NZers swapping cars for bikes

[scissorhands]

This morning TV1's Breakfast had a longish bit telling everyone that if 10% of car commuters in AK got on bikes, traffic congestion would reduce by 40%.

If 25% of cagers made the move, congestion would disappear altogether!:niceone:
So then, another wave of newbis coming thru, similar to the pre ACC fuel price rise that spiked motorbike ownership rates.



From the TVNZ website: 'New European research suggests a modest shift in traffic composition from cars to motorcycles has been found to significantly reduce traffic congestion and emissions.
The Motor Trade Association's Ian Stronach joins Scootling owner/director Andreas Vaioleti discuss whether this is a simple solution to our transport problems'


I guess soon some online feedback will pop up for long time bikers to make comment. They seem to be looking for direction forward from this study, and may provide financial incentives(reduced ownership costs...rego, licensing, safety gear rebate's etc etc) or just run news stories like this to get newbies on 2 wheels. No links as yet, it seems TV1's Breakfast Show is the starting point of this campaign. It may end here or not, the direction forward seems open dependant on comments, councils and government reaction to this euro study

[phill-k]

If 25% of cagers made the move, congestion would disappear altogether!:niceone:
So then, another wave of newbis coming thru, similar to the pre ACC fuel price rise that spiked motorbike ownership rates.


Oh christ not more bloody waving motorcyclists

[Voltaire]

I took a scooter to work yesterday, nearly got knocked by a truck turning left across the bus lane.....his rear indicator was not working ( I know this as his side one was as he turned in front of me).
I prefer to use my ex Courier VW van. I don't really care about the cost of fuel vs getting knocked of commuting.
My scooter is an old 200 cc one so you need a bike licence and its the same cost to register.... those 50cc ones are far too under powered.
They say cars are expensive to run, obviously not when most of them have only one occupant. Raise the rego on cars, and as you say lower it on scooters with larger motors and wheels. Getting a licence is easy.

[SMOKEU]

Hopefully they will change rego types to Thai and Indo models, so that users are encouraged to buy the MUCH SAFER 17" wheeled 4 stroke 110cc auto clutch 4 speeds



Most cagers find it difficult enough to operate a car safely, so put them on 2 wheels and it will be a recipe for disaster.

[oneofsix]

Most cagers find it difficult enough to operate a car safely, so put them on 2 wheels and it will be a recipe for disaster.

Short term I agree but after that the roads will be much safer :headbang:

[SMOKEU]

Short term I agree but after that the roads will be much safer :headbang:

Then again, maybe if the retards realise that they don't have a metal cage surrounding them with airbags as well then they might actually start giving a fuck about the safety of other road users.

[MSTRS]

Did I over-sleep? Is it April 1st already?

[avgas]

I wonder if congestion decreases because the population decreases?

[Bald Eagle]

This is actually old news. There was a French scientific study done which quantified benefits to an economy for % increases in two wheeled powered vehicles entering the traffic mix.

[Maha]

The Article on TV may have used the word 'motorcycle' but it was aimed at the scooter market..

[ducatilover]

Also economy. The 150cc Vespa I had only did around 50mpg at best. 2 stroke jappa 50cc average 120mpg, 4 strokes 110cc around 150mpg


150mpg? Feck! I might have to buy a very small 4T :yes: My 600 manages near 50MPG, 150 is just mental

[FJRider]

Queen street in a years time ... how can you lane split in that ... :facepalm:

http://img2.photographersdirect.com/img/27457/wm/pd2219744.jpg

[MSTRS]

The faces haven't changed...

[Tigadee]

I'm sure I saw a white face somewhere in there... Oh wait, it was an albino.

[avgas]

150mpg? Feck! I might have to buy a very small 4T :yes: My 600 manages near 50MPG, 150 is just mental
The wifes scoot used to get about 200+km from about $4.

[Voltaire]

My $ 350 Yamaha 200 does 90 MPG....30km per litre..fun to ride ...less so on the motorway.....and on the Mangere Bridge....but you can sneek over the old one...:innocent:

If I was working in town I'd use it all the time....way better than the bus, 15 minutes from Hillsborough to City.

[ducatilover]

The wifes scoot used to get about 200+km from about $4.
I can't stand scoots, but maybe an AX100 or CB125t would do the trick.
Might have to look in to this :yes: The only reason I have my shitheap Corolla is it's cheaper than the 600 to run. I like cheap :laugh:

[SMOKEU]

The best I can manage from my GSXR600 is around 8L/100km. I blame the Yoshi jet kit.

[Fast Eddie]

The best I can manage from my GSXR600 is around 8L/100km. I blame the Yoshi jet kit.

jesus..

having trouble working the jewish piano but I get something like 26kms per litre on the fireblade (i think its a 15litre tank and I get about 400km from a tank if im careful) running jet kit and full exhaust and modified air intake etc so thats about half of what your getting and mines a 900.

maybe your bikes out of tune or somethings wrong.. or ur riding around town in 1st and 2nd all day hehe..

I could beat 8l/100 in a car even

[ducatilover]

I could beat 8l/100 in a car even I get around 6l/100km in my Gayrolla.


The best I can manage from my GSXR600 is around 8L/100km. I blame the Yoshi jet kit.
That's a bit much...has it been geared differently or do you get a little happy with the throttle? I would be expecting around 6L/100km with some spirited riding.

[Asher]

The best I can manage from my GSXR600 is around 8L/100km. I blame the Yoshi jet kit.

I feel for you, my RGV250 does around 9L/100km then add the cost of decent 2stoke oil.....

[SMOKEU]

jesus..

having trouble working the jewish piano but I get something like 26kms per litre on the fireblade (i think its a 15litre tank and I get about 400km from a tank if im careful) running jet kit and full exhaust and modified air intake etc so thats about half of what your getting and mines a 900.

maybe your bikes out of tune or somethings wrong.. or ur riding around town in 1st and 2nd all day hehe..

I could beat 8l/100 in a car even


I get around 6l/100km in my Gayrolla.


That's a bit much...has it been geared differently or do you get a little happy with the throttle? I would be expecting around 6L/100km with some spirited riding.


I feel for you, my RGV250 does around 9L/100km then add the cost of decent 2stoke oil.....

Funnily enough, if I do the mish from Christchurch to Akaroa and back that's about 150km of riding, and I do ride it pretty hard when I go there.

If I do long open road trips at around 100kmh in 6th gear it returns the same fuel economy of around 8L/100km.

In either case the fuel light comes on at around 195km on the odometer. Bike has -1 on the front sprocket.

I have tested my speedo with the GPS to confirm that it does over read by 10-11% in order to get my figures right. I think it's running rich as it runs very rough below 4,000RPM. I've got receipts to show it's recently had all the carbies stripped, cleaned and balanced by a bike shop. Bike runs very well above 4,000RPM. The MJN jet kit is apparently designed more for track than road use so the fuel use doesn't surprise me too much. Better a bit rich than lean I say.

[ducatilover]

Might pay to tune it? But, you're right, far better off a bit rich than lean.
I've seen too many melted and cracked pistons lol

[SMOKEU]

Might pay to tune it? But, you're right, far better off a bit rich than lean.
I've seen too many melted and cracked pistons lol

I have my suspicions that it's been setup for racing at some stage. Had quite a few aftermarket bits and pieces when I bought it.

[ducatilover]

I have my suspicions that it's been setup for racing at some stage. Had quite a few aftermarket bits and pieces when I bought it.
I could live with that :D

[SMOKEU]

I could live with that :D

I only found out about the Ohlins suspension, Yoshi triple clamp, Yoshi MJN kit etc about a week after I bought the bike. I don't think the guy I bought it off even had a clue about what bits it had on it.

I've had unwelcome surprises when buying old vehicles before due to sellers not fully disclosing things, but in this case I'm not one to complain. :yes:

[quickbuck]

My 250R returns about 8L/100k too..... Well, I bank on 250Mls per 3.033k lap at Manfeild... Any less, and I run out! Yes, I have done so....

Now the issue I have with every Tom, Dick and Harrette buying a bike to save costs is that they are always too tight to buy the gear required to prevent then selves from being hurt.... They are also more likely to be hurt, because they are too tight to be taught properly too....

The whole car driving population needs a re-education before we just suggest they put thenselves in slightly more danger than they realise......

Other tha those concerns, it will be a great thing if more people rode.

Interesting fact: Only 3% of drivers between 15-24 have a class 6 licence. 15% of the 65+ age group (similer size pool) hold a class 6.
I think from memory the pool size is 100000 each?

[quickbuck]

I only found out about the Ohlins suspension, Yoshi triple clamp, Yoshi MJN kit etc about a week after I bought the bike. I don't think the guy I bought it off even had a clue about what bits it had on it.

I've had unwelcome surprises when buying old vehicles before due to sellers not fully disclosing things, but in this case I'm not one to complain. :yes:

Has the sump plug got lock wire holes?

[SMOKEU]

Has the sump plug got lock wire holes?

Not that I can see.

[quickbuck]

Not that I can see.

Plug could have been changed....
Or, the bike was just somebody's toy... You don't have to race a bike to put Ohlins suspension on it....

[Fast Eddie]

Plug could have been changed....
Or, the bike was just somebody's toy... You don't have to race a bike to put Ohlins suspension on it....

yea and you dont need ohlins and yoshi triple clamp to have a racebike :)

[Berries]

Nah, fuck them. Scooters take up most of the bike parking anyway.

[mossy1200]

Well i ran outa petrol on the MT01 with the trailer on the back while on tour so i know my bike only get 39.2km once reserve light comes on.
It holds 14 litres from empty to full and im talking push your bike empty.1km is distance pushed with trailer and angry wife following.
A guy in Oamaru asked what i was doing.I told him I was taking it for a walk:bash:

250km per tank at 14 litres

so that 5.6litres per 100km with trailer and passenger at 100km per hour .Not bad for 1670cc twin but i guess im only doing 2200 rpm.

[ducatilover]

:blink: 14L tank on a giant twin? My overweight ancient 600 has an 18L tank!

[quickbuck]

:blink: 14L tank on a giant twin? My overweight ancient 600 has an 18L tank!
Seems to be the way of it these days.
VFR1200 has a 14 litre tank, where the 800 has had a 22 litre since 1997.

Must be some legislation somewhere in the world ehat says you can't carry more than 15 litres of fuel on your motorcycle....
OR, it is to keep the wet weight down...
Or, cuts down the time the rider can spend in the seat in one stint.

[riffer]

Some of you guys mileages are rotten.

I'm getting 50mpg easily on my Bandit. And I don't nana it. However when I give it the berries it can go down to about 36mpg.

[quickbuck]

Some of you guys mileages are rotten.



To be fair, the Ninja's throttle doesn't spend much time when it isn't at the throttle stop.....

[oldrider]

Real Triumph Tigers (955i) have a 24 litre tank ... you can ride to where you are going without all this damn stopping! :ride:

(Unfortunately chronic AGE cancels all that advantage, cos you just gotta go wee's all the time!) :o

[Ocean1]

To be fair, the Ninja's throttle doesn't spend much time when it isn't at the throttle stop.....

I had a bike like that once...

[MSTRS]

Some of you guys mileages are rotten.


I'll say. My SRAD apparently has a 20 liter tank, giving a range of around 250kms plus 30-odd in reserve.

[mossy1200]

:blink: 14L tank on a giant twin? My overweight ancient 600 has an 18L tank!

To be fair 14litres 2 up and towing 250km isnt a bad effort idd say distance per tank is more important than litres.
I had a SP1 at 19 litres that couldnt make it from Welly to Manfeild on a tank.Needed filling at Foxton.Thats only 120km i think.

[ducatilover]

Seems to be the way of it these days.
VFR1200 has a 14 litre tank, where the 800 has had a 22 litre since 1997.

Must be some legislation somewhere in the world ehat says you can't carry more than 15 litres of fuel on your motorcycle....
OR, it is to keep the wet weight down...
Or, cuts down the time the rider can spend in the seat in one stint.
22L would do the job. I think the BlackBird had a bigger tank range than the new VFR12 didn't it?
Could be to do with less time in the saddle I'd say.


To be fair 14litres 2 up and towing 250km isnt a bad effort idd say distance per tank is more important than litres.
I had a SP1 at 19 litres that couldnt make it from Welly to Manfeild on a tank.Needed filling at Foxton.Thats only 120km i think.
That's pretty good then. :yes:
The SP-1 are known to be a tiny bit on the thirsty side...:shutup:

[Swoop]

Whats the problem with cities full of scooters? apart from wet winters?
Nothing wrong with wet winters. Less bikes on the road but you still get to work in the same amount of time and DRIER than taking the car!