Gas prices rise along with interest in motorcycles

Click on the image for more high-res shots of the Night Rod Special

As you may have noticed, we've been featuring more two-wheeled content lately as interest in motorcycles and scooters has risen rather dramatically along with the increase in fuel prices. While we can appreciate the reduced cost of operation that sometimes goes along with choosing a motorcycle over four-wheeled transport, the enjoyment some of us get from bikes easily eclipses our desire to save at the pump. After all, this particular blogger has been riding since the days of buck-a-gallon gas. Still, the growing trend of drivers dropping half their wheels in the name of gas conservation deserves close examination and has even caught the attention of Consumer Reports. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the group has found that a staggering 26-percent of respondents have considered downsizing from four wheels to two. According to CR, their team is intently studying this two-wheeled phenomenon in an effort to become acquainted with the products on the market, how often they are ridden and the newly-found fuel savings of their riders.

The Kiddiemoto GSX-R, Suzuki's greenest two-wheeler ever?

Click above to enlarge the Kiddiemoto GSX-R

Suzuki has recently launched a new two-wheeler in the U.K. which emits absolutely zero emissions. Not only that, the entire machine is made from sustainable materials. Best of all, the bike costs just £99.00. Perhaps the Kiddiemoto GSX-R wooden child-sized bike isn't exactly street legal, but we don't imagine that kids aged 2+ should be venturing out on the street anyway. Painted up just like their dad's GSX-R, the kiddies can spend all kinds of time pretending to slay the dragon.

The Kiddiemoto GSX-R is reportedly made almost entirely of birch wood and it's way cooler than those wooden horses we had as kids. If you like this idea, but need something a bit more adult-sized, be sure to check out the Wikerbike which we featured over on Autoblog a while back. Proof positive that some people have way too much free time on their hands.

High School students build enclosed electric motorcycle

Click above for more shots of the Saint Thomas EV

BMW once came up with the idea to enclose a scooter and add some safety equipment to it. Crash tests showed surprisingly favorable results, but the idea never seemed to catch on and the C1 is no longer for sale. The fact that it already proved unsuccessful on the commercial market once hasn't stopped others from considering the idea. One such group is the Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. A group of students at this high school has created an enclosed electric motorcycle which uses sixty volts worth of lithium phosphate batteries powering a Briggs and Stratton ETEK pancake-style permanent magnet electric motor.

The current configuration is said to be good for a top speed of sixty miles per hour and a range of forty miles. The chassis is constructed from chromoly tubing. The body is made from a carbon fiber and Kevlar composite and should therefore prove very strong. The full seat even features a seatbelt. We are not certain that anything quite like this will ever be available for purchase again, but its good to see it in concept form at least.

Gallery: Saint Thomas EV

The Kiddiemoto GSX-R, Suzuki's greenest two-wheeler ever?

Click above to enlarge the Kiddiemoto GSX-R

Suzuki has recently launched a new two-wheeler in the U.K. which emits absolutely zero emissions. Not only that, the entire machine is made from sustainable materials. Best of all, the bike costs just £99.00. Perhaps the Kiddiemoto GSX-R wooden child-sized bike isn't exactly street legal, but we don't imagine that kids aged 2+ should be venturing out on the street anyway. Painted up just like their dad's GSX-R, the kiddies can spend all kinds of time pretending to slay the dragon.

The Kiddiemoto GSX-R is reportedly made almost entirely of birch wood and it's way cooler than those wooden horses we had as kids. If you like this idea, but need something a bit more adult-sized, be sure to check out the Wikerbike which we featured over on Autoblog a while back. Proof positive that some people have way too much free time on their hands.