Motorcycles and Emissions

For years I've said, and heard it said, that one of the ways in which we gas-thirsty Americans can help the environment is to start using motorcycles instead of cars. Let's face it: many of us drive a car that can hold (at least) four people, but most of the time it's just you and your briefcase, laptop, or groceries. Or DVDs. Why not use a two-wheeled version of the same thing? Easier parking, better gas mileage, and the wind in your hair, dudes and ladies. What could be better? Oh, yeah--most motorcycles cost WAY less than cars.

No, I don't own a motorcycle. Anymore. I had a Honda Rebel 250 in college, and it was great for all of the above reasons. No kidding. In fact, you'd think that motorcycles would be all over the air waves (and cable, and billboards, and text messages, etc.) in terms of advertising their fuel efficiency. Compared to the rest of the country, gas prices are pretty low in our area. They're hovering around $2.25 per gallon of super, if I'm not mistaken. That's still pretty steep compared to just a few years ago, so why aren't we drowning in motorcycle advertising?

But I noticed the other day that there's a discrepancy in the way motorcycles and cars are advertised. Gas mileage and emissions information is inevitably included in car advertising, but it virtually never appears for motorcycles. Hmmm. Is it that "everybody knows" motorcycles are more efficient and better for the environment? I understand that fuel efficiency and emissions are two different things, but bear with me.

It was just a hunch, so I used Honda (www.honda.com and powersports.honda.com) and BMW (www.bmwusa.com and www.bmwmotorcycles.com) as a test. They were the two manufacturers of both cars and motorcycles I could think of off the top of my head. Here's what I found: both manufacturers provide clear and easy-to-find information about auto gas mileage and emissions information. NEITHER provides anything of the sort regarding motorcycles. I have to admit that I didn't check every single car and motorcycle model offered by both Honda and BMW--I just skipped around. But it quickly became clear that both BMW and Honda do NOT provide this information for motorcycles. At least not online.

Honda at least gives us this much: for each bike listed, they provide the statement "California version differs slightly due to emissions equipment" under the "specifications" link. Oh, okay. I'll just call Schwartzenegger and get some rough figures on his hog. That'll clear things up.

I'm surprised at what my research turned up, and wonder if anyone else has any thoughts or comments on it. Is it that motorcycle gas mileage is simply an urban myth? Or is it so fantastic that it goes without saying? Are purchasers of motorcycles generally not concerned with the environment?

If I'm not mistaken (and I plan to do some research along these lines), car manufacturers are required by law to provide consumers with environmental information for each auto model produced. Is it not the same for motorcycles? Should it be?