I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle

[Wellyboy]

Hi guys. I'm a new member here with very limited biking experience (driven a scooter in the countryside that's it)

Just want to get your experience on how much it costs to own (and maintain) a bike. I'm thinking to go for a ~250cc sports bike if I do decide to get into biking. I know rego is usually around $400 but how much is one expected to spend on fuel, insurance, service/maintenance etc? I would most likely use it for daily work commute (~40km) and occasional weekend rides in Wellington.

Cheers guys!

[jellywrestler]

Hi guys. I'm a new member here with very limited biking experience (driven a scooter in the countryside that's it)

Just want to get your experience on how much it costs to own (and maintain) a bike. I'm thinking to go for a ~250cc sports bike if I do decide to get into biking. I know rego is usually around $400 but how much is one expected to spend on fuel, insurance, service/maintenance etc? I would most likely use it for daily work commute (~40km) and occasional weekend rides in Wellington.

Cheers guys!

it's the old question How long is a peice of string??? the answer of course is it depends on the brand of tampon....

[Scubbo]

more than a car, so if that still sounds good, then go for it :shifty:

[FJRider]

... but how much is one expected to spend on fuel, insurance, service/maintenance etc? I would most likely use it for daily work commute (~40km) and occasional weekend rides in Wellington.

Cheers guys!

The further you go on your bike ... the more you pay.

Don't forget that tyres wear out ... and the further you go ... and the harder you ride ... the sooner they will.

Sort out what your budget per month will be available for your BIKE. Then ... either ride to suit that budget ... or get a bike to suit that budget.

[Murray]

theirs plenty of threads on the topic do a search of the forums

[Akzle]

hi wellyboy and welcome to kiwibiker!

what my esteemed colleagues are trying to tell you is that there are many variables and you can make motorcycle ownership, like anything else, as inexpensive, or conversely as dear as you want you.

Please don't forget the safety gear though, in fact, that should be the first thing you buy!

[Berries]

April 1st, I get it.

[Akzle]

April 1st, I get it.

o ye of little faith!

No, i would shun such a hateful christian tradition.

[iranana]

i'm on around the few hundred mark on full cover insurance. full license, but i lost my no claims bonus.

decent helmet, a couple to a few hundred.

good jacket, couple of hundred.

good gloves, another couple of hundred.

i'm a lazy cunt with legs and usually just wear thick jeans and docs. my pipes make for highly effective crash bars anyway. but good pants, another couple of hundred.

chain/sprockets every 10-20k, depending on how lazy you are with cleaning and what you buy, that's another couple of hundred. more if you aren't fitting it yourself.

basically, expect to spend 'a couple of hundred' on just about everything you can, 'a few hundred' on a few things, and 'a hundred or so' on the other things, like carb parts, air filters, oil filters etc. etc.

new tyres, a couple of hundred.

new handlebars, around a hundred.

new pipes, a few hundred.

see the pattern?

[awayatc]

Yeah I am getting the pattern......

you can't count...


A wee 250 can cost you very little to run...
A sports bike however will cost you more..
but why woulld you want a 250 sportsbike....?

Uncomfortable, cramped, small, no room to carry anything,
and not fast, thus not sporty ...

[Big Dog]

Your costs will expand to meet your means unless you set a cap. I have averaged 10k a year for the last 15. About 35,000 would be the average kms, depending on my financial fortunes. Fuel, rego, servicing, gear, and bike.
During times of high kms bike upgrades have been sacrificed to make room for servicing and other such compromises.
TBH. If I earned enough that I had a disposable income I'd still spend the difference on a bike, gear or going places.

Raw numbers alone buying a bike secondary to or instead of a car is no longer financially viable.
I ride because I can't not, I tried once. It is something I have to do because not doing it would make life less worthwhile, less enjoyable and I wouldn't be me.
So given I already have to have a bike ( for me that comes even before food and shelter for myself ) it makes sense to make the hobby self funding by cutting down the kms in the car etc.

If I did not already have to have a bike the way an addict has to have their crack I would public transport, walk or cycle to work.



Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Tazz]

but why woulld you want a 250 sportsbike....?

Uncomfortable, cramped, small, no room to carry anything,
and not fast, thus not sporty ...


[<img src="http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh12/SpazTazSpaz/IMG_20140102_154505.jpg" />

ahem, well north of 100 fully loaded, takes saddle bags easier than a duel sport, fun in the corners and position is only annoying when you start losing traction on gravel, otherwise it's the same as any other sports bike (which isn't that bad unless you're 35+?). That's my experience anyway. I prefer a different bike now for anything but eating highway miles which the little 250 does well, and then slips through rush hour traffic easy as to boot.

Unless you want to GN it I'd budget at least 3k to get a half decent bike and some gear (second hand). 4k - 5k would get you a more than decent bike and gear.

[Swivel]

Hi guys. I'm a new member here with very limited biking experience (driven a scooter in the countryside that's it)

Just want to get your experience on how much it costs to own (and maintain) a bike. I'm thinking to go for a ~250cc sports bike if I do decide to get into biking. I know rego is usually around $400 but how much is one expected to spend on fuel, insurance, service/maintenance etc? I would most likely use it for daily work commute (~40km) and occasional weekend rides in Wellington.

Cheers guys!

Welcome aboard, fuel is the least worries, tyres can cost a packet, do the service yourself, alot easier then a car, unless the farings are in the way of everything. Seem it could be your first purchase I personally wouldnt get anything too expensive,

[Erelyes]

Hi guys. I'm a new member here with very limited biking experience (driven a scooter in the countryside that's it)

Just want to get your experience on how much it costs to own (and maintain) a bike. I'm thinking to go for a ~250cc sports bike if I do decide to get into biking. I know rego is usually around $400 but how much is one expected to spend on fuel, insurance, service/maintenance etc? I would most likely use it for daily work commute (~40km) and occasional weekend rides in Wellington.

Cheers guys!

The way I roughly worked it out - calculate how much you'll save in petrol, and paying for parking (i.e. assume parking is free), and count yourself very lucky if that amount of money covers all your gear, maintenance, mods, etc.

Buy a bike cos you wanna ride, not cos you wanna save money. HTH

[nodrog]

I'm amazed how some cunts even dress themselves these days.

[Tazz]

I'm amazed how some cunts even dress themselves these days.

They're finding ways around it :eek:

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/the-state-nudism-in-the-usa

[Smifffy]

I'm amazed how some cunts even dress themselves these days.

Given the number of idiots on the streets in pajamas, or with their boxers up under their armpits and their pants halfway down their thighs, I'd say there are plenty of cunts that can't even do that much.

[varminter]

hi wellyboy and welcome to kiwibiker!

what my esteemed colleagues are trying to tell you is that there are many variables and you can make motorcycle ownership, like anything else, as inexpensive, or conversely as dear as you want you.

Please don't forget the safety gear though, in fact, that should be the first thing you buy!

I've just seen this, by Akzle. It's reasonable and polite. I recon he's been stolen by aliens and replaced with an android.

[Ender EnZed]

I've just seen this, by Akzle. It's reasonable and polite. I recon he's been stolen by aliens and replaced with an android.

Check the date it was posted on.

[mossy1200]

I've just seen this, by Akzle. It's reasonable and polite. I recon he's been stolen by aliens and replaced with an android.
Scientists were hoping it was a modern medicine breakthrough but it only had a short term effect that couldn't be replicated in later trials.

[MD]

Not many constructive replies on here to encourage someone to experience the fun of riding?

Rego for a bike less thean 600cc is $477 p.a. Insurance is the painful cost and really, you need to get quotes depending on the value of your bike. I pay about $800 for a new 1000cc bike but that varies too based on your claims history.

Petrol is a big saver. General rule a small bike will go 2 or 3 times as far as a car. In saying that modern cars are bloody nipping at our heels for economy these days.

Small bike tyres are far cheaper than top of the line performance bikes like 180 and 190 sizes (width) for example are about $200+ for a front and $280 to $400 rear. I can't tell you how far a small bike gets on a set but I sure bet its a loooong way further than a performance bike.

I spend more on maintenance because I love my bikes and don't give a shit about car maintenance. So car is cheaper to maintain. Most of my bike regular service intervals are about $250-$400

Then there's the riding gear, helmet, gloves, jackets- you need several sets. One for bitter winter, one for looking cool in summer. Most riders have dry riding gear (leather) and wets (rain jacket+pants). Bargains to be had if you shop around. No need to buy the expensive branded stuff. Look at online sellers like motomail and 1tonne for example. I got a great heavy duty winter glove from 1tonne $65

Depreciation...don't start me. Accept that it will make you cry. But for perspective a comparable performance car, say a 911 at $260k new will return maybe $130k after a couple of years. A new jappa thou $24k might return $12 to $15k after 2 years. Buy second hand and you are sweet.

Savings can be made on free parking and for me I commute by bike as much as I can to save time instead of crawling in the car at 22kph. Nothing to do with cost.

Utimately I have always costed my motorcycle addiction on a not so scientific 'smiles per dollar' formula which will ALWAYS justify any bike cost.

None of the above counts for shit for most of us- BIKES ROCK

[willytheekid]

I'm amazed how some cunts even dress themselves these days.

FUCK YOU!...at least I try!:oi-grr:

310991

...I think Im getting a pay rise :confused:

[EJK]

Hi guys. I'm a new member here with very limited biking experience (driven a scooter in the countryside that's it)

Just want to get your experience on how much it costs to own (and maintain) a bike. I'm thinking to go for a ~250cc sports bike if I do decide to get into biking. I know rego is usually around $400 but how much is one expected to spend on fuel, insurance, service/maintenance etc? I would most likely use it for daily work commute (~40km) and occasional weekend rides in Wellington.

Cheers guys!

If you go for a naked single 250 thumper you should be able to save some money on commuting. I used to have a Suzuki FXR150 which was CHEAP to run. Insurance $28 per month (on restricted license + under 25), around 3l/100kms fuel consumption, cheap and easy service (10W40 oil only 1 litre!), $58 for chain and sprockets set, and I paid Bridgestone BT39SS for $240.... for a SET! Later on I put BT39SS front and BT45 on the rear which lasted me way over 10,000kms.