notably, how lowsides and highsides are triggered, and look where you want to go, not where you don’t want to go. Must read for all riders!”
—James L. Clark on Amazon
About the Author

David Mixson writes about the topics other motorcycle books gloss over. He worked as a NASA engineer for over thirty years and is the author of three books.