Free'ish biking

**Tank** · 18th June 2008, 15:44

Looking for some free biking?

I mentioned in another thread that my wife spends $100 per week just running around the local Bays..

It got me thinking – and we went and grabbed her a little scooter (AN125 Suzuki).

After looking at the figures (albeit it in a simple manner and I did this as a quick brain dump so forgive me if there is a mistake) - here is a awesome way to save some serious $$$$

Scooter $2700 including on road cost for 6 months
Second 6 months registration to give 12 months riding $177
Insurance for year (3rd party via AMI) $27 (Yep – serious $27 – laughed my ass off)

Assuming that we don’t have a crash or have it stolen second hand values for similar types of bike are around $2200 for a 1 year old bike.

So total cost for 12 months – resale in 12 months gives a total cost of $704.

Looking at our fuel bill – we believe that we will save $40 per week minimum in petrol *. – a total saving of $2080

So the ROI on the bike is 17.5 weeks – giving me 34.5 weeks of free biking in the first year.

It gets better the second year

Second hand resale is about $1700.
Additional years rego $ 285.
Additional years insurance $27

So my total running cost to cover the second 12 months is $612 ($500 for the additional depreciation + rego + insurance). Weekly savings stay the same *.

Total cost for the 2 years is $1315 with a total saving of $4160.

Meaning that the ROI over the 2 years is 33 weeks – giving 72 weeks of free motoring.

Looking further ahead - they dont depreciate much in years 3 + 4 (say 150 per year) so this is almost free motering for both years.

***If fuel prices stay the same – if they go up the savings get better and better.

**sinfull** · 18th June 2008, 15:49

Originally Posted by Tank

(AN125 Suzuki).

.

Says it all really !

**thehollowmen** · 18th June 2008, 15:51

While I've thought in similar lines, actually putting it down in figures works wonders.

Thank you.
Who knows, I might have to go shopping.

**mowgli** · 18th June 2008, 15:51

You need to take a break and get out into the fresh air. Repeat after me. "Scootering is not biking". Carry on.

Nice work on the numbers though

**Tank** · 18th June 2008, 15:55

Originally Posted by mowgli

Repeat after me. "Scootering is not biking". Carry on.

Yeah, yeah I know - but I gotta say it was a blast thrashing to work this morning just for a laugh. (She does her basic handling this weekend)

Originally Posted by mowgli

Nice work on the numbers though

Thanks!

**Nordy** · 18th June 2008, 15:58

We factored similar numbers when looking at options for me working in town again. Worked out to a saving in fuel and parking of around 7k a year (currently drive a subaru). Definatly worth a bike.

**CookMySock** · 18th June 2008, 16:04

Many days she will have to take the cage tho.. stuff to carry etc..

When I bought my 650 got it home and filled it up with gas after a 5.5hour ride.. wtf? 15 litres ?? thats not right... Check it again - yep, 15 litres. /me does the maths.. farrrrrrk 70mpg!!! It had never occurred to me - I just bought it coz I wanted it.

DB

**megageoff76** · 18th June 2008, 16:05

Originally Posted by Tank

Insurance for year (3rd party via AMI) $27 (Yep – serious $27 – laughed my ass off).

Thats the same amount they charge me for my 1100 for 3rd party.

I would have thought a scooter would have been a bit cheaper (?!) than that.

**Tank** · 18th June 2008, 16:10

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Many days she will have to take the cage tho.. stuff to carry etc..

We did think of that - that is why there is still $60 per week left in the above figures for cage fuel.

MOST days she goes to work and friends only. She is a professional swimming teacher - so she carries a towel and swimming shit (the scoot has a givi box).

So the $40 is a minimus saving that we can expect given basic usage only. I budgeted on the safe side.

**Tank** · 18th June 2008, 16:11

Originally Posted by megageoff76

Thats the same amount they charge me for my 1100 for 3rd party.

I would have thought a scooter would have been a bit cheaper (?!) than that.

probally covers the admin fee as well. Either that our Coastal East Coast Bays is classed as a high crime area.

**rocketman1** · 18th June 2008, 19:55

Originally Posted by Tank

Looking for some free biking?

I mentioned in another thread that my wife spends $100 per week just running around the local Bays..

It got me thinking – and we went and grabbed her a little scooter (AN125 Suzuki).

After looking at the figures (albeit it in a simple manner and I did this as a quick brain dump so forgive me if there is a mistake) - here is a awesome way to save some serious $$$$

***If fuel prices stay the same – if they go up the savings get better and better.

hey Tank,

Thats all good but have you sold her car to replace the bike?, if not you still have all the static costs of running a car for stuff all miles on the car, so then work out the cost / km for running the car, thats sitting at home most of the time, car rego, insurance wof and depreciation still all mostly cost the same whether you are using the car or not, works out costly to hold onto the car. Say the car cost $10K, much better to sell the car and buy a cheappie,and put the excess money in the bank, still keeping the scooter.

**Tank** · 18th June 2008, 22:27

Originally Posted by rocketman1

hey Tank,

Thats all good but have you sold her car to replace the bike?, if not you still have all the static costs of running a car for stuff all miles on the car, so then work out the cost / km for running the car, thats sitting at home most of the time, car rego, insurance wof and depreciation still all mostly cost the same whether you are using the car or not, works out costly to hold onto the car. Say the car cost $10K, much better to sell the car and buy a cheappie,and put the excess money in the bank, still keeping the scooter.

I know what you are saying - but we would have had those cost anyways regardless of the scooter so they are static - the above savings are only taking into account fuel and the bike 'stacking up' in its own rights.