Today is the day oil finally broke $100 a barrel. Do you realize how crazy that is-$100 for a barrel of crude oil? I guess that means ... well it means that I will still be able to fill up my bike for less than $20, and that will get me back and forth to work all week and then some. That's because the 2007 Harley-Davidson Street Glide that resides in my garage still gets better fuel economy than one of those fancy hybrid cars that all the granola-eating Hollywood types are touting is the coolest, most responsible thing they've done since the 24 hours of community service they were forced to do the last time they got busted for driving under the influence.
What they should be talking about is how a motorcycle based on 100-plus-year-old technology still gets better fuel economy on the highway than their goofy-looking little half-gas/half-electric cars. The tabloids make a big deal about how Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Rebecca Romijn, Jerry O'Connell, Cameron Diaz and even Larry David are now driving hybrid cars. But a photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger, John Travolta, Jay Leno, Dwight Yoakam, George Clooney or even Brad Pitt riding through the streets of Hollywood on a fuel-sipping Harley doesn't even get them a second look. And in reality, these are the stars who are using less fuel, no refrigerant due to no air conditioning, two fewer tires and less metal, glass and rubber, which all use oil in the manufacturing process, and it takes up less space and creates less traffic because of it.
Plus you can buy a brand-new FLHT Standard for an MSRP of $16,545, and a new Toyota Prius comes in with an MSRP of $21,100-it is almost $5,000 more expensive right off the bat. With the hard bags and the fairing, you can carry just about anything you might need for work-heck, the staff here carries enough camera gear and lighting to do photo shoots on bikes every day.
Maybe I am just getting old and set in my ways. Eric Ellis compared my rant to something Andy Rooney would have come up with-honestly, I didn't know whether to be flattered or punch him. I guess what I am trying to say is you can save some money on your fuel bill by riding more and letting the car or truck sit at home-even if you drive a hybrid! Until next month, keep the rubber side down and the shiny side up.
On The Road
This month we bring you a random sampling of photos of baggers from around the U.S.-and a dog in a wig.