In this episode of Throttle and Roast, host Niels Meersschaert takes a deep dive into one of the most pressing issues facing drivers and riders today: skyrocketing gas prices. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East sending oil markets into a frenzy, Niels breaks down exactly what's happening at the pump — and why motorcyclists may actually be in a better position than most.
Niels starts with the big picture: West Texas Intermediate crude oil, a key U.S. benchmark, recently hit $99 per barrel — a staggering 67% increase from just one year ago. At its peak, right before a temporary ceasefire was announced, prices surged as high as $113 per barrel, nearly doubling year-over-year. While the ceasefire brought some brief relief, the underlying pressure on fuel prices remains very real.
At the pump, those oil price increases have translated into a national average of $5.04 per gallon for premium fuel, according to AAA — nearly a dollar more than the $4.06 average just one year ago, a 24% jump. And since gas prices tend to trail oil prices, there's reason to believe the worst may not be over yet.
To give the numbers even more depth, Niels draws on over a decade of personal fuel tracking data using the app Fuelly, covering every tank of gas across all of his motorcycles and cars since 2016. His local premium gas station is currently charging $5.29 per gallon — higher than even the worst prices he recorded during the 2022 post-pandemic surge, which averaged $5.16 per gallon. His ten-year average price per gallon sits at $4.31, meaning today's prices are roughly a dollar above what he's paid on average over the past decade.
But price per gallon is only part of the story. Niels argues that the more meaningful metric is cost per mile — and that's where motorcycles really shine. Using U.S. Department of Energy fuel economy averages, a typical car gets about 24.4 miles per gallon, a light truck averages just 17.8 mpg, and the average motorcycle comes in at 44 mpg. Translated into cost per mile at today's premium prices, cars cost about 20 cents per mile, trucks a painful 28 cents per mile, and motorcycles just 11 cents per mile. Even comparing a motorcycle running on premium to a car running on regular gas, the motorcycle still wins.
Niels also shares his personal experience with his Vespa scooter, which he uses for local errands and short trips. Over hundreds of fill-ups, it has averaged an impressive 68 miles per gallon — putting his cost at just 8 cents per mile. He replaced a second car with the scooter and hasn't looked back, using it for everything from grocery runs to hardware store hauls. His takeaway: more people should seriously consider scooters as a practical, affordable alternative to a second vehicle.
The episode wraps with a challenge to listeners: given that motorcycles cost roughly half as much per mile as a car — and trucks nearly three times as much — will rising gas prices push you to ride more, or will they keep you off the road? Niels invites listeners to share their thoughts via the show's text line or voicemail at throttleandroast.com/voicemail.

Links

• Oil price charts
• AAA Gas prices
• Fuel Economy Stats

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