Why Ride a Motorcycle?

The motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle with a steering wheel and seat for the rider. Its internal combustion engine converts reciprocating piston motion into rotary motion to drive the rear wheel, which propels it forward. The gyroscopic effect of the wheels improves stability at speed, and a steering geometry and braking system help the rider turn. The frame is mainly made of steel tubes and sheets, and the wheels are often alloy or aluminum rims with spokes, although carbon, composite, and magnesium parts are increasingly used because of their superior strength-to-weight ratio. Two hand levers operate the clutch and front brake, and one foot pedal operates the rear brake.

The practical reasons to ride a motorcycle are obvious: they are much cheaper than cars at the initial purchase price and in terms of operating costs, take up a fraction of the parking space a car needs, and are considerably quicker to get around town. They are also very exciting to drive, largely because the rider becomes an integral part of the machine. The body’s movement affects how the bike moves, and the bike’s braking, acceleration, and steering are controlled by leaning.

Non-practical reasons include the sheer thrill of it, the feeling that you are a dashing devotee of beauty and power. In fact, the pleasure of riding a motorcycle is so strong that it can make some riders blind to the risks. It is a dangerous sport; motorcycles account for disproportionately large numbers of traffic deaths in cities. But there is hope: a new generation of bikes, including the e-bike, is helping to lower crash rates; antilock braking systems will be standard on all bikes by 2024, according to a recent petition from the IIHS-HLDI; and better driver education could reverse the death rate trend.