In January 2019, UCLA published a study (in partnership with Harley-Davidson)Ā cataloging the numerous health benefits of riding a motorcycle.
ā Ā Ā Riding a motorcycle decreases stress by 28%Ā
ā Ā Ā Similar to light exercise, a 20-minute ride increases heart rates by 11% and adrenaline levels by 27%
āĀ Ā Compared to driving a car, focus enhances while riding a motorcycle (at levels comparable to meditating)
ā Ā Ā Increased alertness in participantsā brain activity while riding
As motorcyclists, weāre already aware of the advantages of opting for two wheels. We throw around phrases likeĀ throttle therapy. We stand by the claim that āfour wheels move the body ā but two wheels move the soulā. We swear thatĀ āyou never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatristās office.āĀ
Why does motorcycling decrease stress?
Why do two wheels increase your focus?
In this day and age, itās hard to do one thing at a time. Weāre often watching Netflix while scrolling through Instagram, reading an email during a meeting, or worse yet, texting while driving. But on a motorcycle, if youāre not focused on doing this one thing, it can cost you everything.Ā
When Iām on the bike, I donāt worry about my bills or stress over workplace drama. I donāt ruminate over the past or get anxious about the future. I donāt let anything distract me from the now.Ā
Iām focused.Ā Iām aware. Iām present.Ā
Psychologists refer to this state of mind as flow. Flow is when all your energy goes into one activity and everything else falls away. Itās that sensation when you become fully immersed in what youāre doing. If youāre a painter, itās when you paint. If youāre a writer, itās when you write. If youāre a motorcyclist, itās when you ride. Itās those rare moments in life when your thoughts and your actions are one, and thatās the best part of motorcycling ā losing yourself in it.
In the saddle, I tend to lose track of time.Ā For that reason, I refuse to set the clock on my bikeās instrument cluster. As I see it, I donāt want an excuse to take my mind off the road. I donāt want to feel rushed because thatās when mistakes occur. Yes, I could be late to work ā and I have been ā but itās better than being injured or dead. After all, worrying about time (or anything else) would take me out of theĀ now and we could all use moreĀ now in our lives.
Today, weāre often in two places at one time. We sit at a dinner table with our significant other and scroll through our feedsāseparately. Our bodies are physically present, but our minds are elsewhere. It seems that weāre always wanting something other than what is currently in front of us.
German Philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, believed that people go through life with an endless striving for more (I want a new car. I want a promotion. I want a better-looking spouse. etc.). Pessimistic as that sounds, he also felt that humans could find āfreedom from sufferingā during the moments when theyāre captivated by beauty.Ā
If youāve ever looked out over a great landscape (Yosemite Valley, Grand Canyon, etc.), you know the feeling.Ā If youāve ever thoroughly enjoyed a piece of music, you know the feeling. If youāve ever found yourself completely immersed in a movie, you know the feeling. Well, for me, I find that feeling in motorcycling.Ā
The dangers of motorcycling indeed deter most people from taking up the sport and I understand that outlook. For instance, mountain climbing seems like a dangerous activity to me. Youāre suspended thousands of feet above the ground with your life dangling from ropes and carabiners. However, for climbers, the rewards outweigh the risks.Ā
By concentrating on finding the next foothold or transferring weight appropriately, mountain climbers immerse themselves in the experience. In those moments, the prospects of death recede because they feel most alive. Similar to mountain climbing, injury and death are imminent threats with motorcycling, but itās that threat of danger that forces riders to focus on the task at hand.
Yes, UCLA and Harley-Davidson have the percentages and figures to link riding and mental health, but theyāre concentrating more on theĀ whatĀ and I care more about the why.Ā With Millennials valuing mental health, itās a creative, forward-thinking approach for a company thatās historically conservative.Ā
However, I wish there was more emphasis on the subjective experience as well as the objective data. After all, itās hard to measure beauty with percentages and figures. In the end, this study aims to coax potential new riders into taking the leap but they need more context than just hearing, āmotorcycles make you happier.ā Hopefully, my explanation helps illustrate the point that Harley and UCLA are trying to make, and as a result, more people take to two wheels.
