Few sport bikes causing a lot of collisions

By Meghan Hurley

SPORT bikes make up just 16 per cent of the nearly 9,500 motorcycles on the provincial roads but account for almost half of all motorcycle collisions in the province, Manitoba Public Insurance reports.

Last year, there were 1,211 collisions involving motorcycles -- and 48 per cent involved the machines aptly known as 'crotch rockets.'

"Over the last number of years the sport bikes are over-represented in collision claims with respect to how many are on the road," said Brian Smiley, spokesman for MPI. "They are popular with younger motorists."