Save the envirorment

[zzkenoman]

Recently on many of the major television stations, they have been pounding us with how great and fuel efficient hybrid cars and trucks are. The savings from fuel costs, cleaner exausts or no exausts to harm the enviorment. Although many companies have raised the cost of these backordered vehicles, how much are they saving compared to Motorcycles?

Can anyone calculate, how much metal, plastic, glass and tire mass that are saved by manufacturering a motorcycle, add the amount of fuel we would save if everyone with cars or trucks had a motorcycle to replace there vehicles and see if we could solve Global warming and the envirorment?

What do your totals come out to?

 

[TheRepairMan]

My guess is that your point is correct but no way to accurately know how much energy could be saved.

The only problem is that you wouldn't want folks like my 80 year old Mom out there on a Gold Wing. Medical costs and Insurance will skyrocket.

Wait a minute! They are through the roof already.

I guess your proposal WOULD really be better than the way things are now.

Mom will just have to have those "training wheel thingys".

RB

Did I mention that I just love the 07 FJRs :bleh:

 

[twowheelnut]

I consider myself an environmentalist. That's why I'm burning all of the fossil fuel that I can now so that future generations don't have to deal with the toxic, messy goo...

All kidding aside, my main concern on the hybrid issue is the battery packs. Currently, replacement costs are reportedly hovering around $7,000 for these puppies and then you have the issue of disposing/recycling them, too. Also, the issue of recovering your investment cost in gas saved/typical length of ownership or miles driven will not be realized with the current crop of hybrids, especially when you factor in new battery packs at 100,000 miles.

No, my friends, the answer lies elsewhere... OK, Radman, cough up that 100 MPG carburetor that you have stashed in your garage...

 

[Centerline]

Okay now, just how many SUV's or much of anything else manmade for that matter was there during the end of the last iceage. Can you believe it, the earth experienced a climate change and melted so much of that ice.

Every now and then it gets a little cooler or warmer.

P.S. A few short years Volcano Pinatubo errupted in the Phillipines. When it did it spewed forth more particulates and greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere in a couple of days; than evil man has in the last 100 years.

The world did not end.

 

[Bounce]

On a similar note, check out Season 2 of the Penn & Teller series "Bullsh*t". One episode explodes the myth of recycling and details where only the recycling of aluminum is energy and emissions efficient. All other recycling efforts expend more energy and emit more polution than creating the resultant products from scratch.

In the same vein as Houdini's exposure of Spiritists toward the end of his career, Penn & Teller take aim at a plethora of modern-day mumbo jumbo in this series. So far Season 2 (now on DVD) is even better than the really good Season 1.

Highly recommended viewing as either a buy (to have on hand to crack out when one of your "Power Vortex" friends starts on a rant) or as a rental just to get a good dose of wake the fuque up.

 

[yanktar]

While there certainly is a little of strangling the goslings to keep them from drowning, and lots of supposedly environmentally good things aren't, simply avoiding the issue is incredibly short-sighted.

The MOST effective way to stop people driving gas-guzzling Navigators and Hummers showed up this fall--$3.00+ gasoline. 'Course it does **** for the economy and fuels inflation, but it dented one high-consumption market. I expect those $7000 battery packs will come WAY down in price, like all hi-tech stuff.

You know, if you solar-power your house, you can dump any excess electric you generate into the grid and get PAID for it. Of course, if we ALL did that, the power companies' profits would crash, so they actively do all they can to make it difficult. We are uninformed (myself included) and afraid of the risk (me too, again). Still, I heat my swimming pool with solar and don't spend the hundreds and thousands that friends do on gas heaters and heat pumps.

Even high-powered, gas-guzzling bikes (like our beloved FJR, esp with a Dyno Jet) are STILL more energy efficient than most cars. Just on gas mileage alone, you have to car pool with 4 people to compete with a bike. But no one's out there telling us to ride more motorcycles--"murdercycles" and "organ donors" are what we get instead.

 

[twowheelnut]

Still, I heat my swimming pool with solar...)

Er, don't you mean skating rink?

 

[Bounce]

You know, if you solar-power your house, you can dump any excess electric you generate into the grid and get PAID for it. Of course, if we ALL did that, the power companies' profits would crash, so they actively do all they can to make it difficult. We are uninformed (myself included) and afraid of the risk (me too, again).

Any idea of how many years you have to sell excess back to the power companies before you recoup your investment in the purchase, installation, and maintenance of solar or wind-based systems? [solar being significantly more costly than wind due to the efficiencies of the 2 systems]

As for heating with heat pumps or gas, have you considered methane? I hear it's freely available for collection up 'round those parts. :bleh:

 

[sparky3008]

Hybrid cars oh my what a topic.

Several around here have them and my brother-n-law in Colorado.

In the hills of Colorado he only gets about 32 mpg.

In the city with stop and go traffic they do get better in the low 40's.

The price of the hybrid vs its gas counterpart and the increase in price makes for an economic problem for buyers. They could use that 3 - 5 grand for gas and it would go a long way.

Diesel engines in VW and such get true 50mpg and no batteries, less maintenance and todays engines are quiet and more powerful and in hills they have tq where the hybrids go to that small gas engine and they suck.

Diesel's are naturally clean burning if properly maintained (all you seeing black coming out of trucks, those are turned up by someone who doesn't understand that with more fuel in a diesel you need more cool air to burn efficient, that is their fault not the engine). They emit very low CO levels and with low sulphur diesel they are even cleaner.

Diesels are unpopular in America just like sport Touring bikes doesn't make them not better. Over seas Diesel technology is seen as the future and very well received.

America likes stuff that's new the latest thing but for all its cost, engineering, short comings the hybrid is simply not doing it for the environment of the future.

In America as long as we let the Big Car industries, Oil, and GOVERNMENT (YES Big Business rules America) have their way we will continue to destroy.

The plastic industry is the real poluter and use of oil but no one is out campaining against those industries. Stop all car manufacturing and continue to produce plastics and you will still have done little for the environment...

 

[twowheelnut]

The plastic industry is the real poluter and use of oil but no one is out campaining against those industries.

Exactly.

Lessee, buy a slab-o-meat at the local Von's. It's laying on a perforated sheet, sitting in a plastic foam tray, wrapped in plastic wrap that I take to the register and pay for with plastic and then the clerk stuffs it in a plastic bag, which I take home, open the plastic bag, throw it in the trash can that is lined with a plastic trash bag, remove the plastic wrap, toss that away, then pluck the chunk-o-protein from the plastic foam tray and pull the blood soaked perforated sheet from the underbelly of the steak, toss both of those in the **** can, then toss the steak on the barbecue and when done, plop the rare, bleeding lump onto a throw away foam plate and eat it with a spork and plastic knife...

Can I breathe now?

 

[Bounce]

Now ya done gone and made me hungry! :clap:

 

[yanktar]

You know, if you solar-power your house, you can dump any excess electric you generate into the grid and get PAID for it.  Of course, if we ALL did that, the power companies' profits would crash, so they actively do all they can to make it difficult.  We are uninformed (myself included) and afraid of the risk (me too, again).

Any idea of how many years you have to sell excess back to the power companies before you recoup your investment in the purchase, installation, and maintenance of solar or wind-based systems? [solar being significantly more costly than wind due to the efficiencies of the 2 systems]

As for heating with heat pumps or gas, have you considered methane? I hear it's freely available for collection up 'round those parts. :bleh:

Prices on Solar cells are dropping precipitously. Soon, it will be realistically practical to power by solar electricity.

As for the methane production up here--you gotta go further--like Boston, where all the bean-eaters are. And we sure know a LOT of stinky methane is coming out of Texas! And they brought it to Warshindone!

TWN: Yeah I'm heating my skating rink so the ice don't get too cold!

You bums are gonna make do that spit-take on my keyboard! :lol: :dribble:

 

[sparky3008]

The plastic industry is the real poluter and use of oil but no one is out campaining against those industries.

Exactly.

Lessee, buy a slab-o-meat at the local Von's. It's laying on a perforated sheet, sitting in a plastic foam tray, wrapped in plastic wrap that I take to the register and pay for with plastic and then the clerk stuffs it in a plastic bag, which I take home, open the plastic bag, throw it in the trash can that is lined with a plastic trash bag, remove the plastic wrap, toss that away, then pluck the chunk-o-protein from the plastic foam tray and pull the blood soaked perforated sheet from the underbelly of the steak, toss both of those in the **** can, then toss the steak on the barbecue and when done, plop the rare, bleeding lump onto a throw away foam plate and eat it with a spork and plastic knife...

Can I breathe now?

Don't forget our computers, monitors, tv's, phones, clocks, microwaves, windows, Motorcycle parts, sound systems, Drum heads, cd cases on and on and on.

We live in a plastic world surround by plastic girls...

 

[Bounce]

We live in a plastic world surround by plastic girls...

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[fighting for world peace - one D cup at a time]

 

[sparky3008]

On a similar note, check out Season 2 of the Penn & Teller series "Bullsh*t". One episode explodes the myth of recycling and details where only the recycling of aluminum is energy and emissions efficient. All other recycling efforts expend more energy and emit more polution than creating the resultant products from scratch.

But, is recycling really about using less energy or from keeping it out of our landfills?

 

[FJRottie]

Penn & Teller series "Bullsh*t

Awesome show.

Recycling, I think we have been a little brainwashed in the recycling.

It costs mega bucks. The real evil, as stated above is plastic. The rest is garbage.

Global warming, HA !

To significantly reduce Greenhouse Gas emmisions, the whole planet would have to cut in half all transportation.

That means planes, trains and automoblies.

A hefty task. Europe is on the right track with many bikes, motorbikes, electric trains and diesel.

SUV's, IMHO not purposeful and used to get groceries, or make up for lack of personality.

Not a tremendous culprit, but a waste none the less. I dare you to buy an efficient, useful vehicle.

Hybrids are energy efficient but they need to make them better and better priced.

It goes with using compact fluorescents or LEDs and energy efficient appliances.

Big business does run the planet and you will get told what to do and how much to pay.

According to science, in 2000 BC the earth was warmer than now.

The Sun is almost half-way through its life, and at its most stable point in its lifetime. Eventually, it will increase in size, eating up the inner planets, before collapsing to become a very small star.

 

[Bounce]

On a similar note, check out Season 2 of the Penn & Teller series "Bullsh*t". One episode explodes the myth of recycling and details where only the recycling of aluminum is energy and emissions efficient. All other recycling efforts expend more energy and emit more polution than creating the resultant products from scratch.

But, is recycling really about using less energy or from keeping it out of our landfills?

I recommend you rent the video. They address the myth of the landfill crisis, too! <g>

 

[slapnpop]

I've been a diesel proponent for a few years now. I can get better gas milage in a well maintained VW turbodiesel car than on the FJR.

The more exciting prospect than that is biodiesel fuel. It burns cleaner than the fossil-fuel based counterpart, and gives the same power and efficiency. the only drawback is it gels at a higher temp than standard diesel, so cold weather areas can be problematic.

The thing that's so exciting about this is it's completely made from biological sources: plant fats and ethanol. You can even make it at home for about $0.80 a gallon using all new source materials. You can also use old frier grease for the plant fats, you can make diesel fuel for $0.40-0.60 a gallon.

This is a great prospect as a stepping stone towards completely enviro friendly energies. It could help out the american farm industry, which has been in a bad shape for years, and we could once again be a energy self-sufficient nation.

 

[yanktar]

Use Ethyl Alcohol for FUEL??????

Sacrilege! It belongs in rum, cognac, beer, wine, tequilla,whiskey, even scotch for those that can get that vile stuff near their nose....

Heard about a used frier oil car--smells like stale french fries!

Still it's better.

Sure, the sun is at it's mid-life, In a billion years it will expand and swallow and cook the earth, but since humans only evolved about 3 milllion years ago, Who Knows what the next 3 million will bring--leaving 997 million to go.