Sports bikes/Crouch Rockets vs. Harleys/Cruiser which one is the safest?

If you have skill the sport bike by a mile, no skills take the cruiser as it is very slow and can take ham fisted inputs on the controls brakes, gas etc.

Cruiser usually have long wheelbase and very low center of gravity which makes them very stable.... too stable actually. More stability means less turning ability. Weight distribution leans toward the back side, especially with the rider sitting so far from the front wheel, that is good for traction while accelerating but when you hit the brakes the weight shift to the front wheel does not happen enough and quickly. On a heavy bike, only front wheel can stop the bike quickly and safely, which accounts for over %70 of the total breaking power. So you don't have enough weight shift to the front and you have the rear wheel dragging behind (possibly waiting for an opportunity to fishtail) and you have the massive momentum of that heavy cruiser. That is not very safe.

Sports bikes have (usually) short wheelbase, higher center of gravity and front wheel very close to the heaviest part of the bike which is the engine and the rider. Quick weight shift to the front wheel with powerful brakes makes the bike stop on a dime. Short wheelbase helps it turn very quickly and higher center of gravity makes it less stable so the bike can response quickly. And of course, lighter bike is a lot more manageable because when you shift your body around, you can actually affect the physical properties of the bike+rider unity. So, definitely the sports bike...

That is a thought provoking question. If you take the rider and speed out of it and you look just at the bikes I would say it would depend on what you are doing.

Sportbikes –

They can accelerate, stop and turn better and therefore avoid accidents better.

Cruisers –

Heavier therefore in rain or slick conditions will get better traction. Horse power is lower and therefore less likely to have accident based on lack of throttle control.

I would say that a good rider on a sportbike would be better off as a whole than a good rider on a cruiser.

What really makes a rider good on the street is being aware of their surroundings and avoiding the 3000lbs boxes on the road.

Crotch rockets and inherently safer. They're lighter, have stronger brakes, performance tires, and are much more and responsive to emergency manuevers because they're raked for tight, accurate steering. Having said that, I have to also say that statistically speaking, crotch rockets account for far more motorcycle fatalities than cruisers do. But that's directly related to the kind of people who ride them and HOW they ride them. I've been riding cruisers for 15 years and I've never been in an accident because I drive defensively and usually within the speed limit. Basically, crotch rockets attract the people least prepared to handle their power, and the result is unnecessary accidents and fatalities, not the fault of the bike - but of the rider.

The statistics are conflicting because although the sport bikes are more inherently dangerous by design, there are actually more accidents on the road bikes and Harley's partially due to drunk driving but lately due to the fact so many inexperienced riders have been buying these bike as they go through their mid life crisis. You also have to take into account the shear numbers, there are a lot more road bikes on the road than sport bikes.

It depends on the rider. If you have great self control a sports bike would be your best bet because it has the quicker acceleration, tighter turning radius, and the lowest dry wieght. Your best defence on a bike in 100% of the situations that would arise is to not be there!

Take your pick. it's speed verses weight. Do you get smashed more going 90mph or by wrecking a 900lb bike. To see which bikes crash more look at the insurance rates. Insurance for a crotch rocket will probably cost you your first born child. Not because they are unsafe but are usually ridden by younger less experiences riders. If you are a safe rider, any bike is safe. if you are a reckless rider you're not save in a tank

no bike is a safe bike. a safe rider makes a bike safe. so i have to say that rockets are a safer bike than a cruiser, but both can kill you if you do the wrong thing.

Sport bikes

Handle better - less likely to crash in turns. Panic situation - you want to be able to weave around a near accident.

Stop faster - panic situation, you want to be able to stop.

Accelerate faster - once again, panic situation, you want to be able to get out of trouble fast!

But if not ridden correctly, or with respect to their outstanding performance, get a cruiser.

The question is really a moot point. Both designs do different things really well.

The safety issue has little or nothing to do with the brand, type or style. That responsibility is the riders, and the riders alone.