Bikes and Scooters and $4 Gas…
This
drove Roomie to this 
and has me thinking seriously about this. 
Spoked Stoked by her envy of a writer friend, Roomie went out and bought a 26″ Schwinn Comfort Bike of the female persuasion. She did the research herself and made her own decision. Atta girl! Then whined and pouted until I went to the store to haul it home in my trusty Subaru Outback wagon. She was so pleased with herself on being able to get what she wanted in the price range she had set. Of course, her careful budgeting had overlooked a few items like helmet, tire pump, tool kit, clip on bag for carrying assorted things that women have an innate penchant for hauling around wherever they go, rack for hauling the bike around on the arse-end of her car, luggage rack and/or basket for hauling home the goods from all those quick trips to Walgreens and Publix, and whatever else she decides to add. Her total investment will probably double from her original objective. Miles per gallon: infinite. But, she seems happy for the moment and it will keep her occupied and distracted while I consider my big purchase.
Visiting clients in downtown Nashville, I’ve noticed the street cops are using these sharp little Honda scooters that look more like small motorcycles than the image you probably have from the word scooter. They are nothing really fancy, just your basic, bare-bones suicide machine. I could not haul all my service bags and tool kits around town, nor haul a customer’s computer back to the shop. But, I want one! Miles per gallon should be in the range of 75 to 80 while cost to fill the tank at todays price is about $5. That’s a slight improvement in cash flow from the $54 fill-up I had on Friday. I want one!
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I’m with ya on wanting a scooter. The only thing standing in my way having any money at all.
Good luck your way.
The MNPD have a few Honda Big Ruckus scooters — 250cc. Unfortunately, they no longer export this one to the U.S. market, so craigslist or eBay are your best bets. The Ruckus is a 50cc version — not as beefy or fast.
Fortunately (or not), Honda USA has told its dealers that once they sell out of whatever scooter stocks they have, now, they’re DONE for the year. No more Honda scooters in the U.S. until 2009! All makes and models are drying up in the supply chain… d’oh! Who could have seen THAT coming?
(not the guy who owns two scooters, naw)
I never could figure why the Ruckus was a draw… it has no storage space, and that’s a big plus when considering a scooter of a motorcycle, IMO.
.
I just drive merrily along in my Civic Hybrid. Over 15,000 miles, 46 mpg overall.
Looking on the positive side… at least we don’t have a gasoline shortage such as we had in the 70’s. Remember the long lines and the rationing? Today we can get all we want.
I’m thankful for that.
Good for Roomie! And best wishes on your dream purchase.
Hell, the gasoline just flows and flows for us Americans, doesn’t it? At whatever the price, there sure as hell is plenty. Let’s keep filling up our SUV’s and big shiny trucks and campers and…go shopping!!!!
I got myself an Aprilia SR50 which I love. You might want to consider a Yamaha Vino.
They are neat little machines that have more room than you would think.
Pagan Sphinx,
That’s the spirit! I love my GMC Yukon. Wouldn’t trade it for anything. And I never have to wait in line for gas.
Life is great isn’t it?
2M
Winston,
Watch those small wheeled motor scooters. They don’t like going across railroad tracks. And also, the Nashville drivers don’t like motor cycles or motor scooters.
Unlike most European cities, we Americans have not yet come to accepting those little gas saving devices.
In America they are DEATH TRAPS.
2M
I love to ride my bicycle. I would ride it everywhere if it weren’t for the red neck hill jacks here in Tennessee that would prefer to run you over. Very few drivers in Tennessee understand and know the driving laws. Hell, most of them can’t even read or write. Even the police don’t know the laws. That is sad. But in any event, riding a bicycle in Tennessee is very dangerous. Hopefully someday that will change.
Winston,
I really think you are better off just driving your Subaru. Look at the economics. If you buy a motor scooter for say $4,000 and then add insurance and other expenses. You could buy 1,000 gallons of gas. How far would that get you in your Subaru? And how would it be riding a motor scooter in the winter at 20 deg. in a cold rain or sleet? Better off in your warm Subaru right?
Don’t get me wrong. Motorcycles and scooters are lots of fun. I have had several. Even rode them to work. but when it comes to comfort and convenience you can’t beet your Subaru.
Am I right?
I want what Gerry Rosser has.
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