5 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Riding Motorbikes

I got my first motorbike, a Honda CBR250RR about two months ago. I thought I’d compile this list of 5 things that non-bike riders probably don’t know about motorbikes.

1. When riding a motorbike, you get covered in bugs
   This obviously varies from place to place, in some areas you might face onslaughts of mosquitoes, flies or butterflies, whereas other parts of the world are relatively insect free. After riding 2,000 kilometers over 2 months, I have bugs spattered here and there on my riding gear, particurlarly on my helmet visor… imagine what is like for riders wearing open face helmets!
2. Motorbikes are not just noisy for the sake of it
   You might think that motorbikes are built intentionally just to annoy you in the early hours of the morning while your trying to sleep, but you would be ill-informed. Unlike the often aesthetic “phat” exhausts that have recently entered widespread car culture, the reason why motorbikes are generally loud, is two fold -
   a) because they are built for performance - smaller exhausts reduce performance
   b) so people in cars with blaring stereos can hear them!
3. Car Drivers are known as “Cagers” in motorbike circles
   The meaning is literally driving in a cage. That is, car drivers have a feeling of being in a secure haven while driving there “cage” around town, and as such sometimes neglect to consider other road users, particularly *cough* motorbikes *cough*. I suspect the second meaning is that being on a motorbike means being free with the elements, without the luxuries of windows, air conditioning and doors.
4. There is virtually a science to riding in traffic
   Driving a car is easy in comparison - you sit in your lane, you obey the road rules, and with a bit of luck you’ll never run into serious trouble. In comparison, there is virtually a science to riding a motorbike safely in traffic. Concepts such as lane positioning, watching other vehicles and avoiding oil and other hazards are integral to operating a motorbike on the road.
5. Riding a motorbike gives one a unique sense of freedom
   The best thing about motorbikes is when riding around, particularly through the bends, it gives one a great sense of freedom. The onus is on the rider to finely deliver throttle, braking and steering, with a much smaller margin for error than in a car. It’s just you, nature, and machine.

So there you have it. For motorbike enthusiasts, you might want to take a look at my pet project, Honda CBR250RR wiki, and stay upright. For car drivers, don’t forget about your fellow 2 wheeled road users!