Unpopular Carpinion: Gearheads should also be motorcyclists
Both types of machines are different methods of having the same kind of fun.
I've never owned my own motorcycle for the road. I've ridden dirt bikes for years as a little tot and fell in love with the thrill of letting myself feel at one with the machinery between my legs as I threw caution (and dust) to the wind. My dad on the other had always kept street bikes in the family, and long after we parted with our off-road racing days, there had always been something two-wheeled in the garage whether it was a lazy cruiser, a versatile dual sport, or even some manic superbike. Comparing the cars I had always loved to the bikes I had a growing interest in, it became clear that these were simply two sides of the same coin, so why shouldn't car people be bike people too?
As my dad began phasing out our dirt bikes and I outgrew my last one, he began taking me on various adventures to isolated winding roads and secluded towns on the back of whatever bike he had at the time. There were too many to count. I've traversed thousands of miles on the back of his Kawasaki Concourse 14, Honda Goldwing F6B, BMW R 1200 GS, and Yamaha FJR among other things.
Of course, the destinations were always absolute treats, but the real gem was simply feeling unencumbered by excess metal. The wind rustling your jacket, the tingling of the vibrations through the seat, and the sonorous exhaust note of any motorcycle engine was sensory overload to my young self who had only ever known the passenger seat of my mom's Honda Pilot. At restaurants between stints, my dad would tell me stories of what it was like riding motorcycles back home in the Philippines or how he used to track his batshit Yamaha R1 at the nearby road course in Pahrump.
Being a gearhead is great, but being into motorcycles felt like some ultra-exclusive club I couldn't wait to be a part of when I got older, and it was one I finally got a taste of when I did.
After my dad shattered his arm in a mountain biking accident where he involuntarily base jumped off a cliff with nothing but a CamelBak as a parachute, he was unable to ride his Husqvarna 701 Enduro to its full potential. Never one to pose with a car or bike he'll never fully exploit, he allowed me to take it on some short treks before he inevitably decided to sell it.
This was years after I outgrew the back seats of his old bikes, and I had already fully integrated into car culture with canyon drives and Sunday morning car meets. I had driven cars of all sorts both slow and fast and on road and track, so let me tell you something. No car compares to this level of freedom.
Even on a tall, cumbersome, off-road-oriented dual sport, whipping it around city streets and up towards the mountains was like a special sort of wind-in-your-helmet feeling you probably can't feel in a spec Miata without a little help from some Colombian booger sugar. Imagine if I was on a proper sports bike or even something that's actually street-oriented like a lovely Triumph Bonneville. Everyone should at least be open to experiencing two-wheels in their life.
Like cars, motorcycles are merely another solution to the problem of finding enjoyment in the otherwise monotonous task of transporting one's self, and like cars, there's a bike for every niche. Want to blitz around Laguna Seca on a cruise missile capable of shitting on McLarens? Today's crop of super bikes regularly crest 200 horsepower and run suites of electronic wizardry and even race-inspired aero to make it happen. Want something for the long haul? Nearly every motorcycle manufacturer produces some sort of touring bike, and don't forget Old Man Harley-Davidson shaking his fist at the youngins and their water-cooled thingamajigs. If you're simply curious about something small and fleet for urban excursions, today's lineup of low-displacement (and electric!) bikes will easily do the trick while not disappointing the twisties.
The best part is that nearly any bike for any niche can be wildly fun. Even just zipping through traffic on the scooter like I used to do on my dad's Honda Ruckus in high school was more of a blast than driving my first car. There's never really a Corolla among motorcycles. They more or less seem to baseline at Fiesta ST-levels of fun and skyrocket from there.
Of course, these aren't really for everyone. In addition to the blatant disregard for weather protection and luggage space, there is also the obvious risk that motorcycles come with which one must come to terms should they choose to indulge in two fewer wheels. Riders always say that it's never a matter of 𝘪𝘧 you put it down but rather 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 you put it down. I've been no stranger to honest mistakes in my dirt biking days, and my dad has probably wiped out on-road and off more times than he can remember.
Years ago, some friends and I even lost a colleague in a motorcycle accident where he was struck in a hit-and-run incident. We honored his life with a memorial car cruise and a heightened sense of the daunting perils behind handlebars. You wouldn't be in the wrong for choosing to steer clear of the risk, but for those who are still on the fence, just know what you're getting yourself into, and ride with common sense as that's the most anyone can do.
Adventure awaits those willing to make the leap. So go ask your friend to take their bike out for a spin around the block or maybe test ride some new metal at your local dealership. Take that rider safety course and get yourself a well-matched bike to your needs. Be safe, ride smart, and ride within your limits. No one's asking you to ride on the edge of your like those douchebags on every American highway if you're not into that. Just go throw a leg over some two-wheeled nirvana and experience the open road in a whole new way. You'll come to see that perhaps cars and bikes aren't so different after all, and that it may just be what's been missing in your garage all along.
Photo: Ducati
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Comments (102)
Bikes are all around winners when it comes to fun for your money. A top of the line ducati panigale v4 will run you about $30k, which would only get you a Camry in the car world. They also take up much less space and are much less intimidating to work on yourself if you’re inclined to do so. But you don’t even need to get a top of the line sport bike to have fun. Just about any bike will give you a bigger rush than a car.
I forgot about price. That's a really good point
As an owner of Ducati's, I would much rather work on a Camry. These bikes can be very intimidating to work on. Skyhook suspensions, radar,multiple ride modes, etc.I absolutely agree on the rush, I can't possibly afford a 4 wheel vehicle...
Read moreI'm just scared of using a motorcycle 😂. Statistically the accidents probably aren't that much higher, but cars just make you feel safe. I'm also more attracted to cars naturally.
Same! Also my mom would kill me before the motorcycle would have a chance😂
Agree! Along with being a petrolhead I also ride. I have had the same BMW R100RT for nearly 30 years. If I go too long between rides, I begin to entertain thoughts of selling it. Once I go for a ride, those thoughts fade away. There’s nothing else like it. Leaning into a long, sweeping curve and rolling on the power when reaching the apex. It can’t be beat. Take the rider safely course and wear the safety gear. Sign your organ donor card if you don’t. Cheers!
Riding a bike makes you a better car driver.
Excellent article !!!
As both a motorcycle and car enthusiast myself, I must agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments. There is that little "something" extra that is unlocked amidst all that passion.
Riding is such a different sensory experience to driving. It's more akin to flying, albeit only a few feet off the ground. You prepare for it, moreso than one would with driving. You put your helmet on, your jacket, pants, boots, gloves. Like a pilot getting ready to fly a fighter jet. You mentally prepare yourself in the process, due to the inherent risks of decreased spacial protection, you get your game face on and steady the mind. Also much like a pilot does. It makes a driver an even better driver.
But with some risks, comes great rewards. When a motorist/motorcyclist makes the time and attitude to manage those risks, the emotional, mental, and spiritual payoff from a good ride is something unlike anything I've ever experienced in my 25 years as a car gearhead.
And for those who talk themselves out of learning to ride by saying its dangerous, I've being riding for 20 years and NEVER had a single solitary incident. I've had close calls, which were avoided because I was paying attention and anticipatd a driver doing something. When you take the time to practise, learn vehicle control, temper your emotions, and recognise potential risks, you mitigate A LOT of the potential hazards.
Of all the things I've done in my life, the one thing I have never regretted, is learning to ride a motorcycle. It gives me a joy beyond any other earthly thing. Consider that before I rode bikes, I was already very much a gearhead, owning fast turbo cars and working on them myself. So yes, motorcycles can unlock something special hidden deep within the soul of the gearhead. But it also requires one to be highly aware, mindful of surroundings, and the ability to judge risks effectively (If you wish to do it safely).
I was going to post a comment on this thread but you've pretty much said everything I had in mind and I doubt I could have put it any better. And, yes, the key to motorcycle safety is to become a skilled rider. The only people who can comprehend how...
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