On Dec 7, 2008, at 09:42 , [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Sigh, motorcycles everywhere. Sorry, that's my reaction. :-)
When gas prices sky rocketed here, tons of people went out and bought
motorcycles (although I see fewer of them now that prices have
plunged -- think a
lot of the new ones are not residing in garages again). I have no
major
objection to motocycles, but I do object to the helmets and jackets
all the new
riders bought (flames, skulls, etc.). Somehow the feeling was try
to look a bad
ass. I found all the new "weekend warriors" (although I think most
were
riding them to work) just a tad silly. Like "buy a motocycle and
you also must
try to look like a Hell's Angel." (A few did get neutral hoods and
jackets.)
I also found it annoying.
But that's just me. However, seeing motorcycles in nature spots
doesn't
appeal.
Marnie aka Doe :-)
Let's see...
$2.00 more per gallon of gas. Maybe 50 fill ups since the price went
up. 15 gallons per average fill.
Now double that, or triple it.
$1500, $3000, $4500 in savings on gas purchases in the past year.
So we go out and buy a $16,000 motorcycle, and $1200 in riding
accouterment. To save money, the planet, or to give the old ego a shot
in the pecker?
Sorry. I'm the kinda guy who would rather put $500 to $1000 a year
into tires and maint. on my 19 year old 204,000 mile van to keep it on
the road, getting 22 mpg by the way, than to have something 'new' that
would cause more materials to be mined, more energy consumed, etc.,
for a vehicle that might get 23 mpg if you believe the TV adverts
(which bend the truth in mileage). When my car totally dies (defined
as a repair bill more than $1000) I will go out and buy a used vehicle
that is about 5 years old to replace it. Well broken in. No wasted
energy or materials. And no car payments.
The Dodge replaced my VW Westfalia and my last Porsche, which had
242,000 and 368,000 miles on them, respectively.
But that's just me. I only regret my Dodge doesn't have heat, and
winter's here. But it's been that way for 12 years now. I deal with
it. : )
My camera and lenses are already acclimated when I arrive at my
destination! (bought a new heater core 6 years ago, have yet to
install it - it's a pain to do so, entails removing most of the
dashboard)
Joseph McAllister
Pentaxian
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