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As a keen cyclist who almost got a motorbike license, one massive difference is that a bike weight 10kg (ebike lets say 20) whereas a motorbike upwards of 100,

As a keen cyclist who almost got a motorbike license, one massive difference is that a bike weight 10kg (ebike lets say 20) whereas a motorbike upwards of 100, or thereabouts. I think in traffic you are fairly vulnerable to both, but on a bike, at least if you fall, you don’t have the insult of your own vehicle crushing you as well as whatever obstacle / other vehicle you hit.

rolleiflex 5y ago
Yeah, that makes sense. I’m on both sides on this one, I have two motorcycles, one electric scooter and one electric skateboard. Motorcycles are by far the heaviest thing. On the other hand, many motorcycles come with sacrifical rubber ‘sliders’ where if a motorcycle is dropped to the ground, the only thing that touches the ground is still the wheels and the rubber sliders on the dropped side. The slider itself is a block of rubber and it’s $10 to replace when ground down sufficiently to a nub. I’ve found weight to be a less of a problem than I expected in practice.
storyinmemo 5y ago
As a cyclist (several of them, most often either a Trek 1.5 and Tern Vektron) and motorcyclist (700+ lb Concours 14), the bicycle is scarier. The motorcycle's weight isn't an issue in a tip or slide situation, and I can wear pretty serious armor in all weather conditions. The bicycle leaves me exposed in traffic and more often than not wearing a t-shirt for heat control. Just to give a different perspective on it.
- anthony_barker 5y ago
  Deaths per mile of bikes is 1/4 that of motorcycles in the UK. https://www.motorbikeclaims.org.uk/blog/these-shocking-accident-statistics-show-the-dangers-for-motorcyclists/ https://www.motorbikeclaims.org.uk/blog/these-shocking-accid...
  - kazinator 5y ago
    Anyone reading this critically should be thinking: OMG, per-distance bicycle fatality is a whopping 25% relative to the crotch rocket. (And still 17X more than in an automobile.)
- rich_sasha 5y ago
  Interesting. The bit I found most terrifying on a motorbike is seeing a car pull up to a stop , about to turn onto the road I’m on (with priority) and wondering if he’ll stop. On a push bike, I’m doing maybe 30-35 kph in a city, and can stop very quickly. Splatting into the side of a car at this speed (less some braking) is serious but unlikely to be very dangerous. On a motorbike, suddenly I have 200kg gyrating under my pelvis about to crash, and bounce into the traffic. Just feels terrifying. And crucially, this situation (not the crash but the scenario) happens all the time.

rolleiflex 5y ago

Yeah, that makes sense. I’m on both sides on this one, I have two motorcycles, one electric scooter and one electric skateboard. Motorcycles are by far the heaviest thing. On the other hand, many motorcycles come with sacrifical rubber ‘sliders’ where if a motorcycle is dropped to the ground, the only thing that touches the ground is still the wheels and the rubber sliders on the dropped side. The slider itself is a block of rubber and it’s $10 to replace when ground down sufficiently to a nub. I’ve found weight to be a less of a problem than I expected in practice.

storyinmemo 5y ago

As a cyclist (several of them, most often either a Trek 1.5 and Tern Vektron) and motorcyclist (700+ lb Concours 14), the bicycle is scarier. The motorcycle's weight isn't an issue in a tip or slide situation, and I can wear pretty serious armor in all weather conditions. The bicycle leaves me exposed in traffic and more often than not wearing a t-shirt for heat control. Just to give a different perspective on it.

anthony_barker 5y ago
Deaths per mile of bikes is 1/4 that of motorcycles in the UK. https://www.motorbikeclaims.org.uk/blog/these-shocking-accident-statistics-show-the-dangers-for-motorcyclists/ https://www.motorbikeclaims.org.uk/blog/these-shocking-accid...
- kazinator 5y ago
  Anyone reading this critically should be thinking: OMG, per-distance bicycle fatality is a whopping 25% relative to the crotch rocket. (And still 17X more than in an automobile.)
rich_sasha 5y ago
Interesting. The bit I found most terrifying on a motorbike is seeing a car pull up to a stop , about to turn onto the road I’m on (with priority) and wondering if he’ll stop. On a push bike, I’m doing maybe 30-35 kph in a city, and can stop very quickly. Splatting into the side of a car at this speed (less some braking) is serious but unlikely to be very dangerous. On a motorbike, suddenly I have 200kg gyrating under my pelvis about to crash, and bounce into the traffic. Just feels terrifying. And crucially, this situation (not the crash but the scenario) happens all the time.