Reflecting on the reasons I love motorcycling so much

It was a typical “September Morn”- a bright sunrise, cloudless skies, low humidity, a gentle breeze, and morning temps in the upper 60s. I decided to play hooky from the editor desk, and suited up for a Friday morning ride south, through central Georgia dairy and lake country. Firing up the 2025 Honda CB750 Hornet we’ve had on loan, I rode out into abundant sunshine. I rolled south through beautiful Monroe, took a pitstop in tiny Good Hope, snapped a few photos in old cotton town Bostwick, and stopped for a latte and muffin in historic Madison.

The air was crisp and cool as it filtered through my Texport riding jacket and REV’IT! Davis TF riding pants, and over the open vents in my HJC i10 helmet. I felt the small temperature changes between tree-shaded lowlands and wide open, sunlit farmlands. I smelled the pungent odors of cattle ranches and chicken farms, and got some sniffles from the early autumn ragweed already in bloom, as well as the distinct scent of freshly cut hay.

I love motorcycling.

Rob throttling around on a 2025 Triumph Tiger Sport 800.

Riding a motorcycle is a uniquely visceral experience, in every way. I’ve been riding most of my life, and I still love the thrill, every time I can throw a leg over and throttle out. The sights, the smells, the sounds, the feel, the sensation of motion, the physical manipulation of the machine beneath you, there’s really nothing quite like it. My friend Andy, a private aircraft pilot, speculated once that it might be akin to flying. And yet I don’t think so, as even in an airplane, the pilot and passengers are in an enclosed capsule, isolated from the elements, like driving an automobile, but in the sky.

On a motorcycle, the rider is not contained in a sealed compartment. We are out in the elements, wrapped around a motorized, moving two wheeled machine, hurtling headlong through time and space, completely exposed to the environment. We feel the wind, road irregularities, temperature changes, the vibrations of the mechanical monster we are riding.

Again, visceral, tactile, tangible.

Another friend once compared motorcycling to horseback riding, but even there, the comparison breaks down. I love horses, grew up with them, but a horse has a mind of its own. Should the steed decide it doesn’t want you riding it anymore, it will pull its head down to munch some grass, bolt for the barn, or simply buck you off. Ask me how I know. On a motorbike, you not only remain in control of the “iron horse”, you are both its brain and emotion, and feel as though you become one with the machine.

Many ask us, “Why do you enjoy riding motorcycles so much?“ The simple answer is, “the freedom.“ But that word, however true, is wholly inadequate to describe the total immersive experience of riding. For me, one of my favorite aspects of the ride is the manipulation of the machine. Riding a traditional motorcycle (i.e. 5-6 gears, manual clutch, petrol power, front/rear brakes, exhaust note, etc.) requires my total focus, and my total body. Working both hand and both foot controls, turning my head and looking through corners, shifting my body weight in turns, motorcycle riding is a full body endeavor.

I love this complete physical and mental engagement.

Fresh off a section of the Utah BDR, with a 2024 Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.

By early afternoon, I had decided to roll north toward home. I knew of many county byways that would give me a beautiful, scenic ride back, so I opted for those. The sun was high in the sky, the breezes were picking up a little, and the roads were practically deserted, save the occasional pickup truck or tractor. Leaning through country curves, throttling over long, hilly straights, and feeling in tune not only with the bike, but the countryside I was riding through, was actually quite spiritual for me. I rode, I sang, I prayed, and I breathed it all in deeply as I motored along on the Honda. The day just wouldn’t have been the same in an automobile, even with the windows all open or a soft top thrown back.

Another aspect of why I ride, is the community. I love the friendships motorcycling has brought me over the years, the people I’ve shared day rides and road trips with, the kindness of strangers in places far from home, and the shared passion motorcycle riders enjoy, regardless of their backgrounds or persuasions. No matter what our lifestyles or worldviews might be, two bikers can meet in a parking lot, at a gas station, or pull up by each other at a stop sign or light, and instantly feel a kinship, quickly strike up a conversation.

How beautiful is that?

Rolling the Pacific Coast Highway north of Monterey, on a 2024 Yamaha MT-09.

I pulled back into my driveway about mid afternoon, a little bit saddle-stiff (the Hornet’s stock seat isn’t the most comfortable), but fully refreshed and rejuvenated from the ride. This never gets old with me. I love to ride, love everything about the ride, and hope to keep riding until I can’t hold up a motorbike any longer. Motorcycle riding “fills my tank” so to speak, and restores my energy and enthusiasm.

That’s why I ride. Tell me why you ride, in the comments below! Let’s share some “Ride Life” together.

Rob

My Gear:
HJC i10 helmet
REV’IT! Davis TF armored riding pants
Texport armored riding jacket
Indie Ridge summer touring gloves
Cardo PACKTALK Slim
Skechers/Goodyear riding boots

*For your perfect Autumn leaf ride destination, check out our friends at Iron Horse Motorcycle Lodge in Stecoah, NC! Tell them Road Dirt sent you-