Susan Carpenter, who writes the motorcycle columns for the Los Angeles Times, has a new piece out that explores how motorcycle manufacturers measure the gas mileage of their vehicles...

Since there's no standardized motorcycle MPG test, where are these fuel-economy figures coming from? In the case of Yamaha, Suzuki and Harley-Davidson (which has been providing MPG figures since 1982), they're based on the EPA emissions test the manufacturers are already required to perform to sell bikes in the United States.

Here's a link to her full article...
http://www.latimes.com/.../la-hy-throttle2apr02,0,498246.story

It's perhaps good reading to understand a little understood aspect of the industry standards. But what Susan is actually doing is setting up a question that will likely raise its head in the months to come.

And that simply is a challenge to the fact that motorcycles are offer greater fuel efficiency and cost of ownership compared to cars.

There already is a segment of society opposed to motorcycles, or more appropriately, motorcyclists, and seemingly support any kind of legislation that might reduce their numbers from the roadway.

And with rising gas prices, the motorcycle manufacturers are gearing up to release MPG figures that they hope will open the flood gates of new sales.

It'll be interesting to see how the anti-motorcycle society addresses this.

Labels: Gas Mileage