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You'd be surprised. They're woefully unaerodynamic, and emissions standards are pretty lax for them. Something like a CBR300F is about half the emissions of a

You'd be surprised. They're woefully unaerodynamic, and emissions standards are pretty lax for them. Something like a CBR300F is about half the emissions of a hybrid and a grom can get lower, but plenty of motorbikes are actually worse than a compact car and getting close to SUV territory.

mschuster91 4y ago
> They're woefully unaerodynamic, and emissions standards are pretty lax for them. Still more aerodynamic and fuel efficient than someone riding a full-blown SUV to work solo. > but plenty of motorbikes are actually worse than a compact car and getting close to SUV territory. Not everyone drives a Kawasaki Ninja H2 R with 310 hp or whatever the top record is these days. Per German ADAC, the average motorcycle consumes 2-3 liters/100km [1], whereas the average car is at 7-8 liters/100km [2]. [1] https://www.adac.de/verkehr/tanken-kraftstoff-antrieb/tipps-zum-tanken/spritsparen-motorrad-roller/ https://www.adac.de/verkehr/tanken-kraftstoff-antrieb/tipps-... [2] https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/verkehr/kraftstoffe https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/verkehr/kraftstoffe
- MengerSponge 4y ago
  They might be worse for emissions that aren't CO2, but this whole discussion is moot. Ebikes could be the actual future.
  - trashtester 4y ago
    When measuring the health hazards of motorbikes/mopeds, emissions are a small part. Part of the reason is that it's so fun to go fast with them.
foepys 4y ago
You can buy electric scooters nowadays that can drive a lot farther than any car with the same battery. If one was big on emission reduction, one would ban all cars and only allow scooters.
- EL_Loco 4y ago
  With streets crowded with scooters during rush hour I think we'd have a lot more minor accidents/injuries, but far, far fewer deaths, right? What could be done to avoid the minor accidents?
  - mschuster91 4y ago
    > What could be done to avoid the minor accidents? For one, more strictly enforce technical fitness and some form of age requirements. An awful lot of people don't care much about the roadworthiness of their vehicle, and many don't care about technological advances like anti brake-lock systems in newer models as well. The other major contributor to motorcycle (or bicycle) accidents is road conditions like potholes, dirt and especially oil contamination, bumpiness in roads... a car doesn't care much (unless it's one of those super-flat sports vehicles), but a cyclist can easily lose control.
- throwaway894345 4y ago
  You can drive 350+ miles on a single scooter charge? Also, I have a hard time imagining anyone taking 400+ mile road trips on a scooter.
  - mschuster91 4y ago
    > Also, I have a hard time imagining anyone taking 400+ mile road trips on a scooter. On a scooter not, but on a Harley or Honda Gold Wing? People make trips across Europe on these beasts.
    - throwaway894345 4y ago
      The parent is talking about electric scooters having more range than electric cars; I’m not sure how gas motorcycles fit in here.
- Schroedingersat 4y ago
  e-scooters, ebikes, trains and LEVs are very much the sane answer.
dotancohen 4y ago
Aerodynamic drag is cD multiplied by cross section. By virtue of about a quarter the cross section of an average passenger vehicle, motorcycles are far more efficient. Don't even get me started on road wear being a function of weight to the fourth power, thus motorcycles effectively cause negligible road wear. For what it's worth, I've never driven a motorcycle and probably never will, for danger.

mschuster91 4y ago

> They're woefully unaerodynamic, and emissions standards are pretty lax for them. Still more aerodynamic and fuel efficient than someone riding a full-blown SUV to work solo. > but plenty of motorbikes are actually worse than a compact car and getting close to SUV territory. Not everyone drives a Kawasaki Ninja H2 R with 310 hp or whatever the top record is these days. Per German ADAC, the average motorcycle consumes 2-3 liters/100km [1], whereas the average car is at 7-8 liters/100km [2]. [1] https://www.adac.de/verkehr/tanken-kraftstoff-antrieb/tipps-zum-tanken/spritsparen-motorrad-roller/ https://www.adac.de/verkehr/tanken-kraftstoff-antrieb/tipps-... [2] https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/verkehr/kraftstoffe https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/daten/verkehr/kraftstoffe

MengerSponge 4y ago
They might be worse for emissions that aren't CO2, but this whole discussion is moot. Ebikes could be the actual future.
- trashtester 4y ago
  When measuring the health hazards of motorbikes/mopeds, emissions are a small part. Part of the reason is that it's so fun to go fast with them.

foepys 4y ago

You can buy electric scooters nowadays that can drive a lot farther than any car with the same battery. If one was big on emission reduction, one would ban all cars and only allow scooters.

EL_Loco 4y ago
With streets crowded with scooters during rush hour I think we'd have a lot more minor accidents/injuries, but far, far fewer deaths, right? What could be done to avoid the minor accidents?
- mschuster91 4y ago
  > What could be done to avoid the minor accidents? For one, more strictly enforce technical fitness and some form of age requirements. An awful lot of people don't care much about the roadworthiness of their vehicle, and many don't care about technological advances like anti brake-lock systems in newer models as well. The other major contributor to motorcycle (or bicycle) accidents is road conditions like potholes, dirt and especially oil contamination, bumpiness in roads... a car doesn't care much (unless it's one of those super-flat sports vehicles), but a cyclist can easily lose control.
throwaway894345 4y ago
You can drive 350+ miles on a single scooter charge? Also, I have a hard time imagining anyone taking 400+ mile road trips on a scooter.
- mschuster91 4y ago
  > Also, I have a hard time imagining anyone taking 400+ mile road trips on a scooter. On a scooter not, but on a Harley or Honda Gold Wing? People make trips across Europe on these beasts.
  - throwaway894345 4y ago
    The parent is talking about electric scooters having more range than electric cars; I’m not sure how gas motorcycles fit in here.
Schroedingersat 4y ago
e-scooters, ebikes, trains and LEVs are very much the sane answer.

dotancohen 4y ago

Aerodynamic drag is cD multiplied by cross section. By virtue of about a quarter the cross section of an average passenger vehicle, motorcycles are far more efficient. Don't even get me started on road wear being a function of weight to the fourth power, thus motorcycles effectively cause negligible road wear. For what it's worth, I've never driven a motorcycle and probably never will, for danger.