[Ayoob_Reloaded]

I did a little more research on the one I have, and it gets about 50MPG. One other advantage a bike has over a car is that in the event TSHTF quickly, I bet the freeways will be clogged. I can split lanes on my way out of Dodge. Or, I could head off the road in ways a car just couldn't go.

OK, that's pretty apocalyptic.

[mindfarkk]

not to mention you'll be having fun whilst escaping the apocalypse.

[savethehumans]

I'm planning to buy a moped (you have to have a special license for motorcycles here). As it only holds a couple of gallons, and I can walk or bus much of the time, I won't be contributing much to global warming, PLUS I can get places the buses don't run, or on days and times they don't run. I think a Honda is my best bet. Any opinions out there?

[Ayoob_Reloaded]

The Honda Ruckus gets about 100MPG... I ride a Vespa scooter for work from time to time, and it gets about the same mileage.

My bike is a BMW r80/7 (800cc touring bike) that gets something like 55MPG. I suppose you should do whatever suits you the best.

The Vespa scooter I ride for work tows a trailer, so I suppose it's possible to use a scooter for things like grocery shopping or transportation to/from work and such things.

[skateari]

it will get you to work quickly... without the lug of a huge car. A motercycle is a great gas-saver when traveling solo and when you dont need to pull any dead weight. keepin it should be a good idea

[mindfarkk]

ayoob how did you get your trailer?

[PhilBiker]

Motorcycles are great! I am definitely going to keep mine, I'm putting almost $1000 into it to keep it tip top. New chain/sprockets, all new coolant hoses, fixing rusted gas tank, and more. Mine has big saddlebags and can haul two people and some of their stuff comfortably. It gets about 45mpg. If I lost it somehow I'd replace it with something more economical. I use mine as economical transportation.

I think as gasoline gets more and more expensive people will see motorcycles and mopeds as good economical transportation and the segment will take off for quite some time while the car business slowly withers. Good for companies that make motos but don't make cars, like Harley Davidson, Kawasaki (though some of their other industries like jet engines and aircraft parts will take a hit), Aprillia, Triumph, KTM, Yamaha.

The nice thing about motos is that for a basic moto like a Honda Nighthawk or Kawasaki ZR-7 for example the energy that goes into manufacturing is a fraction of that which goes into making a car. However for some ultra high-tech models the difference isn't that great.

The problem with motos is that they cost a lot per mile in maintenance other than gasoline. Tires only last 5-10K (10K for a real hard touring tire drivin extremely gingerly) and still cost a lot. Chains and sprockets wear out and need regular replacement, etc. etc.

[TommyJefferson]

My town was flooded with hurricane refugees after Rita and Katrina. For a couple of days most gas stations in town could not sell gas because they had no electricity. When the stations did open, the lines for gas were 2 or 3 hours long.

I avoided having to purchase gas for 8 days until the crisis subsided because I down own a car and ride my motorcycle the 9 miles to work every day. I did have to use the gas out of the can I keep for my lawn mower.

[Peak_Modernity]

I would prefer an Atv over a motorcycle except that they are only street legal in 5 or 6 states. Mine is a 250cc and with a simple gearing change it would easily get 55-65mpg and do highway speeds. I can mount a rack on it, carry a passenger, and it will beat any motorcycle in snow or mud. In the case of a hard collapse it would be perfectly at home on dirt roads or running through the woods. Maybe it's also my bias showing , because it is a blast to ride.

[Free]

I can only recommend a motorcycle for the already listed reasons. The only real disadvantages I can think of is that you can't ride it in winter (although there are some crazy people who do it with sidecars...), and that it is considerably less safe than riding a car.

Hondas are great, I can only recommend them - I have a CB500, not a beauty, but a cheap reliable all purpose bike, and it takes only from 3,5 to 5 litres per 100 km.
Because I lack a garage I have to let it sit outside in the street during winter. All I had to do in spring was recharging the battery, turn the key and it was up and running!

My real dream is a diesel bike - there are some who can go 1000 km with one tank filling!!! Plus you can use biodiesel without any modification...
Not to mention the great sound of the engine, you would expect a bulldozer coming along...

[The_Toecutter]

I've always dreamed of getting a Kawasaki KZ1000 with a mini bullet faring, gutting the gas engine and installing a diesel engine and running it on biodiesel. Toecutter may have had a gas bike in Mad Max, but I hate the idea of using gas. My electric Triumph race car will suit me fine when I finish it, as it will be able to hit more than 140 mph(perhaps 160 with correct tire size) and won't need one damn drop of gas to run. The biodiesel bike can come later. Problem is finding a powerful enough diesel engine that isn't too heavy for a bike. I'd want at least 100 horsepower for every 600 pounds of bike...

Oh, and an interesting article on a diesel motorcycle:

http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=article&storyid=901

105 mph top speed and 110 mpg.

Needs more engine. Not powerful enough. GREAT fuel economy though, but has more to do with low weight and good aerodynamics than with engine size. I'm sure a larger diesel engine that would allow it to hit 200 mph would still allow 90-100 mpg if driven normally.

[Kingcoal]

I have a Honda V65 Magna with a 1100cc V4 engine. It's fast as all hell and can out run just about any car and gets about 50 MPG on the highway if I keep it below 85mph (which can be difficult.)

However, if gas goes to $10/gal and the average household income drops to $10,000/yr, I'm not sure if I can even afford it. I'll be too busy working to heat my house.

[PenultimateManStanding]

If gas remains available at all, it could be scarce with long lines like in the 70s. In that case, it isn't the mpg that counts, but the miles per tank, i.e. miles per visit to the gas lines. Food and shelter will remain the major expense and at $10/gallon, it still would not be the major financial stress that the biggies would be. If gas is rationed, then I could see getting a Ruckus. If gas isn't available at all, well, I think I'll worrying about trapping/storing water.

[Free]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('The_Toecutter', 'P')roblem is finding a powerful enough diesel engine that isn't too heavy for a bike. I'd want at least 100 horsepower for every 600 pounds of bike...

Oh, and an interesting article on a diesel motorcycle:

http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=article&storyid=901

105 mph top speed and 110 mpg.

Needs more engine. Not powerful enough. GREAT fuel economy though, but has more to do with low weight and good aerodynamics than with engine size. I'm sure a larger diesel engine that would allow it to hit 200 mph would still allow 90-100 mpg if driven normally.

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Peak_Modernity', 'I') would prefer an Atv...Mine is a 250cc and with a simple gearing change it would easily get 55-65mpg and do highway speeds.

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Free', 'y')ou can't ride it in winter

[Peak_Modernity]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TommyJefferson', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Peak_Modernity', 'I') would prefer an Atv...Mine is a 250cc and with a simple gearing change it would easily get 55-65mpg and do highway speeds.

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Peak_Modernity', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TommyJefferson', 'I') don't think any ATV is capable of 55-65 MPG, even at very slow speeds, and with gearing changes.

[Peak_Modernity]

Kawasaki Mojave, 249cc 4 valve DOHC, 5 speed manual clutch, chain drive, 378lbs (shaving the front plastic would drop another 7-10lbs and cut wind resistance). So it isn't that much worse off than a bike. Mpg aren't exactly a selling point of Atvs so I don't have any concrete numbers for that, but know I can ride for a long time on very little fuel. I know it wouldn't do 70 Mpg, but it would do more than 40. Now a Kfx 700 on the other hand only gets 10 Mpg. Personally, I would love to have a bike someday as well, but money doesn't grow on trees

[The_Toecutter]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')ell personally I don't know any diesel bike that goes much more than 100 miles per hour - it's in the nature of the diesel engine that the output goes into torque and not rpm (yes transformation, but only so much?)... but that also means that you almost literally can climb up vertical hills!