You just landed a great new job, but it means you need to move across country. It’s worth it though. You’re excited about the move. You’ve packed up all your belongings. You’ve hired movers to transition those things to your new home. All that’s left is your motorcycle. What do you do with your bike?
You know the amazing feeling of the wind rushing over you as you careen down city streets on your motorcycle. There is something energizing about controlling all that power between your legs. In fact, you might be tempted to ride your motorcycle across country to your new home.
While the thrill of the road may be tempting, you won’t want to jump to any rash decisions. You’re going to want to weigh out the pros and cons of riding across country before making your decision.
First, let’s look at the positives:
Dr. Pamela Reilly is a naturopathic doctor who has published works on the benefits of motorcycle riding. In her article “6 Surprising Benefits of Motorcycle Riding” available on the CASBO website, she cites such advantages as:
- Stronger Knees and Thighs
- Improved Core Strength
- Increased Insulin Sensitivity
- Increased Calorie Burning
- Improved Neck Strength
- Better Mental Outlook
Indeed, Dr. Reilly is not alone in her praise of the positive attributes of riding motorcycles.
Decrease Stress
According to the article “The 7 Surprising Health Benefits of Motorcycle Riding” found on the website BrapWrap.com, a study funded by Harley-Davidson America deduced that riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes resulted in a 28% decrease in cortisol, which is known to be a biomarker that indicates stress. The study also found that participants’ heart rates increased by 11% while riding and adrenaline levels went up by 27% - both indicators that you are engaged in healthy light exercise.
But the positives of 20 minutes of riding may not carry through 8-10 hours a day on your bike traveling cross country. At some point the wear and tear of the journey starts to take its toll on your body.
What’s the Temperature?
According to rider and writer Sanna Boman’s Roadtrippers Magazine article “Riding cross-country on a motorcycle is miserable – and the most amazing thing ever”, while the thought of riding cross country may have been romanticized in your mind, the reality may not be as enjoyable as you imagined.
Think for a moment about Boman’s trek through such hot spots as Nevada and Arizona. She describes the living hell that is being stuck in a full-face helmet and full body protective gear when the temperature outside is 108° F. Those kinds of temperatures aren’t just unenjoyable to suffer through, they can be deadly.
According to the Mayo Clinic, heat stroke happens when the human body overheats due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures or intense physical exertion. Heat stroke can occur when a person’s body temperature reaches 104° F or higher. According to Harvard Health, heat stroke can require hospitalization. In fact, the effects of heat stroke on body organs can take months to recover from. This doesn’t include the effects on the central nervous system.
As noted by WebMD, signs that the heat is getting to you can include heat cramps, throbbing headache, rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, confusion, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. Heat stroke can be fatal, so please take the threat seriously.
Heat from a blazing sun isn’t the only thing to worry about on a bike. Per the “Study of Vibration and its Effect on Health of the Motorcycle Rider” as published by the Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences, prolonged riding can cause numbness and stiffness in the fingers, various lower back disorders, and pain and stiffness in the shoulders.
Road Hazards
In the article “What are the most common road hazards for Motorcyclists” authored by the Arnold Law Firm and hosted on the firm’s website Justice4You.com, it lays out the seven most common road hazards for riders:
- Railroad Crossing
- Edge Breaks Between Lanes
- Expansion Joints/Bridge Joints
- Gravel
- Wet Surfaces
- Road Debris
- Animals
On a cross country journey, you are likely to encounter most or all of these hazards. You can get stuck on the tracks trying to cross the railroad and get thrown from you bike. Gravel and wet surfaces are also key ingredients to dumping your ride. Road debris and animals in the road can be hard to avoid – especially at cross country speeds. Uneven heights of lanes can trip a rider up as well.
Know the Dangers
MotorBiscuit.com offers its own list of “10 Biggest Dangers to Motorcyclists on the Road”. In the article, journalist Collin Woodard outlines the biggest dangers bikers face on the road:
- Oncoming Traffic
- Cars Waiting to Turn
- Panic Stops
- Gravel on the Road
- Tight Corner at High Speeds
- Car Doors Being Opened into Traffic
- Cars Changing Lanes
- Drivers Behind You
- Inclement Weather
- Drinking and Riding
Most of these hazards occur no matter where you are located, but they certainly can be amplified on a cross country journey. If you are traveling at highway speeds, it increases the danger.
Shipping Options
Motorcycle riding should be fun. It shouldn’t be torture. Riding across country on your motorcycle might just take the fun out of riding. You are at high risk for dangers and the ride won’t be easy on your body either. You may want to consider shipping your motorcycle with a professional transportation specialist.
Transportation companies have the expertise to come up with the ideal shipping mode for your budget.
Professional motorcycle shippers offer a number of different options for safely transporting your bike:
- Open Air Transport
- Enclosed Transport
- Door to Door Transport
- Terminal to Terminal Transport
- Crated Transport
Experienced shippers use only licensed, bonded, and insured carriers. In addition, they offer real-time satellite tracking so you can have maximum peace of mind while your motorcycle is making its way across country.
Nobody is saying you shouldn’t enjoy riding your motorcycle. It’s a wonderful pastime. It can even be a great way to get to work and around town. But it might not be ideal to drive your motorcycle across country.
Weigh the pros and cons and if it makes sense to ship your bike, consider using experts in motorcycle shipping.
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