[Transportation] Motorcycles & scooters

[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.

[Peakprepper]

I tried one of these at an agricultural fair last summer - they were fairly pedestrian, as you mentioned, but also they were not road-legal - you had to purchase a "road kit" then get the whole thing registered and approved - certainly one to bear in mind though, particularly with the towing power at your disposal.

[gg3]

If the word "petrol" wasn't enough of a clue, the phrase "over-engineered" certainly was. Good to see another datapoint showing that the UK is back on track with manufacturing, after Mad Cow Maggie nearly de-industrialized the place altogether.

120 MPG on biodiesel Reverse gear. Tows trailers, up to 500 #. And it probably climbs grades like a Caterpillar (or should I say, like a JCB?). It would be nice if they made a 3-wheel version but what the hey.

Way cool. I can see a bunch of uses for these after we move to the woods. Site survey, general hauling, utilities maintenance, perimeter patrols, possibly hunting. Probably not for trips to town, which will probably be far enough away that it's worthwhile using an enclosed vehicle & hauling as many people & as much stuff each time as possible. But even so... 120 MPG on biodiesel... hmm!

[JPL]

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.

Ha ha, eyeball my little icon.

That's me on my 1942 BSA WD M20. Built to WD (UK War Department) specs, the motorcycle had to:

1. Get over 80% of battlefield terrain.
2. Be simple, robust and easy to fix in the field.
3. Have sufficient engine torque (& clutch plates) to tow, in extremis, anything up to a 3 ton truck.
4. Run on any (read ANY) battlefield fuel, at least for short distances. With its low-compression, side-valve engine, the reccomended fuel is petrol above 80 octane. In other words, modern un-leaded is too good for it. Kerosene (aircraft fuel) can also be used. Diesel can be used if mixed with petrol - there are however instances from WW2 of riders running them for short distances on pure diesel in emergency.

The motorcycle is over 60 years old and still starts pretty well )

JPL

[spear]

JPL,you look like Steve Mcqueen getting ready to jump the infamous fence in the movie.lol
I found an old rebuilt Enfield from the forties,same thing,burns anything.4000euros.Not too much,but not too little for an old classic.

That ecorider isnt too bad either.No top end but you wont be going faster than 35 mph in the woods anyway.If its needed to go to the city,it can always get you there through the back roads,the fields and the woods.No need to be moving on the major arteries.

[JPL]

JPL,you look like Steve Mcqueen getting ready to jump the infamous fence in the movie.lol

Not a hope in hell. Could probably crash through it through - they really built 'em back then!

Also if I remember the film correctly the stunt was actually done on a Triumph Bonneville - they swapped them at the last minute but watch the bit when he goes over the fence. Dat's a twin-pot Trumpie, no mistakin'. )

JPL

[elocs]

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 gave up riding a motorcycle years ago when it seemed like all the cars were out to kill me. Plus, I had to ride in the traffic with them, unlike on my bike which I can ride on long stretches of mostly unoccupied sidewalks. Riding a bike of any kind here in Wisconsin in the winter is impractical. Not only is there the subzero cold and snow, but riding on ice with the constant feeling that your wheels are going to slip out from under you, which they do, keeps your heart in your throat and makes for a very unenjoyable ride.

[skyemoor]

Riding a bike of any kind here in Wisconsin in the winter is impractical. Not only is there the subzero cold and snow, but riding on ice with the constant feeling that your wheels are going to slip out from under you, which they do, keeps your heart in your throat and makes for a very unenjoyable ride.

This seems to make the case for recumbent trike, especially a fully faired one.

Here are some
winter biking tips from a Chicago rider.

[elocs]

Riding a bike of any kind here in Wisconsin in the winter is impractical. Not only is there the subzero cold and snow, but riding on ice with the constant feeling that your wheels are going to slip out from under you, which they do, keeps your heart in your throat and makes for a very unenjoyable ride.

This seems to make the case for recumbent trike, especially a fully faired one.

Here are some
winter biking tips from a Chicago rider.

I have a faired recumbent and I will not risk an over $1000 bike by riding it in the winter in the snow, ice, and salt. I have lived in Wisconsin for almost 50 years and I will not risk either my bike or my neck by riding it in the winter. It can be troublesome enough in the nice weather when the vehicles can see you. I live in a city of 50,000 and if you see more than a couple of bikes in the winter it is a lot. One of them will never be me. My momma may have had some stupid kids, but I wasn't one of them. Riding a bike here in the winter is a first counsin to being suicidal as well as doing your bike no favors.

[nemo]

I live at roughly the same latitude as Anchorage, Alaska. A faired recumbent would definitely not be my first choice of winter transportation. My winter ride is a 7 speed hybrid with studded tires and a normal amount if visibility gear. As car drivers here are used to the idiots without light or reflectors, I rarely if ever feel unsafe. My biggest problem is that my gear shift cable tends to freeze up in certain weather conditions.
Wisconsin is probably very different, though. I ain't preachin'.

Winter transportation on two wheel comes down to a single factor IMO: studded tires. Some enthusiasts here ride their 50 cc scooters on snow and ice. Perhaps not for everyone, but doable. My own winter motorcycle experience is limited to a day spent on a 125 cc honda with alu stud rubbers. Grip on ice was comparable to gravel. I have rarely had so much fun, although I must confess I fell a few times. I was riding like a maniac, and a 125 two stroke street legal machine is not ideally suited for powerslides...

In the army we had messengers doing some pretty incredible riding on old Husqvarnas. They had little skis spring mounted to the frame as footrests, so they could "put their feet down" at speed and keep upright that way.


Picture of motorcycle with skis

[Loki]

Bumpity bump bump.

I've been seriously considering getting a motorcycle for both fun and to cut back on my gas use. Not sure if I'll keep my truck or sell it and just have a motorcycle for the time being. Funds are pretty low right now, so I may do the latter.

Been a long time since I've ridden. Owned a few motorcycles in my late teens. Drove across country from AZ to SC on a 450 Rebel, then a few months later from NC to PA on a Suzuki Savage (in December no less---that was a cold, wet ride). Recently gotten the bug to get another bike. I'm looking at an old Virago---always liked cruisers.

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.

TJ, how comfortable is the KLR650 on long road trips? I've only ridden a dirt bike once, and that was only for a few minutes. The LR650 looks like a pretty versatile bike, but the ones on my local Craigslist are kinda spendy.