Drive a Motorcycle

Transportation and Fuel Economy – Drive a Motorcycle

My wife would hate for me to say this, but owning and driving a motorcycle can be one of the most entertaining things that a person can do. Motorcycles are fast, lightweight, efficient machines that, along with quite economical, are a whole lot of fun.

There are three basic types of motorcycles.

Sports bike: such as a Kawasaki Ninja, is a bike that has been designed with high performance in mind. These bikes are generally incredibly lightweight, powerful, and blisteringly fast. These machines rocket from 0-60 faster than all but the fastest and most powerful sports cars and their ability to handle and stop are second to none. These bikes also have the advantage of being much more fuel efficient than any type of automobile, as the engine only has to move 600 pounds instead of 3,000 pounds.

Cruiser: such as a Harley Davidson, is a bike that has been designed with long distance travel in mind. These bikes are more comfortable to ride when compared to sport bikes and though they share many of the same advantages (low weight, powerful engines, etc.) they are not as fast or as economical. However, the vast majority of them are still more economical than your car, plus they can be a heck of a lot of fun to drive when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing.

Chopper: such as the bikes produced on the hit television series, Orange Country Choppers, is an artistic statement. These bikes are the hot rods of motorcycles, often featuring wild paint schemes, massive rims and tires, and an assortment of modifications which make the motorcycle unique to the driver.

Dollars and Cents – Why They Save You Money

Motorcycles cost less to insure than most automobiles due to the fact that they are much less likely to cause large amounts of damage in an accident situation. Though you, the driver, are not as protected as you would be in a car or truck, you are still less of a risk when on the road than if you were behind the wheel of a typical sized car.

Motorcycles also save on fuel, as their light weight makes them easier for the engine to propel you and keep you traveling. A 160 horsepower engine moving a 4,000 pound car will have to use much more fuel than a 160 horsepower engine moving a 500 pound motorcycle and rider combined.

At the end of the day, it comes down to pure physics; the lower the weight, the less effort required to do the work.