IMAGE BY JON NEWELL
When you ask motorcyclists why they ride, you’ll get a variety of answers. Some love to ride for the speed, others the camaraderie, and others say they love the freedom of the open road. Whatever the rationale, though, there’s always one thing that brings riders together: the joy of becoming one with your machine.
Two of my good motorcycle friends and readers described this feeling poignantly, in two different ways:
Having the total unification of mind, body, and situational awareness riding commands of you can have a meditative and somewhat spiritual effect.”
– Ohene Gyapong
There is a visceral difference between riding comfortably inside a vehicle and being propelled upon it, holding on while it goes about its merry business carrying you forward.”
– Kasey Close
On the surface, these are very different descriptions of riding. But underlying both of these descriptions is the idea that you and your motorcycle are somehow connected — spiritually, viscerally.
The first time I felt this sense of connectedness, I had just attempted my first counter-steering swerve for my MSF course. The quick swoosh-swoosh of shifting directions, the instant response from the bike as it flowed effortlessly with my hips… It didn’t matter that I stalled out moments later, or that I didn’t actually swerve far enough to avoid the “obstacle.” That first brush with “being one” with my motorcycle had me hooked.
The Motorcyclist’s Existential Question
Regular readers know that I have a penchant for (or maybe an obsession with) trying to understand the underlying reasons we humans love motorcycles.
And in my defense, it’s a fascinating question. Motorcycling breaks the “rational human” mold ’90s-era economists were so fond of: riding is dangerous, it can be expensive, and we don’t (usually) gain anything of economic value for doing it.
So why do so many of us not only choose to ride, but get passionately and enthusiastically entangled with it? Recently, I came across some research that I think helps shed some light on the psychological foundations for why a subset of a supposedly logical species fell so madly in love with going fast on two wheels. And it has to do with the unity between (wo)man and machine.
The “Artificial Apes”
There’s no denying our species wouldn’t be where we are today without our ability to invent and use tools. Of course, we aren’t the only tool-using species, but what’s unique about our ancestors is that they learned to use one tool to make another, also known as “entailment.”
Archaeologist Timothy Taylor even believes that the advent of these complex tools is what caused our australopithecine ancestors to eventually become the genus Homo, and later Homo sapiens.
His evidence is that the earliest chipped stone tools are dated to have been around as long as 2.5 million years ago, while the Homo genus only emerged 2.2 million years ago — a total gap of 300,000 years.
Because of this, Taylor has come to believe that “entailed” tools like the chipped stones weren’t just an artifact of humanity, they were what made us human from the start:
Some researchers are holding out for an earlier specimen of genus Homo. I’m trying to free us to think that we had stone tools first and that those tools created a significant part of our intelligence. The tools caused the genus Homo to emerge.”
In Taylor’s words, “We were never fully biological entities. We are and always have been artificial apes.”
Our Motorcycles, Ourselves
The second important idea in this exploration is the idea of peripersonal space. Studies have shown that the human brain uses three different “neuronal representations” to represent the space around us, based on the behaviors we can perform in each environment.
There’s the personal space, which is the body itself, and the extra-personal space, which is the area around us that we can hear and see. And within the extra-personal space, there’s the reaching space, which encompasses the area in which you could reach an object without moving your body. That’s the area known as peripersonal space.
Studies have also shown that when people use a tool, their peripersonal space expands to include the area that the tool allows us to interact with. This indicates that our mental construct of our physical selves is extremely malleable, and can expand to encompass a tool.
In the early 2000s, a team lead by Martin Nicolelis taught a rhesus monkey named Idoya to operate robots with her mind, using what they called a brain-computer interface.
Beyond the exciting implications for prosthetics and human augmentation, what fascinated me was what they found about Idoya’s brain activity as she operated the robot:
Brain scans showed something remarkable… At a neural level, the distinction between the monkey’s arms and the robot arm blurred. As far as the monkey’s brain was concerned, monkey arms and robot arm were all part of the same body.”
– Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, The Distraction Addiction
Some Pure Conjecture…
At this point, we’ve established that human evolution is inextricably linked (and perhaps indebted) to complex tools, that the human mind changes its construct of the space around its body to encompass a tool being used, and that (in monkeys, at least) the brain can actually treat tools as part of its own body.
To me, it follows that all of these concepts go together. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to use a tool if it didn’t feel like an extension of yourself? We could have never developed something as complex as an engine, which requires us to use tools carefully and precisely.
And perhaps, this intimate relationship with our tools is one of the reasons we love motorcycles so much. After all, they take advantage of our capacity for “tool expansion” like nothing else does: riding is a total-body experience, which requires all our extremities and mental faculties to work seamlessly with the machine.
I’m no evolutionary theorist, but maybe we evolved so this kind of unification with a tool feels good. After all, evolution is famous for rewarding behaviors that contribute to the continuation of our genes.
Complex tools can be difficult to master — to achieve that “flow” point at which the barrier falls away and you and the tool become one. Maybe those of us still around are the ones whose ancestors responded positively to feelings of mastery and tool-unity, since it brings us closer to the fluency we need to use complicated tools to the best of our abilities.
Of course, our genes didn’t have the foresight to see that many of us would use this fluency to fly down paved asphalt at 80 miles per hour 😉 But this exploration might at least begin to explain why many humans find riding motorcycles deeply and intrinsically rewarding, and why we will continue to do it for as long as we can.
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Motorcyclists tend to be portrayed as thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies. But we both know (and psychology research agrees) that’s not the whole story.
And the hits just keep on comin’. Nicely done, LT.
You’ve taken a genuinely inquisitive and cerebral (without being didactic or pedantic … very easy trap to fall into) dive below the surface of motorcycling. I know I love riding / breaking the Rational Human mold. And, as we’ve discussed, I’m also overcome with a dizzying euphoria when I use tools – and sometimes equal parts brain and brawn – to complete a task; but I had rarely given much thought to the possible science behind either before coming across Ridewell. Now you have me thinking of concepts like “Triadic Space Taxonomy.”
Speaking of, thank you for lifting the curtain and shining a spotlight on Cardinali, Brozzoli and Farnè’s study on “Peripersonal Space and Body Schema” and continuing to open our eyes to other dimensions of thought – though my head hurts a bit from the read. ? And I’m not even going to pretend I had heard of the Australopithecine genera … likely the last time I will use “Australopithecine” in a sentence. ?
This blog is, among other things, a mind-expanding experience. I maintain that you should go for a doctorate in “Motocycology” (REALLY wish I had thought of that).
When you’re ready – perhaps when you’ve completed the rebuild and aggregated all your thoughts and analysis from that experience – maybe consider giving the TEDx circuit a go one day.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dorieclark/2014/04/21/how-to-become-a-tedx-speaker/#ace6c81a33d7
What you’re doing can translate to many themes.
http://seelemonslive.com/2015/05/01/list-of-30-tedx-themes/
Just food for thought.
Ride on, and Write on, because your Right on!
Ohene —
Gah, thank you! I’m so glad this resonated with you, and that you found it not at all pedantic 🙂 I’ve long been interested in why exactly our brains respond so well to riding, and I think this research puts me on the right track, even if it doesn’t answer the question conclusively. For that, I’d need a lab 😉
Yes, the review paper on peripersonal space and body schema is quite dense! But it has lots of interesting nuggets. I honestly think that body schema might be slightly more relevant to motorcycles, but the bulk of the research that was covered in this paper had to do more with peripersonal space, and anyway the authors were arguing that they were likely part of the same system. Anywho, I’m glad you found it interesting as well.
And — you’ve probably heard of australopithecines before, “Lucy” was an early australopithecine 🙂 Though I don’t think I’ll ever be able to spell it correctly the first time hahaha.
TEDx is a good idea! I am not always the best public speaker, but it’s easier when it’s something I’m passionate about. And motorcycles is definitely included in that category.
Thanks as always for your excellent words of encouragement!
Ah yes, the “A” Piths, Southern Apes.
With that in mind imagine just how exhilarating it would be to swing with great abandon through the Jungle and thick forests again, the wind in our face, the momentum propelling us from one branch to the next, never confident that we will secure another as firmly and articulately as the last, the pure joy of physical exertion coupled with the ever consuming fear of falling between the cast off thru space and acquisition of a relative firm but temporary hand hold multiplied by fleeting visions of the predators below eager to pounce should we fail miserably in our heart pounding brachiational foray.
Sound familiar?
Indeed 😉
Couldn’t have said it better myself, although God knows I’ve tried — https://rollingphysicsproblem.wordpress.com/2017/11/08/big-rides-little-rides/
The meditative quality of the best riding is what keeps me in the saddle – in a wired world determined to drive one mad, the sense of balance and flow that happens on the best motorcycle rides really is inner peace.
Thank you, Greg! This is one of those topics people will continue to pick apart for generations to come. With something this complex, everyone brings their own bit of enlightenment to the table. I hope you find what you need on your big ride, and if you stop by Portland be sure to say hi! 🙂
This is the post that got me hooked. I read almost all your blogs but have shared and came back to this one several times!
This is one of my favorites too! I find the concept so interesting… I could nerd out on it all day. It’s been awhile since I published this one… might be time for another soon! 😀 Thanks Raphael!
Thank you for a great article. Enjoyed the strategic way you combined perspectives on psychology, philosophy and practicality associated with riding and relating to a motorbike.
Thank you! This is one of my favorite articles I’ve written, I need to do more like it 🙂
Hi!
This was a great read. Enjoyed every bit of it. Well written too.
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Thank you so much! It’s one of my favorites on the blog so far, for sure 🙂
Straddling something between your legs that pulse with a raw visceral energy whether man or woman is akin to riding a lightning bolt in a thunder storm so I say baby bring on the thunder, even when your hands are numb and your ass is sore there’s one thing for sure your gonna smell like the world….
That’s one hell of a description 😉
You might be right, our consciousness will be higher while biking, the want of going higher level of consciousness is there in every human being, may be that is the thing which make us ride ride and ride. It is definitely spiritual also.
It does seem like it’s at least part of it! Thanks for reading 🙂
Riding a bike keeps me whole as a person. Just feels right. I have such a stressful job. I hop on my beautiful red girl friend. My Ducati and my world changes.
I know what you mean — when I can’t ride, I definitely get much more stressed. Thanks for reading, Jack!
The joys I have experienced since becoming a motorcyclist last year are directly related to my current unbalanced life. Apart from paying my bills, all other aspects of my life have been pushed aside so that the search for the perfect stretch of road that leads to one of the best meals and or a great drink (only one, I’m riding) has become my primary purpose after work. To say that riding has become addictive is an understatement! I enjoyed your article. As most of us can attest to the pursuit of speed or corner carving is a natural extension of crawling, walking, running, cycling, driving, and for some of us flying. Motorcycling is a great compilation of sensory euphoria comparatively.
There is definitely solace to be found on a motorcycle! I hope your life has started to balance out, and that you’ve found some stellar roads along the way 🙂
Been riding all over the world in all kinds of bikes, already 64 this year, will continue to do so. Being at one with a bike is one thing but for me it is the “moment” the “surreal” feel of being at one with the locals when you’re filtering thru and criss-crossing head on with other bikers in downtown Kaohsiung, Phuket, Bali, Hanoi, Mumbai and the likes, awesome! We’re talking millimeters clearances and yet never touch, yes surreal!
Yes! Motorcycles make us an active participant in our environments rather than just bystanders. I bet you have some awesome stories to share!
I have been riding motorcycles on a regular basis since 1975 I have not owned any other vehicle for more than 10 years now. I would to share one episode which I believe demonstrates the parapsychological aspect of motorcycle riding where the senses are heightened to literally life-saving intensity. While riding the 30-mile commute to work one morning with the car traffic bogged down I like many other California riders legally split lanes. For some reason my attention was drawn to an automobile at least 30 cars in front of me, a warning bell went off inside my head. Then as I approached the driver’s side of that car I jagged out another extra two feet
At the precise second the driver textended his arm holding a crowbar at my neck height. I zipped around it in some sort of Zen State anger did not penetrate the moment..
I felt a strange feeling of well-being and thankfulness and kept motoring on. The experience left a lasting impression to say the least. Motorcycling extends our perceptions far beyond the normal perhaps into the Paranormal.
Interesting article. I could describe all sorts of poetic concepts, and they would all have some foundation in truth, but I would prefer to be 100% honest. Riding a motorcycle is, for me, about setting easily achievable goals, and then experiencing a sense of reward. In general, things are difficult, in life. There are people who are really good at something, e.g. musicians or artists or scientists or whatever. However, they are very few. Their brains’ reward mechanisms are activated quite often, with all the money and praise and appreciation that flows their way, externally (i.e. from other people). Most of us, let’s face it, are nobodies, and we will never belong to that category. It’s so much easier to twist the throttle one more time down a familiar road, feel the sense of exhilaration and accomplishment, and then feel enthusiastic (in the literal, Greek, sense) once more. Childhood was full of hope and promise, and adulthood is full of tedium, disappointment and toil. Relentless, it is. Apart from those times when you can trick your brain into thinking you’re on top of the world again.
There’s a pyschology of everything, right? It’s awesome and fun how you discussed that perspective; makes riders reflect and realize why they are constantly hooked to their bikes subsconsciously. Have always thought there must be a reason to it and you just put the entire idea of it into writing.