With yet another summer of record gas prices looming just over the horizon, more and more Americans are turning in their wheels... or at least a couple of them. Sales of motorcycles and scooters are up 8 percent over 2005, and according to the American Motorcycle Association, 35 percent of its members intend to ride more this summer because of gas prices.
Of course, it's probably possible to poke a mathematical hole into this rationale with but a few pecks at the ol' calculator, unless one chooses only the most frugal of two-wheeled conveyances (and a look at the best-selling list, full of Harleys, indicates that this is definitely not the case). According to one dealer, "People are looking for reasons to justify that want, and gas prices do that." Not like there's anything wrong with that, of course; we'd just be a lot happier if new riders would get some training before hitting the streets so that the annual death rate reverses its decade-long ugly trend.
[Source: USA Today]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Whiplash @ Jun 8th 2006 1:27PM
I think the upwing in the death toll is probably more due to those phony "skull cap" helmets these guys are wearing now days. More important to look cool than protect your noggin I guess.
The education for motorcyclists is actually really good though. I got my license two years ago and was pretty impressed the emphasis on safety in motorcycle mags and also the availability of training courses. I took the California Highway Patrol sponsored course to get my license and I would recommend it to everyone thinking about riding.
Mark @ Jun 8th 2006 1:43PM
One need not choose the most frugal of two-wheeled conveyances to benefit from improved gas mileage. Harleys routinely get 50+ mpg on the highway, 40 or so around town. Other cruiser-style bikes tend to be similar. Sportbikes are a bit less fuel-efficient, but even those usually get at least 35mpg.
And if one really does choose an especially frugal motorcycle, such as a Royal Enfield Bullet, mpg figures of 70, 80, and up are common. And for scooters the figures are even higher.
gbh @ Jun 8th 2006 1:45PM
If you ride without a helmet (or one of those 'decorative' helmets) you are helping Darwin out. Much like not wearing a seatbelt. But you should be free to kill yourself any way you want.
Seriously, the trend toward younger riders and really serious iron is concerning. Especially when a lot of these kids have not even ridden before they go get their first 600/900.
One of the funniest/saddest things I ever saw was 2 guys on brand new 900RRs. Obviously, neither had ridden more than 10 minutes in their lives. After trying for 20 minutes, neither could modulate the clutch well enough to leave the lot.
Drew @ Jun 8th 2006 3:33PM
My Ninja 650R got about 45MPG on its first tank. My Prius gets about 5MPG better but the Ninja is a lot more fun to ride! Taking my MSF course next week, I can't wait.
Dan @ Jun 8th 2006 3:36PM
Sad but true it's mostly just justification of buying a new toy over actual saving money. I get 60-70mpg on my 250r but gear isn't cheap (I don't have much but it's still ~$500 worth), and neither are tires (~$200) that are not uncommon to need replaced every 5k-10k.
It's still worth it in the end. I keep the miles down on my car, and it's certainly a lot more FUN than driving a volvo around everywhere. Even better if your friends have bikes, too.
bob @ Jun 8th 2006 3:38PM
Saving gas is one thing, but I also like the fact that I can tailgate cars while flipping my high beam on and off and swerving back and forth. Puttin my skanky azz ho on the back who likes to flash her breasts and show some thong to people behind us really makes the guys in cars jealous. Passing people on the shoulder is one of my favorite things but I guess you are right, saving on gas is awesome.
Typesbad @ Jun 8th 2006 3:44PM
Shush will you?
MPG and car pool lanes are exactly the angle I'm using to try to convince the wifey of my need to return to two-wheel, stupid-fast transport.
Unfortunately I have plenty of more work to do so in the mean time:
Don't give it away!
G. Snyder @ Jun 8th 2006 3:50PM
Bob - I hope you are kidding.
Cervus @ Jun 8th 2006 4:08PM
I've got a Honda Reflex scooter and I typically get 65+ mpg. It's not quite enough for the freeway, but on surface streets it's quite useful. I also took the MSF last April after having the scooter six months. Pity the "discount" with Progressive was so tiny. I just might look for a better insurance agency when this policy is paid off...
Poe @ Jun 8th 2006 4:12PM
Worked for me! The thing is though... shortly after I bought my SV650 back in 2004 (under the pretense of saving money on my 70-mile round-trip commute), they started up a commuter bus route between the town I live in and the city I work in - and it only costs me $2.50 per day! I can't even run the bike that cheaply - so now it is purely for pleasure! I absolutely love it too. Just went for a 200-mile ride in the NC mountains last week. Got another one planned two weeks from now. Highly recommended.
Palmer Brown @ Jun 8th 2006 4:29PM
Okay, office debate going on. I say the dresser in a wheelie is faked. Others in the office think it is real. Whats the scoop?
Shane @ Jun 8th 2006 5:06PM
The Goldwing probably does have enough torque to pull a wheelie, but I'd like to see a source for the photo.
Bogey @ Jun 8th 2006 5:35PM
Like it sez on the bottom of the photo - the source is Performance Bikes magazine. A British sport bike mag (very good one at that). I believe the "driver" is (was) Ronnie Smith (RIP). And yes, it's genuine. I have personally seen a Goldwing 1800 do a wheelie (one-up - but still it was a wheelie).
I commute to work 2 or 3 times a week on the bike. It saves me $$$ because my other vehicle is a gas guzzling truck...
Adrian Clarke @ Jun 8th 2006 6:26PM
Believe me, that's genuine. Performance Bikes is legendary for this sort of inspired lunacy. I've not read it for a few years, since the writing went down the toilet, but when Mark Graham and Mark Forsyth were amongst the scribes it was by far the best bike mag out there.
Any publication that encourages various firms to send it their interpretation of the mags logo and calls the spot 'Tradesmens Entrance' is inspired.
Carlton @ Jun 8th 2006 6:59PM
Bob,
They're not jealous, they're laughing at what an ignorant dipshit you are.
gbh @ Jun 8th 2006 8:38PM
The current gen 'Wing is capable of hauling serious ass. For a full-on tourer it is amazing.
I have ridden them a few thousand miles. Though I have not personally wheelied one, I'm certain it's not hard.
I do know for certain you can lean it 'til it scrapes.
lincmercguy @ Jun 8th 2006 10:55PM
I picked up a mid-80's cruiser (750cc) for about $2k last year. It's quite a bit of fun, and gets about 43mpg city and highway. I've put about 2000 miles on it. I would have gotten one some day anyway, just picked last fall because gas shot up. I have had to put some work into it, but not too much in parts.
I did the math, and comapred to my pickup, it was going to take about 10k miles to recoup my cost. Compared to a Taurus, or something similar, about 15k. That was also with gas calculated at $2.30/gallon (thought it wouldn't shoot back up).
I thought about getting a civic beater, or something like that, but the bike is less money, less stuff to break, a lot more fun to drive, and much cheaper to insure (about 1/3 of a car).
I took the motorcycle safety/license course before I bought it. I would definitly recommend the course to anyone who's thinking about getting a bike. You'll get your endorsment and learn a lot. Even if you decide you don't like it, it's a fun weekend, and they provide the bike, helment, etc. I payed about $200 for the course and $1 to add the endorsement.
Dave @ Jun 8th 2006 11:14PM
After having taken a couple photoshop courses, I believe the picture is real.
First of all, look at the tail pipe dragging against the ground. Yeah, the Goldwing's tailpipes are tapered, but not quite that much.
Second, rear tire: evidence that the weight of the bike is right where it purports to be. The conact patch "squish" is right there.
Third: Reflected light on the bottom of the bike is the correct color and intensity for a wheelie like that. If the bike had been level, it would be a darker, greyish shade.
Last: slight reflections on the road surface immediately behind the bike. The luggage compartments are somewhat glossy, and thus they reflect light back onto the road surface; leaving a couple lighter patches there.
Now, I could (as always) be wrong. The bottom-left portion of the front tire looks wrong. It's too skinny. Also, there's a mysterious vertical shadow across the photo straight down from the driver's foot. Moreover, if we assume the top rail of the fence is horizontal, then all the trees in the background would be leaning slightly.
The truth? Who knows. I would call it a fake except that the yellow-green reflected light across the bottom of the bike it just too realistic to fake.
Appologies for my slightly off-topic ramblings. But that's just my $0.02
Anne @ Jun 9th 2006 9:01AM
The photo is real, I have a friend who can wheelie his full-dress Harley Ultra Classic - without a passenger.
My Harley gets 57 mpg, and I am riding to work 2 - 3 days per week more than last year because of gas prices. I commute 85 miles per day, and my fuel bill is about $15 - 20 per week on the bike, vs. $50 per week in my car, which gets about 28 - 30 mpg.
My tires last 10,000 - 12,000 miles, and I've had to replace very few things on the bike, so I am definitely saving money by riding to work more often.
Hugo @ Jun 9th 2006 2:56PM
MOTORCYCLES ARE STUPID! I am a medical student and worked in the trauma ward on my surgery rotation. Every day the weather would get nice we would get a call every hour or two due to a motorcycle accident. Some IDIOT would be wheeled in with massive hemorrage or clinically dead. One guy was wheeled in head-first. The first thing I saw was that the top of his skull was entirely missing. The last thing he saw was the ceiling of a hospital. Another guy ended up with brain injuries so bad he couldn't speak, understand us, or recognize his family. All he would do was writhe around in his bed all day, moan, and drool. His wife would sit there and wipe drool off his face until we discharged him to a nursing home in a wheelchair. Taxpayers and charity will pay for this 45 year-old man to live in a nursing home for the rest of his life (life?). I could tell you forty more stories like that.
MOTORCYCLES ARE IDIOTIC. They make me livid. These people are stupid. Some of them are probably good riders but get hit by cars. Others wipe out and get run over. It really seems like nobody hears about these people. Get something with four doors, a seatbelt, and airbags. Please, stop the stupidity.