Everyone knows that riding a motorcycle is a liberating and a life-changing experience. What some people don’t realize is owning a motorcycle also brings you some extra, lesser-known perks, such as:
1. A thicker wallet.
On average, riding a motorcycle saves you 58% on gas money as opposed to driving a car. A typical mid-sized car has a gas mileage of 21 miles per gallon while an average motorcycle gets 50 miles per gallon. With gasoline at $4 per gallon, it would cost $190.47 to drive 1,000 miles in a car. On a motorcycle, you would pay only $80 per 1,000 miles. That’s a savings of $110.47. After riding 10,000 miles on a motorcycle, you would save slightly over $1,100.
2. A sense of belonging.
Any biker would tell you that the minute you get your first motorcycle, you are automatically enrolled into an unofficial club. Don’t worry, you don’t need to pay dues or attend any meetings. Your only obligation is to ride hard or go home. In the biker community, there is a sense of brotherhood – everyone has each other’s back. The club’s “secret handshake” is a lowered hand wave whenever you pass another biker on the road.
3. A more fulfilling social life.
Contrary to popular belief, the biker community is very diverse. It is not unusual to spot a wealthy lawyer sporting a leather jacket and chaps at a rally, a short 110-pound woman riding a hog, or an 80-year-old man sporting a Harley-Davidson tattoo. It is possible for anyone to find a like-minded friend or two in the biker community. It is always nice to be able to call up a fellow biker and say, “Hey, wanna ride today?” Rallies and local biker get-togethers are great ways to meet new people.
4. A better understanding of the road.
You could drive down the same road every day your entire life and still be amazed by all its bumps and grooves after riding on it for the first time. As opposed to driving a car, riding a motorcycle heightens your senses and involuntarily makes you more aware of the road and your surroundings. The new level of attentiveness you acquire from riding could improve your driving skills.
5. A clear conscience.
Motorcycles don’t run air conditioners or clog up traffic. While motorcycles emit carbon monoxide, they produce very little carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas that poses a very serious threat to the climate. When global warming is concerned, motorcycles are far more efficient than cars are. Also, motorcycles have better gas mileage (as addressed in #1). By riding instead of driving, your carbon footprint reduces in size and, as a result, you help protect the environment.
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