How much pollution and space would a 125 scooter save?

[A500leroy]

Just wondering if we followed Indias lead, realised how stupid our obsession with SUVS and german sports saloons/hatches is,( just to impress people we dont even know), how much space,time and pollution would be saved if everyone swapped to a 125 style maxi scooter?

[jjones]

and ~90mpg

[Evanivitch]

A500leroy said:

Just wondering if we followed Indias lead, realised how stupid our obsession with SUVS and german sports saloons/hatches is,( just to impress people we dont even know), how much space,time and pollution would be saved if everyone swapped to a 125 style maxi scooter?

Depends...

2-stroke are pretty horrendous and there's not a lot of emissions controls you can fit on such a small vehicle.

Many countries with an abundant use of mopeds/small displacement bikes are seeing huge benefits from switching to electric vehicles with quick-swap battery packs.

[jjones]

Evanivitch said:

2-stroke are pretty horrendous and there's not a lot of emissions controls you can fit on such a small vehicle.

dont think you can buy a road going 2 stroke scooter in europe anymore and they all have catalytic converters

[andy ted]

Electric scooters seem to make a lot of sense, reduced noise and direct emissions output in cities plus quick to charge to a range you need round town, instant torque etc

[Evanivitch]

jjones said:

Evanivitch said:

2-stroke are pretty horrendous and there's not a lot of emissions controls you can fit on such a small vehicle.

dont think you can buy a road going 2 stroke scooter in europe anymore and they all have catalytic converters

You can't buy a 2-stroke new, but they still exist and 2-strokes were originally the cheapest transport in India and the like.

And catalytic converters are rather old-school in modern emissions controls...

[KTMsm]

A500leroy said:

Just wondering if we followed Indias lead, realised how stupid our obsession with SUVS and german sports saloons/hatches is,( just to impress people we dont even know), how much space,time and pollution would be saved if everyone swapped to a 125 style maxi scooter?

I'm not sure that many would think India is a leader in environmental matters

Whilst it may work in India our H&S mean that we can't carry the family nor many goods on a scooter

Although I agree that all forms of motorcycle use make sense both for pollution and congestion yet it seems to be discouraged

[jjones]

Evanivitch said:

You can't buy a 2-stroke new, but they still exist and 2-strokes were originally the cheapest transport in India and the like.

And catalytic converters are rather old-school in modern emissions controls...

All 125s sold (new) in europe are euro 5 compliant.

[OutInTheShed]

jjones said:

All 125s sold (new) in europe are euro 5 compliant.

But you normally don't need to look very far down a line of parked bikes to find one that's had a cat removed.

While 125s do good mpg, they tend to have short and not very glorious lives, so whether their lifetime CO2 vs mileage is any good is perhaps open to debate?
Same with electric pushbikes, a lot get bought, not used much, the battery dies of old age or abuse instead of wearing out. net result, high CO2 per mile.

[Trevor555]

A500leroy said:

Just wondering if we followed Indias lead, realised how stupid our obsession with SUVS and german sports saloons/hatches is,( just to impress people we dont even know), how much space,time and pollution would be saved if everyone swapped to a 125 style maxi scooter?

If fuel stays at these prices I can see them getting far more popular here.

My PCX did 127mpg

[Jakey123]

34g/KM C02 for a new honda CBF125 and they do 150mpg+.

A citroen C1 is over twice that at 108g/km, and probably about half the MPG also.

No denying small capacity bikes are far cheaper and better for the environment across most journeys and most peoples commutes.

The car is skewed by the ability to have multiple passengers as opposed to only 2, however most cars you see are with just the driver only.

[Speed addicted]

I think it would take some selling here in NE Scotland.
The whole freezing to death thing would take the shine off the mpg savings!

Also a lot of people don’t live in cities, when I do need to commute it’s 30 miles each way.

[ChocolateFrog]

A500leroy said:

Just wondering if we followed Indias lead, realised how stupid our obsession with SUVS and german sports saloons/hatches is,( just to impress people we dont even know), how much space,time and pollution would be saved if everyone swapped to a 125 style maxi scooter?

I'm pretty sure the number of people that buy SUVs to "impress people" is in reality vanishingly small.

Don't judge everyone else by your own motivations.

[Freakuk]

Weather, comfort, safety to name 3 reasons why it wouldn't happen here. Weather being the number 1 I would imagine.

[FatboyKim]

A500leroy said:

Just wondering if we followed Indias lead, realised how stupid our obsession with SUVS and german sports saloons/hatches is,( just to impress people we dont even know), how much space,time and pollution would be saved if everyone swapped to a 125 style maxi scooter?

Speak for yourself, thanks very much. If you are easily led and feel social pressures to have a big German SUV or saloon, then I pity you.

And India's lead? In what exactly? They, like China, are grossly overpopulated and still continue to open new coal-use power stations. India is not a good example of anything I'm afraid.

I've always had a 'little' bike or 125 scooter alongside a big fun bike for high days and holidays. If it's a dry day and I need to go anywhere, the scooter (Honda PCX) gets used. As said already, it's ridiculously frugal, but if it's sub-zero or raining/greasy on the roads then I'll drive. I've even been considering a little Super Soco electric scooter recently, simply to zip around town. 40mls range, 40mph, 75kg with the battery. It's not going to break any records but it gets great reviews and performance is adequate for town traffic. Ultimately however, the mining of the battery's lithium, shipping that across the world, extra plastic in manufacturing and so on, means that the net effect on the climate is bad in the short term. One would need to own an EV for a great number of years before truly claiming to 'help the environment'.

[CoolHands]

Due to the lack of law & order in this country they all get stolen.

[Birky_41]

So random to read this when I was talking over the weekend about exactly the same. Roads were so busy and I see an advert for a 50cc 4 stroke scooter brand new inc top box £1499 and said why cant more people do this. I saw loads of drivers on their own in a big vehicle

I will be the first to say I own an SUV (Alfa Stelvio diesel averages 33-44mpg) but I need it for towing the motorbikes which is most weekends and also have 2 kids and a dog. If I'm not taking them all I will ride my Aprilia as much as possible (averages 38-44mpg) and commuting (dont laugh) I use my Fiat 500e electric which averages about 150mpge

[Birky_41]

jjones said:

and ~90mpg

I bought my boy a cheap chinese 50cc 4t to commute, derestricted it and he sees 120mpg out of that. Speedo indicates flat out about 48mph but following I think its about 44-45 which is fine for most roads and 50 average camera arterials

[Speed addicted]

Birky_41 said:

So random to read this when I was talking over the weekend about exactly the same. Roads were so busy and I see an advert for a 50cc 4 stroke scooter brand new inc top box £1499 and said why cant more people do this. I saw loads of drivers on their own in a big vehicle

I will be the first to say I own an SUV (Alfa Stelvio diesel averages 33-44mpg) but I need it for towing the motorbikes which is most weekends and also have 2 kids and a dog. If I'm not taking them all I will ride my Aprilia as much as possible (averages 38-44mpg) and commuting (dont laugh) I use my Fiat 500e electric which averages about 150mpge

To be fair you’re not riding the 50cc either!
You see people alone in big cars, do you have the family, dog and motorbikes with you every single time you use the Alfa?

Honestly I think the best case short term solution is more people working from home if they can. It really cut down traffic, pollution, accidents etc during lockdown.

[bristolracer]

Why is an electric road registered electric moped cheaper than an electric mountain bike?