While we all wish we could look as cool as Tom Cruise
on a Kawasaki H2 in Top Gun: Maverick, motorcycles aren’t always the most practical means of transportation. With motorcycle season in full swing, Jerry
, the car ownership super app
, checks out the pros and cons of owning
a motorcycle vs. car. Why motorcycles are awesome
When it comes to purchasing a motorcycle vs. car, it’s no secret that motorcycles are much cheaper. The average cost of a bike ranges between $5,000 and $10,000. That’s much less than the base trim on most vans, cars, and trucks.
Motorcycles also tend to have a better retained resale value. This is due in part to having fewer miles on the bike. Brands with the most value include BMW
, Harley-Davidson, and Triumph, as well as styles like sports, cruiser, and dual-sports models. “Whether you are in the motorcycle club as part of a mid-life crisis or a long-term commitment, your investment is likely to retain greater value than any car, for the moment you decide to sell or upgrade,” HotCars
notes. When it comes to motorcycles vs. cars and the environment, motorcycles also have a lower environmental impact. Depending on the type of gas you use, a motorcycle can get 35-40 miles per gallon.
Did you know motorbikes are much easier to fix? Due to their basic composition, motorcycles can be easily maintained and repaired. It’s easier than ever for mechanics to make chain adjustments or do an oil change since most of the bike’s parts are easy to access.
Don’t have much space in your garage? Since motorcycles feature a skinny design, they give owners extra space to store household items or take up a new hobby. Not to mention, you’ll have no problem snagging the closest parking space to Trader Joe’s, as motorcycle spots are typically in prime locations.
Leave your stress behind and find more of your kind. The motorcycle community is a great reason to get that bike you’ve always wanted. “From riding with buddies, to joining a group of riders that all have the same type of bike, the opportunities to connect with people over motorcycles is endless,” HotCars tells us.
As social beings, group interaction and time spent outdoors can have a positive influence on our mental health. Physically, riding your bike can produce core strength, stronger knees and thighs, neck strength, and burn some calories in the process.
MORE: When and Why Motorcycles Were Invented
Safety concerns on the road
Safety is one of the biggest buyer concerns of motorcycles and is well-warranted. Motorcycles come in at #12 out of the 25 most common causes of death.
“According to Dan Dan the Fireman, common accidents that motorcyclists cause include panic braking, lack of lights and high-visibility gear, and failure to see objects in their path,” MotorBiscuit
tells us. Bikes can also lose traction if they encounter debris, oil, or gravel on the road. Riders also need to be careful turning left or merging in front of drivers. It’s also important to look out for any car doors opening in their path, which can often be sudden and unexpected.
Unfortunately, per every mile driven, riders are 35 times more likely to have a fatal accident than car drivers. And according to MotorBiscuit, “98 percent of multi-vehicle collisions and 96 percent of single-vehicle accidents result in injury to a motorcyclist.”
Other cons of owning a motorcycle
Because motorbikes lack safety features and protection you’d get from a car, insurance companies dread them. “Per policy, claim rates well exceed that of cars, meaning the risk on such a policy remains high and therefore so does the cost to get insurance,” HotCars reports.
With a motorcycle, you really need to plan for the weather. It’s not easy to drive a motorcycle on slick, wet roads as two wheels have a trickier center of balance than four. According to HotCars, “Wind has been known to blow bikers onto gravel shoulders, causing them to overcorrect and lose control, flipping repeatedly.”
While some bikes do have a sidecar, it’s pretty hard for the whole family to join in on the fun. It’s not safe for children and pets to ride along anyway, so you’ll need a car anyways to transport the whole fambam.
Motorcycles also aren’t the most practical transport when it comes to carrying capacity. Though riders can take advantage of small trunks and saddlebags, they’ll never be able to fit a large cooler, camping gear, or a massive Target run on the back of their bike.
Another drawback you may not have considered is having to wait longer at traffic lights. Traffic lights are either timed or triggered. “While timed lights are easy to understand, an induction-loop style of light changes when a coiled wire in the pavement, where a vehicle pulls up to, squishes together, completing the circuit,” HotCars notes.
Typically, the squish happens when a vehicle weighs over 800 pounds, which is more than what most motorcycles weigh. So…you’ll be stuck sitting at the light until a car comes to save the day.
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