AMERICANS: Would you buy a 125cc motorcycle for the street?

[JSH]

A new small bike coming to the USA: 2021 Honda ADV150



A lot of the comments on varies websites say 150cc is too small and it needs to be at least 300cc to be interstate capable.

[ldjessee00]

I am not looking to buy gas. The size is not right for me, but would have been great for my youngest when a scooter was their main form of transportation.

[Bicycle Bob]

This is the wrong question. Many replies assume that "street" includes "freeway," and for that, streamlining is more important than displacement. It just isn't sold on TV.
"Don't torture air." - Alec Tremulus

[ldjessee00]

Streamlining will help with the semi issue? Ie, being 'blown' around when a semi passes you?

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by ldjessee00

Streamlining will help with the semi issue? Ie, being 'blown' around when a semi passes you?

You can either balance the center of pressure and use other refinements as necessary, or add a wheel and also stay stable on ice, wet leaves, and such.

[Grant-53]

The 250 cc Kawasaki Ninja motorcycles used in the recent Vetter Challenge have long tails and gearing changes to cruise at 70 mph. See craigvetter.com The curvature of the body also helps with cross wind stability. Some down force on the front helps too.

[Ironside]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

I have a rare Honda engine from an ATV that would be great for a 400 MPG car, but I may not have time to build it, so I'd be interested in other proposals. It has the classic horizontal Cub cylinder, but with 125 cc, presumably on a milder cam for trail use. It has 5 speeds forward, one reverse, and electric or pull start.

I would love to have that engine Bob, I think I may have mentioned it in my recumbent Honda 90 thread. The four speed engines are pretty rare here in the UK, the five speed versions were never imported. If you would PM me maybe we could work something out.
Pete.

[JSH]

The problem with long streamlined motorcycles is you loose the ability to filter through city traffic. Filtering is what makes motorcycles so much quicker through traffic. If you have to sit in traffic with the cars you might as well be in A car with HVAC and a cup of coffee.

This is why I hardly ever commute on my BMW in Portland, OR. Taking the motorcycle is more expensive, takes longer, and is nothing but frustration creeping along in 5 mph traffic.

[M_a_t_t]

Originally Posted by JSH

The problem with long streamlined motorcycles is you loose the ability to filter through city traffic. Filtering is what makes motorcycles so much quicker through traffic. If you have to sit in traffic with the cars you might as well be in A car with HVAC and a cup of coffee.

This is why I hardly ever commute on my BMW in Portland, OR. Taking the motorcycle is more expensive, takes longer, and is nothing but frustration creeping along in 5 mph traffic.

Other than the obvious city vs country/highway proportion, I wonder how much this applies across the US? Filtering is illegal here and after having been caught in rush hour traffic in Indianapolis I can see your point. However, I live in a town with a population of ~55k people and don't find the same issues you have expressed in my usual riding around the city.

Why do you say it is more expensive to take the bike?

[JSH]

Originally Posted by M_a_t_t

Other than the obvious city vs country/highway proportion, I wonder how much this applies across the US? Filtering is illegal here and after having been caught in rush hour traffic in Indianapolis I can see your point. However, I live in a town with a population of ~55k people and don't find the same issues you have expressed in my usual riding around the city.

Why do you say it is more expensive to take the bike?

Filtering is illegal is most of the USA which, in my opinion, is one of the reasons that motorcycles are not used for transportation here like they are in Europe. Filtering is legal in California and as of last year Utah. I used to commute on my motorcycle and for a couple of years commuted all year on it. That changed when I moved to a metro area with a population greater than 1 million (Birmingham, AL population 1.1 million) and my commute changed from free flowing to sitting in stop and go traffic. It is no fun sitting on a bike in 95-degree weather.

I say riding the motorcycle is more expensive because that is what my vehicle expense log show. It takes premium and gets lower fuel economy than the car. A set of tires cost more than a car but only last 6-8,000 miles. It requires a service and valve adjustment every 6,000 miles, etc. The running cost breakdown:

2011 – BMW R1200RT
$0.09 – Fuel
$0.15 – Maintenance
$0.06 – Tires
$0.30 per mile

2009 Toyota Prius
$0.07 – Fuel
$0.01 – Maintenance
$0.01 – Tires
$0.09 per mile

Now that isn’t exactly apples to apples as I pay the dealer to service the BMW and serviced the Prius myself. (The BMW has shim under bucket valves with a special ½ sphere shim. So to service at home you have to the heads off, measure clearance, calculate what replacement shims size, and then go to the dealer to buy them at $20 each) My previous BMW had lock nut valves so a 6,000 mile service was only about $250 every 6,000 miles. ($0.04 per mile) So that would drop the motorcycle to “only” $0.19 per mile total. So only twice as expensive as the car instead of 3 times as expensive.

I haven’t had the VW long enough to calculate costs. My previous TDI was $0.14 per mile but it averaged 46 mpg and the new one is only getting 37 mpg.

My Piaggio MP3 500 should be a lot cheaper to run than the BMW but again, not enough miles to know for sure. It is averaging 55 mpg on regular gas and the parts for the 6K mile service were only $157. Tires were only $289 but online forums says they will only last 6,000 miles (I bought it with 5400 miles on the clock and the rear tire needed replacement)