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.
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 and podcast) are that fresh approach.
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 mega books 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 ESC, and understanding countersteering with your head so you can make your motorcycle go where you want it to go in a pinch.
I also make the case that Congress should Federally mandate ABS and ESC on all on-street motorcycles.
In the end, I believe all riders can change their chances of crashing. Am I saying you can 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.
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
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 feels 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.
Where to Next?
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The Motorcycle Smarts Book Series
Book 1 in the Series.
Book 2 in the Series.
Book 3 in the Series.
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.
