Motorcycling From Your Armchair

The holiday season is over but winter is still here, much to the chagrin of us motorcyclists in the snowbelt. Maybe you’ve washed and waxed your bike until it can’t get any cleaner. Maybe you’ve been tinkering around the garage a little or maybe you’ve watched Wild Hogs and The Wild One a few dozen times. Regardless, you want something more visceral, more lively and interactive to get your blood racing. Pilots often use simulators to keep their skill set fresh while car and bike racers use them to become familiar with new tracks and keep their reflexes sharp.

I have never been one to condone or endorse video games as I would much rather go to a firing range than play Call of Duty 4 or play hockey at the rink rather than on Xbox. However, there are certain times that one cannot experience the real thing and must improvise.

Far from a replacement, motorcycle video games can be an entertaining substitute that will at the very least keep your attention away from sharp objects. No, you won’t have the wind in your hair or the sweet smell of freshly cut grass wafting past your nostrils, but you can vicariously enjoy the speed and sounds as you circle the track or bomb down the back roads. Think of gaming as a nicotine patch for the perpetual smoker – an aid to get through the rough spots.

By Dustin Woods