Safer on a Dual-Sport Bike?

[mikem9]

Do you feel you are statistically safer, or less safe when you ride a (650cc or less thumper) dual sport bike vs. other types of more powerful streetbikes (sport bikes, sport touring bikes, cruisers, Big Adventure bikes etc)?

Let's take rider differences out of the equation and pretend that we are only comparing one person at a time on one type of bike vs. the other type. And that one person's tendencies on one type of bike vs. the other.

650cc or Less Thumper with 50/50 tires:

Pros:
Sit up higher
Easier to be seen
Better vision
Lighter and easier to maneuver
Typically enjoy riding at slower speeds than other bigger bikes, so you generally ride slower on the street.
Bike is slower - less likely to get into trouble by brief lack of judgement with the throttle
Better handling if the road is very rough or you have to quickly go off the road.

Cons:
Blown around by wind
Less passing power
Less power to blip out of danger.
Brakes
Pavement tire grip

[markk53]

I got nothin' for you. One can fall down and crash on anything.

I ride my dual sport faster than my street bike. With the Duro tires I have never had them slip in a corner even when chasing my friends about on their supermoto types (moto'd XR650R and Aprilia 550). As for passing, it's all in the execution - planned passing. I don't really find myself blown about much that I ever really notice either.

As for danger, I can't really speak for that either. Your first plus allows me to see what is going on and not get in any danger per se. My KLX can bring the front wheel to a squeal if I want, in other words the 300mm rotor stops quite well, although I think a 4 piston caliper would take it from a 2 finger brake maybe to a single finger brake. Again, no problems with braking.

The key point is the rider makes the safety factor above all else, by knowing how to deal with the world regardless of the kind of bike ridden. Thus I got nuthin' for ya.

[Wraith Rider]

Statistically speaking, according to MAIDS, only tourers are a bit less likely than other types of bikes to have an accident.

Originally Posted by mikem9

Sit up higher
Easier to be seen
Better vision
Lighter and easier to maneuver

As long as I can look over the cars it doesn't matter if I sit a few cm higher or lower, same to see and being seen.
Lighter/easier to maneuver isn't really right. A sports bike has, due to its harder suspension, the better maneuverability at least on even pavement.

[stepink104]

i also ride a suzuki m109r.........to me it is safer faster and a lot more easier seen and heard

[ray h]

I don't think theere has ever been a statistical breakdown of particular bike types. I'm sure insurance companies have done similar things based on cc though.
I believe, as a previous poster said, it comes down to how you ride it. Stay within your capabilities and the bikes capabilities and neither would be more or less dangerous.

[scottrnelson]

I know for sure that I can't brake in as short of distance on my XR650L as I could on the Ducati ST2 that I used to ride regularly. The XR dives about eight inches in the front during a hard stop and takes longer to get to maximum stopping power as well. So I would say the Dual Sport is less safe in a situation that requires hard braking.

I'm less likely to get going too fast on the XR compared to that Ducati or my current KTM 990 Adventure, because it doesn't come anywhere close to the acceleration ability of those bigger V-twins, so I'll call the Dual Sport a bit safer in that area.

In every other aspect of riding, I'll call them close enough to equal that the differences should be insignificant.

Personally, I don't feel any less safe on any of the bikes I've owned recently. Most of what makes a bike safe is how the rider controls it, and since I've concentrating on safety first for nearly ten years, I, as the rider, make a much bigger difference than the bike.

[mikem9]

Originally Posted by ray h

I believe, as a previous poster said, it comes down to how you ride it. Stay within your capabilities and the bikes capabilities and neither would be more or less dangerous.

I think that is a very true point, but I'm trying to ask the question based on what you consider to be typical human behavior. Do you think you would stay equally within your capabilities and that of the bike no matter what type bike you are riding? Or are you more likely to engage in actions on one bike vs. the other which would make you more or less safe?

For instance, I'm much more likely to go a good deal faster on my Bandit than my KTM Exc, (except maybe in tight twisties) mainly because I feel more comfortable doing so. I'm also much more likely to pass cars in all types of situations on my Bandit because I feel more comfortable with the power of that bike. Will the slower speeds and less passing risks on the KTM overcome it's handling shortfalls in the safety equation? Hmmm, I don't know.

Just an interesting topic to think about.

I do feel that for an inexperienced rider, a dual sport is probably a safer choice - as he's gaining experience and hours. The mistakes made with throttle, clutch and braking control can be potentially less severe. Also, he can take that dual sport and get dirt experience, which is pretty well proven to help his personal statistics.

Interested in your thoughts.

[PeterW]

Yes, but I ride in marginal conditions :).

The leverage on the bars, the lock-to-lock angle and longer suspension on the Dual Sport I ride have allowed me to make saves that wouldn't have been possible on a sports bike.

That said, I probably wouldn't have ridden a sports bike up a winding mountain road in the tail-end of a cyclone either ;). (Which I did this morning). Roads running with water, branches, leaves and bark over the road, fallen trees to get past and over etc.

You tend to push the limits of safety in any vehicle, though I suspect the odds of surviving a spill on a wet road at 60kph on a DL are better than on a Busa in the dry at 180kph ;).

Pete

[ray h]

Originally Posted by mikem9

I think that is a very true point, but I'm trying to ask the question based on what you consider to be typical human behavior. Do you think you would stay equally within your capabilities and that of the bike no matter what type bike you are riding? Or are you more likely to engage in actions on one bike vs. the other which would make you more or less safe?

For instance, I'm much more likely to go a good deal faster on my Bandit than my KTM Exc, (except maybe in tight twisties) mainly because I feel more comfortable doing so. I'm also much more likely to pass cars in all types of situations on my Bandit because I feel more comfortable with the power of that bike. Will the slower speeds and less passing risks on the KTM overcome it's handling shortfalls in the safety equation? Hmmm, I don't know.

Just an interesting topic to think about.

I do feel that for an inexperienced rider, a dual sport is probably a safer choice - as he's gaining experience and hours. The mistakes made with throttle, clutch and braking control can be potentially less severe. Also, he can take that dual sport and get dirt experience, which is pretty well proven to help his personal statistics.

Interested in your thoughts.

So if you are asking about me personally, how I feel.
I felt safer on my KLR650 than I do on my Versys. I don't know if I actually was safer or just felt safer.

[C/1/509]

Same rider - same skill set, same mind set or maturity level on different bikes, right?

What type of bike has the best on road (assuming that's what we're talking about here) traction, based on tires and suspension?

What type of bike has the best (feel and stopping distance) brakes?

What type of bike has the best handling?

What type of bike has the best "on demand, right now to get out of danger" acceleration?

If you ride any bike like an idiot, you're likely to get bitten. But I have to say that if everything is equal from the rider/skill/not being a dumbass perspective, the "safest" bike is not a dual-sport. They're not intrinsically "unsafe" of course, but that wasn't the question.

[chazbird]

The two dual sports I've owned, a TransAlp and F650GSA, sure were better on lousy roads - potholes, craters, bad pavement, etc. That's a plus in risk reduction. I went straight over a 4x4 on the TransAlp at about 25mph with no ill effects. Also, you sit higher and with high viz gear you should be easier to see, and I found the sit high position helped a lot in commute situations to see traffic conditions sooner.

[SRG]

I love it when sportbike riders complain about road debris/gravel. Dualsport riders aim for that stuff for fun.

[DAKEZ]

The 650 Dual Sports are certainly easier to keep under a 100mph.

[duck]

Statistics and how safe you think you are all go to shit when a deer pulls an unexpected left in front of you.

[mikem9]

Originally Posted by duck

Statistics and how safe you think you are all go to shit when a deer pulls an unexpected left in front of you.

I don't know, there is some feeling out there that big heavy adventure touring bikes like BMW GS 1200's may give you a better chance to stay upright in a deer strike. Heavy, unique suspension, tall and upright seating position. Still wouldn't want to hit one though!