$$$ sucking bikes!

[phoenixgtr]

How do you guys and gals do it?

I love motorcycling. When I'm on my bike I feel like I'm home, but lately I've had to ask is it really worth it? My partner and I have a bike each and we're not on low incomes, but those bikes are taking just about every cent we have. It makes it hard when we're trying to save for our big OE in probably 18 months time.

Lately it's cost us about $800 to get Liv's bike running (huge issues with carbs) and now my bike has failed it's warrant and needs a new front tyre ($270) after it's been in the shop for 7 weeks after a wee incident. And then theres the insurance and regos and warrants for 2 bikes.

Sorry about the rant. Just needed to get it out of my system.

Now, I'm not about to give riding. I love it way too much. I'm just not going to be able to afford it much longer if it keeps this up!!

[Str8 Jacket]

Hey Tristan, sorry to hear mate! Bike are expensive!
Maybe its just a thing of putting things into persepective..... You wanna go overseas and you both wanna ride. Why dont you think about selling both bikes and buying a decent 250 that you can sell at maybe even a profit. I know it'll suck but it wont be forever. That way you can both ride, it'll cost half as much and you can save. Just a thought?..

[LilSel]

My bike doesnt cost me as much as my car does for maintenance etc...
Rego is more etc... but part n parcel...

[scumdog]

In the last 10 years plus my running expenses have been tyres and a battery..

Sometimes you seem to run into non-stop spending just to keep them on the road and sometimes it's plain cruising, you seem to have hit the first lot, hopefully you'll come out of it into the second fairly soon.

And $270 for a front tyre? is it made of gold?

[phoenixgtr]

And $270 for a front tyre? is it made of gold?

I wonder...

I might have to see if I can talk them down a bit on that. Afterall, I just gave them alot of business

[NighthawkNZ]

And $270 for a front tyre? is it made of gold?

My front costs... $300 and $350 for the rear.

[jimbo600]

Well I gave up a kidney to a Chinaman.

[avgas]

Get a GB400, will cost you max $2000/year
And that will include an ice-cream at every servo.
Bikes aren't expensive - choice is.

[Paul in NZ]

Sports bikes are demanding on parts, service and equipment - it costs a lot of $$ to go that fast. Sorry - it always has... You can save a lot by learning to do some stuff yourself but tools aint cheap either..

Honestly, you can get a lot of thrills out of 'lesser' bikes - you may wanna check it out before you go broke... :innocent:

[jrandom]

Yeah. Sprotbikes eat tyres at > $500/pair, use more gas than a 2L station wagon, and have finickity high-performance lightweight engines and drivetrains that just love to wear out.

Not to mention their well-known propensity for getting tired and having expensive little lie-downs in the middle of corners when going fast.

They're toys, and cost shitloads of money to own. If you don't like that, buy a GB400, like the man said. Or an SG350 or something. Or sew tassles onto your race-rep one-piece leathers and spend the money on an old Harley.

[The Lone Rider]

I am a strong believer in getting bikes from a reputable dealer that is known for their workmanship and tuning. Both of my bikes I bought from a dealer, and they were tight. No problems at all and the only money spent on them has been WOF and registration, and any custom and aftermarket parts I've put on. Oh, and my bigger bike needs a new rear tire now but I might attribute that to the stationary burn outs on the drive that I do to piss of Geek when she's over here :D

The 2nd bike I bought I shopped around as there were several available at dealers. One was in excellent visual condition, and newer, and lower K's. But.. the thing had trouble starting, all the parts were loose and wonky.. it just didn't feel right! At another store, they had one that was older, more K's.. but it had been looked after and they gave it a good tidy up and tuning before even putting on the floor. I went with the later.. and thats the bike that maintenence-wise has cost me about $300 in the last year.

[peasea]

The HD's we have are both reliable machines. Not too fast but fast enough to get tickets and give me a reason to rant and rave about the fines on KB.

Seriously; they've both been great (touch wood) and while you can spend a truckload on HD bling you don't have to.

[Angusdog]

Yeah, I wonder if they're a rich man's / woman's folly. There's not much volume in bike parts, practically every bike has a different tyre to the next one, disc pads are model specific and thanks to common engine / gearbox oil, the motors don't last.

Having said that, the most fun bike I had was a 1981 TT250. Tip: Every now and then, borrow your mate's XR100 for a week. It makes your bike feel like a ZX14 when you get back on it.

[Taz]

Really helps when you can do all your own tuning and maintenance. My XT600 is mechanically simple and real easy to work on and I haven't had the BMW long enough yet to spend anything on it.

[98tls]

My old pusser costs me heaps but it also gives me more enjoyment than anything else so its money well spent i say.Depends were your priorities lie i guess,mine are all fucked up but hey im happy.:woohoo:

[beyond]

Any bike of a larger displacement designed to go fast and have fun on, is going to cost you way more to keep on the road than a car :(

If you love corners and going a little quicker than normal you are going to eat tyres and suck gas.

I love my GSX1400. Very reliable but when ridden hard, they eat tyres suck copious amounts of giggle jiuce and when you get them serviced to preserve the warranty they aren't cheap. Insurance, rego, wofs and parts all add up.

Yep, if you're on a limited budget it's tough but ohhh, so much fun :)

No matter what tyres I stick on my machine at around $550-600 a set, the rear in a best case scenario sees around 5,000kms and the front 7,00kms.
The worst was 3,000kms rear, 4500kms front.

That makes for very expensive thrills.

[fireliv]

It just seams to be one thing after the other........

Having been screwed over by bike shops really doesnt help (NEVER GO TO SPORTZONE SUZUKI). Tris can do the basic bike maintanance but my bike needed new rubbers in the carbs, something that useless fucking bike store never picked up on.
I suggested selling the ZX6R, but in all honesty I couldnt live with the person that Tris would become. He loves that bike (pretty sure more than me). Selling a kidney seams like the best option

[98tls]

It just seams to be one thing after the other........

Having been screwed over by bike shops really doesnt help (NEVER GO TO SPORTZONE SUZUKI). Tris can do the basic bike maintanance but my bike needed new rubbers in the carbs, something that useless fucking bike store never picked up on.
I suggested selling the ZX6R, but in all honesty I couldnt live with the person that Tris would become. He loves that bike (pretty sure more than me). Selling a kidney seams like the best option Its so easy really,you need to get another job so he can keep his bike ship shape.:soon:

[fireliv]

Its so easy really,you need to get another job so he can keep his bike ship shape.:soon:

Actually I told him to get another job...............

[98tls]

Actually I told him to get another job............... Funny lot you women,for years you fought for your rights..right to vote..right to work,the list goes on but then when the chips are down once again its the man thats gotta stand up and be counted:whistle::calm:

[merv]

Yep I've said many a time on here bikes aren't cheap so I've never used mine to commute on, they are just toys and I leave them safely in the garage until a weekend ride beckons. Something like a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic would be way cheaper to run that a ZX6R would be my bet.

[McJim]

I find that running a Ducati 600ss to and from work is cheaper than running an FTO to and from work.

I bought the Ducati based on a lot of investigation into tyre sizes and prices, reliability, service intervals, parts and fuel consumption. Compared to a 1999 Honda CBR600F (which was the alternative) the Ducati was going to save me about $2,500 per year.

It's not the fastest bike in the world but it's a hoot to ride.

Looks good, sounds good, handles beautifully, accelerates well but doesn't go faster than 190kph.

[Brett]

I sold my sports car which I was no longer driving due to buying the GSXR, so that helped a bit, I earn pretty well, however my wife is a full time medical doctor, so that splits my income in two and makes things a bit more difficult. I don't really drink alcohol, so that saves shitloads of money that is spent getting pissed, and we are extravagent in our lifestyles, such as not eating out often etc. Little things add up. That said, I have just spent $1500 on bike related crap such as a new lid, tyres and a basic service, and subsequently the bank balance is looking sad.

[NighthawkNZ]

Any bike of a larger displacement designed to go fast and have fun on, is going to cost you way more to keep on the road than a car

Yup agreed, me VTR is nearly twice the expense of my old XJ Special overall to run. But the VTR is much more fun. While the XJ was a good tourer /crusier it wasn't the same fun factor as the VTR.

[fireliv]

Yep I've said many a time on here bikes aren't cheap so I've never used mine to commute on, they are just toys and I leave them safely in the garage until a weekend ride beckons. Something like a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic would be way cheaper to run that a ZX6R would be my bet.

We do have a honda civic wich we use to commute, something I'm keen to continue once his bike comes out for the shop

[fireliv]

Funny lot you women,for years you fought for your rights..right to vote..right to work,the list goes on but then when the chips are down once again its the man thats gotta stand up and be counted:whistle::calm:

Dem fighting words:bleh:

[scracha]

Now, I'm not about to give riding. I love it way too much. I'm just not going to be able to afford it much longer if it keeps this up!!

Less tuned air/oil cooled engines with fins and 2 valves per cylinder tend to be a lot cheaper to run. Easier on tyres, chains and gogo juice (not to mention insurance). 90% of the fun for half the running costs.

[madmal64]

Its hard to save for an OE while riding 2 bikes. Particulary if you are using them for your main mode of transport. Hows this for an idea?
What I used to do over winter is I buy a rego & wof car thats less than $1000 and use it as my main transport. With a little bit of work you can get a reasonable car for this amount. I usually get through winter on the wof & rego, put a new wof on it and flick it for usually excatly what I paid for it. cheap transport over the crap weather. The best deal I ever had was an old Diahatsu Charade I got for $350 drove it for 18 months and sold it for $500 and it never failed a wof
That way it stretches out the service & tyres on the scooter and Im not wracking up the miles on it either. Another thing is that its soooo good when I get back on the bike
Just a thought

[imdying]

Having been screwed over by bike shops really doesnt help (NEVER GO TO SPORTZONE SUZUKI).What happened? I've had reasonable service from them :confused:

I'm guessing you took a 15 year old imported never sold new in NZ bike to them for what you expected to be minor fixing, and there was more was wrong with it than you expected? :mellow:

[Taz]

In 40,000kms the XT600 has cost me 1 front tyre, 6 rear tyres, 1 fr brake pads, 1 rear brake pads and oil and filters. But most of you wouldn't dream about owning an XT. It has opened up so much more of the country to me than any of my sportsbikes. After all you can only do the Coro loop so many times. It's also good at preserving the licence while still being capable of 140kmh+

[Gremlin]

apples with apples... you're trying to compare a normal car against a sportsbike. Compare a sporty car (if there is such a thing) with the bike.

And no... never calculate how much its costing you, it would only make you cry. Small bikes are generally good, on gas, servicing, tyre cost, tyre life, etc. 600cc+ bikes, its all about more tyres, more chains, more pads, eats gas at a decent rate... etc.

The fun is priceless :yes:

[Highlander]

We drive a Honda Odyssey, a Mitsi Galant and my CB 750.
Cost of owning / Running these is within a few cents per Km of each other and the bike is smack in between the cars.
That is all fuel, maintenance, Reg,WOF's & Insurance divided by the Km travelled by that vehicle.

At a guess, I'd do about 2/3 of the km on my bike commuting the rest is having fun..

[Coyote]

I feel your pain

I'm a teenager, still at school. Earning $60 a week on an underpaid after school job (but it's at a bike store so it's worth it). Luckily parents are paying for insurance and rego but I have to deal with everything else which is hard to do when $20 goes to the loan and another $20-30 goes into the weeks petrol. I'm seeling my old bikes to pay back some debt after my new second hand sportsbike brought privately initially cost me $3800, $300 to get from Christchurch, $200 for rear cylinder shims, $200 for a new ignition, $60 for oil and I'm looking at spending $500 for new disks, $400 for a new rear tyre, $200 to get front shims for it, etc. I should've got a $5000 bike with low k's, but I went for cheaper with high k's but it ends up costing just as much and you get less for it. :(

[Taz]

I feel your pain

I'm a teenager, still at school. Earning $60 a week on an underpaid after school job (but it's at a bike store so it's worth it). Luckily parents are paying for insurance and rego but I have to deal with everything else which is hard to do when $20 goes to the loan and another $20-30 goes into the weeks petrol. I'm seeling my old bikes to pay back some debt after my new second hand sportsbike brought privately initially cost me $3800, $300 to get from Christchurch, $200 for rear cylinder shims, $200 for a new ignition, $60 for oil and I'm looking at spending $500 for new disks, $400 for a new rear tyre, $200 to get front shims for it, etc. I should've got a $5000 bike with low k's, but I went for cheaper with high k's but it ends up costing just as much and you get less for it. :(
And you could have bought a brand new scorpio Z and had change in your pocket. It's all about choices. Buy an old clapped out bike and expect repair bills. even a 5000 sportsbike would be over 10 years old....
Andy.

[phoenixgtr]

What happened? I've had reasonable service from them :confused:

I'm guessing you took a 15 year old imported never sold new in NZ bike to them for what you expected to be minor fixing, and there was more was wrong with it than you expected? :mellow:

Not exactly. We took it there knowing it had real issues in the carbs asking them to get it running properly and expecting it not to be cheap. They replaced the sparkplugs and that seemed to be about it, even though they gave us a long list of things they apparently did. Got it back a week later and it was barely any better, so naturally I took it back and said "you didn't do what I paid you $500 to do." and I got this exact quote back "thats what you get for buying a cheap import."

So a couple of weeks ago the bandit was worse than ever so we decided we had to take it in again (it was beyond my spanner skills), so we took it to Norjos, the Kawasaki store where my bikes been. They replaced the seals in the carbs, new sparkplugs, new air filter and oil change for $300. Now the bike's running the best it has since we've owned it.

We will never go back to Sportzone

[Coyote]

And you could have bought a brand new scorpio Z and had change in your pocket. It's all about choices. Buy an old clapped out bike and expect repair bills. even a 5000 sportsbike would be over 10 years old....
Andy.
Why not get a Toyota Corolla instead?

I knew the bike was old, but I didn't expect it to be clapped out. I bought a lemon, all my bikes have been lemons

[Wasp]

Not exactly. We took it there knowing it had real issues in the carbs asking them to get it running properly and expecting it not to be cheap. They replaced the sparkplugs and that seemed to be about it, even though they gave us a long list of things they apparently did. Got it back a week later and it was barely any better, so naturally I took it back and said "you didn't do what I paid you $500 to do." and I got this exact quote back "thats what you get for buying a cheap import."

So a couple of weeks ago the bandit was worse than ever so we decided we had to take it in again (it was beyond my spanner skills), so we took it to Norjos, the Kawasaki store where my bikes been. They replaced the seals in the carbs, new sparkplugs, new air filter and oil change for $300. Now the bike's running the best it has since we've owned it.

We will never go back to Sportzone
sounds interesting, seals you say....... hmmm what seals?!

p.s. the carbs wernt dripping gas were they? (can tell cos discolours the carb and engine metal)

what did your 600 fail its wof on?

pity your down there - would have been good to pull both your bandit and mine apart side by side and see whats up

[Taz]

Why not get a Toyota Corolla instead?

I thought we were talking bikes. If you want a car then a Corolla would be a good choice. Get it AA checked so you don't buy a lemon of a Corolla too.

[vifferman]

Unless you own a ChaosCommuterCycle, a bike is basically an expensive toy, and in fact the design and marketing is geared around this fact, to make it appeal to people's desire to be a "racer" or "tough mofo" or whatever. So the sound, look, feel etc. plays on this.
What bugs me isn't the maintenance costs, but the fact that if you're riding every day, everything needs to be replaced on a regular basis. I'm currently wearing around $2K worth of gear, and it needs replacing every 3 or 4 years. I think it's all worth what it costs, but it's a lot. Currently it's all pretty good, apart from my jacket, which I've had about 6 years or more, and it's tired and looks it.

[Tank]

Like for like - bikes are still cheap.

A old little commuter car will still cost more than a GN250 popping to work and back.

A sports bike will still cost less than a sports car. and yes - cars go thu tires fast as well (if driven properly).

its just part of owning something that requires maintainance love and attention.

Sorry to hear you had problems with the dealer and servicing. Learning how to do it yourself does help and gives you bonding (or Zen) time with your bike.

Useless bit of info: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values" has been listed as the most widely read philosophy book, ever!

[Ocean1]

Unless you own a ChaosCommuterCycle, a bike is basically an expensive toy, and in fact the design and marketing is geared around this fact, to make it appeal to people's desire to be a "racer" or "tough mofo" or whatever. So the sound, look, feel etc. plays on this.
What bugs me isn't the maintenance costs, but the fact that if you're riding every day, everything needs to be replaced on a regular basis. I'm currently wearing around $2K worth of gear, and it needs replacing every 3 or 4 years. I think it's all worth what it costs, but it's a lot. Currently it's all pretty good, apart from my jacket, which I've had about 6 years or more, and it's tired and looks it.

Doood, been AWOL lately?

Market for cars is driven by very similar criteria.
Face it, cars and bikes are both consumer commodities, the biggest mistake you can make is to consider them an "investment". Having said that there's economically sound buying in either, you just have to turn off the bullshit, do a bit of research and add up the numbers.

[phoenixgtr]

Sorry to hear you had problems with the dealer and servicing. Learning how to do it yourself does help and gives you bonding (or Zen) time with your bike.

Useless bit of info: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values" has been listed as the most widely read philosophy book, ever!


I know how to do alot of the maintenance, but I still have to pay for parts, which is what my partners bike needed to get running properly.

As for my bike, it's been running like a dream since I bought it.

The 2 of us have sat down and sorted out a budget so that when these costs come along theres some money there for them.

We have a crappy little Civic that we've been commuting in lately and quite frankly I hate it, but I can live with it. The bike may just become more of an entertainment item than my primary mode of transport. Theres no way I'm giving it up!!

[merv]

We have a crappy little Civic that we've been commuting in lately and quite frankly I hate it, but I can live with it. The bike may just become more of an entertainment item than my primary mode of transport. Theres no way I'm giving it up!!

Now you are starting to understand bikes are entertainment. To those that say compare like for like with a sports car I'd suggest the same applies, you're probably still better to commute in your Civic and save the Ferrari (if you had one) for weekend fun to save the cost and risk of damage to it - jealous people keying it etc.

[phoenixgtr]

Now you are starting to understand bikes are entertainment. To those that say compare like for like with a sports car I'd suggest the same applies, you're probably still better to commute in your Civic and save the Ferrari (if you had one) for weekend fun to save the cost and risk of damage to it - jealous people keying it etc.

Yeah, I've learnt that lesson. The first day I had my bike down here a stupid woman in a 4WD backed into. Apparently a great big bright green bike isn't very visible :blink:

[Squiggles]

i ride my wee gn around town and save the tl for the distances, tl is expensive with the set of tyres costing more than the gn did, but its my fun bike, if i run low on money i simply dont get to have a fun ride that weekend, and can still ride my gn till i have got the money

[doc]

How do you guys and gals do it?

I love motorcycling. When I'm on my bike I feel like I'm home, but lately I've had to ask is it really worth it? My partner and I have a bike each and we're not on low incomes, but those bikes are taking just about every cent we have. It makes it hard when we're trying to save for our big OE in probably 18 months time.

Lately it's cost us about $800 to get Liv's bike running (huge issues with carbs) and now my bike has failed it's warrant and needs a new front tyre ($270) after it's been in the shop for 7 weeks after a wee incident. And then theres the insurance and regos and warrants for 2 bikes.

Sorry about the rant. Just needed to get it out of my system.

Now, I'm not about to give riding. I love it way too much. I'm just not going to be able to afford it much longer if it keeps this up!!
You can not apply logic and motorcycles in the same sentance. Hitcher would be able to explain it.

[merv]

i ride my wee gn around town and save the tl for the distances, tl is expensive with the set of tyres costing more than the gn did, but its my fun bike, if i run low on money i simply dont get to have a fun ride that weekend, and can still ride my gn till i have got the money

Now you've definitely got it sussed.

[terbang]

Mine are toys and my dear wife reminds me of the cost on a fairly regular basis. :bash: When I had a Busa I spent a small fortune on tyres. Sold it after 21000 Kays and it was on its 5th, though fairly new, set of tyres. The Navigator I have now isn't so tough on tyres but is still a bit hungry on gas and seems to be stretching the hell out of the drive chain.

[scracha]

Unless you own a ChaosCommuterCycle, a bike is basically an expensive toy,

Eh? As long as you don't buy a cock stretching "toy" then an "all rounder" like a badnit 600, Divvy 900 or fazer 600 aren't expensive to run. Hell, even 4 or 5 year old sportsbikes aren't that bad on the pocket (unless you'ure an insurance risk like someone who's ridden < 2 years) when they're not ridden like they've been stolen. I spent years commutting on 400 - 750cc sportsbikes and provided you warm them up gently and stick to legal(ish) speeds their running costs are way cheaper than say a 1.8 litre car. Thrash the hell out of them and say bye bye to petrol, tyres, chains, clutches, etc.

My theory is that the laughable motorcycle service intervals are designed to cover the manufacturers areses when average biker "jo" canes the heck out of his CBR/YZF/GSXR/ZXR/Whatever all the time. Ride them semi sensibley and you get away with just giving them a basic service every year.



every day, everything needs to be replaced on a regular basis. I'm currently wearing around $2K worth of gear, and it needs replacing every 3 or 4 years.

Fair enough but as long as you don't need Arai/Shoe/Sidi/Dianese/etc bling you can get perfectly adequite gear for around $1K. I don't think $250 a year is a lot for gear.



apart from my jacket, which I've had about 6 years or more, and it's tired and looks it.
Hey, another Scotsman.:laugh: I've had my Frank Thomas Aqua jacket umm...cripes...9 years.

[scrivy]

W.T.F.? $2000?? My race leathers are 16 years old, and still going hard!! Helmet is 9 years old. Only my gloves need replacing. $2000 WTF??:gob:

[scrivy]

When I had a Busa I spent a small fortune on tyres. Sold it after 21000 Kays and it was on its 5th, though fairly new, set of tyres.

My old GSX1135 (bored to 1229) I owned way way back went through 14 rear tyres in 11 months!! Must be a freaking record!!
At the age of 18, it crippled my finances severly!!:pinch:

[fireliv]

Eh? As long as you don't buy a cock stretching "toy" then an "all rounder" like a bandit 600, Divvy 900 or fazer 600 aren't expensive to run. .

Yes but obviously a bandit 250 is!

[sidecar bob]

My old GSX1135 (bored to 1229) I owned way way back went through 14 rear tyres in 11 months!! Must be a freaking record!!
At the age of 18, it crippled my finances severly!!:pinch:

I seem to recall i may have contributed to that total, not sure if i told you it could do 200 metre black lines sideways around town.

[HungusMaximist]

Tell you what bro, you'll save heaps by learning to do the maintenance yourself.

Of course it's always a time consuming thing in learning but if you can, get a mate who has a similar bike or who is happy to help. The case is usually, people only perform the maintenance they know and avoid the challenging stuff because it just seems too hard.

Yea you'll be taking a risk but you don't wanna be that chump who is wondering whether doing a oil change yourself is gonna fuck up your bike so you take it to a garage pay them hundred bucks to save you the trouble.

Tell me you what, KB is fucken gold, the other day I was crying like a sissy that I need a mechanic to tune my bike because it's chugging all my petrol like there's no tomorrow.

Then I got a PM from a random dude saying he has the same bike as me and he's happy to do the carb balancing, tune ups and any other shit for me. My first initial thoughts were, 'this is too good to be true, is he on drugs, or just does he have too much spare time?'. Well it turns out, he's just happy to help, passionate about bikes and it just happens he has the same bike as time so he knows he won't fuck things up.

I watched and learned, pretty much everything can be done yourself. You just gotta know what to do.
What most people think is a huge job, it's actually pretty simple, like to get my carbs balanced it took around 12 mins, taking off and putting the fairings tand other shit took a good half an hour.

We're like best bike buddies now... haha..

[Coyote]

Yeah, I've learnt that lesson. The first day I had my bike down here a stupid woman in a 4WD backed into. Apparently a great big bright green bike isn't very visible :blink:
Nor is a purple RG150 when it's 3 meters behind the 4WD

[Indiana_Jones]

Like some people have said.

Sell your current rides and get some cheaper/smaller ones for the time being :)

-Indy

[vifferman]

Doood, been AWOL lately?

Yeah, been in the West Island.

W.T.F.? $2000??
Helmet: $399 + $86 for tinted visor. [A few months old, previous one was about 3-4 years old]
Jacket: Replacement cost ~$800 [about 6 or 7 years old]
Boots: $450 [actually cost me nothing - used money gifted when I left my last job]
Pants: $520 [a couple of years old]
Gloves: Winter - $245, Summer - $170.[I actually have about 5 pairs of gloves, but only wear these two]

[scrivy]

I seem to recall i may have contributed to that total, not sure if i told you it could do 200 metre black lines sideways around town.

She was a friggin weapon eh Bob?!!! So much fun!! Also ate chains like they were french fries!! :yes:

Yes I did know that you helped with the rubber degradation....... :nono::nono:

[sidecar bob]

She was a friggin weapon eh Bob?!!! So much fun!! Also ate chains like they were french fries!! :yes:

Yes I did know that you helped with the rubber degradation....... :nono::nono:

Yeah, the Katana wasnt much better.
Lucky we were getting paid about $176 a week or we wudda been rooted eh?
Cant believe these guys are complaining about the cost, nothin shags out quicker than a 630 chain with a hot GSX1100 yanking on it.

[peasea]

Yeah, the Katana wasnt much better.
Lucky we were getting paid about $176 a week or we wudda been rooted eh?
Cant believe these guys are complaining about the cost, nothin shags out quicker than a 630 chain with a hot GSX1100 yanking on it.

Erm, there was this girl in Wellington.........
She had a four speed box they reckon. I wouldn't know though.........

[fireliv]

Well we have done some book balancing and it looks like if we work hard and use the bikes for the weekend fun we just might get through. The best advice we have had is to remember that they are toys, and luxury items!

On a happy note my bandits running like a dream, YAY

[Steam]

Bikes cost money? what?
Maybe mine's different.

Oh, and if you bike's a toy then YOU ARE EARNING WAY TOO MUCH MONEY and should give some to me.:sunny:

[Brian d marge]

Get a GB400, will cost you max $2000/year
And that will include an ice-cream at every servo.
Bikes aren't expensive - choice is.

Totally agree for 800 dollars ..I could ,,,well I am now dreaming of all the goodies I could buy !

I have 1 bike 2 Engines , and its the last bike I will ever buy ,,,

Cheap as

Stephen

[Mystic13]

Bikes are pretty cheap, when you compare them to other things you can do like taking the boat out fishing etc. I just smell better after a days riding and the bike is easier to clean. (and it's cheaper to buy the fish)

[roy.nz]

How do you guys and gals do it?

I love motorcycling. When I'm on my bike I feel like I'm home, but lately I've had to ask is it really worth it? My partner and I have a bike each and we're not on low incomes, but those bikes are taking just about every cent we have. It makes it hard when we're trying to save for our big OE in probably 18 months time.

Lately it's cost us about $800 to get Liv's bike running (huge issues with carbs) and now my bike has failed it's warrant and needs a new front tyre ($270) after it's been in the shop for 7 weeks after a wee incident. And then theres the insurance and regos and warrants for 2 bikes.

Sorry about the rant. Just needed to get it out of my system.

Now, I'm not about to give riding. I love it way too much. I'm just not going to be able to afford it much longer if it keeps this up!!

Its just the same as owning a car or two they also need maintance and tyre and wofs and rego and garage work after wee ancidents, so i dont see what you are ranting about? Everything the wears will need replacing. :bash:

[phoenixgtr]

Ummm...this threads from Sept 2007. It's been a while

[AllanB]

I'd need to spend something like 80 grand to get similar performance as my Hornet that cost less than a seventh of that.

Pretty happy with that :first:

[TerminalAddict]

so an ohlins shock for the hornet
$2k ish

a WP shock for the hornet
$2k ish

a YSS shock for the hornet
$2k ish

an OEM honda shock for the hornet
$2k ish

FUCKING SHOCK ABSORBER ROUND TABLE CONSPIRACY HARD AT WORK !!!!

I'm sad .. but the vodka helps

[AllanB]

so an ohlins shock for the hornet
$2k ish

a WP shock for the hornet
$2k ish

a YSS shock for the hornet
$2k ish

an OEM honda shock for the hornet
$2k ish

FUCKING SHOCK ABSORBER ROUND TABLE CONSPIRACY HARD AT WORK !!!!

I'm sad .. but the vodka helps


Surely you'd get the Honda one - I hear those Ohlins are crap.....:wari:

ha ha, just kidding.

Once you get over the price (O U C H) it's interesting to see them all lined up at the same price......... :crazy: You'd pick the Ohlins I presume?

[steelestring]

so an ohlins shock for the hornet
$2k ish

a WP shock for the hornet
$2k ish

a YSS shock for the hornet
$2k ish

an OEM honda shock for the hornet
$2k ish

FUCKING SHOCK ABSORBER ROUND TABLE CONSPIRACY HARD AT WORK !!!!

I'm sad .. but the vodka helps

Dredge!!:sweatdrop

Which flavour did you choose in the end?

I am at the same round table.... but i have even more options.

....but gin is the pain relief in my crib!:crybaby:

[vifferman]

Dredge alright.
I just posted summat the other day - worked out over the last 5 years the bike's cost me $18k. :shit:

[Cajun]

Dredge alright.
I just posted summat the other day - worked out over the last 5 years the bike's cost me $18k. :shit:

my is simlar costs for 5 1/2 years, my does not include insurance, but does include rego/wof/tickets incurred on said vechile, as well as fuel/maitance and anythign else spend on the bike

[steelestring]

Dredge alright.
I just posted summat the other day - worked out over the last 5 years the bike's cost me $18k. :shit:

aaarrhh crap... my bad... not keeping track:Oops:

18k holly fark! spose thats not too bad over 5 years of active usage in the long run eh? This must be oil, brake fluids general garage consumables? What were your big spends>? shocks and brakes?

The first year I owned my little zxr I spent what it was worth on it again... 5k!

But now the 600 needs some money spent on suspension.. for my fat ass:blink:

[steelestring]

my is simlar costs for 5 1/2 years, my does not include insurance, but does include rego/wof/tickets incurred on said vechile, as well as fuel/maitance and anythign else spend on the bike

shit thats some good going then! gas included, wof, and reg sheeesh

[Cajun]

aaarrhh crap... my bad... not keeping track:Oops:

18k holly fark! spose thats not too bad over 5 years of active usage in the long run eh? This must be oil, brake fluids general garage consumables? What were your big spends>? shocks and brakes?

The first year I owned my little zxr I spent what it was worth on it again... 5k!

But now the 600 needs some money spent on suspension.. for my fat ass:blink:

well my bike is a k4 gsxr 600, with over 50,000kms on the clock


TOTAL RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Cost $4,788.79
Services $1,028
Maintenance $2,705
Hot up parts $3,061
Dress up parts $1,734
Tires $2,890
Suspension $1,642
Tickets $240

TOTAL RUNNING COSTS $18,088.84
---------
Suspension was buying an ohlins shock, ohlins damper (both second hand), both had been full serviced which is included in the price above and i have also had front fork springs/spacers fitted).

As you can see the biggest item is fuel.

followed by hotup parts, but that includes race fairings, race fairings been repared and painted. as well spare rims, which is $1300 of that figure

[steelestring]

well my bike is a k4 gsxr 600.


TOTAL RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Cost $4,788.79
Services $1,028
Maintenance $2,705
Hot up parts $3,061
Dress up parts $1,734
Tires $2,890
Suspension $1,642
Tickets $240

TOTAL RUNNING COSTS $18,088.84
---------
Suspension was buying an ohlins shock, ohlins damper (both second hand), both had been full serviced which is included in the price above and i have also had front fork springs/spacers fitted)

OAH WOW how the hell did you keep track of your smaller items like fuel usage? I cant remember what I spent last weekend on booze!:innocent:
Thats some really good going... I have been keeping an eye out for some second hand zx6r bits but have not been lucky enough for anything to come to the surface.
what are hot up parts? zausty and power commander?:blink:

[Cajun]

OAH WOW how the hell did you keep track of your smaller items like fuel usage? I cant remember what I spent last weekend on booze!:innocent:
Thats some really good going... I have been keeping an eye out for some second hand zx6r bits but have not been lucky enough for anything to come to the surface.
what are hot up parts? zausty and power commander?:blink:

i have pretty much got every fuel receipt when pay i write down milage of bike at time, put them in wallet then throw them in a spreadsheet later stage normally during week or next day or something.

Then the fuel recipt goes on of those metal spikey things.

Race Hot Up parts
Race Fairings
Paint & Repair Fairings
Rims & Disc (april 2008)
PC3 (28,900)
Yoshi Exhust (20,600)
TRE (7,000)
Stroud Engine
BMC Air Filter (6,000)
Yoshi EM-Pro (45,000)
Em Pro cable/software
Spare Front Disc (20-sep-2008)
Yoshi Cotters


(the km figure is the kms i added the item, or brought it sorta thing)

[steelestring]

i have pretty much got every fuel receipt when pay i write down milage of bike at time, put them in wallet then throw them in a spreadsheet later stage normally during week or next day or something.

Then the fuel recipt goes on of those metal spikey things.

Race Hot Up parts
Race Fairings
Paint & Repair Fairings
Rims & Disc (april 2008)
PC3 (28,900)
Yoshi Exhust (20,600)
TRE (7,000)
Stroud Engine
BMC Air Filter (6,000)
Yoshi EM-Pro (45,000)
Em Pro cable/software
Spare Front Disc (20-sep-2008)
Yoshi Cotters


(the km figure is the kms i added the item, or brought it sorta thing)
Thats some good fruit right there! impressive!
Maybe i should get my shit sorted out and do something like this.... all i have are , in order receipts stacked in a clear file for the bikes parts and labour its eaten.
Maybe if I actually had a budget the information about the fuel would work for me too. If i have money I buy gas... if i got none I sit around and clean my chain and wished I had gas money:yes:

[Maki]

I got my R6 to save money. I looked at comparable cars but decided that the bike made more financial sense.

Porsche GT3: $285.000
Insurance: Unable to get a quote.
Tyres: $$$
Service: $$$
Depreciation: $$$$$$

http://www.giltrap.co.nz/porsche/frame-new.html

[Ender EnZed]

I just posted summat the other day - worked out over the last 5 years the bike's cost me $18k. :shit:

Less than $10 a day. Crashing is what's really expensive.

[mansell]

Like for like - bikes are still cheap.


Useless bit of info: "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values" has been listed as the most widely read philosophy book, ever!

Nice to know, that was a necessary part of our readings in the eighties and I have just re-read it, still gets me thinking every time :yes:

[dipshit]

Porsche GT3: $285.000
Insurance: Unable to get a quote.
Tyres: $$$
Service: $$$
Depreciation: $$$$$$



And take a look at this for running and servicing costs on a Ferrari and a McLaren F1...!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQMOH3RMqE

[portokiwi]

:( Just be happy you have a bike.:(
I have to borrow my step sons bike as I had to get rid of the lemon I had.
Would kill to have another bike.
Anyone giving away free bikes?????????????

[Gremlin]

Dredge alright.
I just posted summat the other day - worked out over the last 5 years the bike's cost me $18k. :shit:
Hey, I like this game.

Lets see, including fuel, accessories, servicing, but not insurance, and no tickets :2thumbsup... and bearing in mind I have owned her for less than 13 months (brand new to me), I've spent...

$16,365.35

this is a fraction on the low side, as I'm missing a few fuel receipts. This does exclude the purchase of the bike

So, whats the next game? :whistle:

[scracha]

Bloody hell. Save money by buying a Honda or Yamaha, quadruple the service intervals and buy pattern parts.

[scracha]

oops..duplicate post button.

[Maki]

And take a look at this for running and servicing costs on a Ferrari and a McLaren F1...!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQMOH3RMqE

Yea, bikes are cheap mate. I would not consider my bike to be in the same league as those cars though.