[Transportation] Motorcycles & scooters

[TommyJefferson]

I rode a 1989 KLR650 for years and loved it.

- stone axe simple
- huge gas tank
- 48mpg
- cruise at 70mph all day
- long production run = wide parts availability
- jump curbs and ditches
- low initial purchase price

Bought it with 23K miles for $1200. Sold it 4 years later with 48K miles for $1200. I kinda wish I wouldn't have sold it. I may get another.

[JackBob]

No doubt bikes are going to be an asset - I would opt for off-road capable since some roads may get dangerous because of looters etc. Tires are the main problem, though, right? Lots of oil goes into the making therof. Further they will wear faster as road maintenance declines.

Better stockpile lots.

JackBob

[Terran]

Anyone though about kick scooters? those scooters were popular a few years ago,especially the razor ones. I remember in middle school almost everyone had one. Those scooters are pretty cheap, at least right now the price range is from $20-$60. Kick scooters are powered by human power.They're made of aircraft grade aluminium, so corrosion wouldn't be an issue. They don't seem to have that much in terms of replacment parts, except the wheels which needs to be replaced after it's worn down. This seems viable when good roads remain intact for short distance travel.

Skateboards are the same, very few parts. The base is made of wood, it seems good for short transport on good roads. I personally have a skateboard that I used when I were in 8th grade in middle school back in 2001. Again, the wheels needs to be replaced after some time, and the bearings needs to be greased. Viable to people?

[Guest]

Anyone though about kick scooters? those scooters were popular a few years ago,especially the razor ones. I remember in middle school almost everyone had one. Those scooters are pretty cheap, at least right now the price range is from $20-$60. Kick scooters are powered by human power.They're made of aircraft grade aluminium, so corrosion wouldn't be an issue. They don't seem to have that much in terms of replacment parts, except the wheels which needs to be replaced after it's worn down. This seems viable when good roads remain intact for short distance travel.

Skateboards are the same, very few parts. The base is made of wood, it seems good for short transport on good roads. I personally have a skateboard that I used when I were in 8th grade in middle school back in 2001. Again, the wheels needs to be replaced after some time, and the bearings needs to be greased. Viable to people?

How about roller skates? "Big wheels"? Pogo sticks? Heh, just kidding. Personally, I can't see myself going any lower-tech than a bike (with the exception of my own two feet, of course), but if things get bad then we're likely to see people using anything that's available and practical...foot-powered scooters and skateboards would at the very least allow a person to coast down paved hills.

[Terran]

For short distance I think these electric scooters will be the most efficient. They don't even weight that much.
http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catal ... &catpage=1

and another version, it's still lightweight and goes a little faster.
http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catal ... &catpage=1

I think the advantage with these scooters is you can fold it up, and carry it with you to where ever you want to go. It's great for people who's at a younger age like me.

[mikela]

I've never owned a motorcycle, but I worry it could be easily stolen (two guys can throw a 650cc bike in the back of a pickup, right?), and would be a target if fuel efficient vehicles are suddenly in demand. What kind of anti-theft devices are you guys using?

[TommyJefferson]

> "What kind of anti-theft devices are you guys using?

AR15

Seriously, the best way to prevent a bike from being stolen is to keep your eye on it.

When shopping or eating out I always park in the most visible, highest traffic nearest the door place I can find.

When travelling, I either roll the bike into my room, or park it in front of my door. This is not always possible.

A big ol chain from the frame to a telephone pole is good, but not always practical.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

I do sue a kind of bike lock for my scooter its a very heavy gage wire cord and works really well. I've left my scooter outside department/grocery stores and not had any problems. But my city only has 4 million people and is in Canada that might make a difference.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

That said, I still think they are the most fun you can have with your underwear on. Cars shield you from the world - motorcycles make you a part of it.

Very true you also have to pay a lot more attention to driving and the road. I never realized what a lazy driver I'd become until I rode.

[mortifiedpenguin]

How to increase mileage on your Segway: attach a third wheel to the center. That way, all you need is the motors, gear box, wheels, and batteries. Throw everything else away.

[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.