So, endorphins give us that
joyous feeling but, after a ride,
there's also that sense of relief,
like a weight has been lifted.
This is similar to mindfulness
meditation: Body position,
speed, road position - on a
motorcycle you're constantly
analyzing and adjusting
depending on the situation. This
ties us into the present moment,
and means our minds have no
room for worries about money,
jobs or any other day-to-day
problems.
You're fully engaged while
riding. This is why your mind is
like a blank slate when you
throw your leg off after a long
ride.
2. Cognitive Function
If someone had told me I could
increase my cognitive function
while grinning from ear to ear
with joy, I'd probably have told
them to go sell crazy
somewhere else.
But a scientific study, conducted
by Ryuta Kawashima, who
partnered with Yamaha Japan
and Tohoku University, found
exactly that. Riding a
motorcycle improves your
cognitive function, by as much
as 50%.
This is down to the fact that
riding a motorcycle requires a
high level of alertness and rapid
problem solving. According to
Kawashima, "the driver's brain
gets activated by riding
motorbikes."