Best Post-Apocalyptic Motorcycle

[kconville]

Having recently read Stephen King's Dark Tower series and Cormac McCarthy's "The Road", I've been having fantasies about survival in a post apocalyptic world. Being a dyed-in-the-wool bike nut however, my fantasies include a motorcycle!

Here's the scene:
It's two years after a giant asteroid hit Earth. 98% of humanity bit the dust. Life is hard, resources very scarce, the infrastructure virtually gone, violence in the act of taking is common.

Roads as we know them don't exist as the initial shock of the impact buckled and cracked them. Debris and ash are everywhere and fuel is rare and often of dubious quality. No horses or other large animals survived for use as transportation and a car can't really be used.

So, with that cheery scenario pictured, what's the perfect motorcycle for this new world? I figure I'm OK with my KLR250 but I can imagine good arguments for say, a Trail 90 or 110 or another small air-cooled bike.

Whadya think?

[JKL]

Bicycle when you run out of gas.

[Spode]

KLR diesel

And a .45 auto to "acquisition" any fuel you need along the way.

[daltonzach]

something with a sidecar, a gunner can shoot better when not trying to balance a bike.

[kconville]

JKL-
"Bicycle when you run out of gas."

A mountain bike when fuel is gone? You bet!

Spode-
"KLR diesel"

Can you kickstart that diesel? Batteries have finite lives. Aren't liquid cooled bikes adding a system that can fail?

daltonzach-
"something with a sidecar, a gunner can shoot better when not trying to balance a bike."

A sidehack's not getting through. This isn't "Road Warrior". There are few roads good enough for a hack. A bike big enough for this setup would also burn a lot of precious fuel.

I would think a stealthy, intelligent mode of survival rather than an aggressive, overtly violent approach would be better if for no other reason than NOT making yourself a target. There's also the bonus of not succumbing to the lowest common denominator. You know, being one of the "good guys". Working in teams makes a lot of sense for defensive purposes though.

[Zapp22]

Mad Max to the rescue!

[rforsythe]

Originally Posted by kconville

A mountain bike when fuel is gone? You bet!

I'd imagine fuel would be as scarce as food - much like a motorcycle takes gas, we too must eat. Assume that the atmosphere is full of dust blocking the sunlight for some time as well, so many plants and animals will not survive. Short of resorting to cannibalism (and some would) I'd be more interested in conserving as much energy as possible, in addition to just finding (or making) fresh water.

Can you kickstart that diesel? Batteries have finite lives. Aren't liquid cooled bikes adding a system that can fail?

Good point, I think a kick-startable small displacement 4-stroke would be a good way to go. Simple mechanically, light on fuel needs, etc assuming a bike is your chosen mode of travel. That said, bikes are noisy; something with the capabilities of a bike, with the noise signature of a quiet car, would be ideal.

I would think a stealthy, intelligent mode of survival rather than an aggressive, overtly violent approach would be better if for no other reason than NOT making yourself a target. There's also the bonus of not succumbing to the lowest common denominator. You know, being one of the "good guys". Working in teams makes a lot of sense for defensive purposes though.

Stealth is key, intelligence is better (your best weapon is your head). But at some point you are going to have to take the same measures as others are willing to take against you just to defend what you have, not to mention get more when it runs out. I think you'd be a target just because you are alive, and therefore have some means to remain so. Teams are good, but when resources become scarce even within the team, expect former allies to turn on each other - you had better be able to defend yourself at all costs, and escape (a motorcycle makes a great means of doing that, if you have enough gas).

Back on topic... I'd say the ideal bike for the end of the world will be something light, quiet, simple, and fuel-frugal. Sort of a silent-diesel kick start that gets 150mpg type of thing. I don't think it even exists yet. In reality though I think the best bike you can ride will be whatever you can find, steal, or barter at the time to get you somewhere with better resources to live on.

[kconville]

A mountain bike when fuel is gone? You bet!
rforsythe-
"I'd imagine fuel would be as scarce as food - much like a motorcycle takes gas, we too must eat. Assume that the atmosphere is full of dust blocking the sunlight for some time as well, so many plants and animals will not survive. Short of resorting to cannibalism (and some would) I'd be more interested in conserving as much energy as possible, in addition to just finding (or making) fresh water."

You're right about conservation of personal energy and water consumption. That's why I say "..when fuel is gone".
After a motorcycle, a mountain bike makes a lot of sense. Even if you're walking, the bike can mule your gear. When the terrain is easy, it's very efficient.

My KLR250 is very quiet with the revs kept down. I've owned a Honda Trail 90 years ago and they are amazingly quiet also. Neither are quite Toyota Camry quiet, but probably the closest things on two wheels.

My vote goes to the Trail 90 or 110.

[fixer]

the diesel KLR is fuel injected... AFAIK, it's not gonna run without a battery, and i think that the compression on it is high enough that you wouldn't want to kick it.

IIRC, one of the "cyberpunk" authors, either William Gibson or K.W. Jeter had a book where one of the characters had a vintage Beemer airhead with a kicker as their main transportation.

in "Wolf and Iron" Dickson's main character has an electric bike with a solar blanket to recharge it.

for rough terrain, perhaps a TW 200 with a single wheel trailer would be a good tool, but it doesn't have a kicker.

KLR 250 would still be a good option.

[Hayduke]

I'd want Geek's VT500 Ascot-

[Corbeau]

I think this thread needs more zombies.

OK, now if we add zombies to the scenario, what would be the best bike, to increase one's chances of survival?

[Seikkailu_R]

Originally Posted by fixer

the diesel KLR is fuel injected... AFAIK, it's not gonna run without a battery, and i think that the compression on it is high enough that you wouldn't want to kick it.

Why should diesel engine need battery?
It only needs air and fuel to run.

From manufacturers web page...

"A deliberate decision was taken to use mechanically controlled fuel injection for the current engine, employing a purpose-designed injection pump. For the future, electronic control will allow further enhancements in performance. The engine is capable of operation on either diesel fuel (mineral and bio-diesel) or aviation kerosene."

And there is many ways to start diesel engine without electricity.
Hydraulic/air pressure, explosives, inertia starter or spring powered starter...

Maybe too heavy for bike?
http://www.startwell.com/index.htm

Very old diesel injection pump...
http://ktm.kicks-ass.org/kuvat/2005_...s/image71.html
Still working
http://ktm.kicks-ass.org/kuvat/2005_...raktorei_5.MOV

And lots other Post-Apocalyptic compatible gear in that exhibition ;-)

[rforsythe]

Hmmm, bio-diesel is an interesting idea as well. You can literally refine the stuff yourself in your garage, and make more if you can grow soybeans (plus you have a good source of Edamame).

Of course that assumes you have a way of growing the little bastards in the first place, but in the meantime I suppose you could always just raid the endless supply of fast food grease traps until environmental conditions improve...

[Big Doug]

Originally Posted by Corbeau

I think this thread needs more zombies.

OK, now if we add zombies to the scenario, what would be the best bike, to increase one's chances of survival?

[fixer]

Originally Posted by Seikkailu_R

Why should diesel engine need battery?
It only needs air and fuel to run.

hmmm, to heat up the glow plug, perhaps? otherwise cold-starts would be a bitch.

and i was under the impression that it still needed electrical power for the injectors.

dunoo... at any rate, i's one of the scarcest "modern" bikes extant, and not available on the civilan market... so it seems like a fairly poor choice for the task... unless you're simply dreaming.

plans to release the civilian market are currently on hold, but the projected price was about $18,000. about three times the price of a new '07 gas KLR.