Motorcycles for MPG?

[vintagecycle]

How many of us are now using our bikes for commuting because of the higher prices for fuel?
I was talking to a salesman at the local dealer and he claims he has seen an increase in sales to people who are buying bikes as an alternative to commuting by car...

[NoRRmad]

My Nissan Sentra got almost as many miles per gallon as my RR does...

[DJ Downunder]

I'll put my hand up.

My 4X4 costs $60 to fill and I get 300 klms on a tank.

My RR costs $16 to fill up and I get 300 klms on a tank.

Saves me heaps.

DJ

[Optimus Prime]

Even if it didn't save me $$$, I ride the bike as often as possible. However, I think I end up spending just as much on gas because I ride more. Normal commute in my truck (40 miles roundtrip), normal commute when on the 50r (100 miles roundtrip)

I'm just compelled to take the long way round when riding...

[soggybottom]

I don't commute, but use my bike yr rd for everyhing else, save tons of gas money.

[R4R&R]

I've been commuting for the past seven years on a bike. I have three reasons:
1) Use of express HOV lanes = no traffic
2) Save on gas
3) Free parking in the city (when I can avoid tickets).

Lately reason #2 is really worth it.

[Pat]

I believe scooter sales are up around here.....

If a guy is buying a motorcycle in the hope of saving money, he's buying a motorcycle for the wrong reason. (In my opinion)

I should get the hell rid of my '02 Toyota Tacoma that is getting me no more than 18 mpg.....
But the purchase price of a newer/better/more economical vehicle, could buy one HELL OF A LOT of gas for my Tacoma that I owe less than $5,000.oo on.

[vinman]

I've seen more scooters here in Baltimore the last year. I commute by bike occassionally when I don't have meetings, its not raining, I don't have drawings to carry, and I'm not in a rush.

I do it for fun, its just an added bonus of saving mileage and gas on the car.

[mistercindy]

I wish I could commute on my bike. But I gotta wear a suit and tie and can't have helmet head.

But, I have started riding more to run weekend errands that I used to do by car. Its amazing how versatile the system bags are for groceries, etc...

[HiOSilver]

I've got about a 100 miles a day to commute and the bike saves a ton of money when compared to my Envoy XUV (15mpg). The savings aren't as great as I originally thought when I factor in the service and tire costs on the bike, but it's saving a lot of wear and tear on the truck which is also a significant cost savings. I'd get rid of the truck as Pat suggests, but I do use it as a truck and also a camper!

[kbc68]

I drive deisel Jetta to work , the fuel economy is very close . I ride to work,cause i love to ride .

[Guest]

suit, tie, aerostich one piece and a comb in the back pocket. Keep the fancy shoes at work and change out of your boots when you get there.

I think buying a bike because it gets better gas mileage is a great reason to buy a bike as long as their learning to ride correctly and take it seriously. I believe that's a reason there'r so many riders in europe. If more commuters were riding there'd be less traffic and we'd all get more respect.

[Capt. Blackadder]

I've been commuting for the past seven years on a bike. I have three reasons:
1) Use of express HOV lanes = no traffic
2) Save on gas
3) Free parking in the city (when I can avoid tickets).

Lately reason #2 is really worth it.

A big "Amen!" to #1 there, and #2 is very nice icing on the cake.

[owldaddy]

I ride my R to work because I like to ride, not to save money. In fact it costs more to ride then drive some cars. Case in point, I used to drive a 87 Chevy Turbo Sprint. I put 287,000 miles on that car, then sold it because I thought it may start to become unreliable. How wrong I was, that car is still running around Oakdale, and has over 400,000 miles on it (it now belongs to a motorcycle mechanic). I consistantly got 47 mpg, so the cost for fuel was the same as a bike. However tires were a real savings. I could get 4 tires for the car, at a cost of $120, (12" wheels) they would last 50,000 miles. No bike can come close to that. I don't even want to know how much tires cost for the bike in 50,000 miles. Might get a shock. Also insurance was cheaper for the car. Even though that little car had only a 1000cc engine, when the turbo hit 7lbs boost, standby! It was pretty frisky.
Don

[juhabmw]

* Walking to work, saving tons of money (no car) = $0
* Hanging out in R1150R.net = $20
* Shopping gear to keep off Parked Motorcycle Syndrome = >$
* Getting out the bike next month in the French Alps = priceless

Juha

[vintagecycle]

I used to have to wear a suit and tie to work and I would ride the bike, i would wear overpants and riding jacket over the whole deal and carry dress shoes in the system cases, as for the helmet-head, a little hair gel works miracles...

[Moinks]

I think my Jetta TDI might get better mileage then my bike, but the bike is so much more fun to drive

[yjleesvrr]

Riding or driving to work is a mere 10 minutes for me. So I ride because I enjoy riding, not to save gas.

My R gets about 46 mpg with the saddle bags loaded on the highway. Around town, I get about 40. That's just icing on the cake.

[malcolmm]

The Ford Laser which I recently sold to my son was cheaper to run than my R was and I imagine my RT will be.

IMHO I'd go so far as to say that our motorcycles are considerably more expensive to run than our average family cars.

[AndyfromPoland]

You guys may moan about fuel prices but it's still dirt cheap over the other side of the pond.

I commute into London (and anywhere else on business) by bike cos:

1. I like to
2. To London it costs the same for a week in petrol as the train for a day
3. Timing is the same as the train in theory (1 hour) but much more predictable
4. No congestion charge
5. Free underground parking

PS Car is not an option - from where I live to the centre is about 30 miles which, on a bad day, would be about 5 hours in a car, 2 hours starting at 6.00 when the schools are on holiday. Besides, who'd want to cage it when you have the choice?

PPS I always change at work, taking suit, etc in the tail bag. Underneath bike gear over about 30 mins and it looks like I slept in my work clothes.