Getting some things done this morning I spent a little time at Barnes and Nobel and found this book called Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough. It is a very good book on being a better motorcycle rider. He also gives lots of statistics on motorcycle accidents. Apparently there was a study done in the early eighties called the Hurt Report. He uses that information in the book to give an honest appraisal of the risks involved.
Here’s a link to an article asking for a new comprehensive study on motorcycling.
UPDATE: Found this “The Anatomy of a Motorcycle Crash” article on a government website. It was referred by an article saying highway fatalities ( not just motorcycles ) are up.