Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Titan2782 wrote:If I got 3000 miles per tire, thats a new set every month (if I rode 100 iles every day, I only work on weekdays). $300 for tires is not bad. I can get them cheaper from my family shop. So far so good. What about gas milage? What is average tank size and MPG?

Just like with cars, there is no average.

Read the stickies in the New Bikers forum. That will answer most of your questions here.

ok so just based on my skill, body type/weight, price preference and style preference, what bike would you recommend I look at, or at least what size motor?

Thanks

Does that mean you're not going to read the stickies?

some bikes get about the same milage as the car you mentioned. but if gas is your main concern there are bikes out there that get good mpg - you just have to shop around. my bike gets 50 mpg but i is a dreaded, nasty, no good cruiser looking standard the 250 ninja can get 60+ mpg. there is a fuel guide on this site. do a search for it.

ok, so reading the first sticky, it seems most recommended beginer bike is Ninja 250R. Looking at 2008 model (2007 was ugly, 2008 is hot)

http://www.kawasaki.com/products/detail ... ifications

with 259cc motor, would this be a good fit for me to start on? Also, the MSRP says $3,500, is that correct? Can I really get this bike for $3500?! That is a great price since i was expecting $11k.

I can't make any real recommendations based on your height/weight. I'm 5'9", 175 pounds. My bike is a 2007 Ninja 250.

I've used mine to commute 2 days out of the week for the past few weeks, hoping to up that if the weather cooperates. Didn't ride in today...Bad choice - would've been a great day in.

Commuting - 90% of my 32 mile each way commute is highway. I get a lot of stop-n-go on the way to NYC.

My fuel economy is anywhere from 51 to 73. Typically it is 56 mpg. 73 mpg was on a test run - 135 miles not exceed for any significant amount of time 65mph.

I typically do ride 65 mph to 80 mph on the commute, when we aren't going 5 mph. The safest lane to drive in on highways is the left lane, and in order to not be a left lane Richard and get run over from behind you have to ride at a decent speed.

Based on all my costs so far this year $2800 for bike $275 for registration/tax, then I paid at least 1K on riding equipment with $250 for the MSF course. Let's call my total so far for the year $4133 + 551 for insurance. (this is actually pretty close)

It would be about 3.5 years to start saving me money on the bases

If I rode (sp edit fix) in to work every day I would save $1349/ year. (my regular car gets 25 mpg)

However, there are some costs that are hidden. I spent $190 having a shop check the bike over near when I bought it.

I spent $160 for the 3100 mile maintenance, and maintenance happens every 3100 miles thereafter.

And I haven't even gotten to the tires, as my tires don't need to be changed yet.

Based on current motorcycle design, it is unlikely to save you money moving to a motorcycle.

Now, if I rode more conservatively, I could manage the 70 mpg and save $1609 a year.

As I haven't replaced my tires yet, I don't know how much they will cost. I can say at least that the garbage tires on my bike do at least seem to last a long time.

Of course, if gas is more expensive by you, you get a cheaper first bike, get cheaper insurance, cheaper or less equipment your time to Return on Investment could be a lot smaller.

Or it could be a lot more. Given that you have more mass than I do, it will take more energy to move you around. So, your mileage even on the same bike as mine, might not be as good. Also, you'll be pressured by folks (even yourself) to get a bigger bike. Bigger bikes mass more (typically) and have more horsepower - and you pay a mileage price for that horsepower.

So, you might expect to only get in the 40's and 50's for mpg. Some sport bikes get only in the 30's which would be of no benefit to you.

After all that, it would still be a savings, if I were to sell my car and not have auto insurance. But, even if I was dedicated, there are days that I wouldn't want to ride in, because I don't want to ride in that day - don't feel good, whatever.

Suffice it to say, that it will be hard to realize any savings, unless gas prices skyrocket.

For example, if gas was $6 a gallon, my annual fuel savings would be $2024 a year and it would only take me about two years to recoup my money.

Of course, in your position - you drive 100 miles a day - things shift more to a earlier ROI. That might bring you - even at $4 a gallon to a 2 year ROI - if you ride in every day.

RhadamYgg

Titan2782 wrote:with 259cc motor, would this be a good fit for me to start on? Also, the MSRP says $3,500, is that correct? Can I really get this bike for $3500?! That is a great price since i was expecting $11k.

Ninja 250 is a terrific starter bike, and it's under $4000 (might be a tad more with all the fees they tack on, but still...it's not spendy.) For a little over $5000 there's also the Ninja 500. Either would be decent for starting out on. Either is a MUCH smarter choice than the 600+ sport bikes. Much Much smarter...

Don't buy new. Read the stickies. All of them. I tend to get crabby and unpleasant (so do the rest of the regulars here), if folks keep asking questions that are answered/explained in the stickies...

A 250 may be on the small size for your height/build. But that doesn't mean that you ought to go out and start looking at 1000 cc bikes. Read the stickies. Digest the information for a bit... ask for clarification tomorrow.

Don't buy new. Learning isn't as painful (wallet wise or personal injury wise) and you'll be better able to judge what kind of bike really does suit the way you ride. Once you've got some miles.

P

Titan2782 wrote:If I got 3000 miles per tire, thats a new set every month (if I rode 100 iles every day, I only work on weekdays). $300 for tires is not bad. I can get them cheaper from my family shop. So far so good. What about gas milage? What is average tank size and MPG?

3000 miles is what you'd expect on a sticky track/street crossover tire. Or on any tire that is under inflated. Or a tire made for one primary use and is used for something else.

P

thanks for the info guys. I have decided to go with a ninja 250 for now i like the look. I live in cali so pretty much every day is a good day for riding. Gas is current $4.45 at Arco (cheapest). I do plan on getting a bike even if not for commuting. Since it's only $3500 MSRP, I'm going to buy new. I can fix just about anything myself and if I cant, I have a family full of mechanics who have nice tools If I can find a used 2008 then maybe. I dont want a bigger bike ATM.

I've been reading the stickies and I will be doing a lot more reading over the next few months.

I have not seen this yet, but is it good to learn on a dirt bike first? The only bike I have to learn on right now is a 650c but plenty of dirt bikes to choose from.