Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

Before learning to drive a car i would have said a motorcycle, however, one thing that has become apparent now im learning to drive is when travelling at 70mph on a dual carraigeway i find i have to constantly make small corrections to the steering, it doesn't take much to stray over a while line or drift to the left, this pushes the concentration level way up.

On a bike i just dont experience this problem, and as the bike has such a small footprint the margin for error is greater as there is more space to the left an right.

The reason this has become so apparent to me is because i have a medical problem where by i have head pain and brain fog whenever i concentrate, the more i concentrate the more intense it gets!

So im having great difficultly learning to drive a car, as after only 20 minutes, my brain is completely shot just driving in a straight line at speed, where on a bike i tend to be able to ride for up to an hour before i need to stop.

There is the arguement that riders are more aware of the surroundings and there for make more observations, but as we are already riders we should be doing the same amount of observation whilst driving too, i know i do. So this question is only to those who ride and drive.

One more thing, as riders we tend to have to look for additional dangers such as potholes and drains etc, but does the extra concentration need for this exceed the total amount of concentration needed to drive?

I would be interested to hear others thoughts on this.

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

I find that I tend to concentrate about the same. But if I get something wrong in the car I have a bigger margin of error and the mistakes tend to be easier to correct than they are on the bike.

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

Well I learnt to drive before I learnt to ride.

Being cuccooned up in that cage, as oppose to the stakes of being exposed on two wheels with the best protection offered being a helmet and some cow skin, my concentration is defineteley much higher when riding a bike...the stakes for me are much higher, simples!

Although since I've learnt to ride, my concentration whilst driving has defo improved. Still does not compare to the focus I have when riding, although one should ultimately be at 100% concentration regardless of the vehicles they are controlling.

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

I drive a car like a car driver but tbh ever since I put a "think bike" sticker in the back I drive like a rider if that makes sense.

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

Personally i think you need to concentrate an equal amount for both, but i find i have greater attention on the bike on specific things like potholes as you said because not noticing something on a bike can result in a much more serious (to your health) injury.
With regards to the steering adjustments when driving the car, when i learnt to drive (had car first) i noticed this, but now i dont notice and just do it without thinking about it. But then when i learnt to ride i found myself concentrating more on my driving because of being aware of everything to look out for when riding....if that makes any sense?!

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

Im more worried about hurting others than myself, so me falling off is less serious than me hitting someone in a car, which might partially explain my answer.

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

Good point. Although I must admit, when on two wheels, I am for concerned for my own well being than I am for others when in a car.

In a car, as long as you check you blindspots, and know whats going on around you, you're all good. Experience from my recent off has taught me the fragility of two wheels the hard way.

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

But then wouldnt being concerned for your own well being be being concerned for others? Cus it you hit someone/thing else your gna hurt it as well as you?

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

Very true, although if you hit a pedestrian with your bike, you're probs still gonna come up better off. When you're riding, there is the hazards to other people (that is still there when driving), but the added hazard to yourself from potholes/ice patches etc, that could potentially leave you in a wheel chair for life.

Crude, but that's the truth of hopping onto the saddle!

Re: Which takes more concentration, bike or car?
 

Yeah that is very true. The added fear of what if when on a bike makes you more aware or more cautious compared to when your in a cage.
But back to what Beabert said, if your always looking out for the dangers that can cause you injury (such as potholes and ppl stepping into the road ect) then why wouldnt you be looking for them when driving? If anything ppl are more likely to see the car coming then they are compared to the bike