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
Welcome, my name is 
2000 cubic inch or even a 800 cubic inch engine on a motorcycle is huge !!! But being a fellow motorcyclist I know what you meant.
Here’s what you wrote,
Guote,
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.
Most kids graduating from high school can not read and if they can read, they do not understand what they read. Go get em!!
Norm on July 1st a new law went into effect here in Florida. Any driver applying for a motorcycle endorsement must take a riders safety class. No passing grade in class no endorsement. The average cost is $350.00 and that would be at the local Harley Davidson dealership. To ride without a helmet one must show proof of medical insurance $10,000 or wear a helmet. I thought you would find this interesting. I think it might be a good law. So many people who never thought about riding for pleasure are buying bikes now because of the cost of gasoline.
I agree with you Norm. In Florida you are required to have Personal Injury Protection of $10,000 on your car insurance policy to cover your medical if you are in a accident. So it is the same as what they are requiring a biker to have to legally ride without a helmet. We both know that $10,00 is not a dent in a hospital bill for a head injury no matter how you are injured.The law requiring the riders safety course to take the test lets you take the class where you choose. The money does not go to the state except the cost for the endorsement. The classes are not offered by the state….you find your own. I am sure you can find the law on the internet. It was in the newspaper and on the news. President Bush is no hero of mine. He has made a awful mess of the United States. We are nearly bankrupt as a nation and owe billions of dollars to Japan and other countries. Sad thing is we have nobody to vote for in the upcoming election. Obama is a snake oil salesman who is not to be trusted and that leaves McCain. I can not decide who is the lesser of the two evils.
I agree buying a motorcycle is a great way to beat the high price of gasoline. Recently, two of my neighbors did just that to cut their expenses. Both are finding that their savings in gas alone is more than enough to pay the cost of the motorcycles.
Now one thing is that I feel very strongly about and I’m glad to see the new law in Florida passed, is that all new riders should take a motorcycle safety course. These courses offer you great information and experience to keep you alive and safe on the road. I also recommend these courses for experienced riders since, we often will develop habits in our riding that could be dangerous.
Riding motorcycles has enough dangers by themselves it’s a good idea to try to reduce the dangers by making us better riders.
Near Tallahassee,FL. ….the msf course is run by state troopers and/or former troopers.
Frank I said that a new rider should not be getting a 2000cc motorcycle. I think that Kawasaki or Yamaha makes a 2000 cc monster cruiser! 800cc is not very big for a cruiser. Harley makes the 883 Sportster, and the Japanese companies all make some type of 800cc or below starter biker.
I know that some make 250 cc motorcycles, but to be frank some of those may actually be dangerous on freeways because they do not accelerate fast enough for traffic conditions. That is why I recommended 800cc or below for new riders.
Now on sport motorcycles, 800cc would be a very fast motorcycle! I do not think new riders should be on any type of sport motorcycle, but I did not put that in my article for fear that I would look biased against sport motorcycles. Only experienced riders should be on Sport motorcycles.
Thanks for your comment man,
Norm
Right Frank, I wrote “I DO NOT THINK THAT NEW MOTORCYCLE RIDERS SHOULD BE GETTING 2000 CUBIC INCH MONSTERS. RATHER, A NEW RIDER SHULD GET AN 800 CUBIC INCH OR BELOW MOTORCYCLE TO LEARN ON.”
Maybe you misread what I wrote?
Norm
If one does not read carefully, they may miss a key point.
Thanks Sandie,
Norm
Sandie here in California if you can demonstrate that you have the riding skills necessary to pass the DMV riding test which is not easy, you do not need to go to a riding safety class.
Just like with helmets, I think that bikers should have the right to choose, notwithstanding my recommendation that everyone wear a helmet and take a safety course.
I have a problem with making something mandatory! The medical insurance deal to me is blatant discrimination against bikers. Why not require persons in cars to have 10k in med pay insurance or else force them to wear a helmet?
The problem with making something mandatory is that legislatures once given the power, will continue to regulate and legislate until you come to a point where you have lost your freedom.
The new law is interesting and disturbing to me. It looks like the State is trying to cash in on persons who have already been victimized by Bush’s energy policy!
Norm
I will look into the Florida law issue. Here in California we have minimum insurance requirements for all drivers. 10k property, 15k per person, 30k per incident. We are not required to buy medical payment insurance. Someone may already have medical insurance and not need medical payment insurance so it does not make sense to force everyone to get it, although it would make things easier for us lawyers.
I for one am against mandatory insurance for all because it only helps the insurance companies. The never passed their windfall onto the consumer which was supposed to happen. They just stuffed their pockets with every one’s money, and used the extra money to pay less money on claims, and to fight PI claims for vigorously. It is a joke! Imagine, our insurance money is being used by insurance companies to fight claims more vigorously by giving them more money to fight. Laws like this are only for the special interest and consumers are too dumbed down to realize it!
With respect to politics, you know I don’t like to discuss politics on the Blog, but I agree with everything you say!
Norm
I agree 100% Jeff.
Norm