[sidewndr46]

I've always considered it an open secret that the motorcycle industry in the US doesn't get the same kind of scrutiny that the automobile industry does. If they had to comply with even a shred of the same emissions & safety regulations it would instantly destroy the market.

[voisin]

Are motorcycle emissions worse than cars? I assumed they were better as their mpg is so much better. Perhaps particulates are worse?

[dagw]

They have better mpg, but they generally don't have as much of the emission lowering 'tech' that cars have. This is especially true of older and/or cheaper motorcycles. So they'll burn less fuel, but each gallon of fuel they do burn will release more pollution, although motorcycles have gotten a lot better on this front over the past several years.

[Toutouxc]

To add to the sibling comment, the fuel consumption of most motorcycles isn't even that impressive. Larger touring bikes can easily rival more fuel-efficient cars. For example, the average fuel consumption of the nice all-round BMW R 1250 is the same as that of my fits-four-people-and-their-stuff-comfortably Škoda. Even the iconic Honda PCX125 scooter (considered very efficient) still burns around 60% as much gas as my car, and that's just with the rider and little highway use.

[Faaak]

I drive an EV, so I guess I'm now more sensible to certain gas smells. I've found that I smell much more "unpleasant" gasoline when driving behind motorcycles than cars?

[tabiv]

I always thought that the only reason motorcycles have survived in the US was to artifically preserve the Harley Davidson brand.

[Yeul]

In my country you see a lot of motorcycles as soon as the spring summer shows up. They all go back to the garage when the autumn rain starts.

They're not really practical.