Is you car better for the environment than your bike?

Obo

Obo

East Coast Canada
Joined
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East Coast Canada
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24 GL1800DAP
According to the MythBusters, yes it is.


Out big litre+ displacement bikes are a far cry from the small displacement bike they tested..

Overall, I found the results really interesting.
 
The better question is: how many cars or motorcycles is the equivalent to one company illegally (or even legally) dumping harmful chemicals into the environment only to be fined some hilariously small amount?
 
I watched that on mythbusters too. I wonder if the newer bikes with CATs on them would fare better
 
We are talking about such small numbers here why would anyone even bring this up? Do they want to tax motorcycles more or make more regulation?
Traffic Share: Despite their numbers, motorcycles account for only 0.6% of total vehicle miles traveled in the U.S. PEW research. :box1:
 
St-Gerard said:
What they didn't put in the test is how many resources are used to make a Car versus a bike.
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Correct.

Over here in the old world matters of decreasing road congestion and easing the urban parking situation are also significant...

Authorities have acknowledged this by:
- enabling holders of car license to legally operate 125cc scooters/bikes
- legalize filtering
- exempting single track vehicles from city parking fee regulations
- even providing (some) designated bike-only parking zones

Cars circling endlessly in search of parking spaces adds significantly to urban traffic volume, drive times and: pollution...
Also the matter of public city/street space being "occupied" by the parked cars is heavily debated...
 
Joeywhat said:
The better question is: how many cars or motorcycles is the equivalent to one company illegally (or even legally) dumping harmful chemicals into the environment only to be fined some hilariously small amount?
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Or no fines when pollution restrictions are lifted?

The Mythbuster's episode is bar bet material. While I've known for sometime (think Kawa Mach III and VI) that bikes for various reasons (many on paper) pollute more than cars on scale I've ignored it. I rationalize the amount I ride compared to driving as inconsequential.

I do remember riding into L.A. decades ago on my 305 Scrambler and seeing this huuuuge brown cloud as I crested the highway. I'd never seen anything like it. Visiting again decades later it was much cleaner (not to be mistaken for clean) and I hadn't expected that. It was surprising.

And agreed — the positive mental health aspect of riding is enormously beneficial. The "they're all out to kill me" — maybe not so much.
:rofl1:
 
Obo said:
Overall, I found the results really interesting.
Click to expand...

Yet to watch the video I find debates and research like this interesting particularly with respect to methodologies used. I don't hold my riding or driving as a badge of being greener. There are lots of things we can do but Joe and Jane citizens really do have to band together to make a difference. Lots of people don't want to.

So the question of cars or bikes being greener is fraught with so many vagaries and variables as to be fairly useless. Except as previously noted. Not a popular opinion but I see two-strokes being legislated or just falling out of favor as a good thing.

On the other hand I occasionally do miss the sound of an RD350 or MachIII/IV with Denco chambers. But not to the point I'll pour castor oil into the gas tank.

real-men-smell-like-two-stroke-dirt-bike-funny-motocross-lisa-stronzi-transparent.png


I prefer BBQ.
 
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At the end of the day riding my ST1100s are better for me than driving my 4 wheeled vehicles.
Therefore that makes me healthier and I use less medical resources which reduces my carbon footprint.
And my ST1100s are smaller than 4 wheeled vehicles so they don't stress the roadways as much.
Which means that reduces repaving which also reduces my carbon footprint.
And on and on and on and on .... :biggrin:
 
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