There are many means of transport. Have you ever been on a bus or a train? How did riding on those make you feel? Cramped? Stuffy? Awkward? How about taking a car ride? Surely, traveling in your own car feels much better than taking public transportation. That said, can any of these vehicles be described as being “exhilarating” or “exciting” to ride in or on? Probably not! One of the most underappreciated modes of transport is the motorcycle! Have you ever ridden one? If you haven’t you’re missing out! Being on a motorcycle is about as exciting as using a vehicle can get. If you want to feel connected to the road, the motorcycle is your best option for traveling! Are you interested in knowing more about motorcycles? Read below for some interesting, albeit random motorcycle wall art facts!
The Best Rides Happen On Two Wheels!
- Motorcycles have many nicknames. One of the most popular ones, and one you’re sure to know, is “hog.” Ever wondered what the origin of this word is? It comes from the early 1900s, originally said within a Harley-Davidson racing team called the Wrecking Crew. This team had a mascot in the form of a small, stuffed pig. Riders on the team would do victory laps with the pig sitting on their motorcycles’ gas tanks!
- Motorcycles have become so popular around the world that it’s natural for people to get bored of riding them. Everyone knows nothing good happens when boredom is involved! Did you know that in order to find something “new” to do with motorcycles, people have started riding them backward? That’s right. The record for the longest ever backwards motorcycle ride was set by a man named Dipayan Choudhury in Jabalpur, India. The record was set on October 7th, 2014, and lasted for about 125 miles.
- Did you know that many motorcycle companies originated as manufacturers for products that are not motorcycle, or even vehicle, related? For instance, one of the most well known motorcycle manufacturers is Yamaha. Founded in 1887, Yamaha started as a piano manufacturer; today they still produce both pianos and motorcycles. Another example is famous Japanese motorcycle helmet manufacturer Arai; they started as a manufacturer for construction worker garments in 1926!
- We know it’s grim, but it bears mentioning. Motorcycles are, like most other vehicles, inherently dangerous and have led to many lost lives. 68% of of the female motorcyclists that died in crashed in 2016 were passengers; their deaths represented 92% of passenger deaths. The majority of male motorcyclists who died that year were drivers. Another fact is that the engine sizes of drivers killed in crashes has gone up dramatically; 33% of people who died in 2016 had an engine size larger than 1,400cc, while only 9% of deceased motorcyclists had an engine of this size in 2000.
- Motorcycle technology has progressed significantly over the last few decades. Many of the materials that motorcycles used to be made out of are no longer even in production. Did you know that modern motorcycle bike tires don’t contain any natural rubber? The tread of modern tires is made of synthetic rubber, which has been specially designed to balance durability with traction. Read below for more motorcycle wall art facts.
It’s Not the Destination, It’s the Journey!
- Did you know that motorcycle laws vary between the states? For instance, it’s perfectly legal to lane split (ride between lanes) in California. Want to hear about a crazy motorcycle law? In Indiana, it’s perfectly legal for motorcyclists to only stop for 120 seconds, or 2 minutes, a a red stop light before moving on. In other words, even if the light is still red at 2 minutes, motorcyclists can proceed if the road ahead is clear. This crazy statue is nicknamed “The Dead Red” law.
- One of the most appealing aspects of a motorcycle is the fact that it can go extremely fast in a short period of time. The first company that advertised a motorcycle’s top speed of over 100mph was Brough Superior. Their claim was for a model called the “SS100” in 1924. Today, these bikes are still considered to be masterclasses in design and manufacturing. These motorcycles were the first to have prop stands, twin headlights, crash bars and 1000cc twin engines. Every motorcycle was tested to see that it reached 100mph; if it didn’t, it was sent back to the factory.
- Just like with cars, motorcycles are also very prone to theft! In fact, current studies indicate that motorcycle theft has actually increased within the United States year over year for the past decade. Wondering which states have the most thefts? In 2020 the three states with the highest amount of theft were: California (9,400), Texas (4,400) and Florida (4,200). Due to the weather being the warmest and providing for the most opportune riding times, the period between June and August are the most likely times for motorcycles to be stolen. Studies indicate that around 42% of stolen motorcycles are eventually recovered.
- We’ve previously talked about how laws differ among the states in regard to motorcycles. Did you know that only 3 states in the U.S. do not require a helmet for any motorcyclist? Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire have no motorcycle helmet laws! Furthermore, 28 states require helmets for certain riders while 19 states require a helmet for every rider.
- Just like with cars, motorcycle manufacturers also produce concept cars that are more about aesthetics than driving or riding capability. Dodge, a very popular car manufacturer, made a now infamous motorcycle called the Dodge Tomahawk in 2003. Featuring a very strand, retro yet futuristic design, this non-street legal motorcycle featured four wheels and a 10-cylinder car engine! Crazy, huh? Did you enjoy these motorcycle wall art facts?
Conclusion
Now that you know a little more about motorcycles, how do you feel. Are you eager to get on one? Maybe you’re just interested in riding on the back, with another person handling the driving? Perhaps you’re just the kind of person who likes watching motorcycles from afar? However you feel, we hope you learned something interesting about motorcycles today! We hope you enjoyed this blog! Thanks for reading these motorcycle wall art facts.