Total Motorcycle Community Forums

dieziege wrote:Which is just another way of saying we're all different and any of these blanket "motorcycles are luxuries" statements are silly. All motor vehicles are luxuries to people with nowhere to go.

That's a good point.

I think the first thing we need to do is define luxury. By definition it means:

"something that is an indulgence rather than a necessity."

Rather then type somethin long I'll keep it short. If you need transportation other then public then a motorcycle is a necessity as is a car. It just depends on preference for which route you will go.

Personally I will use both. Reason. I have a baby and another on the way. Obviously I can't put two car seats or even one on a motorcycle. However when I go to work I would rather ride then drive.

skoebl
PostPosted: Sun May 14, 2006 11:27 am Post subject:
I bought a cheap bike 'cause it was a lot cheaper than an equally reliable car, and gets a lot better mileage. Plus it's my ONLY form of transportation (well...other than public transportation, but I'm sort of a spontaneous person...so I don't really like to have to wait for teh bus)

+1

It was cheaper for me. But, don't skimp on the neccesities (and that includes insurance and gear). If you can't afford those, take a bus.

Im gonna give the lady a bit of backup. if im interpreting correctly she just wants to say that there are some things in the motorcycle world that are necessary- protective gear, insurance, and good maintenance.
Her post was in reference to a noob who had absolutely no idea how to work on a vehicle. she was simply concerned for the safety of those who were gonna count on their mechanical talent which was very lacking.

I have to agree with Lion Lady's comments with one exception . A motorcycle is not a luxery for my friends and I . It is a way of life .
Best regards, Wizzard

For me I got into riding...well because it was the only thing that I did not have on my license. So I decided to get the M1 endorsment....and well one thing led to another.

I had no idea...the hold riding on two wheels would be for me. It is a lifestyle..without a doubt. I ride almost everyday...commute to work...love leisure trips....I hate being in a cage...and this has been going on for almost five years...

It may be a luxury to most people...but to me it is my inner peace..

and it doesn't hurt that it saves me a little money when I commute into work on two wheels!!!!

Well I don't blame new people at all for the way they act. Just like anything else, if you research, you can find all kinds of information. Not everyone knows what to look for though, and there are a lot of different answers. Many answer that are wrong to one person is the absolute law to another. I know I learned a lot by spending the time being a rider and meeting a lot of people online and IRL. I know what I know, but I'm sure many things I think are not the same as everyone else here.

I've tried to be a kinder, gentler person on this topic myself, but I also try to spread the word about "what I think". Look at it this way. If you only saw motorcycles through your friends, and they never wear gear, you might think that was normal. You could possibly not know of the MSF or that there is a wide array of gear. We are all on the inside, so it is easy with our knowledge and time to judge someone else. Some motorcycle shops will see a bit to anyone and not explain anything but where to sign the finacing papers.

Some of the best stories I've read here have been from the smartest guys on this site (and ladies too) who made dumb mistakes and learned from the "school of hard knocks".

Motorcycling, even with the Internet, seems to be a hand-me-down sort of learning. I'm glad this site is here for everyone to ask and answer the same old questions.

I don't have $5000 myself to throw away, and I plan to continue to struggle to keep my bikes and keep them running, and keep myself in gear as best I can. I've read stories about guys buying and riding a cheap bike and not spending hardly any money except on gas. Is that ideal? No, but it is one of many varied stories of motorcycle experience.

I basically agree that everyone should wear gear (and understand some people don't wear it at all, and are motorcyclist just the same), and that people should be prepared to spend a lot on accesories and service for their bike (but some will do nothing to their bike except fix it themselves to keep it running). They also should be aware of insurance costs and what insurance one should have to cover for loss and damage. So I essentially agree with Pam, but I also see that it is not the same story for everyone, and some will continue to do it the "wrong" way and post here complaining about what they didn't research, realize, or accept as reality of this hobby/lifestyle.

I think a bike is a mode of transportation... like a car. When you buy a car, you have the choice of getting the corvette or the tercel. this is where the luxury comes into the equation. If you can't afford the gas/insurance/maintainance for the corvette, DONT buy the corvette! Same with bikes, buy the older, smaller cc bike that is reliable, good fuel economy and has cheap insurance. that doesn't sound like much of a luxury to me!

I think what Lionlady was getting at, is that a LOT of new riders seem to be blowing all their savings getting that big bore sportbike they like so much, not thinking about insurance or the cost of proper gear. shazam! insta-squid!

i've been on this BBS since Sept. 05 and i've been telling everyone that i want my V Star 650 classic.

Finances are the only thing holding me back. I have 2 cars, house payments and all those fun things in life and though i can afford to finance the bike, i choose not to yet.

Though i have the urge to go to the dealer and purchase my motorcycle everyday, i think most people look at thier financial situation and assess if its the best move for them. For some, it is a luxury item. For others, its a needed means to get around town. I think i understood that better when i started posting some newbie Sportster questions and realizing that it would cost me a lot more than my vstar, plus maintenance, plus gear and all the other inflated costs that comes w/ the honor of riding an HD.

For now, that $6000 can go a long way into paying some bills and such and for me, a motorcycle is a luxury item. I plan to go slowly, get items as i can afford them, like boots, helmets and leathers. I doubt my passion for riding will be extinguished, and i do wish i could ride 40 miles to and from the train station, but that will have to wait until i'm ready to pull the trigger.

Yeah- i guess i could find a $500 used bike, but i'll wait to buy the one that i really want.

desper wrote:I think what Lionlady was getting at, is that a LOT of new riders seem to be blowing all their savings getting that big bore sportbike they like so much, not thinking about insurance or the cost of proper gear. shazam! insta-squid!

So why does it instantly become our job (or business) to tell those people they've done wrong? If someone comes here asking, then great...fill them in. But people screw up every day in all aspects of life because they don't think for themselves. Or should I buy the book It Takes a Village by Hillary Clinton?