First vehicle: car vs motorcycle

[inspiron]

Hi, my name is jace.

I have been having lots of thoughts about what I need to get in terms of transportation. I am going to just say it, I have around $2600 to spend and no more. (and no job)

A motorcycle would be ideal with getting good mpg/s. But, I would be using to get to and from school, so backpack with lots of books + motorcycle = not so good?

I have been doing lots of looking on craigslist and if I were to get a motorcycle. the 2008 kawasaki ninja 250 is a winner for around $2500 close to new! It gets great milage, and looks amazing! (girls would love it)

But when it rains and the weather gets really bad, it would be nice to have a car with heat. On craigslist there are not that many great looking cars for under $3000...

I have never driven a sportsbike before, but dirt bikes are fun as hell. My parents do not care if I get a motorcycle. (dad is a long time rider)

So would it be worth it to get a motorcycle, as a primary vehicle and riding year round. (I would get good gear, rain jacket, ect.) And by the way I'm not the stereotype stupid teen that would be doing stupid shit with his motorcycle... that means I will obey the laws of the road, and not do stupid shit.

If I decide to get the bike I would take a motorcycle safety course, first.

Basically If I ended up getting a car or truck, I would be stuck with a 2002 or older model. (mostly older) that has over 150,000 miles on it, and does not look as pretty.

Now the money I am using I got as an inheritance when my grandmother passed away. God bless her... I want to make the right choice.

 

[Bignate603]

Without a job how are you planning on paying for insurance, gas and maintaining the vehicle? Buying a vehicle is only part of the equation. If you have no other way of making money you might have an issue paying for the cost of owning the car.

Personally, for your only vehicle I would really consider a car, especially for your first. As a young driver the safety is better and they can be used for more things. It gets awkward giving another guy a ride home

 

[Tristicus]

I personally wouldn't get a bike without having a car. Bad weather and cold weather would make it un-usable to me.

 

[Kirby]

Two points:

1.) Get a car, then save up and get a bike
2.) Decrease the font size on your sig

 

[kornphlake]

Unless you've already got all the gear you'll have to add a few hundred to several hundred for a good helmet, jacket, pants, boots and gloves. You'll probably want cold weather, wet weather and hot weather gear as the seasons progress. At that price you could afford a slightly nicer car.

 

[inspiron]

Unless you've already got all the gear you'll have to add a few hundred to several hundred for a good helmet, jacket, pants, boots and gloves. You'll probably want cold weather, wet weather and hot weather gear as the seasons progress. At that price you could afford a slightly nicer car.

I have 4 friends that would give me some older gear to use. They all race dirt bikes, so they have lots of spare helmets...

To tell the truth I am actually kind of obsessed with motorcycles right now... It is way funner, but I guess I should be more realistic and just get a car.. :\

 

[inspiron]

Without a job how are you planning on paying for insurance, gas and maintaining the vehicle? Buying a vehicle is only part of the equation. If you have no other way of making money you might have an issue paying for the cost of owning the car.

Personally, for your only vehicle I would really consider a car, especially for your first. As a young driver the safety is better and they can be used for more things. It gets awkward giving another guy a ride home

sorry for double post, but to answer your question... my parents will pay for insurance, and a little over half of the money used on gas and oil... my mother is finally graduating next year from college (at 48 years old!) and going to be a therapist for where she works. (helping the mentally ill)

 

[Meghan54]

I've ridden bikes for quite a long time, since the late '60's, and a bike as a primary vehicle can work provided you:

Don't live where it gets cold....cold air WILL find every open spot in your riding apparel and chill you to the bone.

Don't live where it rains....even the best of rain suits will leak, esp. around the collar and/or into your boots.

Don't have to carry anything more than a half-gallon of milk and loaf of bread.


Suffice to say bikes are a great alternative vehicle but completely impractical as a primary vehicle. Get the car first, then the bike.

 

[c3p0]

I've ridden bikes for quite a long time, since the late '60's, and a bike as a primary vehicle can work provided you:

Don't live where it gets cold....cold air WILL find every open spot in your riding apparel and chill you to the bone.

Don't live where it rains....even the best of rain suits will leak, esp. around the collar and/or into your boots.

Don't have to carry anything more than a half-gallon of milk and loaf of bread.


Suffice to say bikes are a great alternative vehicle but completely impractical as a primary vehicle. Get the car first, then the bike.

This!!!

I too have been riding motorcycles since the mid sixties. They are fun to ride, but not very practical as your only source of transportation. When I was in High School I had only a motor cycle for a couple of years. It was great until it got cold or rained. The chicks loved it until it got cold or rained. Then they all ran to the guys with the cars and I was stuck riding by myself in the cold and rain.

Either save up a bit more money and get a nicer car, or borrow a little cash from the parents and get a nicer car. While you're at it, go get a part time job so you can afford to own it. You won't regret doing this in the long run. That’s my 2 cents on the subject. Good luck!!!

c3p0

 

[JulesMaximus]

How long is your commute and are there alternatives like public transportation for when it is too cold or rainy to ride? Even temps down in the low 50s become really uncomfortable on a bike at 65mph. Committing to a bike as your only means of transportation requires a lot of sacrifice in comfort and utility. Plus, the money you will save on gas you will use up in tires and maintenance. Bikes require a lot more maintenance than cars do, they also go through tires much faster (10,000 miles maximum).

I have 11,000 miles on my bike and am looking at replacing the rear tire for the third time and I have a valve check/adjustment coming up soon too. Air filters every 10k miles, oil changes every 3-4k miles, tires every 5-6k miles, and everything costs more for a bike.

Riding a bike is also physically demanding. You don't just sit on it and steer, you use your body to initiate lean, you grip the tank with your legs under braking, you support your upper body with your arms and wrists (even moreso under braking) and if you carry a backpack, you carry that weight on your shoulders/back. If you haven't ridden much or at all, 5 days of commuting will leave you sore and tired. You will adjust to this over time but at first you'll be wondering why you did this.

That said, I love riding and I commute on my motorcycle 2-3 times a week, weather permitting (my commute is around 60 miles round trip). Bikes are so much more fun than cars. I can only think of one car I've driven that I got the same thrill out of and that car, Lotus Elise, is totally impractical as a daily driver and a hell of a lot more expensive.

 

[angry hampster]

$1500 car + $1000 bike.

 

[Zargon]

Don't have to carry anything more than a half-gallon of milk and loaf of bread.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?


saddle bags FTW, and backpacks.

and tank packs.

I rode my sportbike to college all the time, I still ride it to work/gym with a backpack and my gym back often

but I would hate it to be my only vehicle, in IL atleast

 

[angry hampster]

Agreed Zargon. I daily-drive my motrocycle in the summer here in Iowa. I carry a backpack that has my lunch and enough space for a few days worth of groceries. If bad weather is imminent, I'll pack my rain gear in it as well.

 

[inspiron]

Guess I will wait for the motorcycle... guess I just really want one so bad, seeing people at school on sports bikes is pretty tempting when I know I have the money.

A dependable car or truck will be worth it in the long run, and then when I'm like 30 I might be able to get my dream bike. :|

 

[Zargon]

Guess I will wait for the motorcycle... guess I just really want one so bad, seeing people at school on sports bikes is pretty tempting when I know I have the money.

A dependable car or truck will be worth it in the long run, and then when I'm like 30 I might be able to get my dream bike. :|

where do you live?

2K is pretty easy window to get a reliable DD, and you can get an older say, early 90's FZR for pretty cheap.

or an older CB to put around on

 

[HarryLui]

Nothing wrong with buying older cars, as long as they are maintained well. IE, regular oil change, regular coolant change, regular ATF changed, etc.

Buying pre-96 has it upside. Parts are cheaper, cars are simpler, price is definitely cheaper.

 

[MovingTarget]

Another vote for the car. Get something that is relatively cheap and easy to work on/maintain so you can save your $$ for the bike (eventually).

 

[inspiron]

where do you live?

2K is pretty easy window to get a reliable DD, and you can get an older say, early 90's FZR for pretty cheap.

or an older CB to put around on

I live in arkansas... and if you know anything about arkansas you should know that the weather can be crazy here.

One day it will be 90*F outside and the next its time to get a jacket.. I guess the thing is, I just don't think having an older car will be very fun. But I guess I should sacrifice.

Been my dream to have a nice motorcycle you know? :|

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Practically aside, there are TONS of things you sorta inherently 'pick up' as a motorist. A lot of these things you have to figure out are much much safer in a car.

IMO, buy a ford ranger. $2500 will buy you a nice one and you can use it to haul your bike around when you get one.

I'd spend the full amount on a reliable car and save up for a bike.

(this is coming from someone who commuted on bikes for last 8-9 years..)


Seriously, learning the intricacies of road rules on a bike is not a good idea..

 

[inspiron]

Practically aside, there are TONS of things you sorta inherently 'pick up' as a motorist. A lot of these things you have to figure out are much much safer in a car.

IMO, buy a ford ranger. $2500 will buy you a nice one and you can use it to haul your bike around when you get one.

I'd spend the full amount on a reliable car and save up for a bike.

(this is coming from someone who commuted on bikes for last 8-9 years..)


Seriously, learning the intricacies of road rules on a bike is not a good idea..

about what I was thinking! I want a truck so I can take my bike with me if I go somewhere pretty far away, but I shouldn't buy a truck for $1,500 so I will be closer to getting a bike becuz the truck will be shit.

I am almost sure that I will be getting a ford ranger, if i see a good deal. I would like it to be at least 2001 model.......... I might get a chevy truck if I see a good deal too. Not a big dodge fan...

 

[Greengage]

Hi I am a reporter working on a story that will profile someone who rides a motorcycle or motorscooter as their primary means of transportation. It is for a quality national quarterly. We will photograph you and compensate you financially for your time. I am happy to answer all questions for anyone who responds. Your help will be much appreciated!
Greengage
gg@maine.rr.com

 

[MiataNC]

Get a 90-96 Mazda Miata.

Top down, slamming gears, and drifting through corners is almost as much fun as riding a bike. It is also a hell of a lot more practical as your only source of transportation.

Then save for the bike you want.

 

[jlee]

Car by far.

Then again, I live in a frozen wasteland.

 

[roguerower]

It's got to make sense financially before it can actually happen. Buying a bike as your only vehicle doesn't make sense at this point in your life. Like everyone has said, insurance costs more, maintenance costs more (I have a beginners bike like the 250r and my tire replacement was $225), equipment costs more (you shouldn't use someone else's used helmet), and if the weather is as unpredictable as you claim, I would hold off until you can afford it. And you don't have to wait til you're 30 to get your dream bike. I'm 23 now and will have my dream bike in about 6 months or so.

If you manage to find 2.7-3.1k come February-April though, let me know. I'll be looking to sell my GS500F (nekkid) around then and I live in San Antonio, TX.

 

[Occ]

If anyone wanted proof people like to post without reading a thread...