The rising cost of gasoline in todays world has pushed the average consumer to new extremes to try to conserve fuel, and save money. There have been many inventions to help gain gas mileage, with the most recent being hybrid cars. Ever since the invention of the motorcycle in the early 1900's people have been improving upon the engines of the motorcycle and have been perfecting the fuel efficiency. However, no commercially ready solution so far has been able to compare to the motorcycles legendary conservation of gasoline. The main reason that motorcycles receive such excellent fuel mileage, is simply a matter of weight. There is less machine and driver to propel forward, so there is less fuel consumed. This has been attempted in the car realm, however the results have been a bit hilarious. Three wheeled, covered cars simply look ridiculous. Any self respecting motorcycle rider wouldn't be caught in one of those things. Some people may make the claim that their small car is better for their family. In some cases this may be true. However a family of three can ride in a motorcycle. Simply use a mounted side car and have one passenger in the side car, while the other passenger rides behind the driver. Using this configuration still allows for fuel savings, and gives the family some time spent on the open road in a fun and enjoyable way. When using this configuration, consider using a set of helmet mounted radios so that the whole family can communicate with each other. Some motorcycles are able to achieve an amazing 80 miles per gallon of fuel, standard, not modified from the factory. The best car so far, commercially made has been a 63 miles per gallon hybrid from Honda. However, there is a point to consider in all of this, regarding insurance. With a brief interview from a national insurance company, the representative said that it is generally cheaper for motorcycle insurance than for automobile insurance. Of course the actual amount that would be paid is based upon the drivers experience, driving history, motorcycle or automobile type, safety factors of each vehicle, and the actual cost of the vehicle. So should you buy a motorcycle to replace your car? That choice is up to you. However, in a recent study, an independent company found that with rising costs of fuel, the sales of motorcycles has risen dramatically. I'm sure that these people did not simply trade in their cars for their new motorcycles. Rather they have started using the motorcycles for day to day errand running and such. The last thing to consider when deciding whether to ride or drive, is the fun factor. Riding a motorcycle has been described as low altitude flying. Feeling the motor surge and the road soar beneath you as the machine floats along on a cushion of fun. Can you say that you feel this in a car? That is most likely not the case.