Think of motorcycles as cars that don't even pretend to be safe. They're so inherently unstable they need a kickstand to park. They have no roofs, no doors, no fenders, no bumpers, no crush zones, no airbags, no seatbelts, and the engine hangs between your legs. Setting off fireworks in your throat might burn right through your trachea, but it won't kill you as fast as a motorcycle.
If you're on a motorcycle when it rains, you get wet. When it's hot out the only reason you don't burn in the sun is because there's a helmet on your head and you're wearing leathers and boots with steel plates in their soles.
Bikes are elemental and ultimately mechanical. There's no separation between you the rider and the contraption you're astride. Cruise over a dime and you'll feel the shudder through the handlebars. Your hind end feels the rear tire wander along the grooves cut into a freeway's cement. When a bike leans over, you lean with it. You feel everything.
Your mind can wander when you're driving a car, but a motorcycle demands all your attention. And if you let your concentration wander for a moment, well, reread the first paragraph.
Then look at these photos.
Add A Comment »
1speedbike says:
10:03 PM, 08/29/2010
The only thing more dangerous about motorcycles are the idiots in SUVs tailgating them to within 6 inches of their backsides.. It's just as bad and obnoxious when it's a car you're tailgating, but much more dangerous when it's a motorcycle..
blurglide says:
07:01 AM, 07/20/2010
"The time has come to get rid of these dangerous vehicles so we can raise the speed limits for our much safer cars"
Really? You really think the reason the speed limits aren't higher is "motorcycles"? Not a chance.
Also, I doubt they're getting MORE dangerous. What about them is any more dangerous than in the past? You might be able to say all the power they have these days. That gives you more chances to get yourself into trouble, but I'm sure the handling and braking are also improving.
What's primarily happening is cars are getting safer while motorcycles stay the same, so the difference between them grows.
damlex says:
08:38 AM, 06/22/2010
Wow, it's like Honda made only one motorcycle. No luv for the CB 919? Hornet for life!!
dfschim says:
12:30 AM, 06/19/2010
"Think of motorcycles as cars that don't even pretend to be safe. They're so inherently unstable they need a kickstand to park. They have no roofs, no doors, no fenders, no bumpers, no crush zones, no airbags, no seatbelts, and the engine hangs between your legs."
In 1997 you were 14 times more likely to be killed on a motorcycle than in a car. Now you are 37 times more likely to be killed riding one. Cars keep getting safer and motorcycles keep getting more dangerous-the only road vehicle to do so. The time has come to get rid of these dangerous vehicles so we can raise the speed limits for our much safer cars. If the government can mandate airbags for cars it can surely eliminate vehicles without seatbelts from our highways.
zarlor13 says:
08:25 AM, 06/16/2010
This spread is AWESOME. Where's the Inside Line of motorcycles?
tdiluv says:
09:34 AM, 06/13/2010
People on bikes take chances and make errors all the time just like in cars.I ride my 1971 Honda 550/4 and enjoy it like nothing else,however you won't see me in and out of traffic like a Ninja fool. Just cruzin a country road alone and no one around is the best!!
teleiosgt says:
06:22 PM, 06/12/2010
I just got back from riding 1800 miles on my F800GS. I love bikes and don't mind this article being on a car site; however, I've contacted Edmunds many times telling them what a good idea it'd be to create a sister site doing everything they do now (including IL style content) but for bikes.
I've written thousands of words for ride reports, bike reviews, etc. If Edmunds / IL wants more content, they should hire me. I know I could do better than what's above.
Lastly, I'm not sure how you decided to feature these bikes. . . . some of them aren't even offered for the US market (F800R, K1300R) although they're nice bikes. If you really wanted art you should have considered MV Augusta, Bimota, or even Guzzi.
supra4 says:
05:56 PM, 06/11/2010
This is an online magazine, therefore it should have articles and they should be well written by journalists.... The "art" (pictures) were taken from the manufacturers websites. Exactly where is the journalism here. To my detractors; "suck it"
mce63 says:
04:23 PM, 06/11/2010
FWIW: I've been riding motorcycles for decades. I have no issues with motorcycle articles in a car web. I just think even a little more thought could have been put into the article.
That and the "art" photos were mostly manufacturer PR shots. It would take only a few minutes to troll ST.N or ADVrider among many other forums for art photos from the eyes of those who love them the most.
uncanny_man says:
04:05 PM, 06/11/2010
Ah, no buells? Even in death, no respect, no respect.