Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I have been wanting to get a street bike for about a year now. I was planning on getting one with in the next year or so, but if a bike would be a better solution to gas milage then I will be getting one very soon.

I have heard that bikes would be better for fuel economy if it were not for the tires. Everyone who has a bike that I know has told me that the cost and frequency of tire replacement offsets or exceedes any savings on fuel. Is this true?

About me:

I do not know how to ride a bike and this will be my first bike
I no very little about bikes (I have changed a 2nd gear on a honda though!)
I have been a Chevy V8 car guy for last few years and I have built performance engines before. I am mechanically inclined

I am 6' 2", 265lbs
I drive 100 miles each day to work and back home - 99% freeway
I plan to drive 80mph average
I dont plan on racing or being crazy

I would like a bike that is easy for a beginner, not a ton of power but also a bike that I can modify later when I get more comfortable with riding without a lot of $$ or hassle.

I make $75k/yr, have not so good credit and dont want to spend more than $11k

What bike would you recommend for me? I love the way the newer bikes look, like the latest Ninja, I hate the older style looks, I would prefer the exhaust that exits just under the seat if possible or if not, only has 1 pipe on the right side.

I get about 30mi/gal with my 2006 kia and spend around $400 total each month on fuel. I would like to match it or beat it with a bike (including fuel and tires).

Thank you for any help.

By the time you get a bike, gear, insurance, etc, it'll be a long long long time before you ever break even on gas prices.

And you'd probably find that riding 200 miles every day is very tiring.

Getting a motorcycle is not a way to save yourself money

Keep in mind, I only drive 100 miles per day (50 miles each way)

I have been looking at getting one anyway and I am deciding if I should be a bike or a new car.

So either way I have to get a new vehicle.

If you have to decide, and your goal is economy, I'd suggest a more fuel-efficient car.

ok, so what about the tire issue, is that valid? How often do tires need to be changed? Obviously performance tires vs travel tires the answer will differ, I would want something in between. What is the average cost of an "in between" tire?

So let's say that I am ready to get a bike, what bike would you recommend for me according to the info about me in my first post?

I have only been riding for a few months and I usually get about 50 miles a day in when I ride. If you are really wanting to comute, I recommend a cruiser-type bike over a sportier bike. They are way more comfortable, especially for distanced rides.
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Mercedes A Class

Titan2782 wrote:ok, so what about the tire issue, is that valid? How often do tires need to be changed? Obviously performance tires vs travel tires the answer will differ, I would want something in between. What is the average cost of an "in between" tire?

So let's say that I am ready to get a bike, what bike would you recommend for me according to the info about me in my first post?

Tires need to be replaced about 4-5 times as often on bikes vs cars, and getting a set of tires installed on a bike will run you about as much as a set of tires on a car.

No offense, but I dont like cruiser bikes. I love american V8's, hate import 4 bangers, love rice rockets, hate harley's.

You answered my question about economy so now I am asking, when I am ready to by my street bike, what street bike do you recommend I start off with. I am looking to buy it within the next year. Since it isnt going to be used for daily commute, comfort isnt a big issue. I prefer style/looks over comfort.

Titan2782 wrote:Keep in mind, I only drive 100 miles per day (50 miles each way)

I have been looking at getting one anyway and I am deciding if I should be a bike or a new car.

So either way I have to get a new vehicle.

Okay... so that's 500 miles a week. Without ever taking the long way home from work or any other miles.

In general, motorcycle tires need to be replaced anywhere from every 3000 miles to 10,000. And there are so many factors that will affect YOUR mileage it isn't possible to be any more accurate than that.

Tire compound (hard, soft or in between)
Age of tire/rubber
Bike storage conditions (outside or garaged)
Weight of rider/bike
Tire pressure
Road surface (texture)
Flat miles or "Twisty" miles

To replace both tires on my bike runs about $300 with labor. I don't discount shop for tires. I get three fronts for two rears.

P

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?