Record Fuel Prices

As fuel prices soar, recent news reports describe increasing numbers of commuters showing a renewed interest in motorcycling as an alternative to travel by car. Motorcycles offer a number of advantages over cars -- if you are willing to ride a mid-displacement bike (600cc to 800cc) you can expect good fuel economy and reasonable power, comfort, and versatility.

Choose Wisely

New or returning riders, and especially those seeking an economical alternative to the 3,800 pound automobile, would do well to avoid over-buying: resist the temptation to buy the big-displacement fire-breathing two-wheeled missile. While a big-bore bike is loads of fun, and provides more thrills for the buck than just about any other form of mechanized transportation, it also brings increased danger to the inexperienced rider, and higher operating costs. Motorcycle tires can cost a small fortune, and high-power bikes have a ravenous appetite for rear tires -- not to mention high insurance costs.

Scooter or Motorcycle?

Honda Scooter

For an urban dweller, a moped or small-displacement 'hybrid' scooter (like the Honda Helix, the Yamaha Morphous, or the Suzuki Burgman) offer an interesting option. While these are not for everyone, they do offer a surprisingly high degree of practicality mixed with sheer fun, if you are not put off by the looks.

For those wanting a more traditional motorcycle, the field is pretty much wide open. In fact, there are probably more models and manufacturers too choose from than you can imagine. A quick search can give you a good idea of what's available.

With A Weak Dollar, Import Prices to Rise

A weak dollar, relative to other currencies, will put upwards pressure on import prices. Much of our fuel supply is imported, as are many popular motorcycles. So, I expect to see motorcycle prices increase more than normal over the next few years, if sales remain strong or increase due to growing interest in economical vehicles.

The Downside

The Sky's The Limit: How high can prices go? You don't want to know...

Paying at the pump: High gas prices raising interest in motorcycles...

While I love to see people discovering (or rediscovering) motorcycles, one drawback to all of this is the possibility of an increase in accidents and fatalities - as large numbers of new riders (or riders who have been away for years before returning) hit the road, it's likely that some will encounter situations that they may find difficult to deal with. Motorcycle safety courses are a good way to address this very real threat -- regardless, new or newly returning riders should exercise good judgment in order to avoid becoming a statistic.