![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
longwingI've been thinking about mobility a lot lately, about the costs, expenses, and advantages of owning an on-road vehicle. It's a tough thing to counterbalance the freedoms of ownership with the inexpense of public transport. Over time, I have evolved a set of sensibilities about my ideal vehicle. For your sanity, I've tossed them behind an LJ cut.
When tossed in with a little realistic grounding, I've come up with the following priorities:
Primary:
Cost- The vehicle must price at less than $10,000.
Fuel- 30mpg is no longer an acceptable number for a modern conveyance, I won't settle for less than 40, and I'm aiming for 50mpg or better.
Speed- It must be capable of a sustained 80mph, thus I will never be running it at it's true limit as I don't drive above 75. I'm willing to compromise here, within limits. I won't settle for less than 65mph.
Transmission and breaking- Automatic transmission and ABS please, yes it means I'm not a real biker.
Appearance- It must not look like ass.
Secondary:
Safety- I'll no doubt catch flack for putting this as a secondary priority, particularly with appearance ranking above it, but let's face facts: I can't afford a car that meets my fuel requirements, and Scooters/Motorcycles can only do so much to keep me free from harm. I'm willing to pay extra for the bleeding edge here though: ABS, variable transmission, even airbags.
Ergonomics- Feet forward design was once a thing of custom vehicles and fringe mechanics, but as so-called Super Scooters become more popular, it is beginning to spread across many aspects of the two-wheeled world.
Tertiary:
Wheels- To my mind, the more wheels, the better. I'd love to fit my requirements into a four wheeled vehicle, but the price kills me every time. I've seen some really nice three wheeled designs, but these almost always cost a fortune.
Alternate Fuel Systems- Electric Scooters and Motorcycles have started hitting the showroom floor, along with hybrids, fuel cell based systems, and others. I'd love to get something with an even better mileage, along with the sci-fi cool of riding a next-gen power plant. The problem, as usual, winds up being price.
Weight- Lighter is better. I'd like something I can move without needing it's own power, not some bulk-tacular two wheeled car I can't even pick up on my own.
Simplicity of Design- User maintainable systems are a good thing. Smaller vehicles make it possible to perform routine maintenance yourself. Of course, easier maintenance usually means simpler machines, and I'd rather the ease of a variable automatic transmission than the "joy" of fixing my own constantly ground-down manual gears.
The real challenge comes from cost and top speed. Kick either one out of the priorities, and dozens of vehicles crop up to fit the bill. My best bets seem to be the new breeds of Super Scooters; Scooters with motorcycle wheels and engines, capable of highway speeds. I've given some thought to the possibility dressing one up with a Japanese Akira kit, more for entertainment than for practicality. Still, cruising down the highway in my own piece of Anime is not without appeal.
In an ideal world, I'd find myself with the perfect blend of style and common sense. Alas, it does not exist. Instead, I leave you with some links, a kind of candy shop of the feet-forward Anime-style motorcycling world.
Suzuki G-Strider- This is the bike I want. Of course, as my personal favorite, it will never see production. It's a two year old concept bike, and while these things have a tendency to come back later as production models, it's pretty clear that this will never see the light of day. I could definitely do without the luxury features of this bike, but the frame and seating position are ideal.
Kaneda's Motorcycle Concept- I've slowly fallen in love with Kaneda's bike, and I'm not the only one. Others have taken quite a bit of time to compile links and information on the motorcycles of Akira's world.
The T-Rex- I love this design, a perfect compromise between a car and a motorcycle... Now if only it didn't cost both my arms and most of my left leg.
Honda Griffon- Now this is more like it. Highway cruising speeds, variable auto transmission, ABS... and it's only a concept bike.
Roue Autonome Motrice- I'm just full of concept bikes today aren't I? Another 2003 concept which will never see the light of day. A pity, as this darn thing is so terribly Anime it hurts.
Suzuki Burgman 650- Finally, something practical. Highway cruse speeds, variable transmission, ABS, feet forward. Not that bad looking, but compared to some of the other designs I've listed, it's just not that great.
Honda Big Ruckus- It's got plenty of features, and the best price of the lot... but it looks like ass. DAMN YOU HIGH LORDS OF ANIME! DAMN YOU! In desperate need of modding, but if I could cross breed this with one of the Akira kits, I might just have a winner.
Knowing my criterion, if anyone would like to suggest additional links or avenues of research,I'd be very grateful.
When tossed in with a little realistic grounding, I've come up with the following priorities:
Primary:
Cost- The vehicle must price at less than $10,000.
Fuel- 30mpg is no longer an acceptable number for a modern conveyance, I won't settle for less than 40, and I'm aiming for 50mpg or better.
Speed- It must be capable of a sustained 80mph, thus I will never be running it at it's true limit as I don't drive above 75. I'm willing to compromise here, within limits. I won't settle for less than 65mph.
Transmission and breaking- Automatic transmission and ABS please, yes it means I'm not a real biker.
Appearance- It must not look like ass.
Secondary:
Safety- I'll no doubt catch flack for putting this as a secondary priority, particularly with appearance ranking above it, but let's face facts: I can't afford a car that meets my fuel requirements, and Scooters/Motorcycles can only do so much to keep me free from harm. I'm willing to pay extra for the bleeding edge here though: ABS, variable transmission, even airbags.
Ergonomics- Feet forward design was once a thing of custom vehicles and fringe mechanics, but as so-called Super Scooters become more popular, it is beginning to spread across many aspects of the two-wheeled world.
Tertiary:
Wheels- To my mind, the more wheels, the better. I'd love to fit my requirements into a four wheeled vehicle, but the price kills me every time. I've seen some really nice three wheeled designs, but these almost always cost a fortune.
Alternate Fuel Systems- Electric Scooters and Motorcycles have started hitting the showroom floor, along with hybrids, fuel cell based systems, and others. I'd love to get something with an even better mileage, along with the sci-fi cool of riding a next-gen power plant. The problem, as usual, winds up being price.
Weight- Lighter is better. I'd like something I can move without needing it's own power, not some bulk-tacular two wheeled car I can't even pick up on my own.
Simplicity of Design- User maintainable systems are a good thing. Smaller vehicles make it possible to perform routine maintenance yourself. Of course, easier maintenance usually means simpler machines, and I'd rather the ease of a variable automatic transmission than the "joy" of fixing my own constantly ground-down manual gears.
The real challenge comes from cost and top speed. Kick either one out of the priorities, and dozens of vehicles crop up to fit the bill. My best bets seem to be the new breeds of Super Scooters; Scooters with motorcycle wheels and engines, capable of highway speeds. I've given some thought to the possibility dressing one up with a Japanese Akira kit, more for entertainment than for practicality. Still, cruising down the highway in my own piece of Anime is not without appeal.
In an ideal world, I'd find myself with the perfect blend of style and common sense. Alas, it does not exist. Instead, I leave you with some links, a kind of candy shop of the feet-forward Anime-style motorcycling world.
Suzuki G-Strider- This is the bike I want. Of course, as my personal favorite, it will never see production. It's a two year old concept bike, and while these things have a tendency to come back later as production models, it's pretty clear that this will never see the light of day. I could definitely do without the luxury features of this bike, but the frame and seating position are ideal.
Kaneda's Motorcycle Concept- I've slowly fallen in love with Kaneda's bike, and I'm not the only one. Others have taken quite a bit of time to compile links and information on the motorcycles of Akira's world.
The T-Rex- I love this design, a perfect compromise between a car and a motorcycle... Now if only it didn't cost both my arms and most of my left leg.
Honda Griffon- Now this is more like it. Highway cruising speeds, variable auto transmission, ABS... and it's only a concept bike.
Roue Autonome Motrice- I'm just full of concept bikes today aren't I? Another 2003 concept which will never see the light of day. A pity, as this darn thing is so terribly Anime it hurts.
Suzuki Burgman 650- Finally, something practical. Highway cruse speeds, variable transmission, ABS, feet forward. Not that bad looking, but compared to some of the other designs I've listed, it's just not that great.
Honda Big Ruckus- It's got plenty of features, and the best price of the lot... but it looks like ass. DAMN YOU HIGH LORDS OF ANIME! DAMN YOU! In desperate need of modding, but if I could cross breed this with one of the Akira kits, I might just have a winner.
Knowing my criterion, if anyone would like to suggest additional links or avenues of research,I'd be very grateful.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-09-08 08:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 02:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-08 10:53 pm (UTC)That way, I can tell mom and dad it's not a bad idea for me to get a bike. :D
Because really it's all about me :P.
no seriously. Power to the bikage.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 02:14 am (UTC)When I need to have private transport, such as to get to a non-metro job, that's when this stuff gets serious.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 02:40 am (UTC)You should come visit... october 8th and 9th is parent weekend. You should all come visit.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-12 03:43 pm (UTC)October 9th is Jemma's engagement party.
It's turning out to be a really crowded weekend.
I do agree that I should visit at some point, but it may be a month or two before I can get myself together.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-12 04:11 pm (UTC)give Gemma my very best, of course, and my regrets for not being able to attend. I wish her and her fiance all the best.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 01:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 02:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 02:54 am (UTC)Of course, one thing to bear in mind is the ability to carry objects with you... I knew someone in Ohio who transported a halberd on a motorcycle, but what's merely amusingly eccentric in rural Ohio may bring about a less salubrious response around here....
no subject
Date: 2005-09-09 05:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-12 03:28 pm (UTC)I have been ignoring the issue of storage though, and I'll need to factor that into my plans, a basket or box of some kind behind the seat will probably be the easiest way to make it work.
I'm approaching this idea like a computer mod. Utility is the foundation, but utility is nothing without style. It's not enough to have a device which does everything you want, anyone can do that. The objective is to make something personal.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-12 03:45 pm (UTC)It's true though, that I should be thinking more about storage. See below post for my logic.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-12 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-12 09:00 pm (UTC)Queue: First-in, first-out.
LJ: First in, last or first out depending on its mood.
It's not a queue... it's not a stack... it's a quack!