[Transportation] Motorcycles & scooters

[eastbay]

I do 80% of my commuting on San Francisco Bay Area freeways on my motorcycle. The other 20% is on lousy weather days in my Civic which gets better gas mileage than the motorcycle. Maybe some day nice freeway capable bikes will be made that get much better mileage than the best cars.

But I am really amazed how few people commute on motorcycles. Some days I see zero others on my wonderful 3am ride home. The bridge is free during commute hours, the parking is almost free and the kick is unreal.

Car people are really missing out.

EastBay

[Ayoob_Reloaded]

I do 80% of my commuting on San Francisco Bay Area freeways on my motorcycle. The other 20% is on lousy weather days in my Civic which gets better gas mileage than the motorcycle. Maybe some day nice freeway capable bikes will be made that get much better mileage than the best cars.

But I am really amazed how few people commute on motorcycles. Some days I see zero others on my wonderful 3am ride home. The bridge is free during commute hours, the parking is almost free and the kick is unreal.

Car people are really missing out.

EastBay

My motorcycle and car get about the same mileage. I would kind of rather ride the bike, but it's too dangerous around here. Someday soon, though. Insuring a bike is about 20% of the cost of insuring a car.

You can get 30-day car insurance. If weather only permits riding 9 months, insure your car for three months and ride the rest.

[eastbay]

but it's too dangerous around here.

I think that's the big reason so few ride regularly. Fear. It seems like every other day someone gets squished while riding.

EastBay

[Revi]

I just got a small moped. It should get 100 mpg, but it could not be used for any long commute. It goes around 15 mph and has baskets. We could use it to pick up groceries. It's really not a machine to live a full high energy lifestyle, but it could get you around in a pinch.

[bentstrider]

but it's too dangerous around here.

I think that's the big reason so few ride regularly. Fear. It seems like every other day someone gets squished while riding.

EastBay

My only reason for not riding a motorcycle is my "fear" of getting pulled over by the cops for not having an insignificant, little M-1 endorsement on my drivers license.
My reason for not riding a bicycle that much is "fear" of getting squished by some punk in their "hoop-d" ride.
I say they should just do away with the M1 altogether.
I remember quite a few old timers telling me when just having their "car" license meant they could ride motorcycles as well.
It's just that alot of states only adopted these laws 20-30 years ago to save lives, while at the same time get property and people impounded.
I say getting rid of the M1/M2 endorsement requirement would weed out the good drivers from the bad, and cut the population down without any suspicion.

[Peakprepper]

As a bicycle rider, a motorcyclist, and a car driver, all of them for 25+ years, I can honestly say that riding the m/c is the most fun, but also the most dangerous because of the car drivers who "just don't see you."

I have a big (1800cc) bike, which I fitted with a car tyre on the rear for extra traction in the rain/cold, and extra lights so as to be seen - you still have to have eyes in the back of your head.

Air horns are a must, most ordinary bike horns just won't get heard when the guy in the next motorway lane drifts into yours at 70mph.

As for winter riding, you just have to pile on the layers until you are as wide as you are tall, works fine for me!

I have also been pestering the Cranfield folks for about a year regarding the JP8 Nato diesel bike, but any deliveries to us mere mortals has just been delayed AGAIN because of yet another military order which has been placed (interesting in itself) - have a look at

http://www.dieselmotorcycles.com/

for details. I'd really like one of these, as I could run it with veggie.

[gg3]

102 miles per gallon at 55 mph, top speed of @ 90 mph, range of 600 miles on a tankful of diesel, and will climb a 60% grade. Also appears to have decent tie-down points at the rear for a cargo container, e.g. for work-related tools, groceries, etc.

Hot damn!, make me drool (again), will you?:-)

OK, so what's the price tag? And do they expect to have a dealership signed up in the San Francisco Bay area?

This one is definitely worth waiting for.

[Peakprepper]

Last time I checked the price, it was about $18000.

Looking closely at the chassis/frame, it also looks like I would be able to weld up a towbar - a diesel with that much grunt should have no problem towing.

If you go to the "contact" page, you will see they are in Hesperia, CA - there is a phone no. there, so you could try calling them, but be aware of the following message on the web page:

"Due to the overwhelming response to our commercial
motorcycles we regret that we are not able to respond
to each inquiry, question, or phone call."

... So I registered for their "Newsletter", and have been waiting ever since.

Furthermore, if you call or email Cranfield in the UK, who designed the thing in partnership with HDT(Google:diesel+cranfield, and you'll get a wealth of info, btw:luggage rack takes about 22kg), they just don't want to know.

I made a point of calling them once a week for 6 months, and eventually this weary junior called me back last week and told me to go to the HDT site (the manufacturer in CA)...

So as usual, briiliant stuff designed in Britain gets exported, and we don't even get a sniff at it...lol.

If you do try and call them, let me know what the outcome of the conversation is.

The alternative would be to strip a Kawa KLR 650 (the unit the bike is based on), and rig your own Yanmar or Lombardini diesel into it - lots of work though.

[Peakprepper]

There's also these guys in Holland:

http://www.neander-motors.com/

... but the price is outrageous.

However, if you look at some German m/c websites, you will find a lot of extremely clever people who have shoehorned automotive aircooled engines into a m/c frame with great success.

This is the best place to keep abreast of all diesel biking stuff:

http://www.dieselbike.net/

Enjoy!

[TommyJefferson]

I keep toying with the idea of getting a Ural.
http://www.imz-ural.com/products/

I like the BMW airhead design. Simple. Can Self-repair. Good for post peak.

I climbed all over them at the International Motorcycle Show in Houston last year. They seem solid, but have that cheap, rough sloppy, clackety feel like AK47's do.

Their Russian rep repeatedly picked up to sidecar and dropped it to the floor to show how tough they were. When I asked him about repair parts availability, his tack was (avoidance) that you could make most of them yourself if you had to.

Well, that's kinda true, but not true enough.

MSRP $10,595 for this?



Mmmmmm. Hard to justify.

[gg3]

$18K...?! Eeyow!, for a couple thousand more than that, you can buy all of the following: one VW Lupo for long distances at 80 to 100 miles per gallon, and one Zap Xebra electric for local transport, and an electric scooter for personal trips across town when the weather is nice and you don't have more than a knapsack's worth of stuff to carry.

At $18k per unit, no wonder they don't need to return phone calls.

Though, over time, the technology should become more affordable. Count on the Japanese manufacturers to do that in a few years.

[Madpaddy]

I don't cycle my Giant Lite comfort electric bike to work anymore. I nearly got killed by an ahole in a car last winter and I took the hint. It's waiting patiently for the energy shortage.

[Peakprepper]

http://www.webbikeworld.com/diesel-motorcycle/

The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the D650-A1LE Bulldog will be $18,999.00 (the price is subject to change until the opening of the initial offer to sell and some restrictions may apply.)

A non-refundable deposit of 10% of the purchase price will be required to hold the bike. The balance will be due on presentation of documentation and notice that the unit is ready for shipment. Deposits will be refunded if HDTUSA is unable to deliver their motorcycle.

...but you will get special graphics designed by Wally World!

[Peakprepper]

I've always kind of liked the Ural and CZ stuff, but never quite managed to strike up the courage to buy one.

I would imagine that spares are unavailable because you could probably use a tin can as a replacement piston, and a sawn off piece of broomstick as a con-rod if you ever needed to. Owners I have met have sworn blind by them.

I've always kept an eye on Russian/Eastern bloc technologies since the day years ago when I was at a military airshow (I used to do a lot of defense and military exhibitions all over the world), and a colleague and I were sniggering at the valve operated electronics in one of their planes.

I managed to strike up a conversation in broken English with one of the technicians, and arrogantly said something like "So, you guys haven't discovered transistors yet, eh?"

To which he smiled and calmly said "Yes of course we have, but in the event of a nuclear incident, valves will keep on working, whereas transistors wil not".

Humbled for weeks and months after that...don't know if this would also apply in case of a large dose of EMP though.

[spear]

Yeah,I was looking at the URAL a while back.It caught my eye but I didnt pay too much attention to it then.
But I just took a better look and noticed that the model posted above and the patrol model on their site have dual traction on the rear wheel.Now thats hard to beat.

Too bad they dont make a diesel.

The drawback is the gasoline engine.You wont have the option and luxury of choosing from whatever fuel is available,unless you have your own still.Then you'll be allright.

If I was going to do the diesel ,I would consider the motor swap as I cant see paying 18000 for a bike.even if it can climb 60 degree slopes.
(Unless you happen to get chased and you bolt up a cliff and get away,then its probly worth every penny).

The perfect PO two wheeler has to do it all.
Economical,fast,all weather, all terrain,all purpose,easy parts,last fifty years with minimum maintenace and repair.

If it has to go through what my truck goes through,it will have to be tough.


Ive been on the lookout trying to make a future decision for a bike but since this one will be the last ,and it will probably be going to my son,if he needs it at some future date,its going to be a very hard decision.

Wonder if spoked wheels would be better or cast aluminum.

[Peakprepper]

spear

I'm beginning to think the whole point of this bike costing $18k is that members of the public WON'T be able to afford it... but the Army et al will have a whole fleet of them, and will be able to speed around the countryside like cowboys lassoeing(sp?) fat people so the army trucks can then pick them up later to stuff into giant ovens to generate electricity.

On a serious note, avoid spokes and go for cast - in case of wheelspin (intended or otherwise) you can seriously bend the spokes, and whatever people say, the wheel is then mostly irretrievable.

[spear]

To be honest ,I was looking at the Huskvarnas a lot lately.
650 Husky.Go anywhere,climb anything.Last forever.Not cheap.
Another favorite is the old Yamaha Tenere 600 with the big gas tank.

Can pick them up fairly cheap these days.Rebuilt motor and its set for another lifetime.

The reason I mention the wheels is,if you are on the road,and something happens,like the wheel gets bent from a pothole and its warped to shit,you can still bang out the spoked wheel to a point where it will rotate enough to keep you going where as the cast wheel will be trashed unless you know how to repair a cast wheel.

[Peakprepper]

Agreed - but it will take *a lot* more to trash a cast wheel than a spoked one.

[spear]

Not so much as one might think.Almost any impact to the front end from the side will trash the front wheel.Like from a car.
.Its something to think about if one is serious and trying to cover all the bases.
The wheel issue is one of those things that dosent seem so important until it happens,I think
Thats one reason why I like the Tenere 600.Its a very common bike over here and theres no problem with parts even from junkyards.
I wouldnt want to have to look for parts for the Ural or the Husky.

[codesuidae]

What about the Ecorider diesel cycle?

For the cost of some of the full sized cycles you can buy three ecoriders and a good cache of spare parts. It isn't fast (35mph on the road), but it gets good mileage (they claim 125mpg) is designed with a tow bar and has big balloon tires that should be resistant to damage and last a long time (I imagine on-road use would cause excessive wear though).

Depending on your planned activities post-peak a small vehicle of this sort might be useful for farm work and local transportation. You could probably use it for long distance travel too, but it'd be slow and I personally would want to be conservative about the mileage on such a vehicle.