Have you been considering buying a motorbike? It could be your first vehicle, or you might already own a car and are trying to work out if it’s worth it. Either way, there are some pros and cons of being a motorcyclist that you need to weigh up before taking the plunge. Here are a few things to consider.
Pros: You’ll Save Time
As a motorcyclist, you have the ability to be able to filter through traffic. This means you can skip to the front of queues of traffic which can save you considerable time. Of course, there are laws surrounding this and there are certain times when filtering isn’t allowed so you’d need to work out if it was worth it for you.
For example, if you want to get a motorbike to get to and from work more quickly, it would only be worth doing if you were allowed to filter through traffic on the roads on your journey.
Cons: Accidents Are More Often Fatal
Motorbiking is much safer than people think. Bikers have full vision all round and the ability to hear better as opposed to being in a car. They also tend to drive more safely and not take silly risks like lots of people can do in cars.
However, according to personal injury specialists like William W. Hurst, when a motorcyclist is involved in an accident, it’s more likely to be serious or fatal. If you plan on riding a motorcycle, it’s important that you gain plenty of experience, start in dry weather conditions at quiet times of the day until you’re confident and go from there.
Pros: You Could Save Money
Motorcycles get better gas mileage than cars, they’re also cheaper to maintain and service. Insurance and tax will also be less, so compared with driving a car you could certainly save money here. If you do a lot of journeys by yourself and don’t need to carry anything with you (such as lots of shopping bags, stuff for work etc) then using a motorbike instead of a car could be a good way to go. If you have children and a partner and do lots of family driving for example then it could be worth owning a car too, but using the bike when it’s just you to save money on fuel.
Another thing to think about is motorbikes generally have less longevity than cars. Your average car will probably do in excess of two hundred thousand miles in its life, whereas a motorbike may only do half of that.
Cons: Driving is More Challenging
When you have a car, you essentially have a little home from home. Somewhere to shelter you from the elements and provide you with a comfortable ride. On a bike, you’re completely exposed and depending on the weather, driving can be challenging. If you enjoy the comforts of your leather car seats, air conditioning and a roof over your head then switching to a motorbike might be a bit of a change!