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I don’t know about where you live, but in Salt Lake City there are a lot more two-wheelers on the road these days than ever before (and that includes bicycles also). It’s pretty obvious to me gas prices are actually stinging enough to convince people to look for the best MPG they can find, and motorcycles are one of the primary beneficiaries, especially within the younger crowd. I get asked a lot these days what kind of gas mileage my bike gets.

Of course scooters seem to account for the majority of the two-wheeled increase (Gee, we’re finally catching up to Europe). And while they aren’t really motorcycles, they are the gateway drug. The only problem I have with scooter per se, is the gear, or lack thereof, worn by the operators. I saw a woman today with high heels and a skirt, text messaging as she drove one handed in the morning commute. At least she was wearing a helmet?

I have mixed emotions about more riders entering the fray. On the one hand, increasing our numbers gives more presence and increases awareness, while on the other hand there are more folks who don’t know what they’re doing and will become statistics, further tarnishing the reputation.

 But one thing I have noticed that’s kinda cool, is the number of older machines on the roads. My guess is that a lot of these motorcycles have been languishing around in garages and sheds waiting to rejoin the ranks of the daily commuter. And now, with summer weather and gas about double what it was this time last year, I think a lot of folks are digging out the transportation of their past. It’s great to see some real classic iron back on the road.

 For some reason, I’ve noticed Yamaha seems to be leading the retro trend. Just yesterday I saw a Seca 620, a Maxim 550 and an RD400 out where they belong, riding down the street in the bright light of day.

Rhino