Why Some People Are Terrified of Motorcycles — and Others Can’t Live Without Them

Why are some people terrified of motorcycles while others can't live without them? Two people at the same red light, the same racing heart: one would never ride in a million years, the other can't imagine a week without it. If you've ever been afraid of riding a motorcycle, or you love someone who is, this is the psychology behind both sides. Riders aren't simply brave and the scared aren't simply sensible. Meet Claire, an accountant who is scared of motorcycles, and her brother Nate, a carpenter who has ridden since nineteen. Seven reasons explain why the same machine feels like a nightmare to one person and like oxygen to another, and why people ride motorcycles even though they know the risk. In this video: 00:00 The red light 01:22 Claire and Nate 02:08 Reason 1: They're not seeing the same risk 03:17 Reason 2: One of them is holding the handlebars 04:23 Reason 3: Their brains tell different stories 05:24 Reason 4: Some people only feel alive near the edge 06:32 Reason 5: Different brains, different stimulation 07:39 Reason 6: The same heartbeat, a different name 08:55 Reason 7: Both of them are right 10:08 The Christmas helmet 10:32 Same heartbeat, different names 11:15 Your turn Let's be honest: we explain why motorcycles are so dangerous and why the fear of riding a motorcycle is not irrational. Then we look at the psychology of risk taking: dread risk, voluntary risk and the illusion of control, the availability heuristic, edgework, and the thrill seeking personality that makes some riders feel like an adrenaline junkie on a quiet Sunday. It also explains why riders feel alive on two wheels. Reason 6 matters if you're scared to ride a motorcycle or deal with motorcycle riding anxiety: fear and excitement feel almost the same in the body, and the label you give it changes everything. It won't teach you how to overcome fear of riding motorcycle in one day, but it shows where to start. So, is riding a motorcycle worth it? Is riding motorcycles worth the risk? This video won't decide for you. It will help you understand the person on the other side of the dinner table. The research behind it: • Slovic (1987) — perception of risk and dread • Starr (1969) — voluntary vs. involuntary risk • Langer (1975) — the illusion of control • Tversky & Kahneman (1973) — the availability heuristic • Lyng (1990) — edgework • Zuckerman — sensation seeking • Brooks (2014) — reappraising anxiety as excitement Tell me in the comments: are you Claire, or are you Nate? Who in your life is the opposite? And what did they say the day you bought your first bike? If you're the Nate in your family, watch next: 10 Signs You're Secretly Obsessed With Motorcycles. Ride safe. And wear the helmet. Someone bought it for a reason. Garage Psychology explains the motorcycle psychology behind how riders think, ride and live. #motorcyclepsychology #motorcycle #whyweride