Total Motorcycle Community Forums

After reading post after post here, and on several other forums I frequent, from newbies who buy brand new, or 'beater' motorcycles and then try to fix them themselves because they can't afford to take it to a shop, or who don't buy full gear because "they can't afford it," or who buy a motorcycle, THEN cannot afford insurance. I realize that folks don't seem to realize this...

So, let me state it simply: If you don't have EXTRA cash that you can truly afford to lose, then do NOT buy a motorcycle in the hopes of saving $20 per fillup on the high cost of gasoline.

A motorcycle is a considered a luxury purchase, just like a big sailboat, or an RV, or even snow skiing. Thats why in some states, carrying insurance is not required... because it is 'assumed' by the state, that anyone owning a motorcycle has enough disposable income that they will be able to pay up for any damage they may inadvertantly cause while riding.

Don't get sucked in... use your head. If you don't have $5K to toss in the trash, THEN don't get into riding... wait until you can afford that kind of 'throwaway expense.' You'll save yourself a HUGE amount of frustration in the long run.

Okay, off my soapbox now.

Pam

That's wrong.

Motorcycles are cheap. You can buy a great new motorcycle, and insure it, and get all the gear you need to ride it comfortably and safely, for less than $4000. You can maintain it cheaper than a car. You can store it cheaper than a car. You can fuel it cheaper than a car.

Style is expensive. Don't get into the style bikes (race replicas, [quasi] custom cruisers, etc) expecting to save money.

It's true. You can try to rationalize the gas to angry parents or significant others, but at least be honest with yourself. As it is I don't save any gas money at all, instead I spend a LOT more money on gas since I ride more than I drive.

But as far as hobbies, it's about the coolest one! Sky-diving and learning how to fly are the only two that are up there in my opinion.

Was this thread even necessary? Perhaps it was spawned by the fact that today is Mother's Day....

For some people a bike is there only way to commute. If I had the choose between buying a bike and a car for my first vehicle and I was footing the bill you better believe I go for the cheaper one especially if I didn't have alot of money. Us college students are broke you know!

And yes learning to fly is friggin sweet... but much more expensive than buying and insuring a bike.

as with any sport/hobby/vehicle/whatever... if you don't have the money to do it, then maybe holding off. if you can't afford to maintain a beater or insure it or whatever then maybe your expectations need to be lowered. buy an old 250 ninja or rebel instead of the bigger/cooler bike until you can afford to maintain it and insure it properly.

you don't need to be rich to ride, but you do need more than just the cost of the bike.

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)

well for me I am getting flack for wanting a ducati. I will not buy one as my first bike but it is my goal to eventually own one. I keep getting people telling me they are expensive. Honestly I am not worried about the $$$ it is something I like the looks of and feel. However I am mechanically inclined and can fix my own vehicle to a certain extent (I am an industrial mechanic not an auto mechanic). I agree, however, that if you cant afford the insurance to insure a bike then what are you doing with one? If you arent mechanically inclined then you shouldnt be trying to fix it yourself either. I guess i agree to some extent with you but telling someone they necessarily have to bring a bike to a shop isnt always the right answer when someone is mechanically inclined.

My first bike (81' CB-750) cost me only $500.

And Insurance was only $33 a month.

Worked like a dream, got mid 30's gas mileage, and ran for 8000 miles problem free before i decided to get a new bike.

Its a mentally challenged world that considers a Motorcycle a luxury and an SUV a neccessity.

zarakand wrote:It's true. You can try to rationalize the gas to angry parents or significant others, but at least be honest with yourself. As it is I don't save any gas money at all, instead I spend a LOT more money on gas since I ride more than I drive.

Faugh! I drove 45,000 to 60,000 miles /yr in my car (before motorcycle) much of that recreational. 60 miles just this morning. A motorcycle is not going to increase that number... in fact my car has averaged 30 miles per day fewer miles since I got the MC.

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.