[Transportation] Motorcycles & scooters

nemo

I live at roughly the same latitude as Anchorage, Alaska. A faired recumbent would definitely not be my first choice of winter transportation. My winter ride is a 7 speed hybrid with studded tires and a normal amount if visibility gear. As car drivers here are used to the idiots without light or reflectors, I rarely if ever feel unsafe. My biggest problem is that my gear shift cable tends to freeze up in certain weather conditions.
Wisconsin is probably very different, though. I ain't preachin'.

Winter transportation on two wheel comes down to a single factor IMO: studded tires. Some enthusiasts here ride their 50 cc scooters on snow and ice. Perhaps not for everyone, but doable. My own winter motorcycle experience is limited to a day spent on a 125 cc honda with alu stud rubbers. Grip on ice was comparable to gravel. I have rarely had so much fun, although I must confess I fell a few times. I was riding like a maniac, and a 125 two stroke street legal machine is not ideally suited for powerslides...

In the army we had messengers doing some pretty incredible riding on old Husqvarnas. They had little skis spring mounted to the frame as footrests, so they could "put their feet down" at speed and keep upright that way.

Picture of motorcycle with skis

anagami

...there should be electrical motorcycles by now. Also to consider is the 4 wheeled motorcycle.

I personally prefer horses... but they are too "weird" on a city (mostly because of lack of space to mantain horses).

Loki · Expert Joined: Apr 08, 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Cascadia

Bumpity bump bump.

I've been seriously considering getting a motorcycle for both fun and to cut back on my gas use. Not sure if I'll keep my truck or sell it and just have a motorcycle for the time being. Funds are pretty low right now, so I may do the latter.

Been a long time since I've ridden. Owned a few motorcycles in my late teens. Drove across country from AZ to SC on a 450 Rebel, then a few months later from NC to PA on a Suzuki Savage (in December no less---that was a cold, wet ride). Recently gotten the bug to get another bike. I'm looking at an old Virago---always liked cruisers.

Syeer

I'm thinking about getting one of these Lifan motorcycles, soon, myself.

Probably one of the LF200 models. The Lifan bikes are China made (lol) but after some careful study and research, and having actually seen one (and heard and seen it started, run and driven) at a local dealership, I've found that Lifan apparently makes high quality bikes that do their job well. Their engines are Honda based, so no problems with parts. They also get around 100mpg. They (the ones I'm looking at) also generally only cost in the $1300-$1500US range, so definitely worth looking at.

My current mode of transportation is a '64 VW Beetle, and being that it's 43 years old, it needs to be fed new parts often. It'll get 30mpg in the best case scenario which is barely even 50% of the time. However, I will mention that with the amount of money it would take to get even these cheap motorbikes, I could have my car good to go mechanically to last me quite a few more years.

Tough choice....would I actually make my money back on the motorcycle in saved gas or would I not? The problem is, I don't know if I'll be doing enough regular driving with the motorbike in the future to justify the cost now. Unless the bike paid itself off in saved gas within a year or two, which seems plausible at this point.

eXpat · Intermediate Crude Joined: Jun 08, 2006 Posts: 971

I´m sure you will appreciate this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m2sWyc6lOc

BTW, in my experience is usual in a lot of countries to see a family of four in a single scotter, dangerous but economic.
_________________
Stocking up on popcorn Smile

Muckingfess

QUESTION:
I'm contemplating getting a scooter. How do those of you using scooters keep them from getting stolen when you go in to a store or while you are at work? It seems that the size and relative light weight would make them an easy target for someone to just pick them up, put them in the back of a pickup and drive away. Is this a real concern?
_________________
A man should never wear a hat that has more character than he does.

eastbay

frankthetank

Never thought of that. A person could EASILY steal a scooter in a pickup or even throw it in a small trailer. Just give it time, they'll become targets. A Honda is a easy $2000. I bet a big a$$ bike lock would work. One of those cable ones. Just wrap it around something solid.
_________________
"Oil is going up because we use too much oil, and the capacity to replace reserves is dwindling"
-President Bush 11/07/07

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1521

I wonder if an electric fence charger would work if the offender is standing on pavement? They make cheap chargers that run on 12 volts.
_________________
Local fix-it guy..

mattduke · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Oct 28, 2005 Posts: 1362

eastbay

Bella · Tar Sands Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 25

dutchcyclist

jato

I got 48.8 MPG on my first tank of gas (KLR650). That was with the break-in procedure of varying the throttle.
_________________
"Peak oil isn't more than an interesting industry factoid and doesn't have anything to do with the hysterics speculated on ad nauseum around here!" ReserveGrowthRulz

Rich7 · Coal Joined: Jan 30, 2006 Posts: 13

Just ordered a buell XB12R, Its rated at 50mpg city and 65mpg highway, and it still has 100 hp and 80lb tq. I'll let you know how it works out when I get it in about a month or so.