Motorcyle and Biker Ride Reports and General Info

For those of us who are getting creamed at the gas pumps by the oil baron crooks and oil speculator bottom dwellers these days, there is a way to save some serious money; buy a motorcycle and use it as your primary means to commute to work.

Motorcycles are a serious viable solution to beating the high cost of gasoline. I have been getting comments here on the Biker Law Blog, and emails regarding the high price of gas issue and thought I would write an article about solutions to it.

Yes, riding motorcycles, especially for new motorcycle riders, is a bit different than driving a car, there is no doubt about that. But you can do it, gain a new found pleasure by doing the same, and save a ton of money in the process!

First, in order to legally ride a motorcycle in the State of California, you will need a valid motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license. I am sure all states have the same kind of requirement. Check with your respective States Department of Motor Vehicles to find out the requirements.

I recommend that new motorcycle riders take and pass a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation Riding Class not only to get your motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license, but also so that you learn how to ride your motorcycle.

If you think back to when you started to learn how to drive a car, it was basically the same thing. You probably had to have a certain number of hours of behind the wheel if you were a minor to get your license. You probably had to take a driving test to get your license. You probably also had to take a written test to get your drivers license.

The motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license is basically the same at least in California. If you pass a written test you will be given a permit to ride your motorcycle during daylight hours, with no passengers, and will not be allowed to ride on freeways.

Once you have your permit you have two choices to get you full motorcycle endorsement; (1) You can pass the DMV riding test on your own without formal instruction; or (2) You can take the certified MSF motorcycle class. If you pass the class, it is the same as passing the riding test at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and you will not have to do the riding test at the DMV.

Many years ago, I just went and passed the riding test at the DMV. I passed on the first shot. The California Department of Motor Vehicles has what I believe is an easy motorcycle riding test which consists of; (1) starting, stopping, shifting, usage of controls; (2) riding your motorcycle around a very sharp curve while keeping both tires within a very small parallel line; (3) maneuvering around cones; and (4) doing number 2 and 3 in both directions.

Although you can take the riding test like I did at the DMV, I still recommend taking the MSF class if you are a new rider.

If you are a new rider, I strongly suggest that you shop around for a motorcycle that will suit your needs as a beginner. I do not think that new motorcycle riders should be getting 2000 cubic inch monsters. Rather, a new rider should get an 800 cubic inch or below motorcycle to learn on. Preferably something that is easy to ride and nimble. The only way to find the right motorcycle for you is to shop around.

This article is not on finding the right motorcycle. This article is about beating high gas prices by riding a motorcycle.

Now what kind of mileage can you expect by riding a motorcycle? I would say 2 to 3 times that of ordinary cars that are on the road depending upon the motorcycle that you choose.

My Harley Davidson Electra Glide is rated at around 32.5 miles per gallon in the city, and around 45 miles per gallon on the highway. Of course gas mileage varies based upon how you ride, weight, tires, etc. The car that I drive gets around 9 to 10 miles per gallon in the city, and around 20 miles or less miles per gallon on the highway. It has a Northstar V8 engine.

The Harley Davidson Electra Glide is a big heavy motorcycle. There are many others that get much better mileage.

I found a great website site to check out motorcycle mileage ratings based upon motorcycle manufacturer. You can check it out by clicking here. Once you get to the site, click on the manufacturer to check out the mileage for the different models.

As a Biker Lawyer who handles motorcycle accidents and other types of personal injury cases and legal work, I sometimes have to drive to Court in a suit and tie, or I have to carry large case files to depositions or Court. In these situations, I have to keep a car because it is not practical to wear a suit on the motorcycle. You too may have a similar situation where you may not be able to ride to work all of the time. Obviously there are also times when weather would make riding either dangerous or not wise.

I therefore recommend that everyone keep a small car for those times when you cannot ride, or need to carry your family. Some many not need to keep a car! I do know many guys and gals here in Southern California that do not own a car. Here it is possible to ride a motorcycle everyday, but in most other parts of the country, snow and other in climatic conditions may not allow for the same.

It is time to beat the high gas prices that are strangling our nation; buy a motorcycle and commute to work on it!

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2008