ItIsWhatItIs
Banned
If you are that worried in 35 degree weather, have at it and wear full gear. A bike is not for everyone anyone this worried should consider other modes of transit.
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Justifying motorcycling
- Thread starter highflyer
- Start date
If you are that worried in 35 degree weather, have at it and wear full gear. A bike is not for everyone anyone this worried should consider other modes of transit.
fyrebug
Well-known member
OP bikes don't ahve to be expensive, they just become that way if you like it and have the disposable income.
bike: there are tons of bikes you can find in the $500-1000 range that are fine. I rode a ninja 500 2001 for 2.5 years. it cost me $1000. plastic was shattered and the seller didn't know how to deal with it, but hell, even someone lacking my skills could have just bolted on a new headlight and rode it ugly. it's ugly anyways. deals are there if you lurk and can barter.
a scooter is cheaper than TTC, faster, more fun. lets see: yamaha riva 180cc from the 80's $400-700. insurance $300/yr (scooter is stupid cheap), gas. pennies. gear? jacket $100 (joe rocket or alpinestars always have deals for 3 year old jackets) helmet: $100 bell vortex - snell2010 + dot. every bit as good as a $600 helmet in a crash. (don't let someone that overpaid for a helmet try to justify their purchase to you) as comfy or nice as my $700 carbon star? no. but perfectly fine! I own both. boots? on a scooter try work boots from marks. or heck, some icon shoes for $70.
do the math for a year of a scooter vs a year of TTC. the scooter costs the same. now look at year 2, all you need is gas and insurance.
ride a scooter for a bit then when you want a bike your insurance will be cheaper.
as for impractical to carry things... I carry a hunting bow and a kayak on my bike. I go camping with all the gear for me and the lady, I have 3 hard cases and 122L of storage in them. car? no. does what I need? for sure. I ride 11 months of the year full time, all 12 months on those random days in jan that it was clean.
there's no 'right' way to do it. you have a ton of options from budget to expensive and from 5 months to 12 months (ural side car).
bike: there are tons of bikes you can find in the $500-1000 range that are fine. I rode a ninja 500 2001 for 2.5 years. it cost me $1000. plastic was shattered and the seller didn't know how to deal with it, but hell, even someone lacking my skills could have just bolted on a new headlight and rode it ugly. it's ugly anyways. deals are there if you lurk and can barter.
a scooter is cheaper than TTC, faster, more fun. lets see: yamaha riva 180cc from the 80's $400-700. insurance $300/yr (scooter is stupid cheap), gas. pennies. gear? jacket $100 (joe rocket or alpinestars always have deals for 3 year old jackets) helmet: $100 bell vortex - snell2010 + dot. every bit as good as a $600 helmet in a crash. (don't let someone that overpaid for a helmet try to justify their purchase to you) as comfy or nice as my $700 carbon star? no. but perfectly fine! I own both. boots? on a scooter try work boots from marks. or heck, some icon shoes for $70.
do the math for a year of a scooter vs a year of TTC. the scooter costs the same. now look at year 2, all you need is gas and insurance.
ride a scooter for a bit then when you want a bike your insurance will be cheaper.
as for impractical to carry things... I carry a hunting bow and a kayak on my bike. I go camping with all the gear for me and the lady, I have 3 hard cases and 122L of storage in them. car? no. does what I need? for sure. I ride 11 months of the year full time, all 12 months on those random days in jan that it was clean.
there's no 'right' way to do it. you have a ton of options from budget to expensive and from 5 months to 12 months (ural side car).
FriendlyFoe
Well-known member
TL DR i read the title and actually laughed out loud. You dont justify a bike, you get one because they're awesome and just putting your helmet on makes you smile. Being able to afford it or not basically comes down to your financial situation. Most of us assess that and then spend about double. Visa's got lots of money.
fyrebug makes good points. If you can suck up the weather and drivers out there you can buy a cheap 250 cc and ride where you need to ride. The minute you start looking at bling, power, appearance etc you cross the white line into deadly oncoming costs and practicality dies.
If you can be happy with the crappiest bike on the street you'll be OK. If not, it's a toy.
If you can be happy with the crappiest bike on the street you'll be OK. If not, it's a toy.
Kri$han
Well-known member
To the OP's budget question, my experience was close to $9000 in the first year, and about $2000 per year after that.
1st Year:
Used bike $5500
Insurance $1600
Helmet $200
Jacket $300
Gloves $50
Riding pants $200
Riding Boots $200
RTI Course $400
Winter Storage $200
Misc. (riding head phones, tools etc.) ~$200
After that first year, my insurance has steadily been around $1100 per year, and I usually spend a few hundred in mods every year (not always the same parts, obv.)... tyres, brake levers, special OEM parts, new chain, oil, coolant, brake fluid, battery...
1st Year:
Used bike $5500
Insurance $1600
Helmet $200
Jacket $300
Gloves $50
Riding pants $200
Riding Boots $200
RTI Course $400
Winter Storage $200
Misc. (riding head phones, tools etc.) ~$200
After that first year, my insurance has steadily been around $1100 per year, and I usually spend a few hundred in mods every year (not always the same parts, obv.)... tyres, brake levers, special OEM parts, new chain, oil, coolant, brake fluid, battery...
gixxer_dave
Well-known member
This thread reminds me a of a post I made last year... Give it a quick read and it ought to shed some light on the REAL COST OF OWNING A MOTORCYCLE!
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/showthread.php?148438-The-REAL-cost-of-owning-a-motorcycle%85
Cheers
http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/showthread.php?148438-The-REAL-cost-of-owning-a-motorcycle%85
Cheers
MarcosSantiago
Well-known member
Good job posting that ^. Puts some things into perspective.
People: give some consideration to scooters as an alternative! Specially for first bikes
Riders here keep dissing them, but it is only the canadian mentality, everywhere in the world people love them.
A couple of months ago I sold the SV650 and got a Yamaha scooter with 500cc (Tmax), it accelerates way slower than the motorcycle, but it is not too bad (stock 0-100 is 8.83 seconds according to the net), top speed of 165 kph, yearly insurance of $363, free parking anywhere in Toronto.
油井緋色;1843136 said:
I'm old, cranky, and have creaky joints, and I commute on the bike every day until the snow starts/stops. Good gear keeps me dry on rainy days. And having a big top-case, panniers, and ROK straps, I'm frequently the smallest "pickup truck" in the Home Depot (or CTC, or...) parking lot.
Agree with fyrebug!
A scooter is honestly the most practical vehicle even when compared to cars. My first two wheel vehicle was a Honda Reflex NSS250 Scooter. The used cost was like $4000 back than, and the cost of insurance when I was 20 is relatively cheap for my age $800. It has storage under the seat to carry my textbooks, laptop, and I can carry a bag of gym gear on a backpack if I need to. Probably THE most comfortable vehicle for my passenger.
Oh did I mention less than 4 L per 100 km...so I was able to afford gas to go pretty much anywhere with my date (poor university student).
6 years later...I have a track bike, a dirt bike, and YES I still ride a scooter. A different one with even more storage compartment added on.
Other than the fun there is no justifying it. Especially if you're going to be owning a car as well for the winter months. I try to justify it to myself by telling myself I'm saving on gas but that's only recouping a fraction paying twice the insurance (one for car, one for bike), twice the maintenance, more repairs from minor drops, tons of gear (I guess if you're one of those people that rides in a t-shirt and flip flops then your gear cost is cheap), and whatnot.
Yeah they give me some funny looks when I buy a pile of hardware and load it into a backpack. Especially when there is snow on the ground. Last time I went to Home Depot on the bike I had a 6 ft pole sticking straight up out of my backpack. I was building a table frame/legs out of piping at home.
I second the 125R recommendation. Especially for someone on the fence of wanting to own a motorcycle.
The top reasons:
1. Lower entry price, I got my 07 with 5,500km for 1,750$. And if they decide they dont like motorcycles can probably resell it with little loss.
2.They are small and forgiving. A few times I have made low speed uturns and had to put a foot down quickly, Ive seen people on larger bikes drop them in the same scenario.
3. They are EFI no worries of tuning carbs and such like if you picked up an older bike.
4. They use such little fuel, about 6-7$ with 2.5-3L used per 100km.
5. Biggest factor for me, insurance. Its only 500$ a year for myself compared to my friend who's paying 2000$/year on a CBR600.
OMGSelenaGomez
Well-known member
If you're still taking the losermobile around, getting a bike is a no-brainer. I would be happy to pay a fraction more just for the convenience. Maybe look at what you're spending on transit and then compare it to a year's costs of riding. Remember that your first year of riding will be an asset because the skills you pick up will be skills that you will be able to apply lifelong. Why not pick up a new skill and get some convenience out of it?
Taking the family car isn't an answer to your problem. You are eventually going to be stuck. Better prevent that issue and be able to work around it as early as possible.
If you're worried about condo issues (theft, winter storage), something as small as a CBR125 is easy to cram into almost any elevator. If you have to deal with stairs, consider a supermoto (you can ride those up very easily)
If you're not convinced that getting a motorcycle is a good idea, consider this: would Selena Gomez be into someone who gets around on public transit or their own motorcycle?
Taking the family car isn't an answer to your problem. You are eventually going to be stuck. Better prevent that issue and be able to work around it as early as possible.
If you're worried about condo issues (theft, winter storage), something as small as a CBR125 is easy to cram into almost any elevator. If you have to deal with stairs, consider a supermoto (you can ride those up very easily)
If you're not convinced that getting a motorcycle is a good idea, consider this: would Selena Gomez be into someone who gets around on public transit or their own motorcycle?
Can I please see a pic of you carrying a kayak on your motorcycle? Also, does the camping thing include you, your lady, and all the gear on the bike? How much do you and her weigh? Even if I could cram all that on my bike it would be over the weight limit of my, and most bikes. But myself and my lady are a little heavier (I'm around 195 gearless, she's quite a bit lighter but it would still put us at close to 400 lbs together and geared). Maybe I just suck at packing my camping supplies, though, as I generally have an entire WRX hatch full of stuff when I go.
fyrebug
Well-known member
the kayak is a folbot, so it's not as amusing as you think. check www.folbot.com it fits into a backpack. it's like a tent in that you assemble the metal frame and then stretch the skin over it.
here's a thread I posted on fz6forum with photos http://www.fz6-forum.com/forum/fz6-general-discussion/45273-motorcycle-kayaking.html
the compound bow... is giant on the bike becuase of the case. I'd love to just mill a nice aluminum mount for it but I'm worried if I have it out of the case and walking dead style on the bike I'd be pulled over in a second.
for camping gear I'm 160, she's 140. worked on the 500 but it dipped.. the fz6 dips too but still fine. it can handle the weight of us and the 120+ litres of gear.
Bike first, moving to Miami second. Car never.
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