Motorcycles – Pure, Unadulterated Fun
Motorcycles offer something that cars just can’t: pure, unadulterated fun. And the experience is more dynamic and involving than simply driving a car, with the rider becoming part of the machine: their body movements affect steering, braking and acceleration.
After the end of World War II, in America and Europe, lower costs and engineering advances meant that many factory workers could afford to buy their own bike and enjoy the freedom and exhilaration of cruising the open road. Bike clubs and brotherhoods began to thrive, as did a popular culture of superstitions and lore surrounding the bikes themselves.
These days, a new motorcycle is an amazingly well-developed and sophisticated machine that’s able to achieve incredible levels of performance for the money. Even small-displacement models like the Honda 125cc Insight or Yamaha YZF-R3 that can be ridden on a learner’s permit have exploded in popularity because they are cheap to buy, run and maintain, yet capable of delivering exhilarating acceleration and cornering ability rivalling cars.
But for all their excitement, there’s another side to motorcycling that’s equally as important – practicality. These small, light-weight vehicles are far more economical to operate than cars, taking up a fraction of the space, and using less fuel. And they can be ridden in a far wider range of conditions than a car, making them an excellent choice for commuters or as a fun way to get around on holiday. In fact, in many countries, motorcycles are used to take the strain off overcrowded roads and rail infrastructure, as well as by aid organizations such as Doctors without Borders that need to reach remote communities with the minimum of fuss.