Elio Motors Ultra High Mileage Vehicle = 84 MPG for $6800!

I am all for informed consent. I don't think the governm'nt should take away our bicycles or motorcycles to force us in tank like SUVs

The majority of bad motorcycle and bicycle accidents (serious injuries and fatalities) come from being hit by cars. That is one problem with this design. Its low to the ground for good aero, but ... that makes it hard to see around trucks and SUVs, and hard for other vehicles to see this vehicle. I had a talk with other motorcycle riders and the low to the ground may be a problem. The other problem is fun to ride, and I'm not sure if this will be. The price point and fuel economy are great though. If gasoline goes up in price this could be a hit.

 

I don't lane-split, and if I did I wouldn't do so in an Elio.

"Cars" are very well defined in most motor vehicle codes, and they usually involve "technicalities" like possessing four wheels and an enclosed cabin....but there are 50 states excluding DC, and thus you're going to have 50 "laboratories of democratic innovation" to tinker with the Elio.
Three-wheelers have been around for over 100 years.
You don't see them very often outside geriatriclly challenged Hog riders because they're simply not practical for real-world transportation.
With the numbers that I've seen, they don't even have the 'fun-to-ride' factor that compels people to trike-out a Harley, and I'm very curious about real-world interstate handling and visibility.
They kinda have that Messerschmitt-ME-109 cockpit look and if they're as low slung as they appear to be they'll have pretty impressive crash-ratings for Elio-versus-fixed-object crashes but I would not want to tangle with any moving object larger than a Prius while driving one.
To be fair, Elio says that they expect to attain a five-star crash rating, and they do have a full roll-cage (because they need one) and bags and beams.

My prediction is that they will cause some people in some state-houses to re-think the auto-versus-bike definition, but you will still have some idiots out there (state politicians who own car dealerships for example) who will insist that Elio 'riders' wear DOT helmets, and acquire motorcycle endorsements on their licenses.

 

Elio Motors Makes Progress in Helmet Exemption Legislation | TechnologyTell
45 states are fine with an elio without a helmet. The other 5 states are stupid.

 

Has there been any established car dealer opposition to the Elio yet?

 

Have you actually looked up the statistics ?? I doubt it.

It seems like I remember that for every biker who dies in a crash that there are 10 or more car drivers that die.
Let's make ALL drivers wear helmets.

No, even better if we would not make inflammatory statements based on incomplete or incorrect information.

 

Its still an ugly little thing a few decades past its prime and at least 15 years too late to the efficiency party. Why on earth would you buy that instead of just a regular Prius? Or Leaf? If efficiency is it's ONLY selling point, then it makes no sense. I would rather have an Isetta.

 

Actually?
If health care is a basic human right, and ambulance crews are compelled to care for cyclists who are stupid enough to ride without a brain bucket instead of giggling at the fallen rider and getting back in their ambulance and riding away, then a case can be made where cyclists can be constitutionally compelled to wear helmets.
I personally am a helmet law agnostic.
I think that if you're old enough to drink and vote then you should be allowed to ride without a helmet, but I don't like the idea of adults getting coloring books for their birthday and getting state and federal assistance because they wanted to 'ride free.'
Statistically it's probably cheaper in the long run and you can make a case that some beneficial side effects can be realized through natural selection by letting the states decide.

I agree that it's not as functional as a Prius, but you can't get into a leaf and knock down a 600 mile ride in a day.
The Elio is also about 1/4 the price of a Prius.

I think it's not ready for prime time, but Elio already has thousands of orders......so we'll see about that too.

 

Just did a quick google, it may be wrong.

motorcycle fatality rate per mile 30x higher than cars.
motorcyle fatalities made up 13% of fatalities.
both 2010, I'm sure recent statistics are around the same.

Texas has helmets required if under 20. That seems sensible. Let people make informed choices. No reason for cops to hassle a motorcylist going to a convience store down the block without a helment, but yes its common sense to wear one.

There are over 6 deaths in cars for every one on a motorcycle, but those cars go a lot more miles between deaths.

 

That depends on where you live.
In Florida, my guess is that 3-wheelers outnumbers 2-wheelers two to one; at least even up.
They are slightly more practical for "real-world" transportation than a "real" motorcycle.

 

You might think it is stupid, by try to tell that to the judge, if you are cited.

It's the car dealer lobby in those states that does't want the competition.

 

THAT was my point.
More people die in cars; a LOT more.
The number of miles driven doesn't matter if YOU are one of the fatalities.

 

I think that's absolutely not true unless you count off-road trikes.
I've got quite a bit of saddle time in the southernmost Yankee state, and it is geezer-filled, but I still see far more 2-wheelers than 3.

That having been said, I'm not going to go scratching around in state license databases to make the point.
Elio will prove or disprove my theories, and until then maybe more attention will be paid to distracted driving when real cars start shouldering them off the road because "they didn't know they were there."

Win-Win for me.

 

With all due respect, I don't think it will prove anything......because it will appeal to a whole different demographic, mostly.

The older trike riders in Florida aren't as visible for several reasons.
They don't put on as many miles and they tend to NOT gravitate to "rallies" and other happenings that do attract a lot of "bikers".

No self respecting motorcycle rider would EVER call something with a body shell and AC a motorcycle.
Ask any dog. They know the score.

 

Why do I get the feeling these will become real popular among the college crowd, and really popular among the gag crowd for putting them on building roofs, spires, antenna, or just generally moved from one parking spot to another?


iPad ? HD

 

OK so I got a little carried away with that guess on the numbers.
But there ARE a lot of them; maybe twice or 3 times as many as in your "average" state.

If the choice is to stop riding or get a 3rd wheel, I might have one someday.
No cage attached though.

 

I'd rather drive Volkswagen's XL1. Even after the battery is empty, it still gets 130 MPG on the highway.

 

The Prii that can be had around here for the cost of an Elio are 6 years or older with 130k+ miles.
The Elio will likely be the more fun ride.
If I hadn't gotten a $3000 rebate on the Sonic, I'd be on the Elio list now.

BMW recommended that helmets shouldn't be worn with this scooter. The extra weight of the helmet, coupled with bile's 4 point seat belt, would lead to a greater chance of neck injury.

There are also a lot more cars than bikes on the road.
It may not matter to you when your plane crashes, but flying is still safer than riding in bikes or cars.

A veteran poster(Tideland Prius?) had the gag issue happen with his smart fortwo.

 

I don't live in one of those 5 states, and I wear a helmet (on a bicycle or motorcycle) unless its a very short trip at low speeds. I am not going to get in trouble. I just feel that if those states Missouri (big part of the news for another stupid thing), Mississippi (last place in the US in a number of categories), Nebraska, North Carolina, and West Virginia - I don't really know know enough to figure out what is wrong with each of them. Whatever it is, its stupid for those states to require a helmet in an enclosed 3 wheel vehicle. There are stupid laws in all 50 states, but yes these 5 states are stupid.

 

Only a couple of problems there.... xl1 is illegal in the US. XL1 if it was legal would cost over 20x as much as an elio. I don't want an elio either, but I hope there is a market for it.

 

I really don't understand your point. If I use a motorcycle instead of a car for transportation, I'm exposing myself to a much greater risk of getting killed. Am I wrong?