Some people ride motorcycles daily for work or for cruising around. Riding a motorcycle is a lifestyle for some while a hobby for others.
There might be some curious questions about motorcycles that people wish to ask but can be too afraid to ask. But there is nothing to worry about as this article has got you covered.
So, if you’re wondering, do motorcycles have seatbelts? Well, the simple answer is no, they do not. Motorcycles do not have seatbelts because they are said to be safer to ride, especially during a crash. If a rider is trapped to the seatbelt on a motorcycle, there are high chances of getting serious injuries.
If you are interested in learning how to ride safely without the seat belts on the motorcycle, then make sure to read this article until the end.
Why Don’t Motorcycles Have Seatbelts?
Motorcycles don’t need seatbelts on them as they are safer for riders. Seat belts can prevent the rider from having control over their body.
In some cases, the rider might have to stand up to have a proper balance of the motorcycle. With the seatbelt on, it is restricted from happening.
If you are unaware of the Inertia effect, you must know that having a seat belt on will deliver the rider with the same intestinal speed as the motorcycle.
This means that the rider will move in the same direction the motorcycle is, which can certainly lead to a high number of casualties.
It is also important for you to note that in the case of an emergency, such as a motorcycle falling over, imbalanced or severe accidents, the rider must bail the motorcycle and step away from it.
This is to protect oneself from getting seriously injured. If there are seatbelts on, it can be difficult to unbuckle, which can eventually cause serious injuries all over the body.
Seatbelts are surely safer to ride within a car as they can protect the driver and the passenger from colliding with certain parts of the vehicle, such as seats or windows, or even bouncing out of the seat.
But for motorcycles, the scenario will be different and can also be life-threatening. This is why motorcycles do not have seat belts.
The Difference Between Car And Motorcycle Safety
You must know certain things about seat belts and the impact they can have on the motorcycle if you ride with them.
1. Motorcycles Can Easily Fall On The Ground, Not Cars
As you know, cars have a space inside and are protected from the outside. People can easily sit comfortably in that interior space and feel more secure with seat belts.
In contrast, motorcycles are open with nothing surrounding it. To add on, motorcycles will naturally fall on the ground unless you use the rack to secure them.
So if you are strapped with the seatbelt on the motorcycle, you are also likely to fall on the ground with the motorcycle.
However, it will be easy for you to jump out of the motorcycle and prevent any critical injuries from happening without it.
2. Motorcycles Contribute Free Movement To The Rider
When it comes to riding on the motorcycle, riders naturally like to have free movement compared to riding inside a car.
This means that as a rider, you would like to bend forward or lean back, being sure of your riding manners, especially when it comes to accelerating as well as decelerating your motorcycles.
Therefore, riding with the seatbelt on would make things uncomfortable for you and not give you the freedom you expected. It can also affect the performance as you will be easily irritated and would not get used to it.
3. Unlike Cars, You Might Get Stuck With The Seat Belt On The Motorcycle
This is one of the concerning points, especially during a crash. If you ever end up in a crash situation, you would first want to jump out of the motorcycle.
However, with the seat belts on, you will be moving along with the motorcycle and hitting something on the front since you will be stuck with the seat belts during an accident.
You will end up with serious injuries, especially on the lower abdomen area, where there will be a lot of pressure due to the seat belts. This is not the same for cars as they protect the driver and the passengers.
How To Be Safer Without The Seat Belts
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is said that motorcycles are riskier to ride on than cars.
You will be surprised to learn that every mile traveled on a motorcycle increases the number of casualties. This is said to be 27 times higher than on the cars.
Yes, motorcycle riders have gone thousands of miles without facing any injuries, but it can still be risky as you never know when a serious situation might arise. This is why before riding, you must have everything properly prepared.
Here are some of the safety procedures you must follow at all times:
1. Wear A Helmet
No matter which state you are riding in, make sure that you have your safety helmet on at all times. Regardless of whether the law mandates it or not.
According to studies, riding with the helmet on can lower the percentage of casualties and severe brain damage during a crash.
It is also important for you to wear a full-face helmet because they are the safest option instead of an open or half helmet.
2. Safety Gears
When it comes to safety gear, the helmet always comes first on the list. But other than that, you must prepare yourself with a riding jacket on, gloves, boots, elbow and knee pads, reflective vest and goggles (optional), as well as proper pants.
It is worth mentioning that, instead of shorts, wear a pair of pants or jeans and instead of slippers, you must wear ankle height boots.
This is important for you because an accident can give you a serious road rash even if you are riding at 10 miles per hour or even slower than that.
3. Checking The Motorcycle
Just like cars, this is also an important step for motorcycles. You must check it before every single ride.
When you are inspecting, make sure that all the lights, gas levels, and indicators are working properly. You also want to check the tires, especially if the pressure is accurate or not.
Make sure that the pressure values are accurate because riding on motorcycles with traction control and ABS might not ride smoothly if there are certain changes in the pressure. Other than that, make sure the brakes are also working adequately.
4. Check The Conditions On The Road Before Riding
This is also important because you want to be sure about the weather, traffic, and road conditions before you start your trip. It is said that planning will provide a much safer ride, and you will reach your destination quickly.
However, if you are stressed out or exhausted, it increases the chances of road accidents. Keep in mind that you should not ride if you are intoxicated or distracted. Always pay attention and focus more on your driving.
5. Do Not Ride In The Nighttime
Make sure to ride properly with all the safety gear on. Various experts recommend that you not ride at nighttime, especially in harsh weather conditions like snow, rain, or wind. This is because it can dramatically increase the chances of getting into an accident.
6. Improve Riding Skills
If you love to ride on the motorcycle a lot, you need to improve your self-awareness. This means that you must follow instructions and practice to make your riding conditions better to give you the confidence to ride in every road condition.
However, make sure not to overestimate your skills. It is said that riders who underestimate their abilities are more likely to get into road accidents. This includes riding at faster speeds, taking corners too quickly, and braking too late.
Will Future Motorcycles Have Seatbelts?
It is said that Honda has applied for an invention that has a seat belt system on a motorcycle.
It is worth mentioning that Honda was the first brand to introduce the world’s first airbag system on a motorcycle, the Gold Wing, in the year 2005.
It is suggested that Honda is most probably planning to add the seat belt system on the Gold Wing motorcycle so it can also enhance the effectiveness of the airbag system installed on it.
Besides, Honda is also fully aware that riders would prefer having free movement, especially during an accident.
This is why they plan to introduce the seat belt system that will have a sensor that will detect when the motorcycle is toppling and when the seat is about to be detached from the motorcycle so it can allow full motion to the rider.
Though do keep in mind this patent was delivered decades ago. This just means that seatbelts are not very plausible to be emerging on the motorcycle anytime soon.
What Injuries Can Seatbelts Cause?
You need to know that seat belts can produce various injuries in the car. It is reasonable that most of the injuries can be quite serious and life-threatening, which might happen due to collisions and traffic accidents.
It is said that there are high chances of getting serious internal injuries, especially to the spinal cord and abdomen area, since the belt would be placed on the lap area. Other than that, people can also get neck sternum and shoulder injuries.
But in severe cases, riders might also end up having serious bowel injuries, spinal injuries, internal bleeding that might not be detectable easily, damage to various organs, joint dislocations, and fracturing several body parts.
This just gives you another reason why you must avoid having seat belts on motorcycles.
Conclusion
I expect now you got all the answers to the question: do motorcycles have seatbelts? Motorcycles are much safer to ride on without seat belts, so there aren’t any motorcycles designed with the seat belts system.
When it comes to riding safely, you must make sure to follow all the safety procedures at all times, so you do not end up in an accident.
You must also strive to improve your riding techniques since it will be beneficial for you in the long run and will always be fun for you to ride on.
I am a passionate blogger who wants to spread my interest in motorcycles. Fueled by my love for motorcycles, I provide readers with valuable insights and updates on motorcycles’ informative and engaging topics and document the latest happenings in the biking community. Despite my hectic schedule, I can provide these blogs, which involve regular trips to the gym and sports like mountain biking and BMX. I am usually available most of the time, so be sure to join me on my journey of motorcycles and bikes! I appreciate a quiet and simple life and am always eager to interact with my readers to provide helpful information on my blog site.
