Why we need more bikes on the road

[shrub]

The Ka is huge fun. Handles better than any Japanese econo-box and is reliable as an axe handle.

I drove a rental Ka once - kind of like driving a Mini and highly recommended. Good fun for a car.

[Usarka]

However the comparison with fuel economy I don't agree with. Maybe your Ford Ka uses less fuel than your Kawasaki, but my Thunderbird Sport uses less than half the fuel for commuting than my Nissan Bluebird or my partner's Mitsubishi Galant, and my son's Street Triple uses even less. I'm sure a Prius or your Ka is very economical, but they're not the majority of cars, and with SUVs making up nearly 1/3 of new car registrations, bikes, on average, are more economical than cars.

But you are saying use vehicle a) instead of vehicle b) because of fuel economy.

Same principle applies between classes of cars. If I was government man I'd say forget bikes let's incentivise 1.3l cars. Heaps better on tires too..

[Scuba_Steve]

I drove a rental Ka once - kind of like driving a Mini and highly recommended. Good fun for a car.

What is wrong with you people??? The Ka is by far the worst cage I have ever driven (& I've driven a few). The only logical concussion I can come up with is the one I drove is from when they 1st entered the market, maybee they've got through MAJOR changes since then? as in almost a complete rebuild/redesign from ground up.

FYI before anyone gets defensive, while text doesn't convey context too well this is a light hearted jab rather than an attack so no reason for anyone to get all offended or nothing

[shrub]

But you are saying use vehicle a) instead of vehicle b) because of fuel economy.

Same principle applies between classes of cars. If I was government man I'd say forget bikes let's incentivise 1.3l cars. Heaps better on tires too..

But that doesn't deal with the huge congestion problem.

[Swoop]

If you want economical, buy a Corolla.
If you are a retard, buy a prius.
If you want less congestion on the roads, buy a bike (or a scroter).

[SMOKEU]

I've never found bikes fuel and resource efficient to run. They drink petrol at a prodigious rate, especially when cc rating and weight is taken into consideration and I'll go through 4 sets of bike tyres to one set of car tyres and I'm a conservative rider. They also need far more frequent fettling than the average family transport. I'd stay away from that point altogther because there are much cleverer people than me who can blow much bigger holes in that argument.

People in NZ usually ride bikes as a hobby, just like some people play tennis and other people go fishing. This is why they are so expensive to run!

In many poor countries, especially in Asia, small capacity bikes are much more common than cars as they are significantly cheaper to run than a car. A CG125 is all you would really need around a town, and it will be much cheaper to run than an "average" car.

[Swoop]

In many poor countries, especially in Asia, small capacity bikes are much more common than cars as they are significantly cheaper to run than a car.

"Running costs" are low in the scheme of things. The cost of purchasing a car is astronomical.

[JimO]

Hyosung what compared to which model of Kia? I am comparing my GSXF650 to my family car doing the same trip, Kapiti to Welly and return. Bike cheaper on fuel, haven't repeated the trip enough in the car to compare tyre usage but four to two the bike is less.

how many people and how much gear can your family car carry? a bit more than your bike i bet

[SMOKEU]

"Running costs" are low in the scheme of things. The cost of purchasing a car is astronomical.

True; and the general cost of ownership on a small bike such as an FXR150 is still a lot cheaper than driving a Corolla to work everyday.

[James Deuce]

Economy's not the main issue though. The filth content of motorcycle emissions is significantly higher by cc than most other vehicles on the road. That's were we have an issue pointing at bikes and saying "burns less fuel" (does not) and therefore creates "less emissions" (not true). Bikes create more toxic emissions than most other vehicles of the same vintage and that is where the baleful eye of regulation is slowly bringing its gaze to bear.

[bogan]

Economy's not the main issue though. The filth content of motorcycle emissions is significantly higher by cc than most other vehicles on the road. That's were we have an issue pointing at bikes and saying "burns less fuel" (does not) and therefore creates "less emissions" (not true). Bikes create more toxic emissions than most other vehicles of the same vintage and that is where the baleful eye of regulation is slowly bringing its gaze to bear.

The filth content of what sits on the bike may be higher too, doesn't mean it's relevant. Burning less fuel (does too) means less emissions anyway, unless you specify individual types which bikes produce more of.

[oneofsix]

The filth content of what sits on the bike may be higher too...

Hey I had a shower ...last month

[Smifffy]

But that doesn't deal with the huge congestion problem.

What congestion problem? If I see 6 other vehicles during my entire commute to work tomorrow morning, then the road is busy.

Do you mean the gridlocks in the rat mazes doing the rat race? I seriously doubt any of that will be solved by bikes, what's needed there is better town-planning, better public transport, less reliance on people whose business it is to drive around aimlessly from one point to another in order to drop shit off to people who think they need said shit 'urgently'.

[shrub]

What congestion problem? If I see 6 other vehicles during my entire commute to work tomorrow morning, then the road is busy.

Do you mean the gridlocks in the rat mazes doing the rat race? I seriously doubt any of that will be solved by bikes, what's needed there is better town-planning, better public transport, less reliance on people whose business it is to drive around aimlessly from one point to another in order to drop shit off to people who think they need said shit 'urgently'.

You obviously haven't been to Auckland. Last time I went (just before Xmas) it took longer to get from Auckland airport to my hotel in Takapuna than it did to get from my house in ChCh to Auckland airport. ANd it cost more....

[Smifffy]

You obviously haven't been to Auckland. Last time I went (just before Xmas) it took longer to get from Auckland airport to my hotel in Takapuna than it did to get from my house in ChCh to Auckland airport. ANd it cost more....

As I said, that shit will take more than bikes to sort out. It's a giant looney bin. If the looneys want live with that shit then good on em.