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I really hope that motorcycles make a comeback as well. They are incredibly fuel efficient, they don't take up nearly as much room, are far cheaper to buy and m

I really hope that motorcycles make a comeback as well. They are incredibly fuel efficient, they don't take up nearly as much room, are far cheaper to buy and maintain than cars, and a heck of a lot of fun.

justinator 10y ago
> They are incredibly fuel efficient, Sadly, this is a myth. https://practicalfrugalliving.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/busting-the-myth-that-motorcycles-save-gas-and-money/ https://practicalfrugalliving.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/busti... http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/mythbusters-motorcycle-emissions.html http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/mythbuste... http://motorbikewriter.com/motorcycles-fuel-economy/ http://motorbikewriter.com/motorcycles-fuel-economy/
- marknutter 10y ago
  None of those links refute my claim that motorcycles are fuel efficient. The first link says that large displacement bikes are "no more efficient than a prius" which is one of the most fuel efficient cars on the road. Take any new 250cc motorcycle and compare it to any new compact car and the motorcycle will have higher fuel efficiency every single time. The only article that seems to support your assertion is the mythbusters one, which doesn't refute the claim that motorcycles are more fuel efficient, but instead cites the fact that proportionally more pollution is emitted by motorcycles than by cars which is a completely separate issue altogether. That would be easily solved by stricter pollution control standards on bikes which would absolutely happen if more people started riding. The article then goes onto admit: "Despite the MythBusters' findings, emissions are only part of the story of a vehicle's true greenness. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle manufacturing requires thousands fewer pounds of raw materials than automobiles. They require less fossil fuel, so they require less energy to pull that fossil fuel out of the ground. They use fewer chemicals and oils than cars. And motorcycles produced today are 90% cleaner in California than they were 30 years ago." So I stand by my original statement. Did you even read the articles, or did you just whip off a quick google search and link the first three articles that seemed to support your claim?
  - justinator 10y ago
    > but instead cites the fact that proportionally more pollution is emitted by motorcycles than by cars which is a completely separate issue altogether. But a pretty big one, that you're side-stepping by quoting a special interest group from the motorcycle industry. Fuel efficiency could be better, but emissions are always worse. Here's another source for you, Ana-Marija Vasic and Martin Weilenmann. Comparison of Real-World Emissions from Two-Wheelers and Passenger Cars http://josiah.berkeley.edu/MiniProjects/Vasic2006.pdf http://josiah.berkeley.edu/MiniProjects/Vasic2006.pdf I would wager that ab bicycle will have a better fuel efficiency, emissions, and environmental cost of production than a car, or a motorcycle.
    - marknutter 10y ago
      I was never comparing motorcycles to bicycles. Of course bicycles are more energy efficient. But compared to cars motorcycles are far more efficient - especially electric motorcycles which are starting to hit the mainstream now.

justinator 10y ago

> They are incredibly fuel efficient, Sadly, this is a myth. https://practicalfrugalliving.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/busting-the-myth-that-motorcycles-save-gas-and-money/ https://practicalfrugalliving.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/busti... http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/mythbusters-motorcycle-emissions.html http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/09/mythbuste... http://motorbikewriter.com/motorcycles-fuel-economy/ http://motorbikewriter.com/motorcycles-fuel-economy/

marknutter 10y ago
None of those links refute my claim that motorcycles are fuel efficient. The first link says that large displacement bikes are "no more efficient than a prius" which is one of the most fuel efficient cars on the road. Take any new 250cc motorcycle and compare it to any new compact car and the motorcycle will have higher fuel efficiency every single time. The only article that seems to support your assertion is the mythbusters one, which doesn't refute the claim that motorcycles are more fuel efficient, but instead cites the fact that proportionally more pollution is emitted by motorcycles than by cars which is a completely separate issue altogether. That would be easily solved by stricter pollution control standards on bikes which would absolutely happen if more people started riding. The article then goes onto admit: "Despite the MythBusters' findings, emissions are only part of the story of a vehicle's true greenness. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle manufacturing requires thousands fewer pounds of raw materials than automobiles. They require less fossil fuel, so they require less energy to pull that fossil fuel out of the ground. They use fewer chemicals and oils than cars. And motorcycles produced today are 90% cleaner in California than they were 30 years ago." So I stand by my original statement. Did you even read the articles, or did you just whip off a quick google search and link the first three articles that seemed to support your claim?
- justinator 10y ago
  > but instead cites the fact that proportionally more pollution is emitted by motorcycles than by cars which is a completely separate issue altogether. But a pretty big one, that you're side-stepping by quoting a special interest group from the motorcycle industry. Fuel efficiency could be better, but emissions are always worse. Here's another source for you, Ana-Marija Vasic and Martin Weilenmann. Comparison of Real-World Emissions from Two-Wheelers and Passenger Cars http://josiah.berkeley.edu/MiniProjects/Vasic2006.pdf http://josiah.berkeley.edu/MiniProjects/Vasic2006.pdf I would wager that ab bicycle will have a better fuel efficiency, emissions, and environmental cost of production than a car, or a motorcycle.
  - marknutter 10y ago
    I was never comparing motorcycles to bicycles. Of course bicycles are more energy efficient. But compared to cars motorcycles are far more efficient - especially electric motorcycles which are starting to hit the mainstream now.