Deadly Roads: Motorcycle Safety & Important Equipment

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It’s the deadliest year on record at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.

13 people died in crashes related to the rally, and fatal accidents over the weekend in the area have people wondering about safety.

There is one thing that bike shop owners say is needed for safety.

Legendary Motorsports GM Scott Gierke said,”Experience there’s no replacement for a motorcycle”

Hopping on a motorcycle and taking the road this summer is in the minds of many bikers this season.

But accidents are bound to happen.

So the ultimate protection other than biker experience is a helmet.

“People come and buy $30,000 motorcycles but sometimes they don’t buy a helmet and when they do they want to buy the cheapest one possible and actually it’s the most important piece of equipment,”said Gierke.

One Minnesota couple returning from Sturgis said they had a great safe time.

But on their trip they had to buy a couple helmets while passing through Nebraska which has helmet laws, unlike in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Patty-Jo & Bobby Schmiedeberg from Lake Bronson said,”I know I will probably more than him, I’m not as good as a driver as he is but I guess I’ll wear it more than he will. I’ll still leave it at home more than likely.”

Along with recommendations to wear helmets the type of helmet can make a world of a difference.

“Then they have the Sneel certification which is the highest level of certification,”said Gierke

It goes through a number of impact tests and these helmets could run you around $500.

“We’ve actually had customers come in and show us the helmets and say hey thank you for selling me this helmet i didn’t want to pay that much but this helmet saved my life,” said Gierke.

Bike shop owners say you need the right safety gear for any situation.