Horses...vs...Steel Horses...

[Dan Caviness]

Dan,

I tend to disagree. It makes sense to me that unloaded motorcycles wouldn't be able to move. For a motorcycle to move, at least one rider per vehicle is required, which would take away from the fighting strength of the unit. Multiple horses can be moved together by one soldier, and trucks of course generally have a dedicated driver.

I am open to different interpretations, but this rule seems to me to make sense.

Sasha...how are things going these days?
XXXXVIII...oh man...

I tend to disagree with myself as well, at least more often than not, so I see your point...

If we look at transports we have armed and unarmed variants.

All armed variants (check me on this) have the ability to move inherent whether manned or unmanned.
I.E., Halftracks, Barges, LST's.  (I never fire unloaded motorcycles but they may have a small attack value?)
If motorcycles are an armed variant it would seem consistent if they could move without loading troops.

Most unarmed variants, trucks, tractors, and horses, can move without loading them.

But some, specifically boats, rafts, and motorcycles, cannot move unless they are manned.

It would appear the units the game allows to move are assumed to have some sort of organic troops dedicated to this purpose as you note above.  I can see where boats and rafts in landing scenarios would be abandoned, but for motorcycles it seems logical to me they would have the same sort of organic "handlers" that horses or any other form of transport which is capable of moving without being manned. 

If I had any logic behind this process, it would only be to say all transports should have the same methodology.

And to be honest the only reason I mention it is they can really clog a map, especially a forest or rough terrain map.
I'm usually in too big of a hurry to take that extra turn or two to move off the road into a forest hex, and I may unlimber on the road.  Of course that is my choice so I'm probably getting exactly what I deserve... 

Regards,

Dan