Search strings indicate motorcycle interest on the rise
Click above for high-res gallery of the H-D Night Rod Special
There are many ways to judge how various industries are heading, including the automobile market. While current sales are the most obvious indicator in consumer interest and preferences, internet searches can also be used as an interesting indicator. As tech-savvy individuals research future purchases, especially major ones like a vehicle, search strings can offer insight into coming trends, so it's of particular interest to note that there are four motorcycle searches showing in the current top ten search strings in the automotive category.
Gone are any searches at all for sport utility vehicles, with models from Hummer being replaced by motorcycles from Honda. Also interesting is the position that smart holds in the minds of internet researchers. It's clear from these trends that high gas prices will be making an even larger impact on the overall transportation market than they already are. Not surprisingly, the two biggest click-generators are Toyota and Honda, companies which offer the most fuel efficient line of vehicles in the United States. Times, they are a changin...
[Source: ClickZ via Motorbiker]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Larry Miller 4:36PM (6/24/2008)
I've noticed it's very difficult to find MPG stats on most to the motorcycle makers' web sites. Annoying.
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Karkus 5:02PM (6/24/2008)
Kind of strange that the picture shows a Harley that doesn't look very fuel efficient....
I did find some Harley MPG figures, and they're not that good.
http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/MotorcycleFuelEconomyGuide/Harley-Davidson.htm
30s,40s city, 40s,50 hwy.
Even most Japanese cycles similar .... except for the small engine 125,250 bikes that get up to ~100 MPG. But really, those small engines should be fine for commuting.
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Travis 5:07PM (6/24/2008)
they need to do something like a hybrid, or companies need to manufacture more 200-400cc bikes.
Or completely electric, buf affordable... lifepo isn't cheap.
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Pacman 5:38PM (6/24/2008)
Karkus - Harley gets no worse MPG than the Asian Crotch Rockets. The only really good (80+ mpg) motorcycles are not sold in the US except maybe the 250cc Ninja or Buell Blast. If you want good MPG and less performance a scooter is the way to go.
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Gabe 5:49PM (6/24/2008)
The problem facing most bikes is that 75+ mpg bikes are only barely safe on the highway. Like Pacman said, small scooters are super efficent, but I wouldn't take them on any road where traffic gets over 45.
We just haven't (will never?) figured out how to do high MPG ICE that don't have serious shortcomings on the HP side.
I am looking forward to a round of high performance EV-Bikes.
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Tim 5:57PM (6/24/2008)
It's interesting to note that the vast majority of commutes only inclues one person... the driver.
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Cervus 6:09PM (6/24/2008)
My Suzuki Burgman 400 gets ~65mpg and it's quite safe at highway speeds. I have enough spare horsepower to pass semi trucks, and it's heavy enough not to get blown around. MPG ranges so far from 62-67.
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Dinosaurus 8:15PM (6/24/2008)
My 1980 Suzuki GS450 which I ride regularly gets 45 MPG and it's still fun to ride. It cost about $200 total for the bike and parts to get it road worthy. Can't beat that!
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snakesausage 10:04PM (6/24/2008)
I have started to ride my BMW R1150GS to work and back. I am getting about 38mpg on my commute, all city miles but on the highway I get about 45mpg. I wish they made a clean diesel version that got about 60mpg.
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Shawn 10:20PM (6/24/2008)
I ride a Yamaha WR250X. This bike is essentially a street-legal (with cat. converter) off road motorcycle with street tires and brakes. I sit up higher than a sport bike, scooter or cruiser, with great visibility and handling. It gets 65 mpg when ridden aggressively, more if ridden with restraint, and handles 80 mph easily (my understanding is that Kawasaki's 250 Ninja performs similarly). This is the first year for this bike, and the baby Ninja is re-designed for this year. I hope these are signs that manufacturers are taking the small displacement market more seriously in the US.
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Brian 5:54AM (6/25/2008)
Not to undercut the obvious need for more efficient modes of transportation (motorcycles included), but it's summer - of course searches for motorcycles are going to be on the increase.
http://www.google.com/trends?q=motorcycle%2C+scooter%2C+moped
Google Trends shows that each summer, search volume for motorcycle, scooter and moped peak. Not many people are going to be looking for a Honda Ruckus in the middle of January.
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Jim Villano 8:45AM (6/25/2008)
I ride my Sportster 1200 year 'round except on rare occasion when there is snow or ice on the road (Alabama). I avoid Interstate highways when possible due to the large number of incapable drivers using cell phones etc. I get 45 mpg +/- and put about 7K miles on the bike per year, an equal amount on my Silverado. I wouldn't doubt there will be more bikers riding all year with such high gas prices. I have heated golves and vest that I plug into the electrical system during the colder months and it is really a comfortable ride.
Karkus, the Harley "doesn't look fuel efficient"? Gee, what tipped you off? How does one give the appearance of being fuel efficient?
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Karkus 11:53AM (6/25/2008)
Yes, the Harleys and japanese ones get about the same MPG. I stated that in my post (I just forgot the word "are" in front of "similar").
The bike pictured gets 37/48 MPG, which is one of the lower MPG bikes that HD sells. Others get up to 45/60 MPG.
Bottom line, most motorcycles are about as efficient as a good hybrid (but of course they are more fun, stylish, and cheaper). If you want cheap efficient transportation, the Harley pictured isn't it. Get small engine motorcycle or scooter (some are electric now).
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