It's easier than you think to get over 70 miles per gallon
It has been noted before, but it's worth repeating: gas is getting expensive, and it is not likely to get much cheaper. So, if you want to save a few bucks at each fill up, an option to consider is learning to ride on two wheels. As this article shows, getting well over 70 miles per gallon is possible on either a scooter or a small motorcycle. The winner of this comparison test happens to be the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, which sells new for less than three grand but can be found used for about half that amount. If the Ninja name has you thinking of a sports bike, think smaller. The 250cc engine gives around 30 horsepower or so from what I have heard, so there is not much chance that you'll be in over your head when it comes to power. But, of course, with any motorcycle, proper training is required. News story after news story has shown that scooter sales in particular have gone up dramatically, which I think is a good thing, but remember to be safe if you do choose to save some green by riding on two wheels.
[Source: Cycle World]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bill 11:44AM (5/28/2008)
If people are sensible, they're ok. And part of that is knowing when a bike is too much for you. You are far better off with a smaller bike that you can pick up, push around, etcetera, than with a big hog - generally speaking. If you ride a big hog, you should be able to bench press at least 200 lbs 15 times. Learn to handle the bike, and don't go like a bat out of hell on blind curves - you'll be alright. And stay warm. Hypothermia can creep up on you, and if it does, you won't have good judgment.
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russell anonomyus 12:30AM (8/28/2008)
In response to the gentleman above who said his father was cop
and got to see body parts on the road after motorcycle crashes,
has he ever seen body parts after a car crash,
if you ride a motorcycle ride SOBER, take riders course, use
split vision high aim steering looking for probelms a mile down
the road, in deer areas go slow, get a loud horn change that
anemic unit out for one that HONKS! don't ride faster than
your garidian angel can fly and have a barrell of FUN.
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Rich 4:04PM (10/16/2008)
MOST (not all, but MOST)people die in motorcycle accidents because they are doing something stupid. If a person can follow the rules of the road, give pleanty of room in front of them, and drive defensively the accident potential is greatly reduced. I have driven a TGB R9 150cc to and from work for going on 2 years and have never been in a scary moment. I dont do stupid things on the road. I get 70 miles per gallon and in almost 2 years have saved150 gallons of gas that I otherwise would have burned driving my escort wagon.
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kevinmcalpine 8:00AM (10/14/2009)
A car tyre fitted to a bike in England would get you a ticket from the police, and if you had an accident, your insurance wouldn't cover you. You could be liable for millions if you were found liable.
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Rick 12:21PM (5/30/2007)
It's also easier to die on a motorcycle. Florida bugs? Florida rainy season? What a retarded article.
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Devin Lussier 12:32PM (5/30/2007)
I'll stick with my Prius thanks. There's something to be said for automatic climate control, comfortable leather seats, and a smooth and quiet ride. Oh yeah, and the airbags and seatbelts are kinda nice too.
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TX CHL Instructor 1:09PM (5/30/2007)
It took about 4 days in the hospital, but I was permanently cured of riding motorcycles.
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JiltedCitizen 1:12PM (5/30/2007)
Motorcycles and scooters pollute more than hummers. They don't have to live up to the same emission standards. While I love my motorcycle and it gets great gas mileage, I know it has worse emissions than my car.
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TX CHL Instructor 1:14PM (5/30/2007)
It took about 4 days in the hospital, but I was permanently cured of riding a motorcycle.
ABG posting seems to be kinda glitchy today -- I hope this doesn't turn out to be a double post (the first attempt appeared to fail).
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werepants 1:57PM (5/30/2007)
I think this is worth noting. A motorcycle is actually a pretty good blend of thrifty and fun - even this 30 hp bike accelerates you to 60 in 5.7 seconds and returns a 14.6 second quarter mile. For someone like me who would love to have some fun while not lugging around 4000 lbs and a V8, it is a great thought.
Being efficient doesn't have to mean being lame, boring, and unattractive. And, my dad is a cop and has seen countless motorcycle accidents with body parts all over the road, but if you buy one of these things to scoot around town and don't drive it like a doofus, it seems like a great alternative to a scooter or bicycle, because it gets you where you need to go quickly, efficiently, and in style.
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VespaCMH 3:35PM (5/30/2007)
Well from a environmental standpoint - Two wheels have two stories - 1) Older bikes didn't meet emissions standards; however, 2) newer bikes DO meet emission standards.
So that polluting worse than a hummer crap is untrue (as you already probably thought it was, but repeated it anyway). Almost every new bike/scoot from a reputable manufacturer can be sold in California. While there are some exceptions, bikes and scoots are incredibly eco-friendly. Our family shares a modern four stroke 150cc Vespa.
My wife and I ride the Scoot whenever and everywhere we can. Why move two tons of metal when 400 lbs (scoot included) will do nicely thank you very much. Errands that are too far to walk or bike. Plus I now ride the scoot on my commute to work on most days.
If the cagers* would just get off their damn cellphones, pay attention and drive their cars, the roads would be a lot safer for riders and cagers alike.
Riding is fun and uses less gas, emits less carbon and with the modern engines is incredibly clean. With the proper education (take a MSF safety course) and gear (ATGATT**) you can saefly enjoy your "sacrifice" for the environment. I know I do. Try peeling my smile off each time I fill up for $5 (I get ~65 mpg - and that is low for a modern scoot - most get around 80 mpg).
* Term used for Drivers by Riders.
** All The Gear, All The Time - a motto. What you wear is all that will protect you. (So gear up, even on a scoot, because physics doesn't care if you were riding a scoot or bike - a 60 mph crash will hurt).
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JiltedCitizen 4:48PM (5/30/2007)
Bikes have different emission standards than cars and trucks. They are not held to the same standard.
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Eliot 5:30PM (5/30/2007)
Scooters need proper training as well, it's just not required.
I love that I can flog my bike and it still gets 35mpg
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ME 5:26PM (5/30/2007)
"Bikes have different emission standards than cars and trucks."
True, but there are standards.
I think the main thing people forget about this is volume.
Emissions are measured in PPM, parts per million.
That means for a sample of a certain size, say a liter, how many parts of that sample are pollutants?
If you have a 3.0 liter car engine running at 3000rpm, your total exhaust volume is 3 times that of a 500cc bike engine at 6000rpm. So even if the PPM emissions of the 500cc are twice that of the 3.0L, the total emissions are less.
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Tim 8:03AM (5/31/2007)
I have an older Honda Hurricane - awesome bike, small engine, gets 82mpg and boy is it fun to ride. I completely went through it this winter and rebuilt it from the ground up. I put a newer 500cc engine in it and tuned it for mpg rather than speed and it is a blast to ride. Bikes are as safe as cars - that is, if everyone drives with courtesy and riders wear gear. If I can go over twice as far in a gallon of gas on my bike, how am I polluting more? Even if it spews out more ppm of carbon, it is STILL more economical and "green."
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lauralemay 11:06AM (5/31/2007)
The Ninja 250 is a hoot. Although watch out for the prices -- $3K is MSRP but its almost impossible to buy one at that price -- dealers make almost no profit at $3K so they're really good at taking on fees. A survey on a ninja forum when I was looking for one showed actual out the door new prices of $3500-$5K. Used prices tend to be higher, too, especially when gas prices are high. Out here in CA it seems like the going price is about $2K for good one regardless of year.
Its a fun, light, small, easy bike, but as with any motorcyce it helps to have training. Take the motorcycle safety course, its invaluable. www.msf-usa.org/
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Yggdrasilly 1:38PM (5/31/2007)
And after the massive head/spinal trauma reduces you to a persistant vegetative state, your heirs can remove your feeding tube and fight over all that money you saved!
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MikeW 8:14PM (6/03/2007)
I have to give these guys credit.
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/27/theDarkSide.html
http://lifeisaroad.com/stories/2006/02/10/darkWingdarksideGoldWingcarTireOnAGoldWing.html
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BDoan 5:40AM (1/22/2008)
If you want to survive on a motorcycle, just remember what you learned in HS physics class, "Don't get in the path of large moving objects". I have ridden on the streets since 1975 and never had a serious injury. I almost died in an car several times. Just drive with you brain in gear, not your ego.
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