By RANDY ROSS
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Jason Suits felt nervous the first time he climbed onto a motorcycle during his safety training April 19 and 20.
“It was very unusual,” Suits said. “You balance like on a bicycle, but it’s powered differently.”
Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo
Terry Connelly, left, co-owner of TCD Autos talks to Connie Gibson of Hallsville, center, and her son Kyle Gibson, right, on Monday as they look into purchasing a motorcycle or scooter for gas-mileage savings at the business in Longview. Later Monday afternoon, Gibson purchased the orange and black 250CC Hyosung for her son. She also bought a purple and white motorcycle of the same model for herself.
His nervousness quickly transformed to excitement as he cruised through the course, and he purchased a motorcycle of his own earlier this month.
Suits is one of a growing number of people who are buying motorcycles. The number of registered motorcycles in Texas grew about 9 percent between 2006 and 2007, to 381,245. Motorcycle registrations in Gregg County have increased by about 42 percent since 2004, to 2,211 in 2007.
Terry Connelly, owner of TCD Autos in Longview, said he has sold about 250 motorcycles since the beginning of the year, about twice as many at the same time in 2007. Connelly, who has sold vehicles for about 30 years, credits the price of gas for his sales increase. He said gas mileage has become much more important for customers.
A truck or a sport utility vehicle might get between 10 to 15 miles per gallon, but a motorcycle might get between 45 and 80 mpg, Connelly said.
“That’s a big savings there,” he said.
As an example, Connelly said a 30-gallon tank in a truck costs more than $100 to fill and might travel 300 miles. A 5-gallon motorcycle tank costs less than $20 to fill and, depending on the model, might travel the same distance.
“In countries where gas is higher, people have been riding motorcycles and scooters for years,” Connelly said.
Suits, a 36-year-old surgeon with the Diagnostic Clinic of Longview, said the thought of $4 per gallon gas pushed him toward a cheaper method of transportation. He enrolled in the motorcycle safety course to see if a motorcycle was a reasonable and safe option.
Dale Borden, a registered nurse at the Diagnostic Clinic, took the training course with Suits. Borden, who is considering purchasing a motorcycle, said safety had been his main concern. He said he has driven dirt bikes, which are lighter than motorcycles, but he hadn’t handled a motorcycle before.
The safety training course built Borden’s confidence. Borden said motorcycles are safe if drivers remain cautious and defensive.
According to statistics from the Texas Department of Public Safety, motorcycle fatalities accounted for about 6.7 percent of the state’s 3,823 traffic fatalities in 2002 and about 10 percent of the state’s 3,475 traffic fatalities in 2006. Statistics for 2007 were not immediately available, but Gregg County saw at least two motorcycle fatalities in April, within about a week of each other.
After Suits and Borden attended the training, Suits purchased a Hyosung motorcycle April 21 for about $3,900. He said the motorcycle gets about 70 mpg.
“I’m very happy about it,” Suits said.
Suits plans to use his motorcycle as his primary mode of transportation instead of his truck. He estimated he would save between $500 and $1,500 a year in gas costs.
“The gas will pay for the bike,” Suits said.
After researching motorcycles online, Borden said he might purchase a Harley-Davidson Sportster. Harley-Davidsons have good resale value, which will be important if he decides not to ride in the future, he said.
“I think that they’re economical,” Borden said.
Borden estimated he spent about $75 a week on gas for his truck. He said he would probably spend about $12 a week on gas for a motorcycle.
Earl Coppinger, co-owner of Tyler-based Motorsports Training Center which offers training in Longview, said he has seen a great demand for motorcycle training this year. His training courses, which are taught by two instructors and limited to about 12 students, are booked through June.
Coppinger, an instructor since 1988, estimated his center trains between 700 and 1,000 students a year, but enrollment is increasing this year. It grew from 55 students in March 2007 to 73 students in March 2008.
He said he is struggling to find and train new instructors to keep up with the demand.
“I hate to have people wait (on a class) because I know they might try riding without training,” Coppinger said.
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Gas mileage comparison of 2008 vehicles
Ford Focus: 28 mpg
Ford F-150 4WD: 14 mpg
Ford Explorer 4WD: 15 mpg
Ford Escape Hybrid 4WD: 28 mpg
Honda Accord: 24 mpg
Honda Civic: 29 mpg
Honda Civic Hybrid: 42 mpg
Chevrolet Silverado K15 4WD: 15 mpg
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 4WD: 14 mpg
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 4WD: 20 mpg
Toyota Camry: 25 mpg
Toyota Corolla: 29 mpg
Toyota Prius: 46 mpg
Nissan Pathfinder 4WD: 16 mpg
Nissan Altima: 26 mpg
Nissan Frontier 4WD: 16 mpg
Mitsubishi Eclipse: 22 mpg
Mitsubishi Outlander 4WD: 22 mpg
Volkswagen New Beetle: 23 mpg
Volkswagen Jetta: 24 mpg
Hummer H3 4WD: 15 mpg
Harley Davidson Sportster 883: 60 mpg highway/45 mpg city
Source: www.fueleconomy.gov and harleydavidson.com
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Acquiring a motorcycle driver’s license
To earn a license to operate a motorcycle in Texas, a person older than 18 must:
— Provide proof of identity, a Social Security number, vehicle registration and liability insurance
— Pay a $15 examination fee and pass a written exam and an eye exam
— Pass a driving test or complete a motorcycle safety course through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and affiliated training programs
A minor between the ages of 15 and 18 may obtain a motorcycle permit in Texas by:
— Providing proof of identity, a Social Security number, vehicle registration and liability insurance
— Completing a driver’s education course and a motorcycle safety course through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation
— Verifying enrollment in school
— Submitting parental authorization
— Paying a $15 examination fee and passing a written exam and an eye exam
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety
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Motorcycle safety tips
— Keep the headlight on day and night
— Use reflective strips and decals on clothing and the motorcycle
— Wear a quality helmet, eye protection and thick, protective clothing
— Give yourself space and time to respond to other motorists’ actions, and vice versa
— Avoid weaving between lanes
— Get formal training and take refresher courses
— Practice riding before entering heavy traffic or poor road conditions
Source: Motorcycle Safety Foundation
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