Around the globe, motorcycles are the go-to form of transportation. Some are street — cruisers, sport-bikes, scooters and mopeds — some are off-road, and others are dual purpose. In general, motorcycles require more agility, coordination and alertness when riding because there is a higher risk of injury for motorcyclists.

Motorcycles lack the enclosure of a passenger vehicle to protect them in the event of the accident, and their lack of size also makes it harder for others driver to see them as quickly compared to other vehicles on the road. These factors stack up against motorcyclists and the numbers prove it, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association's latest report.

Based on preliminary data provided by state highway safety officers, Motorcyclist Fatalities by State: 2017 Preliminary Data provides the first look at state-by-state motorcyclist fatality data and trends for 2017. To download the report, please visit GHSA's website.

With this in mind, here are some key takeaways from the report.

Related: Motorcycle insurance: U.S. states with the lowest & highest average cost