Editor Dave Manning

Keep riding, so that you can keep riding

We all know how riding a motorcycle can benefit us in many ways, not least that of mental health. Indeed, it wasn’t so long ago that Chris Moss wrote a feature for this title on that very subject. And today I saw a social media post that adds to that in a rather interesting way.

The post was on Karl Allen Muncey’s Instagram page - zenmotorcyclemaintenance – and it refers to the fact that while most motorcycle trips are perceived as being little more than a leisure activity, they actually offer some benefits that are only just being understood, and they’re certainly of interest to us, especially given the continually-rising average age of the UK’s motorcyclists.

Karl’s post refers to a study made by

Ryuta Kawashima at Tohuku University in Sendai, Japan, focussing on the fact that motorcycling enhances cognitive functions, brought on by the alertness and continual decision-making required when riding a bike. These activities stimulate the brain’s prefrontal regions, and that kind of stimulation has been proven to enhance cognitive functions, which directly reduces the risk of dementia.

As an aside, Kawashima has authored several books on brain health, researched how computer games can have beneficial effects on brain health, and even appeared in various computer games (as himself ) as a result – being paid to do so and passing a very high percentage of that payment on to be invested in his research as, according to Kawashima, “One should only get this amount of money when one has worked for it.”

The brain stimulations that have been researched – both those created by video games and motorcycling – become more important as we age, which is somewhat ironic given that both of those pastimes have been considered, at various times, as being more appropriate for the more youthful members of society. Cognitive stimulation as dementia prevention is just one more reason for us to continue riding bikes as long as we are physically able.

The aforementioned nd article by Mossy reflected on the ability of a bike ride to combat depression, anxiety and stress, thanks to increased dopamine levels and the aspect of ‘mindfulness’, thanks to the repetitive nature of riding being so very similar to meditation. Once more, this is an aspect that is especially important for those older riders, who may be prone to anxiety or depression. I, for one, can say from the heart that a bike ride helps to keep the black dog from the door…

We may not be exerting ourselves to the level of a Dakar racer, MotoGP hero or motocross headbanger each time we take our bikes out for a spin, but we are, nonetheless, getting some physical exercise. We’ve all experienced the sensation of waking in the morning after a day’s riding, aching in places that we’ve not ached for a while – a true telltale of how much we exert ourselves while riding. It’s not just legs and arms, but core strength, as well as balance and coordination that all get a workout. Riding a bike is a true head-to-toe health trip.

Karl goes on to discuss the level or stress relief that can be brought by the acts of planning and executing a road trip – although, for me, the planning side of things tends to weigh heavily, when all I want to do is get up and go. He then reflects on the communal aspect of travelling, both with those that are undertaking the same trip as yourself, and with folk that you meet along the way, whether they be fellow motorcyclists or locals that you meet en route. The hangover that still remains from Covid lockdowns means that we’re perhaps more aware now than ever before of loneliness, and the requirement for social interaction for good mental health, especially among the more senior members of society.

In conclusion, Karl states: ‘Embracing the road on two wheels can be a key component of aging healthily and happily.’ And, not only do I find that rather amusing given the warnings that we have all had, invariably when we were much younger, that ‘motorcycles are dangerous, you’ll get yourself killed’, when it actually turns out that motorcycling has the ability to actually extend our lives. It’s also a nice reminder to just, in a nutshell, keep riding!