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[spydglide]

I ride my MC - saves me a ton over my F150.  The SERK is getting 35ish (need to dig into that more) and my KLR gets 50ish.  I ride rain or shine - that is what I have done to adapt. 

But actually, I would do that anyway.  I hate driving.

Sean

my hats 'tipped' to ya, you're what I refer to as a 'true biker'.  har!  spyder

[RJ749]

As a rule we avoid the subject of income on this site. We all share a passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and that is our common denominator. I have to believe however that not everyone on this site is well off. Probably most of us aren't. Simply working stiffs that get up every day and go to a job probably on average a better job than most, but a job nonetheless. As a percentage of income, the cost of gas is really starting to become an issue. My wife and I are spending $150 a week just on gas for our vehicles. Where does it end, what is the solution ? I have no answers. We are a free market economy. We pride ourselves on it. We preach captitalism the world. And yet we have public utilities because water, sewer and power are essential to the well being of our citizens and our economy. Is it time that we nationalized our oil companies ? That smacks of socialism in a huge way and I'm sure is anathma to many many people. But what's the answer ? We've yet to see this wave crest and break in huge increases across the entire spectrum of our lives. When we do, when inflation runs into double digits, what then ? What's the answer ?

B B

No question increases are everywhere, but is getting to a point where we most likely will see choices like Florida Marine is making and a move from our Truck/SUV lifestyle to more econo boxes.

Many folks could get out of the truck and into a commuter and double gas mileage thus reverting to their old gas budget.  Of course this does not account for the cost of the commuter car or disposal of the truck if that's the choice.

With a 120 mile commute I could move closer to work and keep driving what I want to, but that would be to simple.

[LRebel]

I have a 60 mile round trip everyday to come to work.  I thought about moving back to town so could be close to my office.  After doing the math, I figured out that I would only save about $200 per month if I move close to my office.  $200.....I'll keep living in the country.

[Fired00d]

No question increases are everywhere, but is getting to a point where we most likely will see choices like Florida Marine is making and a move from our Truck/SUV lifestyle to more econo boxes.

Many folks could get out of the truck and into a commuter and double gas mileage thus reverting to their old gas budget.  Of course this does not account for the cost of the commuter car or disposal of the truck if that's the choice.

With a 120 mile commute I could move closer to work and keep driving what I want to, but that would be to simple.

The thing about that is you take a beating on trading/selling your SUV/Truck that is paid for to pay top price (possible getting another monthly payment if you're not paying cash) for a more economical vehicle. Then if you buy new(er) you have higher personal property tax (here in Va) and possibly an insurance increase. Right now I'm going to change my driving style (only use SUV when I have to and make sure I combine trips when I do use it) and wait it out. If anything I'll try to find a cheap/economical "Hoop-Tee" to ease the pain at the gas pump.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[SPIDERMAN]

No question increases are everywhere, but is getting to a point where we most likely will see choices like Florida Marine is making and a move from our Truck/SUV lifestyle to more econo boxes.

Many folks could get out of the truck and into a commuter and double gas mileage thus reverting to their old gas budget.  Of course this does not account for the cost of the commuter car or disposal of the truck if that's the choice.

With a 120 mile commute I could move closer to work and keep driving what I want to, but that would be to simple.

Roger,
          You've inspired me to coin a new slogan

    " Rational People Suck "


B B 

[Sean M Cary]

The thing about that is you take a beating on trading/selling your SUV/Truck that is paid for to pay top price (possible getting another monthly payment if you're not paying cash) for a more economical vehicle. Then if you buy new(er) you have higher personal property tax (here in Va) and possibly an insurance increase. Right now I'm going to change my driving style (only use SUV when I have to and make sure I combine trips when I do use it) and wait it out. If anything I'll try to find a cheap/economical "Hoop-Tee" to ease the pain at the gas pump.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

I have a 1987 Corolla that was my "Quantico Car"...  I left it on base and took the train when I lived in Fredericksburg.  Now it sits in my parking spot at work and is my "rain car"...so I don't have itchy a$$ (man I HATE getting wet and having itchy a$$...).

I am planning on using that when it gets too cold to ride here, but even my standard for that is dropping, used to call it below 40...now I am thinking 30 may be my limit.  I am a Floridian - and REALLY thin blooded.  But I HATE driving.

I am watching a heated Widder vest on eBay now...just gotta watch the elec consumption, my KLR stator SUCKS.  Gotta upgrade it, but even then you are really limited.

Sean

[Fired00d]

I have a 1987 Corolla that was my "Quantico Car"...  I left it on base and took the train when I lived in Fredericksburg.  Now it sits in my parking spot at work and is my "rain car"...so I don't have itchy a$$ (man I HATE getting wet and having itchy a$$...).

I am planning on using that when it gets too cold to ride here, but even my standard for that is dropping, used to call it below 40...now I am thinking 30 may be my limit.  I am a Floridian - and REALLY thin blooded.  But I HATE driving.

I am watching a heated Widder vest on eBay now...just gotta watch the elec consumption, my KLR stator SUCKS.  Gotta upgrade it, but even then you are really limited.

Sean

Luckily I'm less then 10 miles from work, and I've started riding the bike to work more now that I'm in an admin position and don't have to worry about getting TDY to different station. As long as there is no/limited forecast of rain then I'll ride. For that short of a distance it's not worth me getting into a rainsuit, plus I'm anal about keeping the bike clean. I don't mind getting caught in the rain while travelling (actually expect to get caught in it), but if it's just to get to work I'll take the truck. My limit for cold weather had previously been 40 and above, but really haven't tested that since I've got new parts (hip). Possibility that I'll be riding a little longer into the fall and winter at these gas prices.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[oldharleyguy]

VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT GAS PRICES. 
FIRST -  OUR BELOVED CONGRESS NEEDS TO PASS A BILL TO ALLOW IMMEDIATE DRILLING FOR OIL IN ALASKA AND IN THE GULF.   THIS WILL SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF THE TOWEL HEADS THAT CONTROL THE OIL AND PRICES WILL DROP TO KEEP US FROM DRILLING.  NO THREAT, WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO START DRILLING.   STEP TWO - START BUILDING REFINERY'S LIKE RIGHT NOW.  ALONG THE MEXICO BOARDER WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START THE CONSTRUCTION.   STEP THREE - STOP WRITING CHECKS FOR FOREIGN AIDE TO EVERY BROKE ASS COUNTRY THAT HAS THEIR HAND OUT.  TAKE THAT MONEY AND SPEND IT ON THOSE IN NEED IN THIS COUNTRY.   MY TWO CENTS.   OH, ALSO ELECT OUT OF OFFICE ANY PUBLIC SERVANT WHO VOTES FOR OVER TAXING THE MIDDLE CLASS AND GIVING IT AWAY TO THE BROKE ASS FOREIGN COUNTRY'S.    OH, AND TO THE LIBERALS ON THIS BOARD, GET OVER IT.  THIS IS MY OPINION.

[SPIDERMAN]

VERY SIMPLE SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT GAS PRICES. 
FIRST -  OUR BELOVED CONGRESS NEEDS TO PASS A BILL TO ALLOW IMMEDIATE DRILLING FOR OIL IN ALASKA AND IN THE GULF.   THIS WILL SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF THE TOWEL HEADS THAT CONTROL THE OIL AND PRICES WILL DROP TO KEEP US FROM DRILLING.  NO THREAT, WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO START DRILLING.   STEP TWO - START BUILDING REFINERY'S LIKE RIGHT NOW.  ALONG THE MEXICO BOARDER WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO START THE CONSTRUCTION.   STEP THREE - STOP WRITING CHECKS FOR FOREIGN AIDE TO EVERY BROKE ASS COUNTRY THAT HAS THEIR HAND OUT.  TAKE THAT MONEY AND SPEND IT ON THOSE IN NEED IN THIS COUNTRY.   MY TWO CENTS.   OH, ALSO ELECT OUT OF OFFICE ANY PUBLIC SERVANT WHO VOTES FOR OVER TAXING THE MIDDLE CLASS AND GIVING IT AWAY TO THE BROKE ASS FOREIGN COUNTRY'S.    OH, AND TO THE LIBERALS ON THIS BOARD, GET OVER IT.  THIS IS MY OPINION.

I don't care a rat's a$$ if you drill for oil in the middle of Yosemite or Yellowstone. You can drill, pump, refine and bring to market a bazillion barrels and it's not gonna bring the price down. You're talking Supply Side economics which went the way of the dinosaurs with the Reagan Administration. Every aspect of world economy today is driven by demand and thanks to us ( in our thirst for more and cheaper everything ) creating a new middle class in China there are now about 20 million more people driving cars than a few years ago. And oh yeah, a few million or so in the former Soviet block countries. So don't expect demand to go away either. And do you really think that having proven that they can charge $4 a gallon and get away with it that you'll ever see gas below that price again. So drill , drill, drill -- -anywhere and everywhere you want. I honestly don't care. You can drill in my back yard if it makes you happy. Getting the oil out of the ground is just a convenient excuse so people like you expend all your energy on ranting about the liberals costing you money. You're focused on supply and supply isn't the issue. The issue is demand. And whether you agree or not, again, I couldn't care less, but the only way to deal with demand is to design and build cars that don't run on fossil fuels. Now you can call that a pinko commie left wing tree huggin liberal idiot idea if you want, but there is one certainty in this whole issue. Sooner or later, maybe later if we drill anywhere and everywhere, but at some point, the oil will run out. I don't care what you do, but when that happens I sure as hell don't want a fossil fuel vehicle in my driveway.

 

B B
B B

[RJ749]

The thing about that is you take a beating on trading/selling your SUV/Truck that is paid for to pay top price (possible getting another monthly payment if you're not paying cash) for a more economical vehicle. Then if you buy new(er) you have higher personal property tax (here in Va) and possibly an insurance increase. Right now I'm going to change my driving style (only use SUV when I have to and make sure I combine trips when I do use it) and wait it out. If anything I'll try to find a cheap/economical "Hoop-Tee" to ease the pain at the gas pump.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

No question increases are everywhere, but is getting to a point where we most likely will see choices like Florida Marine is making and a move from our Truck/SUV lifestyle to more econo boxes.

Many folks could get out of the truck and into a commuter and double gas mileage thus reverting to their old gas budget. Of course this does not account for the cost of the commuter car or disposal of the truck if that's the choice.With a 120 mile commute I could move closer to work and keep driving what I want to, but that would be to simple.

Thought I covered the beating.

[Fired00d]

Thought I covered the beating.

I knew I had heard that info from a reliable source.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[RJ749]

Roger,
          You've inspired me to coin a new slogan

    " Rational People Suck "


B B 

OK, here's what I see.

We are a debtor nation for the first time in history, our dollar has fallen over 40% on the international market because of this and many other factors.................just in the past year.

If oil was $85.00 a barrel when our dollar was a dollar, and oil is priced on the dollar, so it has gone up 40% for us.

The solution is simple, get the economy back where it was and the barrel of oil goes down 40% ($135.00 X40= $54.00)

$135.00 minus the $54.00 gets the oil back to $81.00 a barrel

[RJ749]

I knew I had heard that info from a reliable source.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Most reliable, 

[oldharleyguy]

spider, we are on the same page.   Demand has driven the cost up globally.  If we (USA) take care of us first and not send what we are getting out of the pipe line to Japan and become self sufficient than the price has to go down.   What I am saying is a short term solution, long term we (USA) need to find an alternate to oil to get us around.  Short term this financially effects everyone and will drive up inflation.   I lived through the early 70''s and don't want to go back to gas lines and odd/even BS.

[grc]

OK, here's what I see.

We are a debtor nation for the first time in history, our dollar has fallen over 40% on the international market because of this and many other factors.................just in the past year.

If oil was $85.00 a barrel when our dollar was a dollar, and oil is priced on the dollar, so it has gone up 40% for us.

The solution is simple, get the economy back where it was and the barrel of oil goes down 40% ($135.00 X40= $54.00)

$135.00 minus the $54.00 gets the oil back to $81.00 a barrel

That's a big part of it Roger.  Of course, the fix is going to be rather tough considering why we have become such a debtor nation.  We started a war and paid for it with I.O.U.'s while cutting taxes on the wealthiest citizens and corporations.  We allowed hundreds of thousands of decent paying jobs to be moved to ultra low cost countries like China, and then imported all those products that used to be made here.  Our government promotes excessive consumption and generation of excessive debt to keep our economy moving.  The negative savings rate and the fact that the average American is in hock up to his ears, can't afford health care or retirement, and is lucky to keep a roof over his head; those are things we'll worry about some other time.  For right now, though, we'll just send everyone a check and encourage more mindless consumption to try and make the retail numbers look good for one more quarter.  And let's not tell anyone that we had to borrow the money from China to cover those checks.

Jerry