How are fuel prices affecting you?

[woodboats]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v336/TaubBaer/download.gif

Probably not as much as this guy but I certainly find myself using the bike more so than the car/truck.
I have always been a mid-size motorcycle owner with our bikes getting fairly good milage so unfortunatley it will take quite an increase in fuel cost before I would even concider riding the bike less.
If I was thinking of upgrading to a much larger bike I would now be looking at the fuel consumption of the bike where before I really wouldn't have cared so much.
Possibly, on a world scale, we may see some more interesting motorcycles coming online that may reflect the growing worry of rising fuel costs.

I don't get down to the city much but there does seem to be more smaller bikes in use than a few years ago, scooters, lower cc ratings etc. I feel this is a positive move, not only for fuel savings but also helping to have motorcycles more easily accepted as a positive form of transport.
My .02 cents worth.

[Coyote]

I want to get a scooter for several reasons. I could afford a new one so I would know it's service history, it'd be reliable, and of course it'd be a chick magnet. And definitely want to get one for the cheaper petrol costs. I'm pretty sure the fuel saved will make the scooter pay for itself. But if not, the fuel guise is a good excuse to the nay sayers i.e. parents :p

[fizbin]

I got my learners about 2 months ago for this exact reason.
i drive a subaru GTB or rather my wife now dose. it use to cost us over $140 a week to run it about, i can run my HYO 250 for $27 week to and fro work and we put about $50-$60 in the wagon to run it.
so yeah bike = gas savings don't know why i didn't do it sooner

[Pedrostt500]

I find my old BMW K100 just as exspensive to run as my L200 diesel ute, I find I have to think about the value of longer trips.

[kevfromcoro]

Was just thinking about this.......this morning.....
on a recent trip to asia..gas prices are a little cheaper ...but not a lot.....
but to catch a bus from A to B.....a distance of 250ks is only $8 NZ..
OK i live in Thames.....a bus trip to Aucks is just over 100ks...cost $45.
Think we are getting tucked more ways than one here.

[geoffm]

The economics

My K100 costs about the same to run as my old Toyota Corolla. It is only the free parking that makes taking the bike to work economic.

It is not currently economical to buy a specail commuter bike, with the cost of purchase, insurance, rego, Wof, etc, unless your other bike is a Ducati or something. Add up the costs and comapre to petrol savings and see.
THis might (will) change in the future if gas goes up, or the exchange rate falls as expected.
G

[Boob Johnson]

No real drama for me, I use very little fuel walking down the hall to my office :2thumbsup

(got told a real biker would get a mini chopper for that commute) :clap:


As anyone with a big bike knows it isn't really any cheaper on running costs when comparing a car. Depending on how far I had to commute I would seriously be looking at a scooter purchase. $2000 brand new for a lil Suzuki or similar.


WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GET A CHEAP CHINESE SCOOTER!!!

The bastard's aren't worth 1/2 what you pay for them. I mate bought one against my advice & 2 months later he wishes he listened :oi-grr:



A good purchase:


Either a brand new GN250/SR250 or 2nd hand of either (if needing to travel on highways) or a scooter from a well known maker (Suzi, Kwaka, Honda, Yami etc)

Or another angle, buy a collectable (or even semi collectable) low capacity scooter. Something that at worst will hold its value, much like the original VW Beatle. Nothing more satisfying to own a vehicle, get the use out of it & either get your money back or make a lil on it when sold, sure softens the blow of high fuel costs :stoogie:

[HornetBoy]

I tend to turn down rides alot more than i did say a year ago,and now instead of taking the bike to palmy and back everyday i take the bus -but this is an accumulation of many price increases not just petrol.Certainly without a doubt i use a heck of alot more on fuel than i did in the ute as i never used to go for random drives when i felt like it, like i do on the bike :rolleyes:

[Biggles2000]

I recon you haven't seen anything yet as far as fuel costs go. If the govt drops the official cash rate, which they are likely to do soon, the value of the dollar will drop accordingly. Every 10c the dollar drops puts the price of fuel up aprox 20c I will be very suprised if fuel is not $2.40 by Chistmas and $2.80 by this time next year. The govt know this why do you think they are backing down on the carbon tax on fuel. If the value of the $US goes up, ie they get the hell out of Dodge ie the middle east, the price of crude will drop and our fuel price will drop but only a bit as OPEC will want to keep the oil price as high as possible.

I too don't tend to go for recreational drives like I used to. Has anybody noticed that the roads are a bit more empty these days. Also it seems to take me a bit less time to commute to work.

My riding mate has a Honda 600 thingy with two too many cylinders, he goes through as much gas as my HD which is 1000cc bigger. His bike produces more hp than mine, which he uses most of the time but mine is 150kg heavier. Perhaps an RG125 for city use might be fun, dont think I want to ride a moped.

[Forest]

I recon you haven't seen anything yet as far as fuel costs go. If the govt drops the official cash rate, which they are likely to do soon, the value of the dollar will drop accordingly. Every 10c the dollar drops puts the price of fuel up aprox 20c I will be very suprised if fuel is not $2.40 by Chistmas and $2.80 by this time next year. The govt know this why do you think they are backing down on the carbon tax on fuel. If the value of the $US goes up, ie they get the hell out of Dodge ie the middle east, the price of crude will drop and our fuel price will drop but only a bit as OPEC will want to keep the oil price as high as possible.


Ag exports are particularly strong at the moment, so that will prop up the NZD for a while yet. Also the latest inflation figures might hold up the OCR for a bit.

But yes the dollar will drop, and when it does drop the price of fuel will rise like a rocket.

[Ragingrob]

Have started chucking 91 back in the bike rather than 95/96! Not a big difference in price, but still a difference!

[2 wheel madness]

Firstly i have the convenience of a company car so it doesnt bother me too much, but i have never found a bike to be cheaper to run than a car.
After you account for the fact that my bike drinks nearly as much as my 3.5l car (at "normal" riding pace) chews out around 8 rear and 4 front tyres @ approx $3000 to 1 set of tyres on the car @ approx $800 - 1000, costs more to register, maintain and insure.............. even with today's fuel prices it almost make a v8 look cheap to run.

Im sure a smaller bike, 250 etc would be much much cheaper to run but for me the bike is a toy and i therefore providing i can afford it money shouldnt come into it, unless of course its time to upgrade......

[DingoZ]

Fuel prices not affecting me much.. Got to get around somehow...And public transport is not available at the times I need to use it..

But one thing is for sure. I am glad I got rid of my V8 and went to a new v6 c/dore car wise. And I am doubly glad I went out and got a bike. Have saved over $1000.00 in fuel and parking by using the bike, in the six months of having the bike. And I have not put those k's on my car. So it's a win win on more than one score...:)

[Tank]

We sold the big ass Pertol Land Cruiser just before prices really started going up - it was costing us $200 per week for basic town runs then. Now - it would be over $300. Loved the truck - but bloody happy not to have it now.

What I have found is when filling up - more people ask me "what does it cost to run" than "what bike is that"?

Or anyone talking to be parked up somewhere - the cost of running comes up as about the 2nd / 3rd question.

[Dooly]

Don't really care.
Ca'nt do anything about it if I want to use my bikes or vehicles so don't give it a thought.
Fortunately the missus and I both have company vehicles so fuel is paid for, even in private use.
Having 3 road bikes, a quad, and a diesel Ford Ranger 4x4 as well, it adds up filling them.
I keep 60l of petrol at home, being in the country, so as to fill bikes up before a ride, to save going into town just for gas.
Yesterday I filled the Ranger up with diesel and got 40 litres of petrol for the bikes and it came to $180.
Pricey sure..........but can't do anything about it so........

[imdying]

I'll start to think about the price of gas when it becomes more expensive than water... mind you, anyone in Christchurch that buys bottled water for anything other than the bottle to reuse, is pretty messed up anway.

[MaxCannon]

So glad I can leave the car at home.
These days I fill it every 5-6 weeks.

The bike does anywhere between 3.4 - 4L per 100km so a week worth of running is only $7-8

In the car it would take twice the time and cost about 5 times as much.

[Str8 Jacket]

The RG costs $20 a week to get to and from work each day. That's cheaper than the bus and train put together!! Oil costs are'nt that huge at $17 a litre either....

[Hitcher]

If petrol gets much more expensive, I may have to put rocks in my fuel tank.

[Toaster]

screw that!!!! 1800cc baby yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bladerider97]

I would have to say my Fireblade is dearer to run than most cars.

I get around 200 km before I hit the reserve (about 14 liters), with normal open road riding, but it get down to as little as 150 km when riding a bit harder.
But when you factor in tyres & chains which it likes to eat, and higher rego's = not the cheapest form of transport but gives me more smiles per gallon.

[EJK]

Hell when I was riding the FXR, it had a leaking tank!
I wish I can have them (petrol) back :(

[RC1]

The RG costs $20 a week

the TLS cost me @ $15-$40 per ride depending how far and fast in im going,but this hasnt stopped me riding every weekend , and on one income this still hasnt stoped my partner telling me to go for a ride , so until she is worried im happy

[The Pastor]

in terms of the bike, i'd think twice about the number of km i'd do. for example, i might stop doing 500km a week.

i dont know for sure as my bike is off the road atm.

[Str8 Jacket]

the TLS cost me @ $15-$40 per ride depending how far and fast in im going,but this hasnt stopped me riding every weekend , and on one income this still hasnt stoped my partner telling me to go for a ride , so until she is worried im happy

Yeah, if I wanna go riding in the weekend then its alot more. The RG does over 200k's to a tank and it's 10km's each way to work and then home. So that's cool. This weather is poohey anyway and not really inticing riding weather!

[Mr Merde]

Finances have been real tight for a while now but with the rise in the cost of petrol I have found that I am up to the stage of putting off Peter to pay Paul.

There are bills and repairs that need to be done urgently but not all at once.

Started looking for work closer to home as I cant afford to travel 800 km a week to and from work.

This is going to hurt my firm as there are only two of us in my dept and we bring in approx 1 1/2 million dollars a year into the companies coffers. If we both go, and we are both looking, it will take them 2-3 months to train our replacements.

They are in serious danger of loosing their cash cow.

This means that the other deptments we are supporting while they dont have any projects will have to cut down on staffing numbers.

What is the old saying

"For want of a nail a shoe was lost. For want of a shoe a horse was lost................"

[McDuck]

Finances have been real tight for a while now but with the rise in the cost of petrol I have found that I am up to the stage of putting off Peter to pay Paul.

There are bills and repairs that need to be done urgently but not all at once.

Started looking for work closer to home as I cant afford to travel 800 km a week to and from work.

This is going to hurt my firm as there are only two of us in my dept and we bring in approx 1 1/2 million dollars a year into the companies coffers. If we both go, and we are both looking, it will take them 2-3 months to train our replacements.

They are in serious danger of loosing their cash cow.

This means that the other deptments we are supporting while they dont have any projects will have to cut down on staffing numbers.

What is the old saying

"For want of a nail a shoe was lost. For want of a shoe a horse was lost................"

Tell them to pay you more?

[Muppet]

Surrender? Never!:devil2:

[gijoe1313]

Well me being in the unique position of doing what I like, how I like, when I like, I only get angry with fuel prices when they don't ferk'n unlock the pumps when its blatently clear I am not going to do a runner ... for the amount of squiddies they want us to pony up, they imply we are all thieves and then have the gall to ask us how much we want to put in ... even after I have left my first born, a kidney and the deeds to my bikes in an escrow account for them :oi-grr:

Only puts me off riding after 12pm now since its too much of a hassle to do that stupid funky dance in the wee hours of the morning. (My local servo always used to unlock for me regardless, but it seems new staff haven't seen me enough and policy changes yada yada yada)

Rant over.

[Mr Merde]

Well me being in the unique position of doing what I like, how I like, when I like, .....
Rant over.

This will all change when your mother finally suceeds in marrying you off to some nice young girl. Who, under orders probably, will keep you on a short string, especially when the children come along.

:woohoo::soon:


Mr :shit:

[Forest]

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but the prices of used bikes in NZ is starting to crash.

Which should help to offset the rising fuel prices.

[yod]

i luv my company car

[gijoe1313]

This will all change when your mother finally suceeds in marrying you off to some nice young girl. Who, under orders probably, will keep you on a short string, especially when the children come along.

:woohoo::soon:


Mr :shit:

:eek5: Rain on my parade why don'cha ..... not to worry, if said occurence of a mechanical tightening device being deposited into revolving machinery, I have learnt how to wheedle and whine and use tricksy wiley ways to con rides ... ala Donor ... :innocent:

[gijoe1313]

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but the prices of used bikes in NZ is starting to crash.

Which should help to offset the rising fuel prices.

True dat! I'm beating rising fuel prices by buying more bikes ... that way I ride each less ... thus not having to fill them all up as often ... and .. and .. oh look! Another used bike to buy! :innocent:

[YellowDog]

After not riding for many years, in 2001 I bought a new 50cc Malaguti (derestricted). It was like an armchair on wheels and meant I could nip into town in just a few minutes. It was great and did 80kph with my 95kg on it. I used it every day and a tank of fuel would last 2 weeks. The only time you really feel vulnerable is on an open road where your 80kph just isn't enough to be safe.

PROBLEM: Scooter riders don't take safety gear seriously enough. You feel a right dick wearing a full body leather suit on a pop-pop. Also, those little wheels ain't so good around corners and whilst you can have a smooth economical ride 99% of the time; if you get into trouble, you will struggle to stay upright.

Unless it's a huge beast; my vote would be to ride your existing bike more economically.

[YellowDog]

BTW: Also agree with not buying Chinese scooters. The R & D the Japs and Europeans have gone through over 50 years is not something the Chinese can get close to in the very few years they have been dabbling at it.

[kevfromcoro]

Fuel prices...i reckon we should all ban one gas station........BP....MOBIL.. whatever.......i bet if they didnt start selling gas there prices would come down real quick...

[HTFU]

Yeah lets make it Shell. Never liked their petrol always seemed to be lower quality. ;)

Roughly $30 per 300 km. Bike is more a commuter than a play thing these days. That is for sure. <img src="http://www.mazeguy.net/symbolic/dollarsign.gif"><img src="http://www.mazeguy.net/symbolic/moneybag.gif">

[old git]

Oh Well, This is the list.
I own 6 form of transport, and in order of total running costs with the dearest first.
1980 XS1100- YEP 4 OLD 34MM Mikuni carbs
4.2 Litre toyota l'cruiser diesel
Mercedes A190
TOYOTA LITEACE DIESEL VAN
1978 Honda 400-4
2007 GSX1400
And i hate to say it, but i still prefer to ride the old xs, its just like those old worn out boots that you always wear, they are part of you.
But with a 165K per day round trip it costs me a fortune in fuel and an oil change every other weekend.

[Matt_TG]

i luv my company car

^^ What he said ^^. $120 to fill yesterday, bloody hell

[Big Dave]

I only ride motorcycles - fuel prices make no difference to me at all.

[Disco Dan]

will be able to start picking up huge 4x4's for dirt cheap soon... hehehe take that north shore!!!!!! :2thumbsup

[munterk6]

90ks a week commute to work and back on my bike...ooooohh, thats about hmmmmm...let me see, SWEET F-ALL!!!!!
$20 in my Legacy each week...so its about $35 per week for gas....
Who gives a shit? yeah yeah yeah, ok, so I have no dependants, but who the hell can afford to have a family these days what with all the constant demands etc etc. Aaaahh...its a lonely existence, but a cheap one too:beer:

[madbikeboy]

I've been doing the math on this this morning.

The last six months has been subsidised by having a company car. That (Mazda 3-SP23) is astounding on gas, I've owned V8's that use less. Glad to be handing it back in two weeks...

The Mini Cooper S before saw around 8 litres/100k. The scoot sees about 11l/100k. By the time you factor in parking, the car is still cheaper. The bike costs are artifically high due to an appetite for tires and chains. If you factor in $400 for a rear each 1000 k's, then the math looks like:
petrol for 1000ks - 110l x 1.95/l = $214
Tires - 400/1000 k's = $400
Total for 1000 k's = $614, or 61 cents per k.

Mini = $156 / 1000 k's, or $0.15 cents per k.

But, this is the fun bit - if you figure the depreciation into the mix, it's more like:
Mini buy - $30,000
Mini sell - $24,000
Depreciation over 12 months, $6,000.
10,000k's mileage = $600/1000 k's.
Front tires - $600/10,000k's (and they were well rooted) = $60/1000k's.

So, $156+$600+60 = $816/1000 k's
= 81 cents per k...

In my case, I actually bought the mini for less, and sold it for more (I'm the ultimate bargain hunter), but using the normal approach for depreciation - then the bike works really well. I bought well with scoot, and I'll probably lose a couple of grand over a couple of years... But it makes you think, right?

MBB

[Waxxa]

Negotiate a pay rise to bet rising costs people or change jobs. Know your value and talk to your boss! It's an employees' market out there, strike while the iron is hot.

[YellowDog]

I've been doing the math on this this morning.

The last six months has been subsidised by having a company car. That (Mazda 3-SP23) is astounding on gas, I've owned V8's that use less. Glad to be handing it back in two weeks...

The Mini Cooper S before saw around 8 litres/100k. The scoot sees about 11l/100k. By the time you factor in parking, the car is still cheaper. The bike costs are artifically high due to an appetite for tires and chains. If you factor in $400 for a rear each 1000 k's, then the math looks like:
petrol for 1000ks - 110l x 1.95/l = $214
Tires - 400/1000 k's = $400
Total for 1000 k's = $614, or 61 cents per k.

Mini = $156 / 1000 k's, or $0.15 cents per k.

But, this is the fun bit - if you figure the depreciation into the mix, it's more like:
Mini buy - $30,000
Mini sell - $24,000
Depreciation over 12 months, $6,000.
10,000k's mileage = $600/1000 k's.
Front tires - $600/10,000k's (and they were well rooted) = $60/1000k's.

So, $156+$600+60 = $816/1000 k's
= 81 cents per k...

In my case, I actually bought the mini for less, and sold it for more (I'm the ultimate bargain hunter), but using the normal approach for depreciation - then the bike works really well. I bought well with scoot, and I'll probably lose a couple of grand over a couple of years... But it makes you think, right?

MBB
Best not to look at it in so much detail, or you'll get depressed (or buy a push bike).

[prvoke]

im missing something here, hows does a $400 tyre only last you 1000kms?
is it a race slick or something ?

[MD]

As much as we all feel the hurt when we fill up, and the flow on costs to everything we buy, I get some personal satisfaction out of every rise knowing all those city bound wankers in 4wds and SUVs are suffering far more now for their selfish, arrogant, purchases.

The ones that drive from home to school to the office..and the rough terrain of the supermarket car park, where they take up more than their share of the parking bay, and block everyone elses safe vision. Just so they can sit up high in their two tonne ugly piece of shit Pajero/Rav-wank/Surf/Pathfinder/Explorer.... The ones who bought a gas guzzling tank so that whoever they collide with will most certainly die before they get a scratch.

That high and mighty smirk will be wiped from their faces soon when they realise that they can't afford to run the ugly shit heap and it's value is falling faster than their small brains can keep up with. Melt them down and get a dozen scooters.

Karma's a bitch and she has you pricks in her sights.

[SPman]

I love it when they pull up to the pumps and "fil er up"! Saw $279 worth of 91 go into a Landcruiser last month, as I pumped in my $19 worth!

[WelshWizard]

When it started going up I sold my 1200CC GS and got a small cap CC motorcycle, noticed the fuel bill went down from $80 PW to about $9 PW, since manage to blow up the small Honda so replaced it with a Kawa Super Sherpa, fuel bill doubled to $15 PW, for one week I had to use the Van to goto work just about the time I blew the Honda up, Fuel Bill was $120 for the week.

So bugger the Van unless I need to pick some thing up with it I only use the Sherpa now, as the Brit bikes are not for every day use now as most of them are over 40 years old now and only deserve to go on special runs.

[DingoZ]

Just drove past BP.....$2.00 a litre for 91

Ho Ho Ho Merry Fucken Christmas. Santa's gunna bring $3.00 a litre

[mashman]

Fuel prices...i reckon we should all ban one gas station........BP....MOBIL.. whatever.......i bet if they didnt start selling gas there prices would come down real quick...

They did that in the UK about 3 years ago when fuel hit 70+ pence, 0.7 GBP pounds, approx $2.00 at the time (what was the price here about 3 years ago again?????) anyhoo, turned out that the pressure was too much for the oil companies and government and in turn the UK fell apart under the go slow of car and trucks and the pump vendors responded for approximately 3 and a half seconds, perhaps even minutes, and decided that keeping the price at about 70 pence for a week made a big difference in the eyes of the general public. Fuck me did they get it right. Within the next few months petrol had risen to about 80 pence a litre, I had almost negotiate a deal to get me out of the country and was looking forwards to a new life abroad without English politics fucking things up on a regular basis... Now I used to feel like an idiot before... I feel like I've received a promotion to dickhead since I arrived here... Fuck me the people roll over easily these days... business says that this is the case, baaa baaa baaaaaaaaaa... DISGUSTING!!!!

[mashman]

Oh yeah, i've recently topped 27 bucks for a tank of fuel for '95... Farkin Disgracefuel...

[serious4]

Yesterday I put 13.41 litres into the SV at 2.009 a litre... 27bucks for #ucks sake. But what can you do? Life goes on. I'm more upset about the price of cheese. Mmmm cheese....:drool:

[nevets]

As much as we all feel the hurt when we fill up, and the flow on costs to everything we buy, I get some personal satisfaction out of every rise knowing all those city bound wankers in 4wds and SUVs are suffering far more now for their selfish, arrogant, purchases.

....

+1

(10 characters)

[Hitcher]

Petrol is getting so expensive, I've decided to save money and buy it in the USA.

[Mike748]

I'm learning to ride all over again.
Set out on Saturday with a full tank, headed toward Welsford through Old North Rd and a detour to Shelly beach etc,
I took it real easy on the throttle and brakes, after 130km I thought I'd better stop for gas (as I had no idea where I would go next).
It only took 5.5L to fill it up!:2thumbsup still cost $11 though.

Didn't think it would be possible to get that sort of fuel economy from my bike, even the tyres looked barely ruffled.

[Renegade]

Fuel prices...i reckon we should all ban one gas station........BP....MOBIL.. whatever.......i bet if they didnt start selling gas there prices would come down real quick...

it has to be BP, they are always the first to put gas prices up, so i boycott them at all costs, wankers.

[Renegade]

Petrol is getting so expensive, I've decided to save money and buy it in the USA.

that is the best idea ive heard in ages.

I filled the mrs '95 honda accord up yesterday, $106, i couldnt beleive it, its a honda accord for F##ks sake, i had a look under the car to make sure it didnt have a hole in the tank, but no, some one is having a laugh and it aint me.

[SKUTA-MAN]

You wouldnt believe the fuel consumtion of my new Sachs MadAss 50
I'm getting 115Km/$3.50 on 91...

Beat that! for a geared bike...