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I don't know where you guys are getting this ...

2.7K views 77 replies 32 participants last post by  PhilB  
#1 ·
But owning and riding a motorcycle is no more exspensive than a automobile.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Feel free to continue to make non-substantive threads for whatever petty thought pops into your head.

To preempt any conjecture on whether or not I am just being an asshole, I am not speaking ill of your attempt to create conversation. If you want to make threads like this, please put some thought into them so we can have an actual discussion rather than just defecating from your brain to your keyboard, as per your wont, evidenced by a quick search on threads you make. I, along with many others, to be sure, would appreciate any sort of discussion on a message board, as that's what it's for, but recognize a forum is what its posters make of it.
 
#11 · (Edited)
Ok, 60 dollars per month for full coverage, give or take 120 dollars max per tire, and 20 - 30 dollars to have them mounted and balanced. I spend 14 - 15 dollars to fill my tank, and I average 56 miles per gallon.

I also do all my own maintenance with the exception of the mounting and balancing of the tires.

Owning this bike and riding it everywhere is saving me money, once I sale my car I will be a slightly richer man from riding this motorbike lol

This is in my own case mind you.
 
#13 ·
It can be, but that isn't always the case. If you ride hard, and live in a state that actually has roads (you would be unfamiliar with that), you will burn tires pretty quick. A supersport can chew through a new set of shoes in less than a thousand miles if you're really tearing ass. And at ~300 a pop for a new set whenever you need 'em, that can get expensive really quick.
 
#15 ·
You'd be suprised, some of us actually work our asses off trying to find corners, there's a few out there, and when we find them we ride the fuck out of them!


yes, that's all 2% of us, the others are most definatly tearing up the local taco bell on their stretched and slammed bikes.
 
#14 ·
I think the economics of a bike depend on whether or not it's in addition to or instead of a car. An inexpensive, economical car will rival a bike in cost per mile easily unless the bike is a 250. :)
 
#16 ·
I guess maybe I should've specified but yes, this logic of mine is set towards actually replacing an automobile with a motorbike.

My 500 does quite well, I could easily get 60mpg out of it if I wanted as well, and It was bought for $2,000 which is quite low for it's age and condition (completely OEM)

purchase price of the bike is obviously important.
 
#20 ·
I can't afford a car. I sold it to get my latest bike. Can't stand having that V6. 2001 Toyota Solara SLE V6; and I get 24 mpg freeway at best (freeway only matters to me because I commute most on freeway). My 600 gets about 48 if I cruise at a 'normal' speed. When I had the car, I couldn't afford insurance on top of the payment. With the bike, its not a problem. That alone is enough to say bike is cheaper. Mind you, I take care of my shit so it really never needs repair. Just normal quarterly maintenance or so. I think that is the point you were trying to dis/prove.
 
#19 ·
Maybe for you, Florida boy. Try shlepping 6 bags of groceries on a bike. Or maybe you'd like to try riding when it's -20* with a foot of snow on the ground. Then there would be hauling kids around with all their crap (especially when they're too young to ride). Never had to haul lumber, etc. have you?

I would bet more people need at least a car to supplement their travel needs. At that point the bike starts to become an expense.

Enjoy it now. Let's see where you're at in 5 years.
 
#21 ·
Of course it depends on where you are. I live in SoCal, and haven't used a car for regular transport for almost 20 years. Groceries, lumber, cats to the vet, everything. If God had meant us to drive cars, He wouldn't have invented bungee cords. It's amazing what you can get on a bike with some creativity. (One of the unforeseen advantages of the Ducati Monster -- with that trellis frame and no fairing, I have infinite bungee points. :D )

I agree that if you have serious winters, it pencils out differently. And of course small children will change the situation as well. My wife and I skipped the small child bit; we adopted a teenager, and she already knew how to ride on the back of a bike.

But if you can use a bike daily and skip the car, then it can be very economical. My Ducati is not the cheapest bike around, yet it costs me about 20 cents a mile all in -- gas, maintenance, tires, insurance, everything. There are cars you can run for less than that, but not much of anything you'd want to drive if you had a choice.

PhilB
 
#28 ·
It's all subjective to how you place riding in your life.

We use tires, and spent $1k for our tire changer to help support the need. We believe in Quality over Quantity, so we usually haul our bikes to the riding areas or track, so we have to own a capable vehicle to support hauling/towing them, though we do take some local rides or might use a bike to run an errand. Add travel expenses to the tire cost and the insurance for more than one quality bike, and the costs change.

Wait till you start spending money to upgrade suspension and brakes, then go to the track to test them....

There's nothing wrong with whatever level you put motorcycling at in your life, as long as you're safe about it, But making a blanket statement that's it's cheaper isn't looking at the whole picture. I know riders who will spend over $5K on tires alone this year, and I don't think you can call that cheap.
 
#30 ·
It's all subjective to how you place riding in your life.

We use tires, and spent $1k for our tire changer to help support the need. We believe in Quality over Quantity, so we usually haul our bikes to the riding areas or track, so we have to own a capable vehicle to support hauling/towing them, though we do take some local rides or might use a bike to run an errand. Add travel expenses to the tire cost and the insurance for more than one quality bike, and the costs change.

Wait till you start spending money to upgrade suspension and brakes, then go to the track to test them....

There's nothing wrong with whatever level you put motorcycling at in your life, as long as you're safe about it, But making a blanket statement that's it's cheaper isn't looking at the whole picture. I know riders who will spend over $5K on tires alone this year, and I don't think you can call that cheap.
+1

Also, cheap is subjective to what you're bringing in. If I'm taking in 300US a week, and you're taking in 2000US a week, our idea's of "cheap" are going to be drastically different. you can fork over more without it being a big deal, whereas I may have to wait for that tire change, or may have to park the bike whilst I wait to be able to replace some gear, or whatever.

there are a myriad of factors in calling something "cheap"
 
#31 ·
Well let's compare my car to my bike:

My bike costs more less than 1/7 as much for full coverage insurance.
My bike gets nearly 3X the gas mileage
My bike gets me to my destinations quicker (time=money)
My bike is cheaper to maintain (less oil, cheaper for tires, brake pads, etc)

I just can't bring home lots of groceries or home-improvement supplies home on my bike.
 
#32 ·
I have about $7000 wrapped up in bike and gear, and I want to spend more. If I use my bike 85% of the time it will take me 3 years to break even, longer for every upgrade, new piece of gear, etc. And who knows what will happen in three years...

Because I was able to buy my bike out right and stop driving my truck I guess I am "saving" money. But then again I could have invested that $7000 for 3 years and prob came out more ahead.
 
#34 ·
Ok, 60 dollars per month for full coverage, give or take 120 dollars max per tire, and 20 - 30 dollars to have them mounted and balanced. I spend 14 - 15 dollars to fill my tank, and I average 56 miles per gallon.

I also do all my own maintenance with the exception of the mounting and balancing of the tires.

Owning this bike and riding it everywhere is saving me money, once I sale my car I will be a slightly richer man from riding this motorbike lol

This is in my own case mind you.
- fightfall

Most people here pay more than $720 for full insurance. Keep in mind you have a 500cc Suzuki. Most here has 600, 750's, or 1000's. And insurance for those aint cheap. For as $120 a tyre MAX? What kind of tyres are you using, and how long do they last? Are you getting Cheng Cheng's? Or Maxxis?

I have a SV650. And a front Michelin PP is $120. A rear is about $130-135.








Yes, motorcycles are cheaper over-all if you plan to replace a car. However, I can't live with just my motorcycle, as many others can't either. Although that would be awesome.
- prodigal27

Maybe for you, Florida boy. Try shlepping 6 bags of groceries on a bike. Or maybe you'd like to try riding when it's -20* with a foot of snow on the ground. Then there would be hauling kids around with all their crap (especially when they're too young to ride). Never had to haul lumber, etc. have you?

I would bet more people need at least a car to supplement their travel needs. At that point the bike starts to become an expense.

Enjoy it now. Let's see where you're at in 5 years.
- Oldschlpunk


I know a motorcycle you could us to carry a months worth of groceys, and ride year around! Even in the snow! I'm sure you both know what kind I'm talking about


:twofinger
 
#35 · (Edited)
- fightfall

Most people here pay more than $720 for full insurance. Keep in mind you have a 500cc Suzuki. Most here has 600, 750's, or 1000's. And insurance for those aint cheap. For as $120 a tyre MAX? What kind of tyres are you using, and how long do they last? Are you getting Cheng Cheng's? Or Maxxis?

I have a SV650. And a front Michelin PP is $120. A rear is about $130-135.

- prodigal27


- Oldschlpunk


I know a motorcycle you could us to carry a months worth of groceys, and ride year around! Even in the snow! I'm sure you both know what kind I'm talking about


:twofinger
the whole grocery thing cracks me up. im a chef and only buy fresh ingredients so i end up going to the store about every other day. i just walk in with my back pack, buy my groceries, then have the bagger put the groceries in my backpack instead of bags. works just fine.

hell even here in colorado i can ride nearly every day of the year. denver really doesnt get much precepitation, except yesterday we had crazy rain. even in the winter months it doesnt snow much in the city because the front range protects us. it does get fucking cold though lol.

what im getting at is a bike as your only mode of transportation can be pretty practical and convenient, especially if you live in a larger metro city. some of the best gourmet food stores and chef supply stops are less than 10 or 12 blocks from me so i quick trip on the bike works great. just toss on the backpack and tell the store employee to toss everything in it.

and i dont need a huge ass 12ft tall BMW or a ural with a sidecar to do it :twofinger
 
#68 ·
I see the bike as a weekend fun ride / daily ride to work type thing. The last time I paid full price for tires my rear alone was $229. What happens if you crash the bike? Especially with no backup car while the bike is being repaired? Oh, and how would I get my ATV's to the trails without a truck? Then the kids to school or the wife to get her hair done or grocery shopping for 4. It might be cheaper to have just a bike, but it definately isn't reasonable.

JMO

Ron
 
#70 ·
My point is, she can do it all in her truck, she's not taking the bike, which is a reason my bike isn't our only transportation.

Ron
 
#74 · (Edited)
Pleased you said "--This is in my own case mind you.---" for in my case your belief or dream is entirely wrong.

You see I live in Western Canada & a cage is a MUST for carrying many larger objects, for instance groceries to also one or two containers of something like 11 lites of water each. Tack on that we have a thing called WINTER & that means SNOW with iced roads to also WINTERIZING our bikes from end of October to latter part of April or May. So our m/c riding season is SHORT-LIVED.

Also I have driven & owned cages as long as I have riden & owned m/cs being this is my 62 year. Fact is to-day, as on ALL Sundays, I drove up to the gun range to open it up for h/gun shooters & do this two or three times every darn week of every darn year for my volunteer position is H/gun Director/Instructor. So I am carrying around 4 to six h/guns, other then .22 cal rim fire I am also carrying reloads for 9mm, 38 Super to 45ACP, targets, tools & such. Trying to ride a m/c up this overly steep gravel road with all the washboards to ruts in it is ONLY possibly with an all wheel or four wheel drive cage-------not a m/c. I need not tell you from start of snow to end of it the Dept of Hwy never touches our road as it is to steep, to narrow & the switch or bends or to narrow----so often Winter is a bummer to make it up & down with an all-wheel drive or 4X4 drive.

Remember this h/gun shooting is all summer to all winter & another reason of why I drive an all-well drive or 4X4 & not a m/c overloaded with the above goods that the RCMP would hault & confinscate all the items as "not sufficent safe storage".

The Liability along with Fire & Theft insurance is LESS costly for 12 months on a cage then for 5 months on a m/c. Sorry, but this is CANADA so it is different here. True I hear of members about to buy a m/c BUT in all cases they already have a 4X4 or all-wheel driver for normal home use plus getting to the range be it h/gun, trap, or rifle shooting.

If you are married or have a relative close to you, they will NOT be in the local town hospital that was built in '69 & kept up to par, but be in Penticton City older hospital some 25 miles away (sorry but like many parts of Canada we do not have a Publice Means of Transport) or up in the Kelowna hospital which is 40 miles north OR could by in one of the Greater Vancouver hospitals that are basically a days DRIVE away & impossible, on a m/c, in the winter time due to the iced roads & the cold conditions for this is right in the heart of the Canadian Rockie Montains.

So your see in "my case" it can & is very different, but remember you have places in northern States that are similiar to my situation & not similiar to your situation.
 
#75 ·
My co-worker is from colorado and he rode year round, snow and all, and I'd do the same, I actually want to :banana, probably get an enduro maybe a nice adventure bike though.

He rides a triumph tiger, and has owned one car in his life, and he's 40+ years old.

Let's put it differently here ...

For those who CAN afford to have only a motorbike, it IS cheaper overall than an automobile.