Motorcycles can FIX this major USA Issue, but we're too lazy.

[@yammienoob]

Support the show and head to yammienoob.co and become a member! You'll get automatically entered to win our giveaway motorcycles (like the current Street Triple 765 RS)

[@YayaTia_II]

This is why I want a bike because I am living with two housemates but my parents only think OH NO DANGEROUS! But what they don't know is I just jive with motorcycles. I am still in the learner phase not even got a learner license yet but at least I am trying to make myself a rider.

[@thegreatdcline1662]

One thing I have noticed when talking to non-motorcyclist, is that there is a misconception that all motorcycles are super fast and therefore everyone who rides them go 100MPH at all times.

[@michaelhord]

From my experience , if it will do 100, it's going to do 100 sooner or later. I typically follow the fastest car on the road. I'm going to be getting a bike that will do 120, I doubt I'll do that with any frequency though.

[@John_Ridley]

That's because they only notice the bikes going 100 MPH. A bike going along with traffic doesn't get noticed, and also since it's not passing much it is just going along with the same dozen or so cars so fewer people have the chance to see them.

[@williamhardes8081]

isn't that what they're made for?

[@John_Ridley]

@@williamhardes8081 I have owned multiple bikes that will do over 100. I never have. I just like being on 2 wheels, I don't really care about going fast.

[@512Chaos]

Around here in the midwest most motorcycles are Harley, and going under the speed limit and being obnoxious is the only thing you really hear about from non-motorcyclists.

[@PaintballShyguy]

Too many people in America can barely drive a small automatic car, like Hell you'd see them on bikes.

[@danswizzle4113]

as an american, can confirm. one of my favorite thing to watch is someone who has a massive suv with zero passengers beyond the driver make way too many manuevers to PULL INTO a parking spot. my brother and i joke about how in order to buy a suv or truck, you have to prove you can parallel park and back into a parking spot.

[@JamesExcell-InterJex]

Forces them to be better.

[@EggEnjoyer]

The small automatic car is why they can’t drive. The automatic allows them to text, eat and do makeup while they drive.

[@sweeg5808]

For sure, we need to have a much more comprehensive driver's ed program throughout the states. The fact that Germany can handle a highway system without speed limits because road etiquette is so much more instilled in its people while the US can barely handle 75 mph and 6 lanes because we have 16 year old kids going on two test drives before slapping a license on them is wild.

[@Jon-nz3dm]

The other day on 35 going north from Dallas to Denton an old guy driving a massive RV randomly started drifting into the left lane while I was right in the middle of its length. I had a wall to my left and I was in a DOG of a car(Mazda 3 2.0L). So I just honked and got as close to the wall as possible. I couldn’t have been more than a couple inches from that beast. Old guy falling asleep? Idk. Merica. I’m one of those folks commuting 2 hours per day. Really tired of almost being taken out just minding my business while being hyper vigilant. I can only save myself so many times before one of these beat up Altimas with a fake paper tag smashes up my car. I feel safer on the bike lots of times since I don’t get stuck in any position often.

[@antonycook8135]

I am an electrician operating in South Africa, Four years ago I got back into motorcycling after about a thirty year break.(I am 62) I bought small and cheap incase I didn't get back into it. I then modified the bike to carry my tools and testers. Most clients have ladders, so I only use the pickup when necessary. It has proven to be fantastic for my work, mental health at fitness. I ride a small Hero eco 150TR which I doubt you have in the USA. It has saved me over R30 000 in fuel costs the last two years I have been using it for work. I would love to attach a pic of the bike, but I am not sure how to do it.( Technologically challenged I am afraid)

[@fdub301]

You can't attach pictures to KZbin comments, but we appreciate your input

[@eec197]

I'm a licensed electrician in Boston i do as many calls as I can from my motorcycle. I got one of those bikes with side mounted bags. Sometimes it's all I need to do a call especially if it's at night when I know I won't be able to have parking when I come home for my truck, so the bike helps alot the only thing that sucks when it's under 30 degrees and I'm freezing my nuts off

[@antonycook8135]

@eec197 I am lucky from that point, winter temps seldom go below 0⁰C but climb to around 17⁰C by midday. (32⁰F to 62⁰F) I also have soft side bags and a top box for tools and testers, then a tank bag for invoice and quote books etc . Best way to work.

[@eec197]

@@antonycook8135 100% agree and for the ppl to scared there missing out on a great time

[@DonttagmeBruh]

Hey fellow South African!! 🇿🇦

[@paz2wheels]

A study in Holland estimated that if 10% of commuters used a motorcycle instead of a car (discounting people who already ride), traffic congestion in metropolitan areas could be reduced as much as 40% at peak times. 5:29

[@Seawolf571]

thats really cool, do you happen to have the paper so I can read more into that? if not I'll try to find it myself and link it

[@paz2wheels]

@ was years ago i read this, im trying to find it 😅

[@Seawolf571]

@@paz2wheels no worries!

[@fermitupoupon1754]

@@paz2wheels RAI Vereniging published a study in early 2024, EO ran an item on it in July 2024, but all I can find of the actual paper itself seems to be locked behind a paywall. Apparently their study shows that something like 23% of people who commute by car would change to motorcycle, but that 71% of employers doesn't accommodate them. Either there's no proper parking space for motorcycles, or there are no lockers to store a helmet and gear, in some cases people would have to change in the toilet as there's just no place for it elsewhere at the company. Supposedly this would reduce congestion by 70-80%, though I wonder how much it really has an impact when winter comes around and the weather gets bad. I personally don't care much about rain or wind, even cold you can dress for. But I draw the line where there's risk of black ice.

[@n.i.g.e.l]

@fermitupoupon1754So, a massive corporation for motorcycles said this, and people just eat it up? Great.

[@Ninja-400-girl]

Motorcycles are more dangerous than cars, true. because the cars make it dangerous.

[@blakew5672]

Glossing over the fact that motorcycles are just inherently more dangerous. Do cars make it dangerous for motorcyclists? Yes, but motorcycles didn’t get that reputation by accident. When there are external danger factors outside your control, which there always will be, a metal cage around you is inherently safer than a motorcycle. Not everything is an issue caused by bad drivers.

[@alm4132]

@@blakew5672 Actually, motorcycles DID get that rep by "accident"....lol

[@mikemoore-hehim1149]

motorcycles are way safer than cars . . . for everyone else. Another big part of the conversation is that auto makers have convinced us that "safety" means having the biggest weapon so that you smash your neighbors more than they smash you. That's not how I choose to live

[@blakew5672]

@@alm4132 Took me a minute to pick up on the joke lol

[@miscaccount9438]

The underlying issue here is that this countries public transportation system is garbage. Meanwhile, in Japan, if the bus or train is behind schedule, they give you a notice for your employer explaining the delay, which there rarely is. The majority of people also suck at driving because they don't take it seriously/ don't care and have had next to no real driving training. We just push people on the road and tell them to figure out out. In Finland, it literally takes years of courses and training to attain a full drivers license

[@Khasym]

I hate to say this....I REALLY hate to say this...but you're wrong. Not about the public transportation issue or Americans being bad drivers....many are. But the sad truth is, WE ALLOW IT. Anyone, even a teenager can, with no license, go to any motorcycle shop, give mommy or daddy's credit card, and just BUY a motorcycle outright. The only thing stopping them from doing it with a car, is that most credit cards will max out before you hit the purchase price of a Mustang, Corvette or Charger. I'm a new motorcyclist as of September, and now a Class B CDL driver. And I can't tell you how often I see drivers who are completely ignorant of what they're NOT in control of. But....their insurance allows it. Their car dealer allows it. THEIR STATE allows it. Remember....the following list is REAL. - Jerry Zeller - 30 DUI convictions. - Wallace C. Bowers - 18 OWI convictions. - Ethan Couch - 1 DUI conviction, along with 4 fatalities, 5 serious injuries, a flight from prosecution to Mexico, and was given 720 days...of PAROLE when finally sentenced. We tolerate this. America is a nation of addicts, and we tolerate them behind the wheel.

[@miscaccount9438]

@Khasym you're not entirely wrong. This system is the way it is because it's all about the $. These companies put money into both political parties in return for writing favorable legislation. Insurance companies benefit from crap drivers because they can in turn charge more. No public transportation means people Must buy a car or motorcycle and the associated insurance, benefiting both the auto industry and the insurance companies. A dependable public transportation system would effectively shrink their market and lose them money Also, the majority of Americans can't simply go purchase a bike because despite the cost of a bike being significantly lower than a car, the funds simply aren't available. Our economy is structured to funnel profits into the hands of a few, not to benefit the society as a whole

[@iallso1]

​@Khasym I grew up in the UK, I agree with your point about the ability to just buy a vehicle and hit the road. In the UK new learner drivers are only allowed behind the wheel with an qualified adult supervisor (who is actually responsible for the outcome if there is an accident). The learner will not get insurance until they have their full licence. You can not buy the road tax (registration) unless you provide proof of licence and insurance and that the car has been found safe to be on the road. While these systems don't prevent a non qualified driver from borrowing/stealing a vehicle and driving, it does for the most part ensure that everything is in order for the vast majority of vehicles on the road.

[@sweeg5808]

​@@KhasymI agree with you to an extent, but I think the original commenter is also right. We are seriously dealing with a failing, inefficient transportation system in this country. Urban planners probably never saw the sheer amount of suburban sprawl with each family having their own commuter car coming, and our infrastructure has just become woefully inadequate as a result, at least partially because of corporate interests hamstringing the development of public trains and such. You're right in that we are also dealing with a poor education system when it comes to driving. It's time Americans and DMVs started treating personal vehicles like the potential killing machines they can be instead of handing out licenses to teenagers like candy.

[@adam346]

@@sweeg5808 the term jay-walking (as well as the crime) were literally created to vilify the pedestrian walking in their own city. When cars were first introduced to the US, they were so against it, you would have to partially disassemble it on the side of the road and put a tarp over it should a horse and buggy come the other direction so as to not scare the horse... in other parts you would have to shoot a flare up every few hundred feet to announce you were in a car and coming because it would startle people... US and Canada are absolutely bonkers when it comes to cars...

[@livingon2wheels]

I just returned from India and realized the motorcycle is the only way to travel there because you can shoot between the cars.

[@turtle19dad]

Do they even have a traffic pattern in some of these countries?

[@amiracl0]

Motorcycles and trains... the only transportation I ever want to use again.

[@Bill-mq7wr]

Based

[@potater6163]

And drift cars and fighter jets

[@amiracl0]

@@potater6163 almost got to ride in an F-16 once...

[@hananas2]

And bicycles

[@Bill-mq7wr]

@@hananas2 BASED

[@telemantid]

I live in a small city on Vancouver Island. I have ridden year-round here for 5 years; I sold my car. For the 10 to 20 days a year that are icy/snowy, I carpool with milady. I have good gear, and my longest commute is about 25 minutes. I don't have time to get wet or cold, and I arrive at work or at home with a smile on my face. Splitting and filtering are illegal here, although a few do it. I don't, because it's too dangerous, and I really don't need to save a few seconds. I ride like I want to be an old man someday.

[@adamlanglois563]

Pretty much same here from southern Ontario. South of the London area snow belt winter isn't what it used to be and I'm all for it.

[@harpzzzzzz]

I'm in Vancouver, and don't ride year round (8-10mths). You are lucky to be on the island in a small city, little traffic and close access to so many great roads! I use to split lanes (illegally) to get on the Ironworkers Bridge when I had that commute (no more luckily!) and it did a lot more than save a few seconds, it cut a 45min drive down to a 25min ride. I have ridden in LA traffic a lot too, and it can literally cut a 2hr drive down to less than an hour at certain times of day. We're not all so lucky to be ripping around Vancouver Island with no traffic. :(

[@telemantid]

@@harpzzzzzz You are absolutely right dude. I don't mind riding in Nanaimo/Victoria/Vancouver/etc., but no way would I daily commute in those places. There exist situations that good riding can't get you out of or prevent;; cities multiply them horribly.

[@JohnDoe-zo5tu]

Here in Cali, express lanes are free 24/7 for motorcyclists and lane splitting is legal. I can get somewhere twice as fast on a motorcycle than I can in my car (without exceeding the speed limit, I might add). In downtown L.A. or San Francisco, parking is also significantly easier to find when you're on a motorcycle.

[@dcorbin5779]

Totally the only way. Backed up bay area traffic. No problem . I'll be there in 25 or 30 minute's

[@JohnDoe-zo5tu]

And if there's an accident where a lane or two are blocked off, I can get somewhere at least three times faster on a motorcycle compared to a car. Ask me how I know.

[@dennissamaniego4480]

We can use the express lane here in Cali?

[@Hijackd1]

​@@dennissamaniego4480absolutely.

[@pault6054]

I ate out with my family that was visiting, I rode to meet up with them. I was parked and chillin while I watch them drive in circles for 40 minutes just to find parking half a mile away.

[@Jim-nm1en]

Thought provoking video Yam. Here in the UK , filtering (lane splitting) has to the best of my knowledge, always been allowed as long as your speed is sensible and performed safely . We have an organization called MAG ( Motorcycle Action Group ) which has spent years trying to convince our successive governments that motorcycles could reduce congestion, pollution etc. All sadly without success as our government doesn't really want to acknowledge motorcycles as an effective and efficient means of transport. One particular council in England wanted to impose parking charges on motorcycles, charging a 50cc motorcycle the same price to park as a car and larger motorcycles at the same rate as SUV's etc, simply because they have no understanding of motorcycles or their obvious benefits. Politicians the world over all seem to be blind to common sense.

[@kenbrown2808]

funny how TX which claims to hate regulation, wants to regulate lane sharing.

[@crashhappy7296]

Texas wants to regulate anything that isn't used to kill people. Every other issue they want to regulate, stifle, and subdue. I will never ever live there.

[@fermitupoupon1754]

To be fair, I've seen a lot of footage on YT of Cali suicide jockeys splitting lanes at 100mph when traffic is already going 80. There is no need for that kind of BS to be legal. On the flip side over here in Euroland, Cali style lane splitting is illegal, but filtering isn't. Filtering in this case means when traffic is going less than 30mph, you can filter in between the two left most lanes, with no more than a 20mph speed difference. Or in case of a traffic light in the city, you can pass stopped traffic and wait in the box for bicyclists at the front of the queue. You can't use the bike lane to do it though. And again only if traffic is stopped and you overtake at low speed. In which case I'd argue there is no good reason for this to be illegal as it's proven to improve traffic conditions for everyone.

[@5691Mark]

@fermitupoupon1754 the riders splitting lanes above 35mph are breaking the law in California.

[@kenbrown2808]

@5691Mark that must be a newer law. When i took the CCRider course, the only law was that it must be done safely, with the presumption of liability on the biker.

[@martingarcia7878]

I live in los angeles, and I can't imagine not being able to split lanes.

[@gr33nspan]

Motorcycling in LA is a life hack for sure

[@NoFrictionZone]

I've said those exact words before.

[@christianmiranda23]

Orange County, too. Traffic is so bad at all hours of the day.

[@virtualsleeep]

I live in nyc, you think that stops us from lane splitting?

[@wyvern4588]

My MSF instructor said filtering is LEGAL in FL. Just found out he lied to me, I only did it a couple times because the cars are too freaking fat.

[@CondeNastCruiser]

Great vid! I sold my car and everything else I owned and moved to the Philippines where all I do is ride my motorcycle. I even have a second and third bike for touring other foreigners around. Life is fantastic on two wheels. Thanks!

[@JohnDoe-zo5tu]

A couple more things: Yes, motorcycles help overall traffic flow faster when we lane split. That benefits people driving cars. It's also not uncommon to see 2-3 motorcycles parked in one parking space that an entire car needs. This also helps people in cars. Some people might think none of what I've said is significant but it is when you consider that California has significantly more motorcycles registered than Texas or Florida. It's not even close.

[@iallso1]

If it is a parking space that is parallel to the kerb it can easily accommodate 4 motorcycles in 1 car park, possibly more in the US where spaces are typically larger. But I have seen 6 scooters in one space when travelling to Japan and Hong Kong.

[@JohnDoe-zo5tu]

@@iallso1 I agree. When you're talking about that kind of parking space, I've seen up to four Harleys parked in sone of the longer spaces. There have been times when I was the first to occupy a parking space on my bike and when I came back, there were a couple more bikes parked in the same space. I'm perfectly okay with that and I know they would also be okay with it had they been the first one there and then I parked there, too. We're motorcyclists. We get it.

[@jaytownjunkyardfiles1999]

All I can say about this video is that . . . YOU NAILED IT❗️👍

[@CabbageGas]

Yammie Noob himself told us in prior videos he drives 4 wheels to work, because he doesn't want to be hot and sweaty when he arrives.

[@sweeg5808]

I think it depends on the length of the commute and the weather. In his defense, he did talk about the utility of taking a motorcycle for shorter trips as well. In the case of longer commutes to work, trains would be far more efficient, but America fundamentally has a suburban sprawl problem, so it would probably be best to take an approach that integrates many different forms of transportation that includes commuter cars alongside bikes and trains. No form of transportation alone is a cure-all to the traffic problem, at least that's what I think.

[@carlosvejar3938]

Bought a V-STROM as a daily commuter in June and i couldn't be happier. $16 a week on gas and i log 200 miles a week. And its cut my commute time in half, for real. Best decision for work

[@KuleGuy27]

Man I hate car dependency. Have you ever watch NotJustBikes before?

[@adam346]

he should watch... but I get the feeling he would be more preachy and less practice on both... do as I say, not as I do.

[@SoybeanAK]

Oh The Urbanity, Road Guy Rob, and Strong Towns are really good channels covering the benefits of building people-scale places for mixed transit! NotJustBikes is sadly more interested these days in haughtily owning the cons and talking down to North Americans about how much smarter he is for leaving.

[@langhamp8912]

@@SoybeanAK CityNerd is in my opinion the most balanced and defensible...but I do enjoy his sarcasm. I'm from the opposite; I lived in Western Europe and Asia for nearly two decades before coming to the US for college. The car dependency is misery for me, and even though I can "sorta" live around it by choosing where to live, I really miss casual, fast, and extensive public transportation. Public transportation is also weirdly political in the US and the UK. The first thing drivers will say is that there's drug users on public transportation system while ignoring that about half of car wrecks involve...drugs (namely alcohol). There's a strong element of socio-economic snobbery among public transportation haters; the justification of budget cuts comes from the poor service of public transportation due to budget cuts.

[@JeffRevell]

Here in Northern Virginia we have High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes that require a certain number of riders per vehicle to use. We actually had the very first HOV lanes in the country, dating back to 1969. They were bus-only lanes at first but opened up to carpools in 1973. Some of our HOV lanes also charge tolls for those who do not have enough riders. The beauty of our HOV lanes is that they allow cyclists to use these roads without penalty due to the fact that they are much more fuel efficient than their four-wheeled counterparts.

[@davidblair3371]

I shared the lanes with cars in Bay Area for years. The key to it is knowing yourself and judging others actions. Plus always try not to go between cars that are perfectly side by side.

[@MiketheNerdRanger]

Less cars, more motorcycles. Also more trains and more busses and more walkable neighborhoods, but *yeah, MOTORCYCLES!*

[@iallso1]

When I worked in Christchurch, right in the CBD, I had a 30km/19mile commute. It was a mixed route starting rural road, some motorway, before hitting the city streets. Irrespective of the traffic, I could pretty much guarantee getting door to door in 23 minutes. (For comparison the bus journey was an hour drive time with an 8 minute walk at each end, plus waiting time). The bike enabled easy overtaking on the rural road, the option of lane splitting when the motorway was congested, access to the bus lane in the suburbs, and filtering through traffic in the city. The other advantage was that unlike car parking, the designated motorcycle parks were free of charge and were not time limited. There was comfortably parking for 50 motorcycles within a 3 minute walk of the office, but also the nearby parking structure had free motorcycle parking undercover (and under camera observation) if you preferred.

[@rexiemoto]

I commuted into work for 10 years, when I lived in Southern California on my 600. I loved it

[@MaybeFactor]

Absolutely agree. I went to Thailand recently and their scooters and motorcycles are everywhere in Bangkok, doing deliveries and taking passengers. Dozens of scooters at every traffic light, the impact on congestion is crazy.

[@langhamp8912]

That's where I learned to ride a motorcycle! I was 15 at the time and got bumped a number of times (no biggie). And I was on a scooter for a loooong time before getting my first clutch motorcycle.

[@hollisspear6278]

To start, you'll need about $900 million to counter the lawyers and lobbyists from the petroleum and automotive industries, who will stop at nothing to preserve those traffic jams.

[@tridentyyz]

Time spent commuting in a car is wasted, time spent commuting on a motorcycle is an awesome day. I ride year round in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

[@adam346]

weather is a bit rough right now, what tires do you use?

[@tridentyyz]

@adam346 Michelin Road 5.

[@adam346]

@@tridentyyz are they rated for snow?

[@tridentyyz]

@adam346 no, and I won't ride if there is a chance of snow. I ride until it's -12C and it's dry. It does not snow that much in Toronto.

[@Montragon29]

Recently, countries in Europe are changing their laws to encourage more motorcycle use within cities. In Greece where i live, the law changed 1 month ago, we can lane split legally now, and move up in front of the car queue when stopped at traffic lights. I mean we did that already and the police knew that it was the safest choice so noone gave us grief about it, it's just that now its legal and if there's a crash, the insurance companies cant evade the cost...Also, toll rates are significantly lower for motorcycles here and sometimes they let us pass for free if there's a congestion and we fumble around with change...

[@_Jaded_]

@yammie Start a PAC, organize a movement, make a difference. I think people will get behind you on this regardless of their interests in the channel. You make a very compelling case, now let's'get that in front of the right people and do something with it. Cheers

[@ZephyrrYT]

I second this. I feel people who don't agree with/ like yamm would hop on this because its just because it would be great for us across the country

[@telkoift8648]

I used to be the 365 Gixxer rider. I had two of them and never had a car license until 45 years old. But I live in the south, so there was never any snow involved! But it was a losing fight. Now I live alone and am a multiple pet owner. Without public transportation I had no choice but to quit bikes and buy a car. Unfortunately everything you have said has made too much sense. I have moved to the US 30years ago. The biggest frustration I have is the country’s refusal to adopt any ideas from other nations regardless of how much it makes sense. And in the last 30 years rational thinking is clearly in the decline. Big business runs this country through donating to political campaigning, so things will never change. That is why I have made a plan to leave this country. I frequently travel to a land of trains, bicycles, very little traffic and fantastic curvy roads. I intend to start my immigration process in the coming year. Also, by the way, your videos have improved tremendously in the last couple of years. Keep it up. And keep it upright.

[@HighlifeSAP]

Thank you for the time analogy. I have always referred to my time "bank." Don't know the balance, Can't make deposits, only withdrawals. No such thing as an overdraft. "Spend your time wisely."

[@kenbrown2808]

zombies are overdrating.

[@supersnot4]

I commuted to work in California about 70 miles round trip for years (Cajon Pass). I rode my WR250R for fun sometimes, until my commuter car was totaled by another driver. I rode the WR for a montu straight and quickly decided to replace the car with a dedicated commuter bike. Even at $19K out the door, my Zero DSR was absolutely the best commuting decision I ever made. I cut my commute time from 1-2 hours to 30-40 minutes. Fuel costs alone were over $500 a month, which is less than payments, electricity, registration and insurance combined on the Zero. Now that I moved to Arizona, even though you can filter I'm desperate for the law to change to match California and make full lane splitting legal.

[@Venom_Byte]

I'm tryna get all my buddies on two wheels but they wont cuz they're all genuinely terrified of motorbikes. Let's face it, not everyone has the heart to be a biker.. It's a way of life.

[@nickmcclellan9623]

Great video! I live just outside of Fort Worth, Texas, and I am surprised there aren't more riders. Keep up the great work!

[@beefyboi64]

I got my first motorcycle this year and it's been one of the best things I've ever done. My commutes are more enjoyable, my stress levels are down, the gas savings are great, I'm slowly learning to work on my own vehicle. Every able-bodied person should be riding a bike when they don't need the unique benefits of a car.

[@FirdausAmir]

If motorcycles are dangerous, bicycle and walk are also dangerous 😂

[@jansteinhaus5821]

Man I hate it when I slip over gravel while walking at 50 mph

[@corujariousa]

I agree 100% but a substantial cultural change would be required for motorcycles to be seen by many/most in America as a true transportation vehicle instead of a "dangerous adult toy."

[@adam346]

parts of the country are also heavily snowed in for like 3 months of the year so that is 3 months you are making payments or paying insurance for and unable to use the thing (realistically, some people do kit out for winter).

[@JohnShaw26.2]

I was in Los Angeles today on my CBR 600rr. The city is a sh*t hole 😆. Traffic was terrible. Can’t imagine suffering that in a car!

[@jamescampbell4334]

You can't be serious. Most people can bearly steer a car. For clarity, I ride 14k miles annually in D/FW Texas.

[@Ninja98x]

Maybe if they learned to ride a motorcycle, the heightened awareness they're forced to develop would turn them into better car drivers too?

[@beardannyboy]

Those people shouldn't be allowed to drive, but we can't be strict like that and we have to hand out licenses to these terrible drivers because there's no other viable options for these people to get around.

[@James_Wotring]

I'm the guy that rides year round. I ride a 2013 Harley Fatboy Lo for a comfortable touring bike and I ride a 2023 Duke 200 for work commutes which is entirely freeway. In the PNW, it rains a lot but doesn't get very cold. I missed 10 days last year on my 2023 Ninja 650R. The coldest I commuted in was 27F. With reasonable gear, you can conquer the weather for sure. I wear a leather jacket, gauntlet felt lined gloves, and Fly rain pants. It's gotta be raining really hard for me to risk getting wet at all. I think not riding actually negatively impacts my mental health.

[@marc21256]

I moved to somewhere where lane splitting is explicitly legal. So, my commute choices were "use the car I own", "take the bus", or "buy a brand new motorcycle." The RIO on buying a new motorcycle was 0 days. That's right, even if I finance it with $0 down, at the end of the first week, I'll have more cash in my pocket with a new motorcycle than if I rode the bus or used a car I already owned. Not everyone's situation is the same as mine, but for me, when I ran the numbers, it was the best option, by far. It was so much quicker that my "over my dead body" wife, ended up demanding I take her to work every day. Because commuting on a motorcycle is so much faster than car or bus. And a Belgian study on biking (I cant find, happy for someone to point me to it again) indicated that if ~25% of cars moved to bikes, traffic would drop to free-flowing.

[@jansteinhaus5821]

Does bike mean motorcycle or bicycle in this case?

[@eliamagrinelli517]

Having moved to a place that is 50 km from my work and where the commute by train would have inflated to >1h30m it was a no brainer. Get back on a motorcycle after almost 10 years of being off. I am in one of the few EU countries that is forbidding lane filtering, but still now I ride just 1h-1h10m to commute on a naked 125 motorbike that does 2.5 liters of fuel per 100 km. I do not ride it outside commuting, but I still find it so much fun. I am going at it all year around, winter and summer, rain or dry. The only real blocker has been snow of course.... tried once and only got back a broken brake lever, 20 bucks to get a new one ), so then it is back to the train again.

[@Caueborgia]

Small motorcycles are a huge solution to traffic in Brazil, the permission to ride between cars when transit is stoped and motorcycle-only lanes saves a lot of time and reduce the already problematic traffic in big cities

[@washedup_adventurer]

I sold my car to buy my first motorcycle. A wonderful decision. Unfortunately, I don't think this country is too lazy to change, I think we're too selfish to change. And yes... TRAINS!!!!

[@littleshopofelectrons4014]

I've been riding since 1967. As long as it rains, snows, and gets cold motorcycles are not going to be a popular commuting vehicle. Even with proper cold and wet gear, its not fun being on a motorcycle in the rain or cold.

[@davidnayce7885]

Yeah, it's pretty brutal in the New England area as well as a good portion of the north/central part of the US during the winter. I'll still ride, but only under certain conditions... and depending upon the conditions of that year's winter you can get a lot or zero bike time. In the South or places like California? Sure, you could get away with motorcycles year round, but up north we can see months of snow/ice threatening even the cars... and when they lay down that salt? Quick way to corrode your bike if you don't get it cleaned up quickly. Some areas use sand, but I found out the hard way that the sand tends to stay in the streets throughout the year, making the roads unsafe if there's not a lot of traffic year-round....

[@seattlegrrlie]

Here in Seattle, the ebike revolution is truly upon us. Yes, this is a motorcycle channel, but even grandma is on two wheels. I'm going to get a scooter and try to ride more both ebike and scoot. My truck is a tool to get me into the middle of nowhere, it isn't the best option to go to the gym, work, or meet a friend for lunch

[@CaptainAstrum]

I live in Michigan, but I still ride my maxi-scooter year round. I have an SUV for the family, but the savings in gas and the ease of at home maintenance is enough incentive to take the scooter any day the roads aren't covered in ice

[@megamanx05]

I'm a 39yo new motorcycle rider.... And a motorcycle ride only first used beginner motorcycle I own is Honda Shadow. Maybe after 2years I'll buy my new Honda that's similar to the Honda Shadow frame

[@eartothegroundhandstothesky]

having a bike as your primary transportation is tough. if you need to shop for anything much bigger than will fit in your backpack, you need a car. same with dealing with weather- even just a 90 degree day can leave you soaked in sweat by the time you arrive at work. and rain gear is a serious hassle. so you end up having to buy two vehicles so that you use your car/suv less. another factor ppl don't mention is storage. you pretty much have to have a garage with room for your bike in addition to everything else

[@curemode2002]

Interestingly one of the largest causes of fatal motorcycle accidents are covered by two things we have control over speed and alcohol. If you do not ride drunk, don't go excessively fast and wear a helmet you reduce your chance of being in a serious or deadly accident by nearly 80%. Plus, more folks on bikes will mean less distracted drivers when they are in an automobile, I know it has made me a better driver. Finally, it just really makes more sense in terms of resource use for folks to have a bike, I ride as much as I can in Utah basically until we get below 30 degrees in the morning and evening comute.

[@max2008abhi]

Switch to buses in cities and trains in interstate.. public transport is the answer

[@SejeSteen]

Here in Denmark they recently introduced inspections for motorcycles to deter citizens from riding them

[@trd4d]

I only had a motorcycle for a few years. The first year was in Northern California. Sacramento/San Fran area. Three days I didn’t ride because I was in the hospital for preventative maintenance (Air Force took my wisdom teeth)! The second time was in the Tacoma, WA area. I probably borrowed my kids car a half dozen times. Rode in snow for a mile or so, and thousands of miles in the rain. Mass riding of motorcycles would fix a lot of the gridlock.

[@AerialDevKrk]

I live in a large city in Europe and I was a car guy for 20+years. Last year I bought an electric scooter (Niu Mqi gt 100) and now I can't even think of using a car here, in those small,tight streets. Yuck

[@SoybeanAK]

I did not expect this to be the channel that makes a master case for moto urbanism! We need more people demanding our cities and towns be built human-scale, and pushing for options in transport. The "FREEDOM" of having to pay for a car, gas, legal fees, etc. just to leave your neighborhood is a psyop by governments and big corpos.

[@shop970]

The best thing I ever did was get a new 150cc scooter. Excellent Storage. Inexpensive. Groceries. P.O. laundry. Errands. Picnics. Farmers market. Etc. All on the scooter. Now a 350 to go further and 55mph. After decades of driving cars. . It's fun.

[@CassielAgrippa]

You make a great case for motorcycling on many levels. Around the bigger cities in Norway we face many of the same challenges you described. Lane splitting and filtering is allowed here, but some car drivers do try to hinder this. (Truck drivers are actually very MC friendly and will readily make room. Perhaps because many are MC riders too?) Motorcycling as a whole has been picking up the past years here, but there are still hurdles, such as poor road conditions, crash barriers that are too brutal to motorcyclists, lack of MC parking in the cities etc. While the public transportation (train, subway, tram and bus) seem better than in the US, they are plagued with great maintenance lag, and departures are often delayed or at half capacity. So, gridlock and unreliable public transport certainly makes MC a very tempting alternative in many cases. There is a rather strange initiative by the Norwegian government to get more people to buy electric two-wheelers. They will offer a monetary support of 11,000 Norwegian krones (ca. 986 USD) if you buy a new light electric MC, and 25,000 NOK (ca. 2245 USD) for a heavy MC. However, electric MC is not really catching on at all here... I think they should extend this to apply to buyers of regular MCs too.

[@reachthroughreality]

the town I live in has the lights timed perfectly to cause as much of a back up as possible, but still short enough that no one really comes to a stop for you to filter though stationary traffic.

[@zdanger8479]

Then lane split like a mad man. It's the best!

[@CascadianExotics]

Year round rider from the Pacific Northwest. There are instances where a car is a necessity, but ther are other transportation options where i live. Unfortunately, public transit can only get you so far, and it's really not feasible to ride a bicycle clear across the city. Motorcycle has been great for me, but i don't blame anyone who doesn't want to ride in the rain and cold that we get 9 months out of the year.

[@carsacrossmissouri3250]

It is the solution I’ve thought about this for as long as I’ve owed a motorcycle. I always lane split when traffic stoped back a mile. They save so much time running small errands.

[@JohnJohnson-ML574]

I would love to see more people on bikes. We have 2 employees both go get their riding permit and bought bikes this summer.

[@gregdroid1969]

Commuting to and from work in NYC on my Royal Enfiled 350. Saves me 30 minutes of travel time v subway each way to and from work. Each trip on the subway is about $4. At 80 mpg I go through about $3 worth of gasoline in a week. Tolls are 1/2 price for motorcycles in NYC. Weather permitting, I will choose NYC traffic and riding vs the crazies on the subway any day.

[@DayumSonny]

I went from travelling 2.5 hours in traffic(to and from work) by car in the US to taking a scooter and doing the same distance in 30-40 minutes by motorcycle here is South East Asia. Here the locals never tell you how far you have to go as drive time is measured in hours and minutes than miles.

[@666skyshadow]

As a life time rider, I fully agree with this with caveats. For one, it is 33 degrees in Oklahoma today. Not the best riding weather, imagine if it was snowing or raining. Secondly, I need to something to haul my new motorcycles... can't haul with a motorcycle.

[@reytapley5749]

Put 10k on my wr250 each year for the last two years, in that time i went from putting ~25k a year on my 13’ focus to ~5k a year, also was able to commute to work on the wr when my struts and wheel bearing went on the focus, and in gas alone on miles traveled ive saved a few thousand dollars over the last two years, and the focus is only a 4-banger lol- pretty easy to do on a 250 with a 2gal tank Plus packing a wr250x for a multi-day trip in Co will never get old and it even gives me a backrest! Ill never go back to favoring the car so long as my bike runs, even contemplating riding it to the ski resort when my acl heals up

[@ADobbin1]

I heard some stats a while back that if just 10% of the cars on the road switched to motorcycles then traffic congestion would drop by 90%.

[@barryaronson9697]

I only have a motorcycle. I combine Amazon and other delivery services with a large backpack and seat bag for getting stuff to and from where I live. Occasionally, I need a car and have to go rent one. When I started doing this I lived in an apartment building that kept some Tesla cars for rent in the parking garage. They were $25/hour or $100/day including insurance. It was super convenient and way cheaper than owning a car. Now I have to go to a rental agency. If more situations like the latter were available I think more people would go motorcycle-only.

[@christianmiranda23]

With gas prices about to go up even more here in California, motorcycling just keeps making more and more sense.

[@kevinmanan1304]

I was in Bangkok and I preferred calling the motorbike over a car during rush hour solely due to the time difference, over 3x faster. A 60 min gridlock trip would take 20min on a grab bike.

[@Ifyouaintfirstyourlast]

This is the best video I've seen you making a while I've been saying more people need to ride motorcycles for a long time

[@515klrkillahoobie6]

My international pals get confused here by the laws but if you know how to ride around them you can travel and commute any where in the world and we move at a good pace anywhere the bikes fit

[@John_Ridley]

I live in Michigan. I did have to spend a few hundred dollars on cold weather gear, but I ride all winter, unless the roads are snowy/icy, which is only about 10% of the time. It was subfreezing today and I put > 100 miles on the bike.

[@pault6054]

Agreed! I’ve been telling people if you’re physically, mentally capable, and responsible you should get a bike!! Do it and thank me later! It’s cheaper than a car and you can do all the maintenance with a basic tools!

[@Newhaulin]

I have a knock off grom and it gets 90 or more miles to the gallon. Its a blast and i can hoolagan anywhere and people just smile and wave.

[@alpineacres8042]

Want to get a lot of people riding motorcycles? Allow lane splitting (across the US) and allow motorcycles to travel faster than cars (55MPH speed limit means 75MPH for motorcycles). If that happened tomorrow, buy as much Honda/Yamaha stock today as you possibly can, there would be an insane rush to 2 wheels!

[@roberts1677]

Motorcycle commuting? Yes! I do this sometimes. However, it's currently 15F where I live. The bike will be staying in the garage for a while.

[@mxracer95x]

100% And this is one reason why riding in Europe is such a great experience.

[@michaelm4079]

Sold my car years ago. Ride in all weather. Hurricanes are a bit touchy. I'm in FL. The cagers can make it a bit interesting but my Fury gets me home every time.

[@novacounciloutsdrs4770]

You can't be as lazy as most people are when it comes to motorcycles. There's no answer for what to do when you come to a stop. The first thing riding a motorcycle makes you do is focus. I don't even use a phone mount yet. I listen to the directions with the music playing. Now that's one thing about the older bikers I wonder about, when did they get to listen to music and ride a motorcycle besides having speakers in the bike? Was it revolutionary? Lol

[@jean-francoisauger9912]

Bigger SUV's with higher front end, sharper edges make it dangerous for everyone on the road, while small vehicles (which is more than what is really needed for only 1 passenger) are no longer sold in north america. Oh and lane splitting is illegal in Canada, I think it'd take decades before car drivers get used to it, meanwhile they'd just try to block you in anyway!

[@douglasburt1622]

I just sold my diesel Jetta (50mpg) and bought a small motorcycle (MT-03) (60mpg). doing so, I was able to put several thousand dollars aside for safety gear, sliders, etc., and I now have a brand new vehicle with an extended warranty for $6000 out the door and I no longer burn diesel. I borrow my wife’s car only very rarely (like buying lumber for the new deck or taking a trip with my wife out of town. ) And I finally found snow tires for the MT. In Türkiye, mind you. But they ship. I just paid $125 for tabs which is almost $200 less than for the Jetta. And so far, maintenance has cost me almost nothing while the Jetta was easily $1000 a year. And yes, you’re right, I’m a happier person when I’m on the bike than when I am off. By the way, I’m 64 years old, though I did ride a GS750E when I was younger so two wheels are, we’re not completely unfamiliar to me. By the way, I have no plans to buy a larger bike. This one gets me around town brilliantly. And while that’s all I really need it to do, it’s not exclusively practical. It’s also a gas to ride!

[@GKQ333]

lol it is so funny that people think filtering is cheating. americans simply feel "i suffered so you should too" in most every circumstance in society and would rather you suffer rather than fixing the issue. and riding around in SE Asia, the organized chaos of the traffic is a beautiful thing.

[@TommyHuckeby]

Ride as much as I can. Errands, commuting, and fun! Just rode in 26° from work last night. They all think I'm crazy except 1 guy, it's because he rides too! It is definitely my preferred way to travel!!

[@simonsmotocat2774]

I've tried to commute on Gixer 750 with no rider aids in Wisconsin during winter. Not the best experience and not every winter day is it possible, but generally - quite doable.

[@hairull1988]

i started from a Yamaha Jupiter MX135, then Yamaha FZS-150 v3.0 then Honda CB400X 2019... and now a Yamaha Tracer 9 GT. So i'm about the full bike life, cheers!

[@adventuretimemoto]

The Indian guy carrying 5 of his buddies on his 125 is the most efficient traveler. Also sounds like Yam needs to do a giveaway scooter

[@Stratocasterhead51]

My 2 cents as someone who only rides motorcycles year round rain or shine. Riding in cities is NOT relaxing. I live in a big metropolitan area and lane splitting for 25 mins is very stressful. Sure it is a lot faster than the 1h30 mins i would need if it was by car, but it does takes it toll on your mental health and fatigue. Scooters and Utilitarian bikes are often snubbed by the motorcycling community because "BORING" but are such fantastic creations. The peace of mind i have knowing that i have decent weather protection, good fuel range and economy, comfortable ergonomics, heated grips, cruise control, luggage space on my NT1100 at the end of a long day of work is a blessing. Sure a tuono V4 is more exhilirating but 99% of the time a big lazy twin with weather protection and comfort suspension is WAY better. Removing the muffler on your bike does not make you cool, it just makes you an asshole. Hearing a full system MT07 rev bombing at 3 in the morning is probably why most people hate motorcylists and why bikes are proggressively suffocated by emission regulations. If these cretins could just keep the muffler in, and not be obnioxiously loud in the dead of the night or in sleepy villages, maybe motorcyclists would be more liked by people. An MT07 sounds like shit when you hit higher revs, removing the muffler just makes it louder... but it still sounds like shit. Keep it in the low revs, it is a deep and more spirited sound. And you wont piss everyone off. Cities are built for cars. Not for bikes. Tar snakes, tram lines, pedestrian crossings, man hole covers are the BANE of motorcycles when the weather gets wet. Zebra crossings when wet make Teflon feel like superglue. Modern Car drivers CANNOT drive. No spacial awareness, always using their mobile phones in one hand. Dont check their mirrors and blinkers are rarely used. This is a problem with radar guided cruise control, lane assists and other HELP drivers get. They no longer need to pay attention when driving. The cars drive themselves. As Yammie says in the video, cars are WAYYYYY too big. Why you need a tank for your commute i have no clue. Why you need a tank to sit in a traffic jam is even stupider. Do you need to make a statement so badly about how much you earn? You need people to see that you have a gigantic range rover or bentley bentayga? Hey if its for crossing the continent and doing 500 miles of motorway, sure, that is a good comfortable choice. For sitting in a traffic jam, surely not. For the 100 000€ you spent on that G wagon, you could spend 20 000€ more, get a small, economic Yaris for your city driving.

[@AyooDarisss]

My boss takes 2/3hour drive into work from LI to brooklyn. Mans owns 20+ motorcycles and still chooses to drive a car and take that L just to avoid weather part of riding

[@KSMinhoka]

I once posted how north americans are ""privileged"" to have so many parking lots to practice on. Every practice video just says "pick your empty parking lot or large street", and I'm here from Sao Paulo, Brazil saying "where the f do you find those places". The only ones with large lots are supermarkets, shopping, airports and maybe megachurches, and all are gated. But we really dont need large parking lots for anything else. Food is everywhere or can be brought by delivery bikes, every corner has a church, any old regular store has tops 10 parking spots. Every other parking lot is underground. And other than that, we have a large network (albeit low to medium quality) public transportaton system that can take you pretty much anywhere. There really is no need for parking lots if everyone arrives "on foot". And I say """privileged""" because such large patches of tarmac left empty on a sunny day are climate change accelerators.

[@dig-ga]

As a motorcycle enthusiast, I can name a couple of things that are a major pain in the ass driving motorcycles: - rain - a bit of snow / ice - sweat infested motorcycle suits/helmets (esp. when you need to go to work / business meetings (wearing a suit)) AND storing it somehwere after you parked Besides, you also need to have at least good reflexes and anticipation skills. Skills only a minority posess. Of course, there is a solution for everything. You could build a modernized version of BMW C1, with all kinds of safety features and airbags. But, do you really want to ride a bike like that? BMW is not even producing it anymore, which suggests, most motorcyclists didn't like it. Motorcycles, as of now, are not for the masses.

[@vampiresquid]

6:09 I just realized if you wheelie past the toll camera, it probably can’t read your plate. 🤔

[@feygor]

preach it brother, pickup truck & a bike is all I need

[@abdullahakhtar9824]

In Virginia there was a bill to legalize filtering but it died in the process which sucks because filtering can put you in jail for some reason. Hopefully it’s successful the next time there is a push to legalize it

[@jackskellingtonsfollower3389]

I can already see car manufacturers inciting false information regarding motorcycles to defend their products. It wouldn't surprise me if this is already the case to some extent.

[@TerryHowell62]

Excellent video. Trains 👍Motorcycles 👍wheelie through the toll booth 🤣

[@arrialscott9426]

I personally like large trucks and SUVs, but I would agree that we don’t need to drive them all the time especially when it comes to short distances. But if you’re going to work or running errands and having fun on the weekends, motorcycles make more sense.

[@christiansanchez1486]

Bro, majority of people can’t even drive their car properly and I know car guys who ride who text and ride and that stuff scares the crap out of me.

[@vask3863]

WELL SAID. Greetings from Greece. Where motorcycles & scooters are everyday vehicles. Not just a "fun vehicle" after work. There are used for commuting to work, meeting up with friends, riding to grocery stores, riding to the beaches, etc. Greece has the most motorbike & scooter ownership in whole Europe. It helps immensely to lower the traffic in the cities.