American and Bike

[K6]

Here in europe Bikes and Scooters are wide used in high traffic situation like big Cities.
In America I cant' see many bikes and the few bikes are heavy and slow Harley.

Why americans dont use bike?

 

[beer]

More SUVsand bigger roads make bikes less necessary and more risky.

 

[tweakmm]

Because Americans in general are lazy.

 

[Colt45]

becuase yankees don't have to take it up the ass to be able to afford petrol, yet.

 

[K6]

Originally posted by: Colt45
becuase yankees don't have to take it up the ass to be able to afford petrol, yet.

Don't make me think about petrol price ... here in Italy petrol cost about 5-6 Dollar per Gallon (1.08 Euro / litre)

 

[Pliablemoose]

I worked in a bicycle shop while in college & have owned 11 motorcycles...

There are several reasons:

1.) We pay no attention to the needs for bike paths when building new roads/projects.
2.) Drivers care very little for the safety of motorcyclist or bicycle riders.
3.) Hell we don't even build sidewalks in most projects...
4.) We US citizens are more than a little lazy...

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: K6

Originally posted by: Colt45
becuase yankees don't have to take it up the ass to be able to afford petrol, yet.

Don't make me think about petrol price ... here in Italy petrol cost about 5-6 Dollar per Gallon (1.08 Euro / litre)

I imagine that has a lot to do with it.

It's about $1.59/gallon here in Oregon.

 

[Colt45]

Originally posted by: K6

Originally posted by: Colt45
becuase yankees don't have to take it up the ass to be able to afford petrol, yet.

Don't make me think about petrol price ... here in Italy petrol cost about 5-6 Dollar per Gallon (1.08 Euro / litre)

exactly my point!

the 2 main reasons, i think:

petrol is cheaper, so larger vehicle is still realtively cheap to drive
and, the roads are generally larger, so there's no real advantage to a very small vehicle like a bike.

 

[K6]

OK, outside the city roads are wide and witout traffic.

But inside the bigger city like New York traffic is heavy, also parking sometimes is a problem.

Driving a scooter is easy because scooter have ad automatic transmission and not a manual transmission like bike

Scooter image

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: K6
OK, outside the city roads are wide and witout traffic.

But inside the bigger city like New York traffic is heavy, also parking sometimes is a problem.

Driving a scooter is easy because scooter have ad automatic transmission and not a manual transmission like bike

Scooter image

Yep..

They just aren't very popular here. People just like being nice and warm inside their cars...

I ride a scooter, but it's a different kind than those..

link

 

[Colt45]

another thing, as funny as it may sound...

all around the world, but moreso in the US, a car is a status-symbol. someone that drives a scooter is thought to be poor and/or a wuss, while someone the drives a benz or similar has class.. etc.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Colt45
another thing, as funny as it may sound...

all around the world, but moreso in the US, a car is a status-symbol. someone that drives a scooter is thought to be poor and/or a wuss, while someone the drives a benz or similar has class.. etc.

This is sad, but very true. Although when I see someone on a scooter, I always say to myself.. "Yup, they're gettin' 150MPG."

 

[halik]

im european living in the US.
The main reason people dont ride bikes is because verything is so damn spread out. It's way more convenient to take my talon if i go somewhere, than sped 2 hrs pedling away. Plus gas is cheaper here, but that has more to do with SUV and gas guzzlers in general, rather than overall use of cars.

 

[K6]

Originally posted by: Colt45

all around the world, but moreso in the US, a car is a status-symbol. someone that drives a scooter is thought to be poor and/or a wuss, while someone the drives a benz or similar has class.. etc.

Here the situation is changing , now is "cool" to have a scooter and bypass all the car stopped in the trafic.

One of the best selled bike in my city is the Ducati Monster 620ie and is tipically used by young manager across che downtown

Other common scooter/bike are



Italjet Dragster

BMW C1 you can drive C1 without helmet because have security belt and optional airbag.

Ducati Monster 620ie


Benelli Adiva

 

[The Stigenator]

i want to get the honda silverwing or suzuki scooter... wonder when the X9-500 will show up.

 

[K6]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
i want to get the honda silverwing or suzuki scooter... wonder when the X9-500 will show up.

???????????????? from a GS500 to a Silverwing or a Burgman ??????

Why? , your bike is better than a Silverwing!!

The X9 is a good scooter , the first model was called back because the rear tyre was defective but now is OK.

 

[The Stigenator]

Originally posted by: K6

Originally posted by: The_good_guy i want to get the honda silverwing or suzuki scooter... wonder when the X9-500 will show up.

???????????????? from a GS500 to a Silverwing or a Burgman ?????? Why? , your bike is better than a Silverwing!! The X9 is a good scooter , the first model was called back because the rear tyre was defective but now is OK.

Well sometimes I like the lazy american way of not shifting when in the canyons..

I started on a ungeared 30 or 60ccmoped then a 125 cc scooter, so im quite comfy there.. but then the GS is an awesome bike when its not giving any trouble. Stupid jetting issue.. my bike runs like crap on a warm day. I need to fix that soon.

Anyway I liked the Honda Silverwing, something about touring with style.. I dont know it appeals to me.

 

[ElFenix]

you coudln't pay me to ride around on a little death-prone scooter.

and you haven't been in the states much if you've only seen cruiser type bikes. either that or you were in sturgis the whole time.

 

[Heisenberg]

I think it's a mix of laziness, status, and convenience. As long as we have the military err... money to afford the gas, I don't think it will change.