NYC is a haven for urban motorcyclists—but It’s not for the faint of heart. Read on for firsthand New York motorcycle ownership pros and cons, shared by a local.
Riding motorcycles isn’t always about hitting the open road — in fact, there’s a thriving motorcycle community in the heart of New York City, one of America’s most notorious urban jungles. From communal garages like Ryder’s Alley to weekly meetups at Two Wheel Tuesday, motorcycle owners in New York have no shortage of ways to share their love of riding.
However, living in NYC does present a few unique challenges for motorcyclists — space is expensive, and most of us can’t afford to pay upwards of $250 for parking in a community garage that might be miles from where we live. For motorcyclists, proximity and accessibility are part of the appeal; we want our bikes close by.
We also want them to stay our bikes; motorcycle theft is a huge problem in New York, with bikes getting stolen on a daily basis. In fact, bike theft is so rampant that the crisis has spawned Instagram accounts devoted solely to reporting daily bike theft — check out @stolenmotoryclesinnyc to see for yourself.
We love New York, but these logistical issues can sometimes interfere with the pure unfiltered joy of riding. Sometimes, you want the freedom to just jump on and go without having to trek to your storage garage, uncover the bike, or remove multiple locks.
So how are riders responding? More and more, we’re seeing people buy older, less flashy bikes that won’t catch the eye of roaming thieves.
People are also democratizing the garage game with more affordable, accessible communal garages and workshops — oftentimes, these garages double as community meeting places for events, classes, and more.
In our opinion, the convenience of riding a bike in New York far outweighs the inconvenience of storing one. We aren’t limited by train delays, traffic jams, and skyrocketing Uber prices; wherever we’re headed, whether it’s down the block or into the Catskills for a weekend away, we can just hop on our bikes and go.
(You can find more of Jules Zucker's writing about riding over on the johnnypuetz Productions blog).
Twisted Road note: New York is the only state that doesn’t allow for moto rentals, so if you’re in the city and have decided not to deal with the storage costs and potential thefts but still want to feel the roar and wind, check out nearby motorcycles you can rent today.
