7 MIN READ
9 Reasons to start riding a motorcycle
The most beautiful adventure on 2 wheels awaits you.
With the new year in sight, new resolutions are being made. What if the resolution for the new year is that we choose to start riding a motorcycle? Or even better, try to convince someone lese to start riding, this way you can invite your best friends for a motorcycle ride. RAD gives 9 good reasons to buy a motorcycle and start riding.
Riding a motorcycle is fun and adventurous
To cut to the chase, riding is blissful! It may sound a bit simplistic, but purchasing my 1st motorcycle has brought me countless joy over the past years. There is so much to experience while riding a motorcycle, the options are still endless. There are different types of motorcycles, different riding styles, countless routes to ride, and many adventures to go on.
Riding a motorcycle is an outlet that always brings a smile to my face. Have you had a miserable day, too much stress at work, yet another setback or do you need a moment for yourself? While riding, you can put all this aside and focus on the road ahead. It is freedom, fun, an outlet, it is antidepressants that do not come in the shape of pills and it provides the necessary relaxation. Just you and your trusty steed conquering the elements. You will notice that your worries are blown away. It brings you closer to nature, you feel the resistance the wind , how the sun can warm you up or how the cold tries to find its way through your motorcycle clothing. All while enjoying the freedom to choose or carve your own path where there was none before. It is a road to adventure while you briefly escape everything that drains your energy.
A motorcycle is efficient and economical
Those who want to use their time efficiently can benefit from a motorcycle. Thanks to the increased manoeuvrability, you can easily weave through traffic jams or the hustle and bustle of big cities, saving you commute time each day. You can easily park a motorcycle and with high petrol prices, it’s also a fun way to save money. After all, you can get more kilometres out of a litre of petrol. Riding a motorcycle is less harmfull to the environment than a car and if it fits within your budget, you can even consider purchasing an electric motorcycle. Even the cost of motorcycle insurance, registration, and road tax is lower than what you would pay for a car. You can even buy a nice second-hand motorcycle for a fraction of the price of a car. If you’re a bit handy, you can maintenance the motorcycle yourself, as you can find almost everything you need to do this on Youtube nowadays.
You are part of a large community
If there’s one thing that motorcyclists are known for, it’s the strong sense of community that we share. You can already notice this when you go for a ride alone and another rider crosses your path and spontaneously gives you the two finger salute.
The Motorcycle Salute
Where the origin of the motorcycle salute lies, is somewhat vague. This would have its origin in the middle ages when knights would cross each other on horseback on the road. By sticking their unarmed hand in the air, they make it clear that they have good intentions and pose no threat. In the early days of motorcycling, salutations were used to grant each other recognition, at that time there were not as many motorcycles on the road as there are now. As it was taught to me by my older brother, it is our way of wishing other riders a safe trip without prejudice. Whoever you are, wherever you come from. If you ride a motorcycle, you’re one of us and we hope you stay safe.
Shared passion
We all share the same passion for motorcycles which makes it easy to talk about bikes, adventures, routes and destinations. We are part of the motorcycling culture and its rich history. This social aspect is appealing and the feeling that we are part of something larger gives us a sense of belonging and some extra confidence. The confidence that is needed to start your motorcycle and ride out into the world.
You are exploring nature
You don’t buy a motorcycle just to ride on the freeway. You buy a motorcycle to explore and discover new routes. It’s a way to make your commute fun and different. Leave a bit earlier and look for a route that takes you through beautiful landscapes. This way, we find beauty in nature that we didn’t know was so close to home. You get to be outside in nature and enjoy the fresh air. There’s a whole world to discover at your own pace and in your own way. Look for beautiful places and find the best route to these spots. Set off without a destination and let yourself be surprised by what the landscape has to offer. You have access to a new kind of freedom. Where the road ends for cars, the road continues for us! This is freedom. You, your motorcycle, and your thoughts, free to go wherever you want.
You learn to look further ahead
When we go motorcycling, we are more vulnerable than a car driver. They are our main fellow road users and the most important factors we need to consider when we go for a ride. Anyone equipped with motorcycle clothing will feel safer, but we’re safest when we can anticipate possible danger. As a rider, it is important to be visible and to look as far ahead as possible in traffic. This way we spot danger and we can react in time. Control over your motorcycle and good riding skills are essential. When filtering through traffic, look far ahead, watch the indicators and front wheels of cars to assess who wants to change lanes and limit your speed, to control reaction time and distance. This will also help you navigate traffic when you’re not riding a motorcycle.
You get a healthy dose of adrenaline
The sensation of speed we experience on a motorcycle is greater than what we experience while driving a car. The same speed can feel more intense due to the elements and our seating position that places us more forward and closer to the ground. On top of that, you can obtain more speed with a small budget compared to a car. When I ride my motorcycle to work in the morning, I am as awake after the ride as I would be after a good cup of coffee. Then you should also know that I am not a speed demon and ride at normal speed. A study by the American university UCLA, sponsored by Harley-Davidson, already concluded that motorcycling reduces stress and has a positive impact on our mental and physical wellbeing. The statement “My bike is my therapist” certainly applies in this sense. Do you want to feel more happiness? Then you will certainly experience this when riding a motorcycle.
Motorcycles are beautiful machines that make our hearts beat faster. Their accessibility to speed and adventure is fun and infectious. If you want to fully experience this and feel the adrenaline pumping in your body, we recommend doing this on a closed circuit. The public road is not suitable for finding out what the top speed of your motorcycle is and there are too many factors that you can’t control on public roads.
You look good in motorcycle clothing
As a rider, you come across as badass and deserve to be seen. Not only are you wearing an outfit with all kinds of protectors, but you essentially wear some sort of modern armor while riding multiple horses. The image of riders as outlaw rebels is becoming somewhat outdated these years. If you’ve been riding a motorcycle for a while, you’ll know that most riders are friendly and love nothing more than talk about their favorite activity. You will always stand out when you arrive at your destination and leave a first impression together with your motorcycle. You are an independent individual who is not afraid to venture out alone and prove that not every rider mindlessly opens the throttle. We are so much more than that, and don’t we look good in our motorcycle suit?!
Road trips
Riding alone is fun, but riding together with your very best friends? That’s blissful! Gather your friends or make some new ones and head out together. Experience unforgettable adventures, traverse beautiful landscapes, and push your boundaries together. If there’s a defect or someone gets into trouble, you have enough people to solve everything and continue riding. Because honestly, which group of friends wouldn’t want to experience an adventure that you can look back on with a smile?
Your free RAD gift voucher worth € 25
If you come to one of our stores within 3 months of obtaining your motorcycle license and show your new license at the checkout, you will receive a free gift voucher worth € 25 from us. Our way of welcoming new motorcyclists! You can use this voucher to expand your motorcycle outfit or to purchase accessories and maintenance products.
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Nathan is our webshop employee who is ready with advice and assistance to help customers. When he is not answering customer questions, he writes helpful texts and blogs for the RAD site.