Prepare to become very, very relevant.

I zipped into the gas station this afternoon to fill up. The KTM's got an almost 7-gallon tank, I'm usually good for quite a spell before I need to fill up.

Anyhow, guy comes over while I'm fueling and strikes up a conversation with, "I hear those things are cheap to run, gas-wise."

I mean, if I've ever seen a guy less likely to get on a bike -- much less an overgrown dirt bike like mine -- I'm not sure where. He's never ridden, never known anyone who has, never wanted to until recently. And it's all about the price of gas.

to go out, buy motorcycles without training or experience, and get killed.

...for a lot stupider reasons. :shrug:

I have been approached by a lot of people lately inquiring about gas mileage and contemplating getting a bike. I always, always emphatically push the point of taking the MSF rider course if they do get one.

a lot lately. I always get a laugh out of it. I tell them the old Harley gets 50 MPG and their chins drop. Actually I've owned bikes that got a lot better MPG so I'm not impressed. I didn't buy it for gas mileage, I bought if for the ride.

Anyway then I tell them that the air only works when it is moving and I can only carry one six pack per saddle bag. Unfortunately we are experiencing a boom in motorcycle sales down here in Florida. Now the streets are full of new riders on overpowered machines who are clueless about how to handle the bikes they've purchased. They are quickly becoming statistics.

I try to tell them they have to take a MSF course before they even consider buying a bike, but they rarely listen. I remember when I was stationed in Europe during the 1970s. The streets were clogged with mopeds and scooters. They've been facing this gas crisis much longer than we have and handle it better. Their cars get better mileage and the scooters get in excess of 100 MPG. But then they don't have DVD players, Zone Air Conditioning and a myriad of other creature comforts.