is motocycling better than driving a car?

Answer 1

only times it wouldnt be better than in a car: snow, ice, and severe weather. severe thunderstorms can unleash hail that depending on how strong the storm is, drop hail the size of softball's. dime sized hail on a scoot will severely beat the hell out of u before u can make it to the nearest overpass.
rain suits...the best way to stay dry in the rain. harley davidson makes a superb rain suit. i've been caught in the rain more than once, and stayed bone dry, even when the storm turned into a complete downpour...rain so hard i simply couldnt see thru my helmet sheild, but was completely dry. downside of it was, in the summer time, it gets pretty hot.
there's also heated gear that is for sale that will allow u to ride in comfort even when the thermometer is in the teens.
we can save on alot of things cager's dont. fuel, tolls, and insurance costs being 3 of them. no, u cant haul much on them, and some bikes dont have much cargo area, but u see the road from an entirely different perspective. the sights, sounds, and smells are different. on a bike, u'll run into thermals; short changes in air temps, that u'll never notice from being in a cage.
the biggest hazard for a bike: inattentive cagers. they are our #1 enemy. deer come in a close 2nd.
to ride a motorcycle on a street infested with inattentative cell phone carrying cagers, ya need to have good situational awarness, good reflexes, skills, and balls made of brass wouldnt hurt.
if the roads are dry in the winter, i'll still ride. i wont ride if the roads are snow covered, but i'll continue to ride if i happen to run into a rain shower....that's what a rain suit is for.

Answer 2

It matters, if it's in the summer or any other dry day, then it would be a good idea to go out and feel the breeze as you drive down the road, plus you get to save gas. The other factor is that if you get in an accident, you will have a higher chance of breaking a part of your body, having serious damage, or even death. You don't have to worry that much, but still take caution. A car on the other hand can take you places very safe, no matter what as it is equipped with seat belts, airbags, etc. Even though a car uses a lot of gas that doesn't mean all cars are gas guzzlers or use a great amount of gas, as other cars can get good gas millage at a very reliable rate. I'd choose the car and enjoy my decision, but if your a fan or motorcycles, I'd then try a motorcycle instead.

Answer 3

Good question -
Moderate distance , weather above freezing and no fog or snow - no question - bike is much better.
Long distance (over 300 miles), fog, below zero, strong wind or ice/snow - take the car.
Cost wise - a large motorcycle can cost as much as a car to run.
You may get more miles per gallon (only just - there are some very economic cars out there), but tyres at £100 a time, lasting for only a few 1000 miles will soon eat up the difference.
I have both;
Fuel - car 35-40mpg, bike 45-50mph
Insurance - about the same (47 year old, clean license, etc.)
Tyres - car - life >20,000 miles £35 each, bike life 8,000 miles (I ride carefully, most bikers get 3000 miles) £100 each.

It comes down to what you enjoy.

If you want economic bike - buy a Honda C90, the worlds most popular bike, max speed 50mph (downhill with wind behind).

Answer 4

Depends on the type and displacement of the car and motorcycle. A Ford Escort can easily get 38 mpg with a standard trans. However, a large displacement motorcycle may not get that much mileage, but can get better mileage then a car from the 70's.

My Honda Reflex gets between 60-70 mpg, varying on speed of the bike. My Escort can get between 36-40 mpg again speed is the variable.

Of course, safety is a concern. If I have an accident with the Escort, I will remain inside the vehicle with less chance of injury. However, if I have an accident on the bike, there is a greater possibility of injury or death.

It's really apples and oranges and how much risk is acceptable to you.

Answer 5

Yeah if everythings perfect. But if you look at the truth behind it. It's 30 degrees outside (not right now but in the Summer!!), your dressed up in a make-shift spacesuit, get out of it and 3 litres of sweat fall out the bottom, one mistake and you die!!!

If things are perfect than a bike is great fun, but life isn't perfect. If you want the best of both worlds get an Ariel Atom Turbo. It's light enough to drive on a bike license, will walk all over any bike or the road or track, doesn't need a spacesuit in case you fall out, stands up and never falls over, is basically as open as a bike all but you sit in the seat rather than on it. Costs a little more but not much, and offers the best of both worlds. Oh, except it doesn't have a roof so when it rains you still get wet!!!

Answer 6

All of my friends just bought motorcycles. Gixxers and a zixxer. Im probably gonna buy the zx9r. It is probably one of the most dangerous things possible to do unless you can afford to do even crazier stuff :)

We live in Georgia, and have the worst drivers in the world. I am not going to be doing any riding at night.

Ignorant people claim they don't see motorcycles. Alot of wrecks occur where a car is going to make a left, and a bike is coming head on, and they just pull right into it.

For the evermost love of god, i do not know how you cant "see" a motorcycle. If there is an object in the road, I SEE IT. If it is a plastic bag or piece of paper, I STILL SEE IT.

These patheticly ignorant old people need to be pulled from the road, but they aren't the only problem. It is always going to be dangerous to ride a bike.

So to answer your question, for most people no, like that other guy said you have to factor your life into the gas saving equation.

Answer 7

Well my guy switched over and he rides rain or shine.
He figures he saves on parking, tolls and gasoline,
approximately 500 dollars a month.
Car takes about $620 a month and
the motorcycle about $140 dollars a month.
This is based on a 20 day work month.
You can also spilt traffic and that saves you time from sitting around waiting for an accident to clear.
But you have to be totally aware of your surroundings constantly and drive at a safe speed always.

Answer 8

Depends - but I'll tell you when riding a bike ISN'T better...when you have an accident!

It won't be YOU - it'll be some dick that pulls out on you because they didn't look properly. In an ideal world, everyone who goes for a driving test should go for the bike test too. It doesn't half make you LOOK then LOOK AGAIN!

Flying through the air like an epileptic starfish ain't funny!

You can always tell a happy biker from the amount of bugs on his teeth - so ask everyone you see with black bits in their grin!!

Answer 9

It's the most dangerous thing you can drive on the roads. But it's lots of fun. Trade-off time.

You can be as careful as you like but that doesn't change the fact you're putting yourself in danger on the roads. For example, while driving over a long bridge, or exposed road, a sidewind can easily blow you into the other lane of traffic. If another car is zooming past at this moment, you could easily lose a leg or two.

Answer 10

If you have to choose between one or the other. Get a car, Im still driving my R1 in december, In Iowa. It gets 60-65 mpg. but its more powerful, more fun, and looks a Hell of alot cooler than a car. But you have to have something to drive when its 3degrees outside or theres snow.. and if you ever need to haul a TV.