For many, motorbikes are thrilling, dangerous
Bullet bikes are made for speed, and more speed means more caution for the rider.
The great gas mileage, the speed, convenience and the thrill were all reasons why Leo Korikov, senior in aviation, chose to get one.
“I like speed,” Korikov said. “It’s fun to ride.”
In Utah the only requirement to ride a motorcycle is to pass a written test through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Although the DMV does suggest a safety course for new riders, it is not required.
Korikov has been in five accidents since purchasing his first bike in 2004, with the worst accident cutting his right calf as he was side swiped by a semi that pushed him into another vehicle. His bike peg cut into his calf as he attempted to keep himself and his bike from falling over.
Korikov had to be rushed to the emergency room to have his calf splice taken care of. He was out on the roads riding again two weeks later.
“I have become more cautious now (while riding) and I pay more attention more since my first spill,” he said.
Korikov said his biking gear and his helmet has saved him from bodily harm and his helmet has saved his life.
While out riding on a colder day in Logan near Angie’s Restaurant and making a turn out of the parking lot, his bike slipped because of bad traction and Korikov fell off the bike and hit his face on the road.
“If I wasn’t wearing my helmet, I’d probably would have lost a giant part of my face and would have been severely injured,” he said.
In 2007 motorcycle helmets saved 1,784 lives, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and if all motorcyclists had worn helmets, 800 more lives would have been saved and helmets are estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries and 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries.
Korikov said he always wears full gear when riding, including at least two to four layers of clothing plus a jacket and always his helmet.
Korikov said the warmer the day, the better it is to ride because warmer weather means better traction. Cold weather reduces tire traction.
“Sunny, warm days are best,” Korikov said. “My favorite day to go out riding are Sunday afternoons in the summer when there are no cars on the road.”
Korikov said he has driven to Park City from Logan on his bullet bike and also to the Uinta National Forest and Wyoming.
Korikov is not the only student who thoroughly enjoys having a bullet bike.
Chris Givens, junior in aviation from Lynchburg, Va., bought a Suzuki SV 650s two months ago.
Givens decided to buy his own bike for the simple enjoyment and the sense of freedom he gets when riding.
It wasn’t terribly hard learning how to ride a motorcycle since throughout his childhood he rode dirt bikes, Givens said.
“I wasn’t new to the concept of two wheels,” he said. “I definitely wasn’t buying the bike because of the image, I bought it because they’re fun, to be honest.”
Riding precautions include always wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants down to the ankles and wearing a long-sleeve jacket.
Because of the extremely hot exhaust pipes on bikes, wearing pants is important so the rider and the backseat passenger are not burned, commonly on the lower leg, Korikov said.
Korikov, a California resident who obtained his motorcycle license in California, said motorcycle Utah laws and California laws are quite different.
According to www.home.ama-cycle.org, California law requires riders to wear helmets while Utah only requires safety helmets for people under the age of 18 – though it is encouraged to wear them, it’s not required.
Also, the site states California law requires a state-funded rider education course under age 21, while in Utah law it’s not required but is open for all applicants. Another major difference between riding in Utah and California is that in California lane splitting is allowed while in Utah law it is illegal, and also turn signals are required in California but in Utah they are not.
Korikov said he hopes that sometime in Utah’s future that Utah lawmakers require helmet wearing because it saves lives.
–candice.sandness@aggiemail.usu.edu