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1,072 Posts
Cool site thanks... Daytona looks cool and KTM rocks..
2006 Model year bikes
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At last! Something to get excited about on this cyber-rag. I have been dreaming about the Sachs Beast ever since I saw a pic in one of the real moto rags a while back: the reincarnation of the Vincent-a brute of an engine, 2 wheels, a gas tank and not much else. But I dunno, if some lawyers get to the staff, harrassment suits may queer the deal.
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771 Posts
Whats next.....4 liter Vtwins??? come on people do we have to supersize everything??? I've allways had the fear that we try to turn our bikes into some sort of comic book fantasy vehicles, and it looks like it more and more.
I'm SO jealous of the Europeans and their amazing choices of motorcycles. You would think that with gas prices going ever higher here in the U.S., that people would start to look at motorcycles as a logical choice for transportation. This is especially true for the weekday commuter. I save about $100 per month alone for gas (based on $2.00 per gallon) when I use my motorcycle to commute to work vs. driving. I'm kind of surprised none of the motorcycle manufacturers have touted this aspect of motorcycling in any of their media ads. Sure motorcycles are fun as hell, but now they are even practical!
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3,874 Posts
Well, actually, the average person will probably not save money, overall, by riding a motorcycle as opposed to driving the average sedan. Yes, fuel cost is less, but maintenance tends to be more frequent and more expensive, as well being harder to schedule and get done on an immediate basis. Add to that the cost of tires that last less than 10,000 miles and cost much more than auto tires, and it is a very lopsided proposition.
I rode a beater VT500 as my prime transportation for two years, and I was able to save a lot, but only because the bike was cheap (free), I did all my own work, including mounting and balancing tires, and the bike was, after all, a Honda, and there were no major mechanical problems in that time. The average commuter is not going to put up with all that to justify a 50% gain in fuel mileage.
Compare the maintenance structure for automobiles vs. bikes in this country. What is the motorcycling equivalent of JiffyLube?
I rode a beater VT500 as my prime transportation for two years, and I was able to save a lot, but only because the bike was cheap (free), I did all my own work, including mounting and balancing tires, and the bike was, after all, a Honda, and there were no major mechanical problems in that time. The average commuter is not going to put up with all that to justify a 50% gain in fuel mileage.
Compare the maintenance structure for automobiles vs. bikes in this country. What is the motorcycling equivalent of JiffyLube?
I've always wondered what would happen if I rolled into a jiffy-lube on the bike. You'd probably have to bring your own filter, and I don't know if they'd have 20-50 laying around, but if you're not picky about your oil...
Not that I'd ever do such a thing, I've just always wondered.
Not that I'd ever do such a thing, I've just always wondered.
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57 Posts
I agree when it comes to average sedans, I see less and less of those on the roads and more and more massive SUVs.
For a little comparison my F650 costs $5 to fill the tank and goes about 150 highway miles on a tank. My brother-in-laws Porsche Cayenne SUV costs about $55 to fill the tank and goes about 400 highway miles on a tank. Realistically riding around LA he gets super ****ting gas milage and only about 330-350 miles on a tank where I usually get 130-140 miles.
His maintenance is every 20,000 miles I think, although realistically it has been in the shop more than that. Usually takes a full day or two for service. Porsche doesn't give free loaners, bastards!
Mine is every 6000 miles and usually takes a full day for service. I can get a free loaner for my bike to use. Thanks BMW!
Maintenance costs are about the same Porsche charges an arm and a leg for their service, so does BMW.
I can get through traffic in about 1/2 the time thanks to our more biker friendly laws that allow me to lane split and use commuter lanes.
He can put a decent amount of heavy crap in his trunk and it seats 5.
The weather is generally biker friendly year round here.
So for my needs my not-so-average bike edges out his not-so-average SUV. But I think in general for commuters average bikes will edge out average SUVs.
For a little comparison my F650 costs $5 to fill the tank and goes about 150 highway miles on a tank. My brother-in-laws Porsche Cayenne SUV costs about $55 to fill the tank and goes about 400 highway miles on a tank. Realistically riding around LA he gets super ****ting gas milage and only about 330-350 miles on a tank where I usually get 130-140 miles.
His maintenance is every 20,000 miles I think, although realistically it has been in the shop more than that. Usually takes a full day or two for service. Porsche doesn't give free loaners, bastards!
Mine is every 6000 miles and usually takes a full day for service. I can get a free loaner for my bike to use. Thanks BMW!
Maintenance costs are about the same Porsche charges an arm and a leg for their service, so does BMW.
I can get through traffic in about 1/2 the time thanks to our more biker friendly laws that allow me to lane split and use commuter lanes.
He can put a decent amount of heavy crap in his trunk and it seats 5.
The weather is generally biker friendly year round here.
So for my needs my not-so-average bike edges out his not-so-average SUV. But I think in general for commuters average bikes will edge out average SUVs.
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