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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Fun is still the main motivation, but more new owners are citing two-wheelers' usefulness as a reason to buy. (latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-fi-motorcycles20-2008nov20,0,5613194.story)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2008_Yamaha_XT250_-_73_mpg_-_Second_most_fuel_efficient_bike_in_lineup.jpgSusan Carpenter – LA Times (latimes.com) – Nov. 20, 2008

2008 Yamaha XT250 – A great beginner bike for men and woman with an MSRP of $4,690 and rated at 73 mpg.

Nice to see the ladies discovering bikes. -- Ed.

The motorcycle business, traditionally driven by enthusiasts who ride for fun, is experiencing a dramatic shift as big, expensive cruisers give way to cheaper, commuter-oriented models and more women hit the road on two wheels, a new survey shows.

Though fun is still the No. 1 reason motorcyclists cite for riding, according to preliminary results of the Motorcycle Industry Council's 2008 owner survey, "utility/business/chores" has increased 42% in importance since the last survey, in 2003. And 12.6% of motorcyclists and scooterists are now women, a 29% increase from 2003.

The average age of motorcyclists, 42, seems to be leveling off after rising for the last two decades. Experts say it may even decline as baby boomers age and more younger people take up riding...

But a spike in gas prices during peak riding season this summer and, more recently, the tightening of credit have made U.S. roads look a lot more European. Sales of cruisers, sport bikes, tourers and off-highway or dirt models are all down in 2008 compared with last year, but scooters and dual sports (bikes that can be ridden on the street or off-road) have seen 50% and 30% gains, respectively. Overall sales are expected to be down this year. Through the third quarter they were off 2.2% compared with the first nine months of 2007.

Though consumers have been embracing smaller and more fuel-efficient bikes, the percentage of motorcycles that were financed, at least in part, had steadily risen over the last 10 years, the preliminary results of the survey showed. In 1998, 1 in 4 bikes was financed; for the first nine months of 2008, it was 1 in 3. An industry council spokeswoman said the trends were likely to hold up in the fourth quarter, which is expected to account for just 15% of the year's sales… http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-fi-motorcycles20-2008nov20,0,5613194.story

Over the summer when prices were through the roof I saw a woman riding a bike very similar to the one pictured out on the roads. I'm pretty sure it was for cost savings.

Hi Sean:

___Any of the 250’s are relatively easy to handle indeed! And they can be bump started quite easy as well ;)

___The reason I chose to show the XT250 was because during the 2009 Chicago Motorcycle Show (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19386), Yamaha loaned the XT250 to the Woman on Motorcycles (it was called something like that???) and made me think that the XT was the perfect pic.

___Unfortunately or not, I do not believe Susan Carpenter works at the LA Times anymore as I have not seen a column from here in quite some time. They went through some downsizing late last year and I have the feeling she got nicked. To bad if she did as I was a fan of her bike write-ups.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I was pondering a motorcycle for several years, and a 250 was the size I was looking at. I may start looking again.

Hi Taliesin:

___When I finished up the 08 XT review late last summer, Yamaha had a $1,000 rebate on it and the price was ridiculously low compared to the rest of the 250's from Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki. The unfortunate item is there was none to be had anywhere that I remember as the 250's were gone by the time $4.00 gas appeared.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Boy a 73mpg rated motorcycle at less than 5k looks pretty good.

Motorcycles are fun, and many of them(500 cc and under) get Prius type and better mpg-. My Honda 250 buy fell thru a couple of months back-out of state title that was never re-registered in state.

I'm eyeballing a Buell Blast now.Early reviews of the Blast(when gas was cheap 2000) had it getting absolutely spectacular MPG( 65-70) in the hands of motorcycle testers(Cycle World, Motorcyclist) who make CR car testers on their city loop look like grandpas.They thrash the bikes! The 230/250's are maybe 10-15mpg better than a Blast-significant.
The Buell has OK reliability, and a very low seat height(27" or 25" with the optional seat)-great for my stubby legs.Weight is -390 wet- not great, but not bad.
The true motorcycles are a bit better than scooters for crummy, potholed city streets.The low stepover/stepin of scooters is great, but the smallish tire/wheels are so so on big city potholes.
This is a good time to pick up a used small motorcycle or scooter.Many were bought when gas hit $4-they are sitting now. Same story on Aveos(not a great car mpg , but didn't the mpg improve in 2006). I see lots of low mile Aveos-2006 and later- for as little as $4990 for a 35,000 mile vehicle. Some-2007?- have the GM 100,000 mile warranty. Same story on the Focus, but not as cheap-Mazda motor makes them pretty decent cars with almost Civic/Corolla mpg.SW available thru or until 2008 model-decent road trip vehicles.

Hmm, running wide here.Sorry,
Charlie

Yay! We need more ladies on bikes.

This whole "bad boy" biker thing has had me barfing in my helmet for enough years already.