As gas prices continue to rise, motorcycles
– which average 60 mpg – are enticing some
Gilroy – Hybrids are soaking up the spotlight these days – and at $3.20 a gallon and rising for gas, it’s no wonder why.
But, the vehicles still account for just 1 percent of overall auto sales and some consumers complain that the money they save in gas doesn’t offset the premium paid to cover the technology.
But a motorcycle, that’s a different story. Slap down $9,000 or less and you’ve got a sale and a vehicle that will take you to work at an average of 60 miles per gallon.
“Certainly interest has dramatically increased,” said David Bennett, owner of Gilroy’s High Gear Powersports. “At $3 and a quarter per gallon, people are slamming their fists on the counter and saying ‘this sucks,’ but at $4 or $5, people are saying ‘I simply can’t play this game.'”
While a car owner may pay $300 in monthly payments, plus the high cost of gas, a motorcycle rider may pay about $94 in monthly payments and if his bike gets 82 miles a gallon, only spend $61.46 a month at $4 a gallon.
The cost savings doesn’t apply to high-end motorcycles such as Harley-Davidson, that can cost upwards of $35,000.
Like solo hybrid drivers of some models, motorcyclists are allowed to travel in the carpool lane. Also, it’s perfectly legal for motorcyclists to cut through traffic and ride the center of a lane. With predictions that gas may rise to $4 or $5 a gallon, Bennett said he thinks the popularity of bikes will continue to increase.
The phenomenon at High Gear Powersports isn’t isolated. The finance manager at G.P. Sports said “the same exact thing” was happening at the San Jose-based store.
“Sales have increased,” Mike Bruns said. “(Commuters) can just put themselves on it and also put themselves in the carpool lane and save tons of money on gas.”
Bruns said they even sell a scooter that receives 100mpg. But is the savings worth the danger?
Bennett, who has been riding motorcycles since he was 11 and has never been in an accident, claims it’s not the bike that’s unsafe, it’s the carelessness of the rider. Bennett thinks if riders are trained to operate motorcycles and drive safely, the danger factor is significantly decreased.
Insurance-wise, even though they’re more dangerous than cars, in general motorcycles are cheaper to insure and companies don’t tend to offer medical coverage for motorcycles, said Arline Silva, senior account agent at Allstate Insurance in Gilroy.
For Greg Enyart, who decided on a deep blue Suzuki GSX-R750, the purchase will add to his station wagon, Honda Roadster and another motorcycle.
Still, Enyart said he’s not ready to scream about the cost of gas.
“I like to look at the glass as half full,” he said while making his purchase at High Gear Powersports “At least I’m not living in France where it’s $7 a gallon.”
