Thats exactly my way of travelling, but I think its in your head more than in the means of tranportation.

I can't understand that argument. I once rented a small Mazda in Qatar and took it on small sandy roads .
When I was out of town, I turned off the aircon and opened the windows, so I could smell the hot desert. When I reached the beach I stopped and got out in the strong 35C wind and let it blow straight through my clothing.
I didn't have to undress first, remove helmet or gogles.
From the car, I saw and smelled the desert more clearly than through a dirty visor or gogles in a helmet

After crashing your bike the tenth time that day on the loose sandy track in Mali, wouldn't you rather have 4 wheels ?

I've bicycled through Morocco and from Saigon to Singapore and thats simplicity/minimalism. Its easy to put a bicycle on the train/plane/bus, one man can carry it, it stays with you in the hotel room, there's not much to go wrong, you can bring as much stuff as on the MC as you don't have to bring so many spares, you can ride without thick protective clothes or fullface helmet, can stop at a whim etc., good contact with the locals, although many will ask you, being a "rich" westerner:" Why not take car?" :-)

As said, I like MCs a lot, especially bikes like the HPN BMWs or other Paris-Dakar lookalikes, and might buy one some day, but couldn't even use it for skiing trips to the alps where I just sleep in the back of the car and bring 2-3 pairs of ski or a summer trip to the South of France with my son and a ton of diving- and windsurfing gear in the back and still the possibility to sleep on top of the heap, going trhrough Germany on the Motorway.

the PROs I can find for the bike are:
1. Cheaper to buy, than a car of same standard
2. Easier to watch in hotels etc.
3. More fun on the road (but that is marred somewhat by a ton of luggage)
4. Easier to repair
5. Better mileage

the PROs I can find for the car are:
1. You can sleep in it
2. Can be locked.
3. No need for special clothing
4. You can talk to cotravellers while driving
5. You can listen to music (even local radio) have a drink or snack while driving
6. Safer in a crash
7. Enough room for all your toys and bought souvenirs
8. you can close windows in rain- or sandstorms and turn on the heat in the cold
9. Won't fall over, no need for help to raise it up after a fall over.
10. Soft seat, you can ride all day
11. Long tankrange, which can be modded to more than 1000km
12. No insects in your mouth or clothing
13. No luggage rack to break down

I'm still struggling to understand. I think the motorcycle industry has succeded in fooling us, with their "freedom of the road".
For some hours riding a summers day on a twisty road, I'd prefer a MC any time, (but probably regret it, at the first red light, sitting in my full leathers ;-))

BUT, as there of course is no definite answer to this question, I will let it rest here.

Over and out for my part.

__________________
Poul
May you enjoy peace and good health !