Raising awareness of the cheapness of bikes

[McJim]

The bikes that are more economic to run than cars are the small capacity ones. VTR250, Ninja 250 etc (not RG250 or NSR 250 though!). They make great commuters but lack the punch you really need for a good weekend blat. Bikes that are good for entertainment are usually expensive in terms of brakes, tyres, chains, quality lubricants as well as mere fuel costs....oh and the gubberment rip off charges.

[Mully]

If you have to ask those questions, a big bike isn't for you.

Just enjoy it. The '14 almost certainly costs more than our 'rola - but traffic in a car drives me mental and puts me in a foul mood at the best of times.

It's like people on Commodore listings on Trademe asking about the fuel economy. If you have to ask, you can't afford it.

[Grasshopperus]

There's also the parking costs that you avoid, 5 days in Auckland's CBD costs a car around $50 at a minimum. Bikes don't pay anything.

[maggot]

And cars are just gay.

[trailblazer]

[QUOTE=mattian;1129911042]

bikes are a hobby they are not meant to be cheap.[/QUOTE ]

Biking is more than a hobby for some of us. I dont own a car. my bike is my only transport.

My bike is my only transport rain,hail or shine aswell.

[AllanB]

Nice idea but the cheapness of motorcycling is way back in the early 80's!

Rego
Tyres
Fuel

bla bla.


Mind you my XR6 is a bit thirsty and eats rear tyres if you hoof it (on a closed road under controlled conditions you understand).


For the price of a new big bore bike you can get a new small car - Suzuki Swift or similar that will better the fuel economy, carry 4, tyres will last 30,000 kms plus and you can have sex in the back seat if you desire.

[ducatilover]

I don't ride because it's cheaper. I do it because I love it.
My last 250 was expensive on my commute, a twisty road + spirited ridng = Rear tyre every 3-4 thousand KM. Front every 8. Pads all round every 8 thousand. Fork seals every 15k, chain and sprockets a few times. Oill changes every 4k, air filter every 10k. Etc etc.
Admittedly cheaper than the V8. Not cheaper than any of my other cars.
It used 4-5l/100km. Only bonus and I was traveling 140+km per day.
The 400 is a bit better as I ride nicer now.
The first 400 was horrid, first 250 was kind of cheap, the 650 was a money pit. Yet, always worth it.
My Morris was cheap as hell to run though

Dads FJ1200 used around 12-14L/100km. His Corolla uses 7.1 on the same trip.

[tigertim20]

How about running a km/l test? For example, put a litre of fuel in yer bike and set off down the motorway at a constant 50-60-70 or whatever. Place bikers every 500m and record what bike gets what distance. Might create some positive publicity and show the cagers out there how much cheaper biking can be. Of course, some new mini cars do pretty good mileage too ... but what with the increases in Rego I think we need something positive to get more people onto bikes. Just a mad idea ...

total annual milage is gong to be a deciding factor with all the associated costs of properly maintaining a bike.

as for the economy, a couple times Ive done economy runs.
get a group together, lots of different bikes, and mmet at a petrol station. all fill up to the brim, and then you all go on a ride, the same set course for everyone, 100-200km just to be sure you get a good ride in
at the end you all meet at a gas station, and top up.
keep your receipt and look at the litres consumed (not $$, cos 91 octane is cheaper than 95, 96, 98)
then the most and least economical bikes get a prize.
can be quite interesting so see the order of bikes and their economy. more interesting the more diverse the range of bikes.
also interesting if you get two bikes the same, and have an aggressive and a timid rider and see the differences etc

[gammaguy]

It is cheaper to run my Thou, to Puhoi, than it is to run my V8 ute.

crap.

add in tyre wear,insurance,depreciation,wear and tear etc.and its cheaper to take the car.

but not so much fun huh

[mattian]

[QUOTE=trailblazer;1129911178]

My bike is my only transport rain,hail or shine aswell.

well then..... you've just contradicted yourself, if your bike is more than just a "hobby" for you as well.

[hellokitty]

i think your missing the the obvious,doing a test of showing cagers the advantage of a bike on the motorway isnt the fuel saving,its the time saved

I find it takes longer to ride to work than drive the car = I tend to do the "scenic" route - albany to birkdale via orewa whereas the car you just drive straight home

[Berries]

For the price of a new big bore bike you can get a new small car - Suzuki Swift or similar that will better the fuel economy, carry 4, tyres will last 30,000 kms plus and you can have sex in the back seat if you desire.

And you have a radio, warmth, can eat a pie or have a smoke without stopping, don't have a ridiculous fuel range meaning you have to stop every 90 mins for petrol, can go do a big shop in it whenever you want, rather than shopping by backpack size etc etc etc. Not forgetting of course that bikes are death traps.

You might get some money conscious earth saving vegetarian hippy vegan commuters who will jump on a scooter for the cheap fuel, free parking and being more at one with the planet, but I can't see Joe Public with his 3.4 kids dropping the Holden for a ZX1000 unless you are talking about weekend toys, which is a different matter, and not really fuel related.

[marty]

My Suzi Baleno wagon returns better than 14km/l (7l/100k or 38mpg in imperial numbers) even when stacked with 4 adults, skis and boards on the roof, doing a run to the mountain and back. I got 40000km out of the tyres ($500 to replace them ALL last week), and it's got a great stereo. It costs $50 to insure 3rd party, and is a great machine. I bought it for $1500

My Hayabusa runs 14km/l-15km/l most of the time, consumes rear tyres at the (minimum)rate of $1.50 into the tyre account/litre of fuel (a new back tyre every 3500kms if I'm taking it easy) and front tyres at half that rate. Insurance, rego, etc, etc.

Even worse, I'll probably do 50 hours in my boat this year. It burns a litre a minute at speed, I can't go anywhere in it, and it is pretty useless for anything except hooning around in and towing people really fast.

At the end of the day, who gives a fuck? If you can't afford it, sell it.

[avgas]

My focus does 5.3L per 100 km

That is eco-bike levels (single cylinder,4 stroke).....but the difference is the focus has a 50L tank. So while the bike could get slightly more - I would have to stop 4 more times. So I would lose time.
Where the focus I can drive and not stop for 10 hours. Which is not recommended lol

I ride bikes because people think its dangerous when I lean the car into a corner.

[Dave Lobster]

For the price of a new big bore bike you can get a new small car - Suzuki Swift or similar that will better the fuel economy, carry 4, tyres will last 30,000 kms plus and you can have sex in the back seat if you're a dwarf.

Adjusted for you