Ok, so I'm a woman who rides.  Selling the idea to your wife as mentioned in the original thread - just wondering if she's ever ridden a motorcycle before?  Maybe you could get her interest in it by asking her if you get yours and she likes it so much (which how many women don't like them after they've taken a really good day on one?) - well after that, maybe she'd like one too?  My husband and I both ride, been riding for several years now.  Matter of fact I am an organizer of a pretty large group (411 members to date)in Houston.  Anyway, good luck.  I have a full size pick up for when Mother Nature turns her nasty vengence on us, but ride 2 wheels, rubber to the road when I can.  

I'm new as well, have my safety class mid June in San Diego and have never ridden before.  I'm seriously looking at mileage, that's a huge factor for me and I've closed in on the Honda Shadow VLX600, coming in at around 60 mpg or the Shadow spirit 750, at 50ish.  Have any of your ridden either of these bikes before?  For a beginner who wants great mileage and nice style, who will do a combination of street/hwy commuting in SoCal traffic and wants to be somewhat comfortable what would you recommend?
Any other bikes in that class that you care to mention?  Thanks.  

Got my '02 VTX1800C 2 months ago - only had 800 miles (that's right - 800!). I've put twice that on it already. Got it for a song - wife agreed after 40 years that it was about time   Didn't have a clue about mileage - have an old Mazda which gets 30 or so, but this beast is consistently getting 38+ - and is WAY more fun to ride.

On with the summer!!!  

Violanza:
I'm new as well, have my safety class mid June in San Diego and have never ridden before.  I'm seriously looking at mileage, that's a huge factor for me and I've closed in on the Honda Shadow VLX600, coming in at around 60 mpg or the Shadow spirit 750, at 50ish.  Have any of your ridden either of these bikes before?  For a beginner who wants great mileage and nice style, who will do a combination of street/hwy commuting in SoCal traffic and wants to be somewhat comfortable what would you recommend?
Any other bikes in that class that you care to mention?  Thanks.

Violanza:
If you're looking for a "smallish" bike that gets great mileage while looking pretty cool, I'd like to suggest a Yamaha Fazer. Don't know when they quit making 'em, but my buddy just bought his back from a cat he sold it to like 16 years ago. He swears he gets 60 mpg roundtrip doing 45 miles one way over switchback mountain roads. His is 600ccs, has PLENTY of juice, and cost him less than $1000 the second time he bought it. It's got pretty cool classic streetracer lines. There's my $.17, adjusted for inflation!
Best of luck,
Mark  

if you're truly trying to save money, I've bumped into some diesel bikes. The civilian version of the latest bike issued to the Marines does 85mph (dual sport), and gets 120 mpg.
I've also run into Royal Enfield conversions to diesel (I think they're available from the factory too). Those are getting 160mpg. I'm pretty sure those don't do 80mph.  

i have ridden three bikes in the last 10+ years:

stock 1996 suzuki intruder 800 returned 40 mpg whether i rode easy or hard

2001 suzuki intruder 1500 with roadhouse exhaust delivered 39-42 mpg

now riding a stock 2005 kawasaki 1600 classic with leatherlyke bags and rifle windshield. i get 37-40.

about the time i bought the 800 i also bought a new nissan frontier kingcab pickup, 4 cyl with 5 spd manual.

about 2.5 years into ownership i crunched the numbers.

the bike was about 7-8 cents a mile cheaper than the truck. annual mileage for both was similar.

and don't forget, tires prices are linked to oil prices, so they'll be increasing in price along with the gasoline.

i bought the 800 while my wife was ill and in the hospital; not too sensitive on my part. she does not ride, either as passenger or pilot, but she has given me lots of space, knowing how much i enjoy krooooozing.

and finally, i bought a motorcycle mainly for the fun. i rarely use it go to work (i'm retiring in december, anyway!). i almost never ride against the clock.  

Thanks for all the help guys, I know I've been away but I did look at your replies and that diesel military dual sport sounds pretty cool, same with the Yamaha Fazer.  Well I came across a 01 Honda Shadow Spirit 750, all black w aftermarket pipes and iso grips, totally cherried condition with 22K miles on it for $2600.  After I'd researched it doing 45-50 mpg and heard it purr, my friend gave it the OK from a test drive so I got it.  It's pretty nice, and I've spent half what I paid for the bike on a Arai Corsair Helmet, a Dainese Zen Jacket, a K7N Filer and a compact air horn to get as safe and efficient as possible.  
I'm drooling over it daily, I still can't ride it.  I've gone into the garage and messed around with it, and in doing so must've killed the battery cause all I get from the ignition switch is a fast clicking sound.  Now I'll need to go buy a battery charger.  Geez!
I figure after about 4 to 5 years the gas will pay for itself.  My main concern is to freakin ride the thing now...this is torture!
Thanks again everyone and if you have a charger you want to sell, let me know!    

I just bought a 2008 Suzuki Boulevard C50T. First tank got me 50.89 MPG. Second tank is looking better than that. I ride daily to work (weather permitting).  

I came to this site looking for the same info.  Good gas mileage.  And I agree, I may or may not save money when you factor in everything.  However, if I can break even, at least I am spending the same amount monthly/yearly but have something to show for it...the bike and the enjoyment.  Not just spending money on gas every 3 days with nothing to show for it at the end of the day.

With that being said, what would be the best choice for a new inexpensive bike with good mileage?  

I started to accurately take my mileage last week.  It looks like I'm getting about 50 mpg on my c50t - much better than I thought.

I would go by the articles here for gas mileage information.  That's probably the best for accurate comparison.  

I'm new to this site, but I see a lot of excellent advice, so here is my $.02. I want to get back into motorcycles myself. I owned Yamaha RD 2 cycle street bikes in high school during the 1970's so you know how old I am. They were really fast and light. I currently drive a late model Mustang GT 'vert 70 miles to work round trip 6 days a week which is a blast in Florida, but with the price of gas I'm looking at a bike to save $$. Of course that is the angle I'm trying with the little lady. She is very opposed to the idea because of safety reasons, but as they say, it is my decision. She trusts me, but she is worried about all of the nuts out there that will run into me. I'm looking at the V-Star 650 custom or classic. It seems to be a nice entry level bike within my budget. I looked at the Honda VLX 600, but I need a little higher seat height than the VLX. I'm 6'-1", 230 lb. All the guys at my office ride the big cruiser bikes, but I just want to start with a bike that is not so heavy where I will get in trouble.

I test rode a Honda Shadow Aero 750 and VTX and they are very nice bikes. Any thoughts of the Shadows vs V-Stars?  

I have questions
1) do you plan to do 65+ slab for any distance, 50+ mi at a shot?
2) do you plan to have a passenger while doing that?

If you answered NO to both, then the 650 is a good bike, well priced. With 2 up, it gets a little athsmatic on the highway. If you get up to the 800s, they will do 75+ all day, carry 2 up (if you don't do more than an hour at a time, and allow rest time- for the passenger, not the bike).

And, you know, I bet I could make a bundle renting 500-800 cc bikes to people who are just starting, and figure they're going to outgrow it in a month.  

Haven't riden in over 20 years. Purchased my 2008 Vulcan last Monday.
What a ride. As far as your wife goes. Maybe talk to her about getting one herself. I could never think of sitting on the back of my husbands bike. YUK. Love the freedom.  
from my first week back on a bike, I've checked my mileage. About 47 miles per gallon. Lots better than the 27-30 I get in my car.
Bought these as toys. Replaceing the collectors car  (1979 MGB Roadster) sitting in the garage, better gas mileage and more fun.  

Now that I've had time to run a few tanks through the C50T I'm getting slightly over 50mpg after the 1000 break in.  I'm 6.4" 245 and ride 80 miles per day round trip and run at about 45-70mph.  

My insurance is only $225 per year.  I'm saving.  

I am new also, and i've test rode a 02 Honda Shadow 750 and plan on trying out a Vstar 650 classic/custom today or tommorrow...  Main reason i'm looking at these are price, styling and enough power to move my 210lb 6'1" frame.  I had a REALLY rough time trying to get "the boss" to agree to me getting a bike, but after a inadvertent deal after a couple beers she gets new kitchen cabinets and i get the go ahead.  She was concerned about the safety issue also.

I really dig the looks of the vstar, and i am not really  a daredevil or a goofoff, just as long as i am able to pass a slow granny or 2..  You all think that would be ok?