Around town bike for high gas prices NGC

[bobrebos]

I like the Monkey! 

https://powersports.honda.com/street/minimoto/monkey

[twowheeladdict]

I almost bought one in '19.  Dealer offered me a great price and I test rode a used Grom for comparison. 

Then a good riding friend told me the small wheel/tires would not be as good off road as the Van Van 200. 

The Honda Monkey is a toy, while the Van Van 200 is a full sized, low power, high gas mileage bike.  The new Honda Trail 125 would be a better errand bike because it already has a rack for the milk crate. 

[bobrebos]

I almost bought one in '19.  Dealer offered me a great price and I test rode a used Grom for comparison. 

Then a good riding friend told me the small wheel/tires would not be as good off road as the Van Van 200. 

The Honda Monkey is a toy, while the Van Van 200 is a full sized, low power, high gas mileage bike.  The new Honda Trail 125 would be a better errand bike because it already has a rack for the milk crate.

Also nice!  Good point.  https://powersports.honda.com/street/minimoto/trail125-abs/?cid=main_reprise/google/Brand_Model_Motorcycle_miniMOTO_Exact/Trail125/2021%20honda%20trail&gclid=CjwKCAiA4KaRBhBdEiwAZi1zznNzlfRI08RSj3KTuAc18z_7yFZ8Yh-cPu2f8t2DhG5aNZPpM3GpxBoCXUQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[bobrebos]

Or the Super cub!  https://www.southernhonda.com/New-Inventory-2022-Honda-Motorcycle-Scooter-Super-Cub-C125-ABS-Southern-Honda-Powersports-11752287?ref=list

[Sye]

High fuel prices indeed. Here in the UK unleaded is £1.56 a litre which is £7.00 0r $9.22 a gallon. UK gallon yes, but that's still $7.68 a gallon US!

[Road Rocket]

[bobrebos]

[tommy2cyl]

+ 1 on Van Van. Excellent 200 cc all rounder. 
Regarding Perazzimx comment on justification of spending X amount on a motorcycle to save at the gas pump. 
Always remember:  The dollars you spend on a motorcycle is a different currency.  Those dollars are not the same dollars you spend on gas, insurance,
food, mortgage, etc.  Motorcycle dollars are their own separate entity.  As a side corollary, once you sell a motorcycle, never/ever put those funds back into the real money accounts.  Once you do that, the motorcycle  $ are now lost forever and have become real money.  Always best to set up a side account for the special motorcycle currency for, well, you know......

[Darren Williams]

Honda Navi or other small scooter, if you are really talking economy.

Revzilla Daily Rider video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4FxY5ybUOU

[twowheeladdict]

+ 1 on Van Van. Excellent 200 cc all rounder. 
Regarding Perazzimx comment on justification of spending X amount on a motorcycle to save at the gas pump. 
Always remember:  The dollars you spend on a motorcycle is a different currency.  Those dollars are not the same dollars you spend on gas, insurance,
food, mortgage, etc.  Motorcycle dollars are their own separate entity.  As a side corollary, once you sell a motorcycle, never/ever put those funds back into the real money accounts.  Once you do that, the motorcycle  $ are now lost forever and have become real money.  Always best to set up a side account for the special motorcycle currency for, well, you know......

Exactly what I do.  There's residual value in the bike.  Unfortunately my bike account is low requiring me to sell in order to buy.  I don't want to part with what I have at the moment.

Regarding the beater car, I thought northerners did that for winter driving to keep the good car nice.

[tommy2cyl]

TWA:  I know we both own the VV 200's.  Wonderful little machines that are fun & capable on & offload.  Available in US from 2017-2019.  Glad I got mine.

[Clifton]

I picked up a (barely) used Monkey from the local dealer a couple years ago for $2,700 thinking I could ride it locally, let my partner learn to ride on it, toss it in the truck when camping, etc. While it was cute, in a nutshell I found it lacking in either power, suspension, or both for riding the roads around here. My partner did enjoy learning to ride on it but then moved up to riding my XT250 which is a much more capable and useful bike so I traded the Monkey back for what I paid for it.



LOL no she did not ride it as dressed, she just jumped on it for this pic when I brought it home.

[JJ]

I love the little Monkey bikes... :smiley:but my concern on the street would be being SEEN by distracted car / truck drivers because they are smaller than a full size motorcycle...but I suppose just around town would be fine...

However...Bicycles. ..YES!!  Electric bicycles...YES!!  ...or maybe something like this!!

[guzzisteve]

I still have my Kinetic moped, it's a Piaggio Ciao the Indians cept making after Italians pulled out. 2000 TFR, I rode to work w/no license 10mi one way. You could walk faster up Hog Mtn. I bumped it up a bit w/real DelOrto & drilled out port. Needs a chamber now. Been sitting 16yrs.

[Clifton]

I still have my Kinetic moped.....  ....Been sitting 16yrs.

Better start using it. Heck around here they're dragging Geo Metros in from the fields to get them running again!

[Cage Free]

A friend recently bought a 2012 CBR250 with 1200 miles for $2k. He wanted a small around town bike and to put less miles on his big HD. He loves the little bikes maneuverability in traffic and is getting a consistent 70 + mpg, now more important than ever.

[s1120]

Im thinking something like a 70's CB350, or a old GS400-425 would fill the bill for me. Pretty cheap still, run FOREVER, and really can do most anything you would need for short hops around.

[JJ]

"I don't want a PICKLE...I just want a pair of gas stingy MOPED's... like these two JC Penny "Pintos"

[bad Chad]

CSCmotorcycles.com.  I have had my $2200 tt250 for 6 years and it been great!

[Scout63]

+ 1 on Van Van. Excellent 200 cc all rounder. 
Regarding Perazzimx comment on justification of spending X amount on a motorcycle to save at the gas pump. 
Always remember:  The dollars you spend on a motorcycle is a different currency.  Those dollars are not the same dollars you spend on gas, insurance,
food, mortgage, etc.  Motorcycle dollars are their own separate entity.  As a side corollary, once you sell a motorcycle, never/ever put those funds back into the real money accounts.  Once you do that, the motorcycle  $ are now lost forever and have become real money.  Always best to set up a side account for the special motorcycle currency for, well, you know......

Perfectly put.

[guzziart]

Im thinking something like a 70's CB350, or a old GS400-425 would fill the bill for me. Pretty cheap still, run FOREVER, and really can do most anything you would need for short hops around.

I'll use my wife's CB125s, if she lets me.

[kballowe]

I lived in southern Spain in the mid/late 70's.  Gasoline was approx $2.50/gallon there. 

There were a LOT of those 49cc mopeds, and they had special pre-mix pumps at the gas stations.  I mixed my own, because the pump mix was very heavy on the oil. 

Mine was a Puch, like this one.  I don't know what kind of gas mileage it got, but I would fill it every couple of weeks.



 

[JJ]

Then, of course, there are these two little "spendy" tiddlers....

[kballowe]

Last year, I took a test ride on one of those new Monkey bikes.  They had several "demo bikes" out front, and were encouraging everyone to participate.  Hey, free hot dogs and drinks - how could I resist?

Did I want one?  You bet.   

Lots of fun, but it would take some getting used-to.  I mean, 40 mph on that thing felt like 80 on a full-sized motorcycle.

What I really want is one of those Honda "Trail 125"  bikes.   I know they're out there. but I've not seen one anywhere.

[Scout63]

I would want a full size bike, even for around town use.  A lightly used Honda 250 single if really in town, a 650 XL or KLR if some rural or highway use.  My old SR500 fits the bill pretty well but I find myself taking bigger cooler bikes, even out for a burger.

[Dave Swanson]

Perfect around town bike, and everywhere in between!  Great gas mileage and reasonably priced!  AND ITS A GUZZI! 

[80CX100]

     If you're going to invest into and maintain another bike for around town, might as well make it a real one.

     If you think you might do the odd back road rip with it, a model like a CBR250-300? or Ninja 300 would be good choices.

     If exploring dirt back roads and trails is more likely to be part of it's use, a nice little dual sport like a DR200 or XL/XT 250 would do welll.

     fwiw ymmv

[JJ]

The Italian, (Monkey Bike styled), "TIDDLER" of the Week!!

[zebraranger]

Purchased my full sized lightweight Versys X-300 new in 2018 for $5000 out the door. it gets 65 to 70 mpg and is very capable of interstate speeds and excellent for around town errands. I've added a set of Shad quick release side cases for when needed.

[twowheeladdict]

My bikes fuel economy depending on how hard I am riding each.  65 mph is the highest speed I typically ride since I avoid interstates as much as possible.  I even try hard to avoid crossing interstates where there are on/off ramps.

My Van Van gets 80+ mpg
My KLX300SM gets 70+ mpg
My V7III gets 60+ mpg
My Road Glide gets 50+ mpg.

The Mazda CX30 gets 35 mpg.
The Titan gets 20 mpg.
The 2500HD gets 12 mpg.