Scooter riders laughing all the way to the pump by Aaron Ogg | The Grand Rapids Press, Tues May 27, 2008, 12:02 PM:
Jim Klinge, of Grand Rapids, bought a 49cc Wildfire scooter about two weeks ago because of rising gas prices. Klinge's scooter costs about $3 to fill and gets 100 miles to the gallon. Jim Klinge gets plenty of honks as he rides his blue scooter to and from work. But the 49-year-old Grand Rapids man doesn't think motorists are commending him for his fuel-conscious vehicle choice. "Cars don't have any respect for you," Klinge said. "You can be doing the speed limit, and they still come and pass you."
Still, Klinge is willing to deal with a few horn-happy gas guzzlers. He's laughing all the way to the pump. Klinge bought his 49cc Wildfire for $901 from Mill Creek Motors, 3867 West River Drive NE in Plainfield Township. He made the decision about three weeks ago as gasoline neared $4 per gallon.
He gets about 100 miles per gallon and rides it whenever possible, using bungee cords to strap groceries to the back. "I had to do something," he said. "My pickup (truck) was getting like 10 miles or 11 miles per gallon, if that." As the price of gas climbs, many cash-strapped motorists are turning to fuel-stingy motor scooters and smaller motorcycles.
Dealers in West Michigan and across the nation report brisk sales this spring, particularly for those that get 75 to 120 miles per gallon. Dave Marshall, sales manager at Mill Creek Motors, carries only the $901 model. Any color you want, as long as it's yellow, red or blue. He orders about a dozen a week and cannot keep them in stock, he said.
"With the price of gas and the mileage these things get, people are finding out that they can ride them even if it's going to the store," Marshall said. "They pay for themselves."
joeltrout wrote:I anticipate the amount of moped deaths will rise. Motorcycles are hard enough to see. Mopeds are even harder due to smaller size.
joeltrout
Impervius wrote:The scooter riders won't be laughing much longer as they see the price of food rising uncontrollably. The public has the mistaken belief that the only effect or rising price of crude is high gas prices.
True, the numbers are not yet significant but should they become significant, then it should in turn reduce the number of deaths.
jlw61 wrote:... she and I are careful drivers and we expect the other guy to be out for us even when we're in our two-door gas efficient car. ....
Heineken wrote:Can't carry much merchandise on a scooter or bike. Just a bag or two of groceries or other stuff in a backpack or saddle bags.
Pops wrote::-D
Hi JD, I was just talking about you to someone or the other.
What brings you back to this Den of Doom?
Hawkcreek wrote:Therefore, I will be purchasing a KLR650, which gets 50-60 MPG. I will commute on the KLR.
Just finished an 800 mile ride on mine last weekend. Ran great and I averaged 49 mpg, driving about a third of that at 70-80 mph.
Lots of fun, and dependable as an old mule.
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