gaaaaas

The fuel prices are killing me in my jeep so I've been considering getting a motorcycle. At first I was thinking about a Honda Rebel and after doing some reading I'm reconsidering that idea. The honda rebel is best suited to smaller people. I happen to be 6 feet tall and 227 pounds so I'm not considered a small person in very many crowds. It seems as though most people are recommending a dual sport bike for my size of a person. I'm not sure if that's the right route for me but I've been perusing a few.

Bike              MSRP     Insurance (me, 1 year) type
Honda rebel      $3099        $164                cruiser
XT225            $4149        $191                dual sport
Big Ruckus       $5499        $437                scooter  
Nighthawk        $3599        $191                standard
Burgman 400      $5699        $437                scooter
GZ250            $3199        $164                cruiser
Virago 250       $3499        $164                cruiser
Reflex sport     $5499        $437                scooter
Silver Wing      $7949        $742                upscale scooter
Shadow VLX       $5399        $251                cruiser
VStrom 650       $6699        $861                dual sport
SV650S           $6449        $931                standard
Ninja 250r       $2999        $487                racer
KLX250S          $4699        $191                dual sport
Hayabusa 1300ltd $11299       $3524               no farking way
Sportster 883    $6840        $189                cruiser

So here is what I'm seeing: A 250 cc street / cruiser motorcycle is going to cost me 164 for a year of insurance. A dual sport is 191 a year and a scooter costs about twice that in price and insurance. Odd. One would think the automagic transmission would lower the insurance premium but no, such is not the case.