Harleys, Indians, Yamahas, Ducatis, Hondas and Kawasakis. Enfields, BMWs and Suzukis. Motorcycles are everywhere: the United Kingdom, Japan, Europe, America. Much like cars, motorcycles have been a beloved form of transportation for a very long time. In fact, motorcycles manufacturers beat automakers to the market with the first motorcycle, the Daimler Reitwagen, being built in 1885. In comparison, the first car, the Benz Patent Motor Car, model no. 1, was patented in 1886. Still, there are an estimated 1.4 billion cars in the entire world, which is way more than the estimated 200 million motorcycles. Despite this, I firmly believe that motorcycles are superior to cars for a multitude of reasons.

1 – Cheaper
Insurance and gas are expensive for both cars and motorcycles. Motorcycles are often cheaper than buying and maintaining a car. Car insurance can be quite costly, especially for first time car owners, so if you want to avoid high insurance prices a motorcycle may be the way to go. In fact, average insurance prices on a motorcycle are less than a half than the average price for a car. Next, you have the gas. Motorcycles typically get around 40-60 mpg, with the most efficient getting up to the mid 80s. Even one of the most fuel-efficient cars, the 2021 Honda Insight, only gets around 40-60 mpg.

2 – Motorcycles retain value
Used motorcycles generally retain a lot of their value. You can usually buy a newer used motorcycle for 4,000 to 10,000 dollars and then sell it for much the same price. Some models even see a resurgence in popularity and you can sell them for more than you bought them for. Harley’s can even retain over 80 percent of their purchase price because they are so popular.

3 – Ease of repairs
Motorcycles are simpler, smaller, and cheaper to maintain than cars. The less parts you have means the less you have to replace if they break. There are also less parts that make up the drivetrain, or what makes the move, than in a car. It is because of this that motorcycles tend to be cheaper to maintain; not as many parts need to be replaced after oh-so many miles.

4 – Easy parking
With a motorcycle you will never have to worry about parking spaces ever again. In most standard parking spaces, you can usually fit two motorcycles. Motorcycles will even fit into those parking spaces that car drivers won’t even attempt. Some parking lots even have motorcycle specific parking spots.

5 – Fun to ride
Hair blowing in the wind, the freedom, feeling like you are a part of the wind. There is no sensation quite like riding a motorcycle. It is a true adrenaline rush, a rider’s high, where you feel every vibration of the engine sitting between your legs. Shifting from gear to gear as you go faster. No car quite captures the unique experience of riding a motorcycle: it is the greatest feeling in the world.

Overall, motorcycles offer a different experience to cars that is hard to replicate. They’re just cheap thrills. Everything they offer a rider allows for a sense of freedom, a feeling of not caring where the road goes but knowing that it’s worth the gas. Motorcycles are stupid fun.