Although motorcycling is a minority mode in most industrialised countries, it produces a substantial proportion of casualties, and it has characteristics which are very different from other modes. Understandably, attention in vehicle safety tends to focus on four-wheel vehicles, yet research into two-wheel vehicles can be very productive. This review is the result of a study by an ad-hoc working group set up by the European Experimental Vehicles Committee to examine all engineering aspects of motorcycle safety, and contains the contributions of European experts in both primary and secondary safety, and in protective clothing. Between its Introduction and Conclusion, this paper contains the summary findings of the much larger study report. It covers accident and injury data, braking, handling, conspicuity, passive safety, airbags, leg protection, combined design measures, helmets, clothing, and the general road environment and furniture. It does not consider driver behaviour, education and training. Overall, it shows that, despite the intrinsic vulnerability of motorcycle riders, there is considerable scope for improving safety further.