I have six motorcycles (two H-D, three BMW, one Kaw), so I'm just about as pro-motorcycle as you'll find. I don't drive a car unless it snows, and even then pretty reluctantly (I've been caught a few times.) But motorcycles aren't particularly environmentally friendly; any one of mine (and two of them are 2009 models) pollute significantly more than a small car.

My Toyota Echo (go ahead, flame away) gets 40 mpg in the winter, with four snow tires, if I drive it very gently (37 if I don't) and takes regular gas. It weighs 2000 pounds and its emissions are squeaky clean. My 2009 Ultra requires premium gas, weighs 900 pounds, and gets 44 mpg. Since it's not a California build, it does not have any evaporative emission controls or catalytic converter.

I love the bikes and don't particularly care about their emissions, but would never claim any environmental advantage over cars or even modern pickup trucks. They take a bit less parking space.

 

That's what the new laws do - it's been illegal to remove the smog equipment off a new car for many years now. Same with mufflers.

Look where cars are headed: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/01/auto...dex.htm?hpt=T2

Please, please, PLEASE don't start drawing car/HD comparisons. We've been given far more latitude than the car makers. See many new air-cooled cars for sale???

 

cars will always get better mpg per person then a motorcycle. ie 4 people in a 40mpg civic uses less gas per person then 2 people on a Harley.
I personally am doing all I can to use my fair share of the fossil fuels left on this earth.

 

frankly, I don't care if my Harley gets 50 mpg or 5 mpg,
I'm going to enjoy riding it as long as i can. I bought it because I LOVE to ride, not for fuel mileage or status symbol.
I'm sure I will get flamed by some nature ****'s on here, but "***** em" I really don't give a $hit.

 

My bike is not "Green Friendly".

example:
It's 3 miles to the post office
If I take the truck: it's a 6 mile round trip (less than 1/2 a galon of gas)
If I take the bike: It's at least a 120 mile round trip (around 3 gallons)

example #2:
Back when gas hit $4.00 a gallon it was costing me $16 a day to drive to the golf course in my truck
On the days I didn't play golf, I'd ride the bike and spend the same $16 in gas riding

 

You need to ride more

Riding for 2 weeks and haven't used a tank of gas yet????

The only way might bike doesn't need gas in 2 weeks is when it hasn't been started!!!

 

Even tho the tires only last 14K-20K we still only use two of those as well, yet another green point to mention.

 

I don't expect any credit, but a T shirt would be nice.

 

Amen brother, we are always over looked or looked down at.

 

I can't believe that I finally got so bored, I had to begin to read this thread,and responded to it!!