‘Bikes’ help save bucks at the pumps

“They parked them, but kind of forgot about them until gas was $3.90 a gallon.”

[xfloat=left]http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007_BMW_K1200.jpg[/xfloat]Elizabeth Farina - Midlothian Exchange.com - Oct. 22, 2008

We could experience a lasting 2-wheeled boom. - Ed.

Filling up the gas tank has made a dent in many household budgets over the last several months. Even with prices declining to $2.61 per gallon for regular unleaded, three cents cheaper than last year’s per gallon price according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report, it still is leaving a crimp in the family’s wallet. In fact, per-gallon average price peaked over $4 in mid-July.

With the nation’s economy in a flux and the unknown gas prices of tomorrow, many commuters have sought out transportation alternatives from taking the Chesterfield Express bus line or connecting with GRTC’s Ridefinders. Some are seeking out fellow colleagues on their own for a carpooling arrangement. Other drivers have researched an option of purchasing hybrid vehicles. However, there are drivers that are taking a second look at what they have on hand - a motorcycle.

For Midlothian-based Outkasst Cycles, located at 3907 Bellson Park Dr., the spike in gas prices this summer has been an incredible boom for business. “This gas thing is weird. There are people who are pulling bikes out that would never … but they are,” said owner Tom Giambra. “We have definitely… [rm]http://www.midlothianexchange.com/index.php/news/article/bikes-help-save-bucks-at-the-pumps/17476/[/rm]

 

Goes along with what a contributor to Cycle World magazine noted. He said that in past spikes in the cost of gas, there really wasn't a perceivable increase in motorcycle sales.

This time, and I quote, "Is the real deal."

 

Our local dealership had a great summer, up until the end of August. Then credit tightened up and people couldn't afford a down payment.

As for saving money with a bike, there are a lot of factors that go into it.

I did a total cost analysis for my Yamaha Majesty which gets about 55 mpg in the city. I found that the total savings including all costs was about 14 cents a mile.

One factor many people forget is the depreciation per mile on the car, plus the savings are tax free. At this rate, it would take about 42,000 miles just to break even. (I have a cheap car that only cost $7,000 new.) For a more expensive car, break even might be about 20,000 miles.

Personally, I don't recommend a bike to save gas unless a person already has one and really enjoys riding. Then the cost of the bike can be ignored as that's a sunk cost. Still, it's a bother to put all the gear on for a trip of just a few miles and I seldom do it.

 

Man, I love riding my bike! I'd do it every day, every time if the weather permitted. This morning I toyed with the idea, since it's going to be sunny and 50+, but it was 35 when I was ready to leave, so discretion prevailed...

 

The bike in the photo is a BMW K1200, 167-horsepower rocket ship. It's not your Daddy's BMW, that's for sure.

Harry

 

Someone at work challenged me to find a 500cc bike at a store now.

 

I wish I could trust drivers enough to drive a bike on my commute.

 

Amen, voodoo22.

I sure do not trust the drivers around me that much.

A good Honda 230cc single would do fine, but it, nor any other bike, is safe in the traffic I drive in.

My BMW was a R75/5. That might have been your daddy's bike. It only got about 55 mpg. My HCHII gets that. It is nice to be warm and dry.

Frank

 

I bought my Yamaha 650 VStar 2 years ago when the gas prices started going up. I wasn't getting great mileage in town, averaging 32-35 mpg. I moved to another city and started commuting the 55 miles to my office and have started getting 50+ mpg.
For those wanting to get great mileage in town, get a scooter and get the 70+mpg, a real bike really isn't going to help a lot. Much more fun, but not really the answer to the high gas prices that I originally thought it would be.

 

We were discussing this 'saving' point of owning a motorcycle at a Hungarian forum lately and I summed up all the maintenance cost vs gas price I had with Teresa.
I bought her 2 years ago at the age of 4 years. In a year I had to do all the maintenance that the previous owner should have done, then get new tires and, this spring, a new drive belt. In the end, these costs adds to about 1.5 times the price of the gas I used until that point (I can't do too much myself, yet?).
I should have bought a used car for the same price (nothing fancy, but a decent, reliable one) the maintenance cost would probably have been much lower, and the gas probably twice this much.
Maybe a wash.
Add my gear: cordura pants and jacket, heated and leather gloves, the helmet, boots... riding is definitely more expensive for me than a car would be.
But I enjoy riding much more, I think
And I have much nicer FE - more like a hybrid than a second-hand small gasoline car.
But if I enjoy it too much, I collect much more miles compared to a car strictly for serious business - I can't help it... and still less gas than with a car, even though it means more cost for me.

Though I did the whole bike thing and hypermiling as a form of 'damage control' - I wanted to live with my girlfriend instead of my (smoking!) mother, and I needed some vehicle for my new, independent life (and commuting from another city after I failed to get a job there). But I know enough about peak oil and climate change and stuff to feel uneasy for burning gas...

 

Careful bike and gear selection and shopping around for good yet inexpensive insurance go a long way. Not just any old bike will do. Total cost of ownership is the defining factor. If you already have a 50+ mpg car then owning a bike makes little financial sense in most cases. If you're stuck with a FSP that you don't use for its size or power, buy a used 500cc or less bike. Also, riding is a commitment. You won't see the benefit if you don't ride. Be sure you will ride at least 5 or 6 thousand miles a year or whatever makes the financial decision work for you.

In my case I make a point to use the most appropriate vehicle for the situation. The motorcycle gets used for the single occupancy drive to work, the pick-up for hauling stuff and doing yard projects around the property, the van for when the family needs to travel or those combined shopping trips.

As for riding for pleasure. I used to do that, now I don't except for maybe once a year with some friends. Knowing the combined impact of burning fuel just makes it not so fun anymore.

 

The canadian government treats motorcycles as if they were a detriment to the country. Tags and insurance up there are very high. I pay $60a year for insurance on my 153cc bike in the US. I think it's because of your government run medical insurance. There is a big incentive to get the population to quit doing risky things.

 

@Mendel-

Danger is all a matter of how you approach riding. The other four are easily solved if you check out older UJMs (Universal Japanese Motorcycles / "standards"), or just take the 555 approach.

I know my Bandit will be fairly cheap to run and excellent for commuting minus the soft fork- an early 90s 400cc version or more recent Honda CB250 would do even better.

 

2. It's almost $7000 in Hungary... and the Ninja 250 is no cheaper either No wonder I bought a second hand bike, these insane prices freefall once you bring a bike out of the shop...

I'd like to try them though, it must be fun! And I'm curious what FE I could reach with it. With our GV250 I still couldn't catch my F650, neither did my girlfriend. When we're going at speeds where Ciliegia is more efficient, I always P&G like crazy. It's a competition, a game

 

Hm $60 insurance for a 150cc sounds a bit harsh - though I've heard that there are places with expensive insurances, like the UK.
At last, something that's not expensive here... at today's exchanege rate the insurance is $18 per year for the 250cc and $77 for the 650cc. (I don't know how it goes in the US, but we have to pay taxes for them too: something like $23 and $50 per year)