Here's Why Motorcycles Really Are Good For Mental Health

Mental health has become something of a hot topic. In the past nobody was willing to talk about it, now everyone seems to have something to say about it.

While motorcycles offer several benefits, they are certainly not the solution to your problems. Some advocates frame this in a way that can actually do more harm than good, with that in mind, it is important to start with several disclaimers. Chief among which is the fact that if you can’t afford a motorcycle in the first place, don’t go spending money you don’t have on one thinking it will help you. This will only serve to drag you down, potentially getting you into unnecessary debt. Another important consideration is riding skill, as much as it is important to get the right bike for your specific needs it is just as important to get a motorcycle you are actually able to ride. Getting the wrong bike will only add to your list of problems.

What motorcycles offer is an outlet. All that pent up frustration, grief, or whatever it may be that you are going through is let out on the road. A motorcycle is not like a car, it demands all of your attention all of the time. It is also an extension of your body, so you feel absolutely everything and it has a strange way of forcing emotion out of you whether you like it or not.

Fear Isn’t A Bad Thing

One exception to this might be those who are suffering from anxiety, but understanding how vulnerable you are on a motorcycle is largely a positive thing. Quite literally everything on the road can kill you.

This awareness of your frailty and the general fragility of life puts many things into perspective. You realise that one bad decision from a fellow motorist could spell the end for you, and this forces you to be present, in the moment, and completely focussed on the task at hand. Taking that fear, and channelling it into focus is part of the thrill. If you are not at least a little bit scared on a motorcycle then you are clearly doing something wrong. Most people who don’t wear protective gear when riding on a highway have not crashed yet, and sincerely believe they never will… you will crash.

Most of us will crash close to home at a relatively low speed, this is part of the experience, it is part of learning. We learn more once we have crashed, or fallen over. It helps us understand our limits and once we get up, we know we are not made of glass, and neither is our motorcycle – except the mirrors, they are made of glass, and they break.

Sense Of Camaraderie

Obviously, there are those who prefer the “lone wolf” approach but for the most part riding is a deeply social thing. People see you on the road and feel a commonality, they understand – at least to some extent – why you ride.

There are thousands of riding groups around the world who embrace this social aspect of motorcycling, which is a huge benefit to those who suffer from loneliness. With events taking place almost all the time, we are often spoiled for choice. One important word of caution is to not overdo it. There will always be a temptation to ride further, go to more events, or spend more than we should on activities we enjoy. This will once again only serve to drag you down, wear you out, and quite possibly get you into debt.

Freedom

This has an almost universal appeal. From those who like solitude to those who love being around others, this is where every rider converges. It might be a cliche, but it still rings true: riding a motorcycle is an expression of freedom.

The feeling of being out on the open road, in most cases alone and cut off from the rest of the world is truly incredible. Being alone with your thoughts is a much needed activity that is getting harder and harder to do, with all the chatter of social media and constant bombardment of information – this site notwithstanding – it is almost impossible to find a sacred space. A motorcycle helmet is the best kind of sacred space. Some will advocate that there is nothing better than an intercom and the ability to chat with riding buddies, but there is a time and place for that, and there is a time to be alone too.

Once again, too much “freedom” can be a bad thing. It won’t take you long to find riders blasting past you on the highway at twice the limit. Speed is addictive, so much so that we can easily forget how fast we are going on a motorcycle. It is important to temper this kind of enthusiasm, and it isn’t so much about going over the limit as it is taking into consideration the well-being of other road users. Doing 200km/h on a completely deserted stretch of road is one thing, doing that kind of speed while weaving between cars is another thing entirely. We owe it to other road users to express our freedom in a way that does not affect or endanger them.

To some, a motorcycle is a toy. To others, a way of life. No matter where you fall on that particular sliding scale, a motorcycle will never be the solution to your problems, but riding is a fantastic outlet that can help you work through whatever you might be going through.