When you are ready to hit the open road, you can do so either by driving a car, truck, SUV, or another motor vehicle, or instead, opt to ride around town and down the highway on a motorcycle.
If you are trying to decide if cars are better than motorcycles or vice versa, here are some pros and cons for each you should keep in mind!
10 Reasons Cars are Better
When comparing cars to motorcycles, here are 10 reasons why cars ultimately win out.
1. More Variety
Whether you want a small car to drive back and forth to work, a luxury sedan to drive to a fancy restaurant for dinner, or perhaps a sports car to cruise down the highway, cars offer you a wide variety of makes and models from which to choose.
2. More Protection in Accidents
Even if you are a careful driver, that doesn’t mean the other folks on the road are doing their part to be safe behind the wheel. Should you be in an accident while driving a car, chances are you will come away with far fewer injuries than if you were riding a motorcycle.
3. More Room
Even in the smallest of cars, you’ll still have enough room to haul groceries, take your kids to school, or have some friends join you for an outing. If you’re riding a motorcycle, you’ll only have room for one other person at best.
4. Protection from the Elements
When it’s raining, snowing, or very cold outside, riding around in a car can protect you from the elements, all the while letting you enjoy those heated seats.
5. Less Expensive Insurance
If you own a motorcycle, your insurance company will likely charge you very high premiums, especially if you are a younger rider. Unfortunately, your insurer expects you to be involved in an accident at some point.
6. Easier to Drive
Since a car has four wheels and a motorcycle only two, a car is much more stable and thus easier to drive, especially at higher speeds. As you get older, you may find this to be very important.
7. Less Maintenance
As cars have evolved, they have become very durable and reliable. Because of this, most new cars only require regular oil changes, tire rotations, and other routine maintenance to keep them going strong for many years.
8. Give You Room to Grow
If you want to start a family, it’s going to be hard to fit your spouse and the kids on your motorcycle. By getting a car, you’ll have plenty of room for an expanding family.
9. You Already Know How to Drive a Car
If you buy a motorcycle, you’ll have to take a training course to teach you how to ride it safely. Since you already know how to drive a car, it makes more sense to stick with an automobile.
10. More Privacy
When you’re driving a car, you will have plenty of privacy once you shut your doors. Once inside, you can listen to music, think about the day ahead, or just enjoy the drive.
10 Reasons Motorcycles are Better
Now that you’re convinced cars are better than motorcycles, we’ll confuse you more by giving you 10 reasons why motorcycles are better than cars.
1. Less Expensive
To buy a new car today, you can expect to pay usually at least $20,000. However, a new motorcycle will usually cost less than $10,000.
2. More Maneuverability
When you’re on a motorcycle, you can have a great deal of maneuverability, which may help you avoid a potentially serious accident.
3. Easy to Work On
Should your motorcycle need some maintenance, it should be pretty easy to work on. Since the engine and other parts are easy to access, chances are you can make many repairs yourself, saving you time and money.
4. You Look Cool
Let’s face it, anyone who rides a motorcycle has an aura of cool about them. If you loved Fonzie or other motorcycle-riding heroes, put on your leather jacket and hop on your motorcycle.
5. Easier to Park
When you’re trying to find a parking space for a motorcycle, it’s often much easier than when trying to park a car. In fact, some cities have parking lots specifically for motorcycles.
6. You’ll Make New Friends
Once you become a motorcycle rider, you’ll be joining a close-knit fraternity that will let you make many new friends along the way. From the Sturgis rally to local groups, you’ll find many new friends.
7. Better Fuel Efficiency
If you don’t want to spend money at the gas pump, a motorcycle beats a car every time. While even the most fuel-efficient cars get 30-40 miles per gallon, a motorcycle can double that at least.
8. You’ll Burn Calories
Yes, you’ll burn calories riding a motorcycle, since you’ll need to work to maintain its balance, guide it through turns, and much more.
9. Retain Their Value
Once you buy a new car and drive it off the dealer’s lot, the depreciation begins and rapidly accelerates. Thus, after only a few years, you’re left with a vehicle that is worth nowhere near what you originally paid.
However, when you buy a new motorcycle, it will often retain the majority of its value, and may actually increase in value if it is well-maintained. If you decide at some point to sell your motorcycle, you’ll get more money for it than you probably would for a car.
10. Showcases Your Personality
Finally, owning a motorcycle gives you the chance to show off your personality by customizing your bike any way you like. In case you haven’t noticed, most of today’s cars all look basically the same.
However, once you own a motorcycle, you can customize it with chrome and other accessories. As a final touch, you can also get a customized helmet and clothing to wear while riding, which will help you stand out even more from the crowd while cruising down the highway.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Cars Safer Than Motorcycles?
This is a tough question to answer. On the one hand, studies have shown that when a car and motorcycle are involved in an accident, the motorcyclist is 26 times more likely to be seriously injured than the car’s driver.
However, motorcyclists also have greater maneuverability, a better field of vision, and fewer distractions while riding, meaning you may be able to avoid an accident altogether.
Do Motorcycles Last Longer Than Cars?
Yes, most motorcycles do last as long as cars, and in many cases much longer. However, both cars and motorcycles require regular maintenance, care, and the occasional repair now and then.
Because motorcycles are generally easier to work on and have far fewer parts that can break down, this is the main reason for their longevity.
Conclusion
Now that you’re aware of the various pros and cons of owning cars and motorcycles, the choice is yours as to which one you select. In reality, who says it has to be an either-or decision?
After all, even if you have a family that requires a car to get to school, soccer matches, and other places, you can still own a fantastic motorcycle.
By deciding to choose the best of both worlds, you can grab your leather jacket, give a thumbs-up to your spouse and kids, and hit the highway on a bike that’s customized, fuel-efficient, and shows off your personality each and every time you rev it up and leave your driveway.
