The Foray

Four Reasons Why You Need to Ride a Motorcycle

Why do people ride motorcycles? There are easier ways to get around. Cars, buses and trains will all get you to where you need to be without messing up your hair or getting bugs in your teeth. But unlike climbing Everest, there are better reasons for riding a motorcycle than “because it’s there”. You were born to be wild, and here are four reasons why:

It Relieves Stress

Let’s face it, work and family pressures can cause stress. Stress can cause health problems, so it is in your best interest to find outlets to reduce stress. When you ride a motorcycle, you are forced to concentrate on what is in front of you. Instead of thinking about your horrible boss or junior’s grades, your focus is on the road, the scenery and the peaceful solitude. Some have compared it to meditation. 

Camaraderie

Humans (yes you) need a sense of belonging. Feeling connected is important to us and riding a motorcycle connects you to a passionate group of people. Together, you’ll swap stories of the road, your adventures, your triumphs (no pun intended), and make fun of the four-wheel majority that doesn’t know what they’re missing. By riding a motorcycle, you just might meet your next best friend.

Motorcyclists are Cool

Cool is in the eye of the beholder. Some people think that supermodels are cool, and others think that astrophysicists are cool. But one thing that everyone agrees on is that motorcyclists are cool.

Imagine yourself in your minivan. You roll up to a stoplight and beside you is a guy or a girl on a motorcycle. They’ve got on a leather jacket, jeans, and boots. Yup, they look cool. You may think about who they are, where they are going and what makes them tick. You may even want to experience what they do. To society, motorcyclists are outliers with perhaps a bit of a rebel heart. Research studies tend to agree that these are the characteristics that people find cool.

You’ll Appreciate Your Surroundings Even More

The world around you has a lot to offer. Whether you live near the majestic Rockies, the mighty Pacific, or the peaceful Plains, you’ve probably been awed by the wonderment of your surroundings. As amazing as that experience is for you, it’s even better on a motorcycle. Instead of bearing witness, you are now part of the environment. You are part of the scenery. You and everything around you is one: “You’re completely in contact with it all. You’re in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.” – Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Unlike many other pursuits, you do not have to start at an early age to become proficient. You can start at any time. All you require is the will and the passion. There are many accredited motorcycle training schools across the country that can teach you to ride safely. After all, being safe is also very cool.

So, what are you waiting for?