YAM(otorcycle)T (It's a long post!)

[jme5343]

This is a long post and includes math. If these things (reading and/or math) scare you, please click the back button on your browser now.

Now, I know I could figure this myself, but you guys can give me a little more info on some of the intangibles. I am not dead set on getting a bike, but if it's going to be more efficient from a long term point of view I may.

Let me preface this with some info. I've been riding off and on since 1998. I am not a risk taker, a bike would constitute a way to get from point A to point B. I have no desire to be a "Ruff Ryder". I will take a MSF course if I do get a bike.

I drive an 89 Buick Park Avenue, lol. Cost $300, everything works. I always got 21 mpg, but have recently changed my driving habits. I've been driving a steady 55mph, slow and easy to build up speed, no accelerating uphill, etc. I now pull 25 mpg with no problems.

I drive 45 miles round trip to work, let's round up to 50 for math's sake and for trips to the PO and stuff.

20 days x 50 miles/day = 1000 miles on the car monthly.

1000 / 25 mpg = 40 gallons of gas every month.

Current price of gas here: $3.15 x 40 gal = $126 monthly

So...

Buick:
$20/month insurance - $126/month gas - est $20/month maintenance

Approx: $166 monthly

The motorcycle I'm looking at is a Kawasaki Ninja 250. I'm not a big guy, 5'10" 170 ish. I need to go 55 mph on the highway, with the occasional boost to 65 or 75 for passing. The 250 is just fine for me, don't try to upsell me on a 600 or larger I'm looking for gas mileage.

Motorcycle new is $3000. I would hope to find a used one in the $2000 range.

Lets use $2500 as a price base so I can buy a helmet and riding gear.

Bike can easily get 60 mpg, sometimes in the mid 70s. I'll use 65 mpg as an average.

1000 / 65 mpg = 15.4 gallons / month

Current price of gas here: $3.15 x 15.4 gal = $48.50 monthly

$75 / month bike payment - $15/month insurance - $48.50/month gas - $10/month maintenance =

Approx $148.50 monthly

Let's assume gas prices go to $4/gal

Buick gas = $160 / month

Motorcycle gas = $61.60 / month


$5 gallon

Buick = $200 / month

Motorcycle = $77.00

$10 gallon (Man would that suck!!)

Buicl = $400 / month

Motorcycle = $ 154 / month



Okay, if you made it this far, what am I missing? Seems the bike is a viable alternative even at current gas prices.

 

[Fenixgoon]

first - gear prices.. good gear that will keep you safe is expensive and can easily be another $1000 (all depends on what you buy)

2nd - how do you figure 75/mo for bike insurance but 20/mo for car insurance?

i'm 19 and i was quoted at 30/mo for a brand new ninja250R (my car insurance is no fun though)

do MSF courses cost anything in your state? i know in PA they are free

 

[jme5343]

$75 / month is the payment for the bike, I guessed insurance would be $15 / month on the bike. I'm 29, never a claim, never an accident, 8 years w/ motorcycle license. Surely it can't be much more.

Yeah, I think the courses are around $200 from what I read.

 

[MixMasterTang]

Maintenance on motorcycles can cost more money than on an econobox. Batteries and Tires usually have to be replaced at a much more frequent rate than a car, and in most people's case motorcycles can't be driven 365 days a year. So if you are basing your decision on just the factor of money there are usually better options.

Edit: Also I what is the life expectancy on a motorcycle before major repairs have to be done?

 

[ballmode]

hmm I have found progressive to be cheaper than most doing online quotes...

 

[getbush]

Get a high paying job. This way you will be able to afford gas longer than most as the price rises. Let everyone in the tax brackets below you do the bitching about gas prices for you.

Oh and instead of buying a motorcycle invest it if that's what you're really worried about.

Are bikes viable year round in kansas? Is it ok if you show up to work drenched in rain?

The last thing you see is blue hair and knuckles, and then it's all over. Being a risk taker doesn't have anythign to do with it at that point.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: getbush
Get a high paying job. This way you will be able to afford gas longer than most as the price rises. Let everyone in the tax brackets below you do the bitching about gas prices for you.

Oh and instead of buying a motorcycle invest it if that's what you're really worried about.

Are bikes viable year round in kansas? Is it ok if you show up to work drenched in rain?

The last thing you see is blue hair and knuckles, and then it's all over. Being a risk taker doesn't have anythign to do with it at that point.

they make rain suits for bikes.

 

[jme5343]

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Maintenance on motorcycles can cost more money than on an econobox. Batteries and Tires usually have to be replaced at a much more frequent rate than a car, and in most people's case motorcycles can't be driven 365 days a year. So if you are basing your decision on just the factor of money there are usually better options.

Edit: Also I what is the life expectancy on a motorcycle before major repairs have to be done?

I used this guy's maintenance log as a valuable source on maintenance:

 

[jme5343]

Originally posted by: getbush
Get a high paying job. This way you will be able to afford gas longer than most as the price rises. Let everyone in the tax brackets below you do the bitching about gas prices for you.

Oh and instead of buying a motorcycle invest it if that's what you're really worried about.

Are bikes viable year round in kansas? Is it ok if you show up to work drenched in rain?

The last thing you see is blue hair and knuckles, and then it's all over. Being a risk taker doesn't have anythign to do with it at that point.

I make $10,000 over the median family income for my county It's not going to get any better.

Wha? If a motorcycle's cheaper to own and operate then there's more money left over to invest.

No, I'd say they're good for 8-9 months of the year. It doesn't rain very often. I still have cars to drive if it rains. I concede the last point you make, but I pass maybe 10-15 cars on the way to work and the way home. It's a very rural area.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: MixMasterTang
Maintenance on motorcycles can cost more money than on an econobox. Batteries and Tires usually have to be replaced at a much more frequent rate than a car, and in most people's case motorcycles can't be driven 365 days a year. So if you are basing your decision on just the factor of money there are usually better options.

Edit: Also I what is the life expectancy on a motorcycle before major repairs have to be done?

Just like to chime in and say that if you do your own wrenching, bikes can be CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP. I'm riding an '83 Yamaha Maxim 400 every day to work as a commuter. It costs me peanuts to insure, peanuts to run, and peanuts to maintain. Yes, batteries and tires, but all-in-all, my dead reliable air-cooled engine costs less than my also-reliable Toyota car. Also, you CAN ride bikes in rain, though probably not snow. Just get some good rain gear, take it easy, and hopefully have covered parking on either end.

Life expectancy? Besides tires, chain+sprockets, and battery, probably most people dump their bike before they have to do any "major" maintenance. Heck, plenty of 30 and 40-year old BMW airheads out there...

 

[rstrohkirch]

how many months a year will you be driving it and would you drive it rain or shine?

I would probably toss in some weekend activities if you could switch out to the bike as a viable option...that is if you actually go places

 

[Kalvin00]

you most likely will not save anything by adding a motorcycle to your garage....if you sell your car you will, however do you want to be out on a moto in a thunderstorm?

and youll prob only get 60 mpg on the bike

 

[lokiju]

Safety and rain are the BIGGEST issue with a motorcycle.

It's not fun driving a motorcycle in stop 'n go traffic in rush hour when it's 95f out or raining and I've done both.

It's just not a practical reality to go into a motorcycle purchase with the intent of driving it every day instead of your regular car since there are to many factors that will make you less than willing to do so.

Also transportation of goods is another issue, sure you can get saddle bags or a back pack but nothing comes close to the convince of a car for transporting goods from point A to B.

 

[jme5343]

jagec - I do plan to do my own, I have some friends who know bikes. They're very willing to help me out with the basics to get started. I've looked at some Maxims, a couple older Honda Nighthawks, an intruder, etc. I like them all, but it's just hard to tell if the P.O. took care of it like it should've been.

rstrohkirch - I'd say 7 months would be a conservative guess. If it's raining when I leave for work, I'm taking the car As far as weekend activities, I'd say doubtful. The wife and kids won't all fit - I could get a sidecar

Kalvin - 60 is fine, makes little difference, really. I do believe if I ride it like I drive the car, 65 is very possible.

lokiju - It's all highway to work, no traffic. I understand you point, and I appreciate the input, which is why I started the thread. I'll weigh everyone's comments.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: getbush
The last thing you see is blue hair and knuckles, and then it's all over. Being a risk taker doesn't have anythign to do with it at that point.

You could say the same thing about driving a car, riding a bicycle, walking across the crosswalk, or even flying in a plane. You have to look at the statistics to know the REAL danger...and if you read them carefully, you'll see that the vast majority of motorcycle accidents are preventable or at least mitigable if the rider has basic handling and braking skills, isn't drunk or high, and is wearing nice, highly visible protective gear and a helmet.

After all, how many times do you see BMW riders smashed up at the side of the road? Not nearly as often as 18-year-olds on Hayabusas.

 

[zixxer]

Get a 2003 and older GS500. Cheaper to insure (no fairings), and at 170lb's might even get you better gas milage. Not to mention fun in the mtn's


EDIT:


and since it's a commuter - they are also ultra reliable. oil changes every 3k, and valve adjustments every 15k. Cheap tires and brake pads.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: jmebonner
lokiju - It's all highway to work, no traffic. I understand you point, and I appreciate the input, which is why I started the thread. I'll weigh everyone's comments.

Another factor that goes along with the heat and rain consideration is what kind of line of work you're in.

If you're in a professional office setting and coming into work sweating like crazy or drenched then that may not be a nice thing to experience, on the other hand if you work outside or more of a manual/physical sort of job then it might not be as much of a concern.

My biggest issue is I don't want to ride without protective gear but when it's so hot out it makes it near unbearable to do so and not be soaked in sweat after a short period of time.

There isn't a protective gear system out there that won't cause you to be hotter while still protecting you, even the mesh jackets that everyone wears for the heat aren't really that protective since they do tear open in wrecks, theres even a site out there that shows motorcycle accidents with people that were wearing mesh jackets that just tore wide open in a wreck from sliding on the pavement.

Also of course you can get a rain suite but if you're ridding and it starts raining and you have storage on your bike to keep the suite in, then you have to pull over under a bridge or something like that to put it on, which usually by the time you can do that you're already soaked.

Just considerations to think of.

I currently have a bike and have been through these thoughts and situations myself personally.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: lokiju
Another factor that goes along with the heat and rain consideration is what kind of line of work you're in.

If you're in a professional office setting and coming into work sweating like crazy or drenched then that may not be a nice thing to experience, on the other hand if you work outside or more of a manual/physical sort of job then it might not be as much of a concern.

Some offices offer shower facilities for those who ride their bicycles to work, though that might be more common in the liberal West

 

[Whisper]

As others have said, some maintenance items on a bike (especially batteries and tires) need to be replaced more often than on a car. I don't have the knowledge or tools to do my own work, so I end up paying for things like oil changes as well (which generally run around ~$40 after all is said and done), which can sting a bit.

However, I used a motorcycle as my only means of transportation for two years, and ended up getting quite used to it. I lived in Georgia at the time, and so the weather was generally mild enough for me to get by...although the winter did indeed suck, and the 90+ degree summer days were likewise horrible. Getting stuck in traffic is annoying, but no moreso than in a car. Rain isn't so bad as long as you have the proper gear, although the risks of hydroplaning are much greater. Hail is not fun at all, and snow I wouldn't recommend trying, period.

All in all, I loved--and still love--my bike. But in the end, after I ended up getting a car, I'd have to say that the convenience of a roof, windshield, and heater/air conditioner outweigh the price premium.

Also, in terms of gas, remember: even though your bike will get in the 50+mpg realm (70 might be a bit high, as on my 500R I only would get 45-50 at most, but the 250 could possibly swing it), it'll be running on premium. Still not even close to as expensive as a car, but it's something to keep in mind.

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: Whisper
it'll be running on premium.

No, the 250s are fine to run on regular 87.

 

[Whisper]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00

Originally posted by: Whisper
it'll be running on premium.

No, the 250s are fine to run on regular 87.

Hrmm, sure about that? I haven't seen a motorcycle yet that didn't recommend using anything shy of premium.

Then again, these are manufacturer recs...from the same manuals that also suggest you never go above ~5k RPM at any time.

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: Whisper

Originally posted by: Kalvin00

Originally posted by: Whisper
it'll be running on premium.

No, the 250s are fine to run on regular 87.

Hrmm, sure about that? I haven't seen a motorcycle yet that didn't recommend using anything shy of premium.

Then again, these are manufacturer recs...from the same manuals that also suggest you never go above ~5k RPM at any time.

The little ninjas are not particularly high-compression engines, therefore they don't need premium.

 

[zixxer]

Originally posted by: Whisper

Originally posted by: Kalvin00

Originally posted by: Whisper
it'll be running on premium.

No, the 250s are fine to run on regular 87.

Hrmm, sure about that? I haven't seen a motorcycle yet that didn't recommend using anything shy of premium.

Then again, these are manufacturer recs...from the same manuals that also suggest you never go above ~5k RPM at any time.

And the gs500's actually tend to run better on cheap gas.

 

[SamurAchzar]

My advice - DON'T get a motorcycle for practical reasons, as there are none - believe me (unless you live in a dense traffic area and may lane split).
When gas prices get higher, consider it again, but for the meanwhile - you're going to take WAY more life threatning risks and assorted headaches for 10$ a month?!

I mean, the math is clear in this case, but how much is the risk worth to you?
I believe you're also going to keep the car, so you have two insurances.

That comes from a guy who had a street bike, and currently rides a dirtbike ('05 KTM 250EXC, in case someone cares ). I'm in no way biased against bikes, I just think getting one because of gas mileage isn't the best reasoning.

Besides, I wouldn't want to ride that bike on the freeway - you're a bit of a sitting duck. It can go faster, but you'll have to wring it out, and then you won't be getting the mileage you're doing your calculations on.
In any case many people would argue that you'll outgrow this bike quick and replace it with something larger, although your current car doesn't really tell you apart as a motorhead

I'd suggest two other - obvious - alternatives, but I really don't know your financial status, other than you want to save gas money:

1. Get a newer, more economic car. You'll get better comfort and saftey too. That's might not be cheaper but you'll get a nicer car with some of the price being offset by the gas price.
2. Get a larger bike - Ninja 650, DL650, etc. Better, safer, probably not that much worse on fuel economy, especially on the freeway. But again, more money, and probably more expensive insurance. It can be justified, I guess, on the basis of enjoying the ride much more, too.

Again, your math is probably as good as anybody else, and only you know your financial status, but your idea doesn't seem so realistic...

Hope that helps!

 

[jme5343]

Thanks Samur. Let me say this. It's not ONLY a gas mileage perspective I'm looking at. I also want a small bike to zip around on and do some cruising. If I can justify it financially, it means I'm that much more likely to buy, I can't check anand from work So, off to work I go, I'll read more when I get back. I'll also check out the GS500 while I'm at work and weigh it against the Ninja.

Thanks all!