Moving from moped to 250cc motorcycle. Too expensive?

[flaviosa]

Hi guys,

I have been riding moped for the past 5 years and I was planning to move to a bigger bike (250cc).

The reason I was planning to move was because I feel a bigger bike is safer, bigger wheels, better brakes (maybe one with ABS), stronger engine etc..

But then I started to putting together the costs.

Rego: $409
Insurance: from 400- to 600.
Service: around $420 each 5k. Is this correct??

Plus all the time to keep the bike chain clean, tight and lubricate.

Is it correct? How much do you guys spend with your bikes? Have anyone of you moved from a moped to a bigger bike and could share the experience.

One thing is that for my current 50cc I do my own maintenance/service and I buy parts from overseas.

What do you guys think?

Thanks!

[Akzle]

What do you guys think?

nigga, you trollin.


Get a busa.

[flaviosa]

nigga, you trollin.


Get a busa.

Why? What is the joke? I thought forums were to share experiences.

maybe you are too good to help people out.

Very mature of you.

[MarkH]

Rego: $409
Insurance: from 400- to 600.
Service: around $420 each 5k. Is this correct??

Rego is expensive on bikes, that much is true.
Insurance varies a lot, get a quote from kiwibike insurance before you buy insurance, I pay under $500 per year to insure a 1300cc bike for $12k
Service - no, that doesn't sound right. Most 250cc bikes will only need 1/2 of a 4l bottle of oil and a filter is what - twenty bucks?

Plus all the time to keep the bike chain clean, tight and lubricate.

Chains should be cleaned and lubed, but it isn't all that much work - maybe 5 minutes a week?
You don't want the chain to be tight (nor too loose) but you only really need to check the chain once a week and adjust if necessary, probably less than once a month typically.

Overall the yearly cost of running a 250cc bike isn't all that bad, but will never be as cheap as a moped.
On the other hand I'd rather not ride for over 100km on the open road on a moped, so yeah there are some limitations to what a moped is good for.
In general a moped is only really OK for commuting through 50kph zones and costing approximately fuck all (that's rounded to the nearest all).

I ride 35km twice a day with over 30km being open road - a moped wouldn't cut it for my needs.
When I was in Auckland I was riding a 400cc scooter, it was a really good commuter that was capable of handling the motorway at full open road speeds.
Where do you ride? where do you want to ride?
If you want to ride at open road speeds then clearly you need to move up from a moped, higher costs are what you have to pay to step up.

[Akzle]

Why? What is the joke? I thought forums were to share experiences.

maybe you are too good to help people out.

Very mature of you.

oh i can see this going well...

[Maha]

Why? What is the joke? I thought forums were to share experiences.

maybe you are too good to help people out.

Very mature of you.

If you're not covered in hair and between the ages of 15-18 you have nothing to fear from that looser.

What is your budget for a 250?

[WristTwister]

But for the extra cost of running a motorcycle, you get a lot of benefits. You can get lessons on how to service your own bike, which should save you some $$$ and you can save on registration by doing it online.

I know it's a cliché but a moped may move your body, but a motorcycle will move your soul.

[Oakie]

Mopeds / scooters are just cheap motorbkes. You buy a bike, it costs you more for the priviledge ... it's just a fact of life.

Mine costs me about $20 a week gas, $250 / $300 for a service every 6k and about $500 for tyres every couple of years. Insurance $600 p.a.
I don't spend much time cleaning mine but do attend to chain lubes every couple of weeks.

I just stash $20 each week away into my sock draw and that pretty much pays for my servicing and oil changes. I've got about $300 there at present for next month's service.

[Duncan74]

You could always go for a 250cc scooter. Mine was comfy on the open road and easily did 100kph. Maintenance was easy as - oil changes a doddle and shaft drive. Plenty of space to carry stuff too under seat and in the top box. Same rego as a 250 bike though.

By was, I mean is, although hopefully I won't own it anymore after the auction closes at 8pm tonight....

[Scubbo]

...
When I was in Auckland I was riding a 400cc scooter, it was a really good commuter that was capable of handling the motorway at full open road speeds.
...

was it an AN400 with a custom exhaust? if so I've met you before

yes the cost of rego on a motorbike is total SHIT, especially in Auckland where more bikes would save millions of man hours a year and save on road repair/expansion costs and city parking.... all would offset the ACC payout for crashes IMO....

actual servicing a motorbike is cheap / you should really DIY and learn about the machine you own, a lot of fun and satisfaction to be had there

[Maha]

Burgman's are perfect two up and they can hold a crate of piss under the seat. Add a decent can and there you have it, insane but true.

[Oakie]

Burgman's are perfect two up and they can hold a crate of piss under the seat. Add a decent can and there you have it, insane but true.

I would consider one when I can no longer throw a leg over a 'normal' bike for fear of dislocating a hip (or having the leg fly off completely.)

[awa355]

Poster 1 could always get one of those 250cc Yamaha 3 wheel scooters which can be legally ridden with a car registration which I think now are around $100 or less.
I have only ever seen 1 in ChCh so despite the cheap reg they have not taken off sales wise.

10 sold in NZ, as of a month ago. If you're talking about the Tricity 125 3 wheeler scooter.

[PistonBlown]

Poster 1 could always get one of those 250cc Yamaha 3 wheel scooters which can be legally ridden with a car registration which I think now are around $100 or less.
I have only ever seen 1 in ChCh so despite the cheap reg they have not taken off sales wise.

Don't really like to admit it but my Spyder only costs $88 a year for the same reason - though strangely I have to insure it as a motorbike, and because I've got a motorbike license the insurance is cheaper.

[caspernz]

Rego is expensive on bikes, that much is true.
Insurance varies a lot, get a quote from kiwibike insurance before you buy insurance, I pay under $500 per year to insure a 1300cc bike for $12k
Service - no, that doesn't sound right. Most 250cc bikes will only need 1/2 of a 4l bottle of oil and a filter is what - twenty bucks?

Chains should be cleaned and lubed, but it isn't all that much work - maybe 5 minutes a week?
You don't want the chain to be tight (nor too loose) but you only really need to check the chain once a week and adjust if necessary, probably less than once a month typically.

Overall the yearly cost of running a 250cc bike isn't all that bad, but will never be as cheap as a moped.
On the other hand I'd rather not ride for over 100km on the open road on a moped, so yeah there are some limitations to what a moped is good for.
In general a moped is only really OK for commuting through 50kph zones and costing approximately fuck all (that's rounded to the nearest all).

I ride 35km twice a day with over 30km being open road - a moped wouldn't cut it for my needs.
When I was in Auckland I was riding a 400cc scooter, it was a really good commuter that was capable of handling the motorway at full open road speeds.
Where do you ride? where do you want to ride?
If you want to ride at open road speeds then clearly you need to move up from a moped, higher costs are what you have to pay to step up.

Good advice