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Do you know real world MPG you get by riding a motorcycle and what is the cost of ownership?
I know it's not a bike season for the most, but here in Southern California it's a bike season all year round. I'm seeing more and more motorcycles and scooters on the streets of LA, and I believe that could become a viable alternative for day-to-day driving around the town for lots of people.
I'm curious what Millage Per Gallon you get from bikes - how it differs between different brands and models? How expensive is to own and maintain a bike?
...well I guess I've just asked several questions in one :)
I'm curious what Millage Per Gallon you get from bikes - how it differs between different brands and models? How expensive is to own and maintain a bike?
...well I guess I've just asked several questions in one :)
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The answer really varies by motorcycle and miles driven. I'm a long time HD Sportster rider. Here are what my numbers look like:
MPG = 50,
2005 Sportster XL 883; purchase price: ~ $8000,
Full coverage insurance ~ 200/ year,
depreciation for the first three years $3000
Maintenance $300/year
I ride about 10,000 miles a year so it works out to:
$1000 / year depreciation
200 gallons of fuel lets say $3.00 a gallon=$600
$300 Maintenance
$200 insurance
$2100 per year. Roughly 21 cents a mile vs about .75 / mile for a my Chevy Cavalier.
One thing worth thinking about is that your bike will be a heck of a lot more fun than a cage!
Ozark
MPG = 50,
2005 Sportster XL 883; purchase price: ~ $8000,
Full coverage insurance ~ 200/ year,
depreciation for the first three years $3000
Maintenance $300/year
I ride about 10,000 miles a year so it works out to:
$1000 / year depreciation
200 gallons of fuel lets say $3.00 a gallon=$600
$300 Maintenance
$200 insurance
$2100 per year. Roughly 21 cents a mile vs about .75 / mile for a my Chevy Cavalier.
One thing worth thinking about is that your bike will be a heck of a lot more fun than a cage!
Ozark
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straight forward answer + real world experience = M$10
congratulations - I like your answer the best!
congratulations - I like your answer the best!
thank you - great answer - personal experience is always the best!!!
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http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/MotorcycleFuelEconomyGuide/ is a guide for MPG per retailer by owners and they also have guides on maintenance.
Generally, bike manufacturers list 50mpg on most bikes, and say that is the average that you will get.
But for a much much more detailed look, i would suggest these sites:
Bikes:
http://hubpages.com/hub/MPG-Guide-The-700-Top-Selling-Motorcycles
Scooters:
http://hubpages.com/hub/MPG-Guide-The-Fuel-Economy-Of-250TopSelling-Scooters
Hundreds of the most popular bikes and scooters rated by MPG, very useful when your looking through brands.
Since you sound like someone new to the idea of a bike, here is a site where someone has compiled their own cost of ownership from the first bike they bought, it could be considered useful as well:
http://germz.org/motorcycle/first-bike/cost.html
Also for a general gist of what you would need to be maintaining and how often, this site may be of use:
http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq/maintaining.html
Overall that should give you a good idea of the positives and negatives of going the bike/scooter route. My personal advice would be to try to compile your own list of what your currently spending on your car (if you own one) and make a fast comparison.
But for a much much more detailed look, i would suggest these sites:
Bikes:
http://hubpages.com/hub/MPG-Guide-The-700-Top-Selling-Motorcycles
Scooters:
http://hubpages.com/hub/MPG-Guide-The-Fuel-Economy-Of-250TopSelling-Scooters
Hundreds of the most popular bikes and scooters rated by MPG, very useful when your looking through brands.
Since you sound like someone new to the idea of a bike, here is a site where someone has compiled their own cost of ownership from the first bike they bought, it could be considered useful as well:
http://germz.org/motorcycle/first-bike/cost.html
Also for a general gist of what you would need to be maintaining and how often, this site may be of use:
http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq/maintaining.html
Overall that should give you a good idea of the positives and negatives of going the bike/scooter route. My personal advice would be to try to compile your own list of what your currently spending on your car (if you own one) and make a fast comparison.
source(s):
http://hubpages.com/hub/MPG-Guide-The-700-Top-Selling-Motorcycles
http://hubpages.com/hub/MPG-Guide-The-Fuel-Economy-Of-250-Top-Selling-Scoot...
http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq/maintaining.html
http://germz.org/motorcycle/first-bike/cost.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/MPG-Guide-The-700-Top-Selling-Motorcycles
http://hubpages.com/hub/MPG-Guide-The-Fuel-Economy-Of-250-Top-Selling-Scoot...
http://www.timberwoof.com/motorcycle/faq/maintaining.html
http://germz.org/motorcycle/first-bike/cost.html
I drive a 1982 kawasaki KZ440 and get around 55-60 MPG. MPG for bikes greatly depends on cc's. My girlfriend and i are about 330 LB's together and we took my Bike to Tennessee from Maryland around a 16 HR drive and we were going 65-70 the whole way. Ii would not imagine you would need anything over 440cc's for solo riding or even group if you are around our weight
I have a 2001 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200XL its a pretty good sized bike. Picked it up used for $5700 and it gets 40-60MPG depending on how it's ridden. You should also figure oil changes and tires into the cost of ownership. To have a Harley dealer change my oil is like $80, but I can do it for like $35. Tires are expensive, and I haven't had to buy those yet, but you woudn't want to ride a bike on bad tires... you only have two, one goes, and you're hurtin.
An average mid-size Motorcycle 35-40 mpg, though exact miles per gallon would depend on the make and model.
A scooter can get as much as 85 miles per gallon, though admittedly they go alot slower.
The real cost of ownership of a lightweight, fuel-efficient, easy-to-service $4800 motorcycle for a period of one year was $8678. This is assuming a 4,800 dollar motorcycle, 800 for taxes and fees, 100 for licensing, 1,000 for the appropriate gear, and such including insurance, fuel and maintenance.
A scooter can get as much as 85 miles per gallon, though admittedly they go alot slower.
The real cost of ownership of a lightweight, fuel-efficient, easy-to-service $4800 motorcycle for a period of one year was $8678. This is assuming a 4,800 dollar motorcycle, 800 for taxes and fees, 100 for licensing, 1,000 for the appropriate gear, and such including insurance, fuel and maintenance.
source(s):
http://www.ridetowork.org/files/docs/Trans_Facts.html
http://germz.org/motorcycle/first-bike/cost.html
http://motorscootermuse.com/economy.php
http://www.ridetowork.org/files/docs/Trans_Facts.html
http://germz.org/motorcycle/first-bike/cost.html
http://motorscootermuse.com/economy.php
thank you - great answer!
There are so many bikes/options/experiences, but it boils down to this; if you can stand to go a moderate speed, drive something not in vogue, and be safe about it, it is the most awesome solution to so many commuting problems. Hate filling up your suburban for $140.00? My Honda costs $10 for a tank. Hate being stuck in a traffic jam every Friday? My Honda zips between stalled traffic, and allows me to bypass many traffic stalls. Hate paying big insurance? My Honda costs $125.00 per YEAR to insure! Yes, I would ride even if it cost more, but my tattoo says it best; Live to Ride, Ride to Live. 
nice bike! what happened to the rear wheel/tire?
I work with several people who ride a variety of motorcycles. Both foreign and domestic. They all claim to get in the 30-40 mpg range. Most of my co-workers also have about a 100-250 mi range on a full tank. It is interesting to note, that although I am a flight instructor, and get paid to correct people's mistakes while landing at speeds of nearly 90 mph, I refuse to straddle a moving motorcycle.
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