Before you upgrade...

[Cajun]

Great info there mate!
I agree that bigger bikes cost more to own and maintain. I was getting away with paying $400 for full insurance of a $15000 bike - then I crashed it.
Now, I'm forking out a whopping $1125 a year to insure the replacement for the same amount. I'd pay aaround $3,000 a year to own my bike.

My point? You're more likely to crash a bigger bike once you get cocky with the additional power it has over your 250. Just bear in mind that your insurance will go through the roof!

[Disco Dan]

Ok so you mentioned the extra costs of owning a big bike (bigger than 250), what about a few tips for people regarding competence - ie, you know your ready to upgrade when.... etc. ???

I know I have soooo much too learn and have not taken my 250 to its limits yet, but still think I should upgrade soon?

"Thoughts on a postcard to: PO Box Newbies"

[R6_kid:Me]

most of it comes from maturity and right hand control. Remember that that same throttle input on a bigger bike has a much more dignified (and magnified) effect than the same input on a 250.

for instance on a 250 if i gave it full tits out of a corner i would 99% of the time just accelerate, assuming i had the skill it wouldnt be hard to keep it in line.

Same situation on a decently powered 600 and you come into many obstacles. The most obvious being that the bike is more likely to standup, wheelspin, run ride, or make the front end 'light'. Any one of these will lead to you having to react in order to avoid an accident. Also you will be leaving the corner at a much higher rate of acceleration - the next corner is going to come up faster, and you are going to need to brake quicker and more effectively. (This was a large contributor to my first crash).

Of course this is assuming that you ride for the thrill and like to push it a bit. If on the other hand you are a humble tourer that doesnt use much over 60% of the bikes revs and just sits in the mid-range all day then you shouldnt have any troubles.

I guess the main thing is to really take your time, especially with road riding. The track generally gives you a lot of leeway for making mistakes as you learn, the road is not so forgiving. Understand that you wont be as confident or competant on the bigger bike straight away (no one is, and if they are its called cocky not confident). Learning how to handle it properly before picking up the pace is never a bad idea, i would also consider doing the RRRS on the new bike to refresh your skills and get some practice in a closed environment, empty carparks are an alternative but you tend to look a bit stupid.

[Buddy L]

brillant posts people.
I have been always been told that the "cheapest" part of bike riding is buying the bike.
In off road riding the consumables items like tyres and chains last about a 1/8of what they do on the road. Tyres and leavers are the worst, a good set tyres will only last about 100- 400 kays depending on the level of Competition you are at.
My road bike hasn't cost me much yet but i only ride it on the ANTNR and maybe on the weekend, so haven't racked up the kays on it, but is due for its head off service wich im dreading.

[BUNGY]

I never really thought of all those extra costs. maybe I should keep my cbr as I go through uni although if the k's get to high I may lose a bit when I do sell it.

[zooter]

Great thread. Does anyone now have detailed info on the longer run costs of running a wee commuter bike like the fxr150 or something similarly unmuscular?

[NZJONESY]

I think in general you can class riding bikes as a luxury extertainment/sport, as most are a performance machine. When do you ever hear of cheap performance/parts for a machine that can do 250kmh??

My family has numerous super-cars and most of them run on tires that range to about $6000-$8000 each (yeah just the tires) AND there are four of them per car. The costs outlined in the original post are pretty minimal when you consider the relative other motorsports.

Buying a bike like an R6 you should be able to afford any costs to keep it going in top form.


My 0.02c

[Tortron]

a set of spanners and a good read of the manual goes along way on keeping costs down
(hell if i didnt have so many tools i could never afford to have a classic car)

[The Pastor]

I think in general you can class riding bikes as a luxury extertainment/sport, as most are a performance machine. When do you ever hear of cheap performance/parts for a machine that can do 250kmh??

My family has numerous super-cars and most of them run on tires that range to about $6000-$8000 each (yeah just the tires) AND there are four of them per car. The costs outlined in the original post are pretty minimal when you consider the relative other motorsports.

Buying a bike like an R6 you should be able to afford any costs to keep it going in top form.


My 0.02c

you need a reality check. one that doesnt come on a silver platter.

[NZJONESY]

you need a reality check. one that doesnt come on a silver platter.

Maybe you should work a bit harder if were going down that route.

[R6_kid:Me]

I think in general you can class riding bikes as a luxury extertainment/sport, as most are a performance machine. When do you ever hear of cheap performance/parts for a machine that can do 250kmh??

My family has numerous super-cars and most of them run on tires that range to about $6000-$8000 each (yeah just the tires) AND there are four of them per car. The costs outlined in the original post are pretty minimal when you consider the relative other motorsports.

Buying a bike like an R6 you should be able to afford any costs to keep it going in top form.


My 0.02c

Not everyone has the foresight though. It's an exciting process going from a measily 250 up to a real bike(tm), and the details tend to get lost in the excitement. Not everyone that rides a bike is paid up and has money to through around, many are more or less servicing an addiction in the form of a motorcycle.

I'd put money on the fact that most people (of a similar age to me at the time of writing the initial post) wouldn't be thinking forwardly enough to consider the total cost of running and maintaining a modern sportsbike. I learnt from experience and as I'm back at uni i'm now on a bike that requires 1/4 the amount of money to keep it in good shape as the bike I had when i was working full time.

It'd be nice to come from a family that doesn't have to worry about spending $8k+ on a tyres for their fancy 'supercar', not everyone gets dealt that hand in life, and not everyone will be fully clued up on what they are getting into when they 'upgrade' their bike. Saying that because you bought a bike, you should be able to afford the maintenance is short sighted and quite showing of your naievity.

Also, $8k for a tyre? I'd like to see the reciepts! I think you'll find spending $6k on all four tyres for a 'supercar' is more likely.

[howdamnhard]

Talking about servicing costs , R6 kid , how much were the 12000km ones costing you on average?

[puddytat]

Yup, my R6 costs me a lot more than the 650 twin I had,but the cost is more than worth it in the buzz it gives me.
With the older bikes a lot of the servicing & upgrades you can do yourself i.e suspension mods,brakes, minor performance mods...whereas with a late model sports bike there is alot more trickery invoved.No way am I going to fiddle with my forks on the R6 & are looking at 1500 bucks to get an upgrade there.,& another 5 hundy on the rar shock. Like others have said , get a manual & get on the web & youll learn a lot & save $$$. But high performance is definitely expensive.

[NZJONESY]

Saying that because you bought a bike, you should be able to afford the maintenance......

Prepared would have been a better word in hindsight. But don't over react thinking you know me in any way, you never will. It was just an opinion. Trying to have a dig personally is just immature and slightly narcissistic. Keep it objective yeah?

[Slyer]

Duuude, this thread is a major buzz kill.