The Joys of Riding a Motorcycle

A motorcycle is a motorised form of human-powered transport. At the very simplest, it has an engine, two wheels, steering and a place to sit (on top). Sharing engineering and manufacturing skills that had been fine-tuned during wartime, bikes quickly ramped up in speed and acceleration, offering new levels of excitement and thrill. Factory workers who might have previously only travelled to work by train could now afford to go out for weekend jaunts and holidays by bike, and if they had a family, simply bolt on a sidecar to allow them to come along too.

There are practical reasons for riding a motorcycle: they’re cheaper to buy, take up a fraction of the space that a car does and much more efficient to run on petrol. But there are also non-practical reasons to ride one – it’s a lot more fun than driving your average car! The experience of a rider is far more dynamic and involving than the experience of a driver – the body movements of the rider are directly transferred to the vehicle’s handling and performance. The feel of the sun-warmed leather on your hands, the glint of chrome in the sunlight and the sight of the road ahead through the narrow visor of a helmet all add to this sense of elation and freedom that’s so unique to motorcycling.

Always conduct a quick safety inspection before every ride to make sure that several basic functions are operating correctly – check the horn, adjust the mirrors and give the brakes a test. Be aware that motorcycles are much harder to see than cars and use extra caution when navigating busy intersections or around large trucks. Obey the speed limit and don’t drink and drive, as this can lead to fatal crashes.