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With fuel approaching $4/gal. we have a chance to show how dual sports, and converted race bikes, can save fuel, be easier to find parking spaces, cost less to operate, etc. You can write a letter to the editor, participate in green meetings & get our message across about riding bikes while being "purist" (I don't know how kicking up clods to pepper followers fits in here but it might).

Ideas?

Stu

So if we're unemployed/retired that day can we just ride our bikes around all day and finally be looked UP upon?

Commuting on a motorcycle is only green when compared to people driving 1-up in cars. If folks would carpool or use public transit, it would be more efficient than motorcycles.

I came to that realization when on a multi-day ride with 5 riders. I was thinking to myself how I was glad my Vstrom gets 52 MPG and how "efficient" it is compared to my truck. Then I realized that the combined efficiency for 5 riders was the equivalent of 10.4 MPG. We'd be more efficient for all 5 to go in my truck which gets about 18 MPG. Of course the motorcycle ride was the entire purpose...so that argument makes no sense.

If a majority of folks who drive would ride instead, it would definitely be an overall green win. I have to admit, though, commuting is not the joy of motorcycling for me. I do commute on my bike, but if that's all I used it for, I'd sell it. It's the weekend rides I enjoy, and those offset my green commuting a bit.

The point is that people do NOT use public transport and they do not car pool. It would take a very large crowbar to pry them out of their "temples of discontent."

The 5 of you riding the roads between Lake City and Ouray will get better than your 10+ MPG. 5 of you in a truck would get far worse than 18 MPG and you would not enjoy the ride much. Variables make green decisions difficult, but not impossible. For example, it takes about 1/5th of the energy input to make a bike as to make a car. What have you saved here? 4 barrels of oil? Replacing chain and sprockets a few times will never equal the manufacturing and purchase of 4WD. And tires? How fast would your truck tires wear out if you drove it where you take your bike?

I would still pick my bike. However, commuting is deadly dull whether in a car or on a bike.

Stu