[Kenny Sagawa’s Column]　”Do We Need Motorcycles?” How can we answer this ultimate question?

[Kenny Sagawa : Webike News Editor]

Questioning the Significance of Existence of Motorcycles

Last week I joined an event for the owners of imported motorcycles which was held by an imported motorcycle company.

I was in charge of riding lessons and a talk show. I chatted with editors and journalists there about motorcycle industries and we came up with a subject, which was “Do we need motorcycles, especially big sport models?”

There was a silence for a while since it was such a fundamental question to ask the meaning of the existence of motorcycles…. Then each of us started stating our individual opinions.

That was something which had recently been in my mind, so it was a great opportunity for me to sort out my feelings.

Interesting and Smart Thinking Ability

Cited from the conversation.

Mr. A ” Somebody in the 19th century thought that if bicycles have engines they will be more useful. That is how motorcycles are invented. Then the society accepted them. That is why they became common. In another words, it was a fait accompli. It is a dead certain before a discussion.”

Mr. B ” Automatically operated cars are getting more realized these days, so maybe we will not be able to have cars which DO NOT need people to operate and motorcycles which DO need people to operate together on the road in the near future. If that happens motorcycles might be got rid of. We might be told to enjoy our sport bikes only on closed areas…

Mr. C “If you ask me if motorcycles are definitely necessary or not, I want to keep it vague. There should not be that many products you can say “definitely needed”. I think it is the same when it comes to sports cars, smart phones, or fashions.”

I was listening attentively to their keen insight in the conversation. There were many opinions which made me convinced.

The answer is “NO”, but…

It is true that motorcycle is a necessary mean of transportation to carry both people and things in the developing countries. They are still under the development and automobiles are generally not common yet. Japan was once there not that long time ago.

However, we can say that motorcycles, especially large sport bikes are completely for hobby ride in developed countries. They have as much power and displacement as automobiles, but can carry only two people. You are also at high risk for accidents.

If you ask me if they are absolutely necessary, the answer is “NO”.

The expressions of riders I saw at the event were very lively and they were deepening the bonds between each other. That made me convinced that motorcycles are irreplaceable for those riders. I also heard that the support through the friendship of riders help someone overcome an intractable disease.

Even each person ride a motorcycle as a hobby, we can get together to do something to contribute to society.

One of the guests who was participating in the event, Fukasi Kazama, is an adventurer who is known to be the first person in the world to reach the north and south pole by motorcycle. He also focuses on the environment preservation by cleaning beaches, etc. which is performed as a part of his own motorcycle group meeting.

Power and Color for Life

I tried the electric wheel chair made by Yamaha the other day. It made me surprised that I could maneuver it on my own terms. I was told that the advanced control technology which was cultivated by Yamaha’s motorcycle development was applied to this latest product.

This electric wheel chair is considered to be used as an assisting tool for disabled people or frail elderly people to continue enjoying their active and positive life style. Advanced technologies which were cultivated in motorcycle industries are finding wide application in various fields of the motorcycle industry.

Motorcycles are precious for me myself, too. They give powers and colors to my life. My answer for the question at the beginning is “YES”. It is natural that everybody has a different thought and opinion, but I thought that it is important for each rider, including me, of course, to keep it in mind to contribute the society to let it accept the significance of the motorcycles.