Life itself is dangerous, you’re not going to get out of it alive in any case. This is a good topic but varies greatly from person to person.
I asked myself the same question when i first started riding, my parents, grand parents, some friends said not to do it, then again some friends said do it (the ones i ride with now, haha)
To start i’ll say if you think you will enjoy riding motorcycles then you should do it. Personally it’s changed my life, despite the risk i love the way i feel riding on a motorcycle seeing the world and learning. That being said there’s a lot more to being safe then just being a good driver. Many things are out of your hands, i’ve known riders who always rode safe and by bad luck a car will pull in front of them or hit a gravel patch and go down. I’ve also known riders who always push it to the limit on the street and haven’t had an accident…yet.
Like many things motorcycles are all about RISK MANAGEMENT. If you want to increase your life expectancy on a motorcycle take the proper steps learned from countless number of riders over the years.
1st, Start Small, Ninja 250/500, GS500, SV650, etc.
2nd, Motorcycle Safety Class is a must, even if you are a terrific driver and have never had and accident. There is so much that new riders don’t know that they don’t know.
3rd, Get good gear,Helmet, Jacket, Gloves, Boots, & Pants. Laying motorcycles happens to everyone, just don’t loose any skin over it.
4th, Be continually learning, by reading books, watching videos, talking to fellow riders. I recommend Total Control, Twist of the Wrist (which is a DVD, awful acting but some of the best information)
One last thing, if you think you have good self control it will be tested while riding a motorcycle, it’s very tempting to ride over your head. Many people think that they’ll resist the temptation to twist the throttle too much (i’m a victim of that)
Sorry for the long post, but if you’re going to do motorcycles do it right, if you find you can live with out it then don’t ride. What it all comes down to is what YOU want to do and what you’re willing to lose/gain, if your family/friends love you they’ll want to see you happy, even with the risk. For me riding out weighs the risk, good luck.