File this under “Duh…”

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Motorcyclists have long championed riding as their main road to stress relief and positive mental health. Today, the results of a neurobiological study conducted by a team of three researchers from UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior yielded pioneering scientific evidence revealing the potential mental and physical benefits of riding. Funded by Harley-Davidson, the study found that motorcycling increased metrics of focus and attention, and decreased relative levels of cortisol, a hormonal marker of stress.

Researchers recorded participants’ brain activity and hormone levels before, during, and after motorcycling, driving a car, and resting. While riding a motorcycle, participants experienced increased sensory focus and resilience to distraction. Riding also produced an increase in adrenaline levels and heart rate, as well as a decrease in cortisol metrics – results often associated with light exercise and stress-reduction.

“Stress levels, especially among young adults, continue to rise, and people are exploring pathways to better their mental and physical health. Until recently, the technology to rigorously measure the impact of activities like motorcycling on the brain didn’t exist,” said Dr. Don Vaughn, the neuroscientist who led the research team. “The brain is an amazingly complex organ and it’s fascinating to rigorously investigate the physical and mental effects riders report.”

Results Highlights:

●Riding a motorcycle decreased hormonal biomarkers of stress by 28%

●On average, riding a motorcycle for 20 minutes increased participants’ heart rates by 11 percent and adrenaline levels by 27 percent—similar to light exercise

●Sensory focus was enhanced while riding a motorcycle versus driving a car, an effect also observed in experienced meditators vs non-meditators    

●Changes in study participants’ brain activity while riding suggested an increase in alertness similar to drinking a cup of coffee

“While scientists have long-studied the relationship of brain and hormone responses to attention and stress, doing so in real-life conditions such as these is rare,” explained UCLA Professor and senior team member, Dr. Mark Cohen. “No lab experiment can duplicate the feelings that a motorcyclist would have on the open road.”

“The differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and other measured activities were quite pronounced,” continued Dr. Vaughn. “This could be significant for mitigating everyday stresses.”

Research Overview

The research team monitored participants’ electrical brain activity and heart rate, as well as levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol. To be presented later this year, the Harley-Davidson funded study, entitled “The mental and physical effects of riding a motorcycle” measured the biological and physiological responses of more than 50 experienced motorcyclists, using mobile EEG technology.

“We’re leveraging the latest technologies as we shift our focus from exclusively motorcycles to growing ridership, so it only made sense to tap technology to explore the impact of riding itself,” said Heather Malenshek, Harley-Davidson’s Senior Vice President of Marketing & Brand. “The research findings Dr. Vaughn and his team identified helps explain what our riders have felt for the past 116 years – there’s a vitality and heightened sensory experience that comes from the freedom of riding a motorcycle. We hope their findings inspire the next generation of riders to experience these benefits along with us.”

The Ultimate New Year’s Resolution: Learning to Ride

For those who wish to experience the heightened sensory experience of riding first-hand, H-D Riding Academy will introduce you to motorcycle riding and build your skills in just a few days, regardless of experience level. Offered at select Harley-Davidson dealers, H-D Riding Academy provides expert guidance from Harley-Davidson certified coaches. In the classroom, you get to know basic motorcycle functions and learn the basics of rider safety skills. On the practice range, you build skills and confidence, learning everything from braking, turning and skilled maneuvers. Best of all, you will be connected to a growing community of new riders. To find available courses near you, contact your local dealer or search for classes at www.h-d.com.

¹ Radosevich, P. M. et al. Effects of low- and high-intensity exercise on plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels of ir-beta-endorphin, ACTH, cortisol, norepinephrine and glucose in the conscious dog. Brain Res. 498, 89–98 (1989).

² Hill, E. E. et al. Exercise and circulating cortisol levels: the intensity threshold effect. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 31, 587–591 (2008).

³ As measured by the concentration ratio of DHEA-S to cortisol

⁴ Hill, E. E. et al. Exercise and circulating cortisol levels: the intensity threshold effect. J. Endocrinol. Invest. 31, 587–591 (2008).

⁵ Zouhal, H., Jacob, C., Delamarche, P. & Gratas-Delamarche, A. Catecholamines and the effects of exercise, training and gender. Sports Med. 38, 401–423 (2008).

⁶ Boutcher, S. H. & Landers, D. M. The effects of vigorous exercise on anxiety, heart rate, and alpha activity of runners and nonrunners. Psychophysiology 25, 696–702 (1988).

⁷ As measured by the mismatch negativity (MMN) – the change in the amplitude of evoked auditory responses, to standard versus deviant tones

⁸ Biedermann, B. et al. Meditation and auditory attention: An ERP study of meditators and non-meditators. Int. J. Psychophysiol. 109, 63–70 (2016).

⁹ Srinivasan, N. & Baijal, S. Concentrative meditation enhances preattentive processing: a mismatch negativity study.Neuroreport 18, 1709–1712 (2007).

10 Luo, Y., Wei, J. & Weekes, B. Effects of musical meditation training on auditory mismatch negativity and P300 in normal children. Chin. Med. Sci. J. 14, 75–79 (1999).

11 As measured by the commensurate reduction in alpha frequency band power between baseline and riding to caffeine vs placebo

12 Barry, R. J. et al. Caffeine effects on resting-state arousal. Clin. Neurophysiol. 116, 2693–2700 (2005).

13 Dimpfel, W., Schober, F. & Spüler, M. The influence of caffeine on human EEG under resting condition and during mental loads. Clin. Investig. 71, 197–207 (1993).

14 Angelakis, E., Lubar, J. F., Stathopoulou, S. & Kounios, J. Peak alpha frequency: an electroencephalographic measure of cognitive preparedness. Clin. Neurophysiol. 115, 887–897 (2004).

15 Reeves, R. R., Struve, F. A., Patrick, G. & Bullen, J. A. Topographic quantitative EEG measures of alpha and theta power changes during caffeine withdrawal: preliminary findings from normal subjects. Clin. Electroencephalogr. 26, 154–162 (1995).

16 Kaplan, G. B. et al. Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics and psychomotor effects of caffeine in humans. J. Clin. Pharmacol.37, 693–703 (1997).

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Ducati is embarking on a 17-city tour across the U.S., bringing the Panigale V4 R and other select 2019 models, from coast to coast.

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Beginning this Friday, January 18, Ducati North America will be hitting the road with a distinctive selection of their 2019 models, including the world’s most powerful production motorcycle, the Panigale V4 R. The “Ready For Red” tour will share the Italian brand’s technological and performance innovation with audiences across the United States with 17 stops in major metropolitan areas throughout the nation.

The events will be open to the public with pre-registration for attendance. For more information and to register, visit: ducatireadyforred.com

Guests will have the chance to mingle with Ducatisti in a fun atmosphere while experiencing a diverse product lineup representing the expansive Ducati Worlds that range from Racetrack, Travel, Lifestyle and Sport with the Scrambler Ducati brand rounding out the experience.

In addition to the incomparable Panigale V4 R, other models scheduled to be on-site at the events will include the brand new Hypermotard 950 and 950 SP, Multistrada 1260 Enduro and Multistrada 950 S, Diavel 1260 S, and the Scrambler Café Racer, Scrambler Desert Sled, as well as the Scrambler Full Throttle.

2019 “Ready For Red” Tour

• January 18, 2019 – MotoCorsa – Portland
• January 19, 2019 – Block41 – Seattle
• January 23, 2019 – Harrison Eurosports – Salt Lake City
• January 25, 2019 – Skylight– Denver
• January 26, 2019 – Ducati Omaha – Omaha
• January 29, 2019 – Motor Cycle Center – Chicago
• January 30, 2019 – Ducati Detroit – Detroit
• February 1, 2019 – Lars Anderson Auto Museum – Boston
• February 13, 2019 – Ducati Sanford – Orlando
• February 15, 2019 – Ducati Miami – Miami
• February 19, 2019 – Ducati Austin – Austin
• February 21, 2019 – Bayou & Bottle – Houston
• February 23, 2019 – AMS Ducati Dallas – Dallas
• February 26, 2019 – OTTO Car Club – Phoenix
• February 27, 2019 – Ducati Las Vegas – Las Vegas
• February 28, 2019 – Location TBA– San Diego
• March 2, 2019 – Location TBA – San Francisco

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Not only are recreational areas great fun for riding, they also play a part in the economic infrastructure of rural America.

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Motorcycle industry representatives and outdoor recreation leaders met with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Jim Hubbard and other officials to emphasize the need for better recreation permitting processes and expanded partnerships to improve access to lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

“National forests are at the heart of recreation for Americans, and we made clear to Secretary Perdue that access to trails for motorized vehicles, addressing the maintenance backlog and investing in ways to expand and enhance recreation infrastructure are key to helping rural economies and the recreation economy thrive,” said Paul Vitrano, Motorcycle Industry Council Board chairman and senior assistant general counsel at Polaris Industries.

“We also discussed how the government shutdown has negatively affected safety and access to parks and how it has hurt gateway communities that rely on park users,” said MIC President and CEO Tim Buche. “We must change the way shutdowns are handled in the future so public lands can remain open and safe for all.”

Vitrano and Buche were among other Outdoor Recreation Roundtable leaders and recreation company CEOs who met with government officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Jan. 8. The outdoor group noted the importance of national forests to many recreational activities and highlighted the many world-class experiences provided to motorized trail enthusiasts, anglers, skiers, hikers, climbers, campers, paddlers and boaters. The recreation leaders underscored the key role national forests play in rural economies across the country and the importance of key provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill that will allow rural economic development grants for recreation infrastructure in rural America.

Perdue said wildfire costs had impacted the department’s recreation efforts and thanked the recreation industry for its role in recent legislation that should control future fire costs at the USDA, and allow the Forest Service and the recreation industry to accomplish more with improved partnerships.

ORR participants also referred to positive actions already underway at the USDA, which are helpful to growing an industry that accounts for 2.2 percent of the nation’s economy and supports 4.6 million jobs. Recreation leaders also highlighted opportunities for immediate progress, including:

• Secretarial visits to sites demonstrating USDA partnerships supporting rural communities and the importance of broadband access in these gateway areas
• Secretarial support for innovative USFS recreation efforts that capitalize on private investments to expand and enhance recreation infrastructure, including campgrounds
• Making the revamped recreation.gov website – and its potential for providing information on recreation opportunities – more visible
• Addressing recreation permitting problems with electronic and simplified applications and timely processing
• Eliminating the maintenance backlog on USFS lands, especially where it threatens recreational activity
• Outreach to young Americans and expanded use of conservation corps

“We are committed to helping Americans enjoy recreational opportunities in our national forests,” Perdue said. “I invite you to help by recommending specific priority steps. Let’s capitalize on the fact that recreation is agnostic relative to politics, and let’s help more Americans enjoy the great outdoors.”

Additional information on topics discussed and the participants can be found here.

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