bike vs. bike
 

hello everyone-

does anyone here tour by bicycle or have they in the past? how do they compare? i have done a good bit of touring by bicycle, and plan to continue, but i am also very interested in starting to tour by motorcycle as well. are you treated any different on the road?

with my job and my new family i don't have alot of time to get out for extended periods on a bicycle, so i think i may move to a motorcycle. plus it would just be a blast. in my summer months i could lap the us on a motorcycle while taking my time, on a bicycle it would be a cross country sprint.

or do you all think that people who tour by bicycles are complete dorks?

When I go for a motorcycle tour, I often go to a bicycle touring shop for maps and information because the small interesting routes are often on maps for bicyclists.
Also, just like on a bicycle, on a motorcycle, you want your camping gear to be light and small.

Personaly I'm not interested in touring by bicycle but there's nothing wrong with it.
I just use my bicycle to go to the station and other short trips and my motorcycle for touring.

I'm into both cycling and motorcycling and get slightly different things from them. Most of my cycling is one day trips off-road but I've done some cycle touring too. While they are different experiences, they have a lot of commonality too. Riding a motorbike you have similar constraints on the amount of luggage (or some constraint anyway!), plus you have to deal with the same weather, and you also feel more connected to the landscape than you do in a car.
I'd hesitate to say that cycling is more psychologically rewarding but motorcycling is more fun, but that's close to the mark for me. I guess I'd say the two compare to a hard days mountaineering compared to a day of downhill skiing. If you understand (sorry if this makes no sense!)
I guess what I'm trying to say is: If you like cycle touring odds are you'll find motorcycle touring fun too!
Matt

PS: You get WAY more respect from car drivers on a motorbike in my experience!

[This message has been edited by Matt Cartney (edited 20 January 2006).]

im definately not of the opinion that you have to bring your body to the brink to enjoy a tour, or any of that gung ho mess, but i can see what you mean matt.

there is nothing like not knowing where you are going to sleep until you get there ( if you even know where there is), picking the shade of a good tree for lunch, living at the edge but having no worries at all.

thanks for the info

I think traveling by motorcycle "provides more options and opportunities" over the bicycle. I've done both - many miles by bicycle years ago, and the motorcycle now.

On a bicycle, you tend to take only the lightest travelled roads - black and grey lines vs red and yellow (local roads vs. highways). On a motorcycle, all roads are an option; not necessary the preferred option, but still an option.

On a bicycle, you tend to commit to a route and its difficult sometimes to alter the decision. On a motorcycle, its much easier to "go back" in direction, to take another route that someone recommended.

Then again, a bicyclist tends to be more thorough in his route planning, taking the right choice to begin with. Motorcyclists can easily blow past their turn and easily rationalize the change of route.

On a motorcycle, its easier to decide on the longer route to get to the same destination.

Motorcycles have lights, should one get caught riding after sundown.

Bicyclists do travel slower - it is easier to stop for a quick photo. They also tend to keep moving - seldom stopping to stay a few extra days.

On a motorcycle, you can "make up time" better.

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quastdog
Seattle, Washington USA
F650GSDakar
R1150GS

Cycling is body and soul; Motorcycling is probably just soul.

PK

Very Well said !!!