Motorcycles and stories go hand in hand. When it comes to motorcycle content, the narrative form is extremely important.
Every ride is like a story. There’s a beginning, middle, and end. There’s often a climax or a high-intensity point, and the ride can end tragically or triumphantly.
When I think of the things that motorcycle content does wrong, it’s that it often fails to tell a good story, which is something I try to do more often than not in my work.
I’m not immune to neglecting the narrative form. I’ve written countless articles for publications and companies that are more about the products or bikes than the experience, or the story behind them.
However, I’ve found every time I add narrative elements to my articles, they’re more impactful.
This is true not just for me, but for my past and present (and likely future) colleagues as well.
Look to Hunter S. Thompson’s Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga or his wild Gonzo freakout that is Song of the Sausage Creature. Look to Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or any of the other books and long-form articles that have come from riding on two wheels.
I see the same things from Ari Henning, Zack Courts, and Spenser Robert’s videos. These guys are best when they’re doing some storytelling, even if the majority of the content is focused on bikes, tools, and gear.
While the subject matter of these fantastic pieces is important, it’s the way that they’re told that makes them last.
The best stories make for the best articles, and that is something I would like to see more of in motorcycle content. It’s also something I’ll be striving to do better in the months and years to come.