Motorcycle Commuting - Cost benefit?

[dazzler]

Hey

Soon I will be commuting around 45 minutes per day on secondary and freeway.  Putting parking fees to one side is there some way of working out a cost benefit of MC v small car.

Due to our circumstances the bike would be in addition to the 4wd and Corolla not replacing either.

By the time you add in insurance, tyres and rego does the bike work out ahead or behind?

Looking at BMW R or K series around the 10K mark.  Like the K1 and the R1200.

cheers

[Bird]

Whats rego worth in Tassie.. for a bike here its the same as a car. insurance is no better either.

Fuel would be your only saving, except for your ambulance fund fees.

If you have no riding gear, theres a couple of grand too for good boots/helmet/jacket/gloves etc etc and then wet weather gear..

You dont need to spend 10k on a bike to get something just for commuting either.

also bike tyres are on par with 4wd tyre prices, not car tyre prices.

[rossow]

By the time you buy all the safety gear the first year is pretty much the same as a small car (possibly slightly more depending on your starting price for the bike).  Subsequent years end up cheaper than a small car, again depending on the bike and your maintenance option.  - do you keep up the regular service intervals? A BMW may cost you more than a small kia to maintain.

I used to have a suzuki sv650 serviced when needed by the dealer, and it worked out to be slightly cheaper per year than my lancer - same service deal.  It was mostly a commuter with a bit of mountain work on the weekends.  If you ride it like you stole it or do track days etc. then your tyre wear is going to be alot worse than mine was.

[Bird]

then your tyre wear is going to be alot worse than mine was.

yea bike tyres are stupid $$$ these days for good tyres, considering the klms you get out of them.

[KingBilly]

Agree with lost's summary (can't believe I just said that  )

I commuted for years and years on a bike but I had a bike park at work so that made it all worthwhile.  Cost of city parking is obscene.

A bike will get through traffic snarls a lot easier.  Remember lane splitting is an offence in Qld as is riding up the left side of stationary traffic.

When is the move to the Goldie?

KB

[Alan Loy]

I ride a K100RS to work in Melbourne CBD.  I suspect that it is no cheaper than public transport but a lot cheaper than a car with parking.

What I do save is time.  About 1/2 the time of the train and heaps quicker than a car 

[whitedg]

I've been bike commuting for the past 13 years. Little 250 ran on the smell of an oily rag (3.5l/100k) between Parramatta and Sydney. My Triumph 955 chews more like 8l/100k.

Insurance for the 250 was something like $300, and rego very similar. Tyres and servicing were also very cheap. It would carry the 2 of us at 100km/h at a push, but more comfortable at 90km/h.
The triumph is around the cost of a small car for rego and insurance, and rear tyre alone is over $300.

I've had 3 accidents over that time but luckily nothing too serious. This is where good gear is mandatory. Helmets need to be replaced every 5 years, and I buy good Shoei ones at $800 a pop so you need to budget that in. Even during summer, I wear boots, Kevlar pants, leather jacket, helmet and gloves. It gets as hot as hell, but at least you are safe for that inevitable spill. Wet weather pants and separate jacket are better than 1 piece suits, as they will always leak around the crotch, and it is cheaper to replace a $30 pair of pants than a $180 suit.

I love the freedom of riding, but always keep a lookout for other drivers. A loud exhaust helps to be noticed, and drive like everyone is out to get you.

Good luck, and keep the sticky side down.

Cheers
Dennis

[db]

I commute most days (Yamaha TDM 900), its worthwhile only because I want to have a bike and its easier to justify the cost of having and keeping it if it is used.  Its really not much cheaper than running a car except for parking - its free.  At the end of the day, cost wise, if you want a bike and enjoy riding it, and are prepared to put up with the compromises as well as the advantages then ok, otherwise just use the car.  We only have the one car (4wd) because we decided that having the second one for me to commute with plus a bike was a waste, considering that the cars both spent most of the time sitting in driveway or parked, as did the bike.  Hell, I can even catch the bus if the rain gets too daunting (like now, need two new tires on the bike - $500 - $600 for the pair). 

[sunshine]

Well most of these points I agree with .... but riding a bike is just the best dam thing

tyres can be had from the states ...cheaper than most aussie retailers ....  www.rockymountainatvmc.com
servicing  ... learn to do oil changes
bmw  ... can be a bit exxy on the service /parts

yes ..ride defensively 

I commute when the weather is nice ... as  where I work its has a fair amount of traffic and prefer to have good conditions when commuting
to many clowns early in the morning still asleep

I ride a 2007  cbr1000rr ...some call it a crutch rocket

every year in November we  (approx  12 blokes ) ride up to Thredbo from Melbourne  for the steven walter foundation ... have a great time on some beautiful roads and meet heaps of other motorbike enthusiast  .... and for a great cause ... to cure kids cancer

just go and get a bike you wont look back 

c ya  mick

[dazzler]

Thanks all for the info.

I put about 160k on a K1100LT and about 70k on the earlier K100 in the 90's and had a ball.

I am not sure if I am obsessing over the shaft drive or not.  Do chains/sprockets last okay nowadays?

I might do up a spreadsheet.

cheers

[Bird]

I am not sure if I am obsessing over the shaft drive or not.  Do chains/sprockets last okay nowadays?

Depends what you call ok.
Looked after they aren't that bad. Sorta like a car, maintain it and you will be ok... You can buy a VFR750 for under $5k, very underrated bike, trust me I know who you can humiliate on a track day Ask Muzza too, I think he owns a couple of em..
But you can get a car for that price that's pretty comfortable with the luxuries that's several years old.

I've had over 50 bikes over the years, loved it, but theres no way I think I could do it again after the last accident. Peoples attitudes are ****ed these days on the roads. Everyone is too self important, Ipads on steering wheels, eating bowls of cereal on the Monash/Eastlink, laptops on steering wheels while crawling in bumper to bumper, and some cars just don't have mirrors apparently. but that's not Tassie I guess.

I've looked into it many times, even bought a Super Tenere 3 years ago to restore and ride, got it up and going, but the costs were just too much to rego/insure/riding gear - that bike is now in Tassie!

And dunno how good I'd do with my injuries controlling a bike if things got ... interesting in the wet. Plus I know what I'm like on a bike after all the years of racing, its hard to slow down...

[Taz64]

Be careful when buying tyres from overseas.  You have to ensure they comply with Australia Standards.  Most bikes imported from US require the tyres to be changed prior to Australian compliance.

As for $$ savings car v bike, like others have said, once you work out the extras required if you don't have all the gear, plus insurance and purchase price, it will take a long time to recover the outlay.

But why worry about all that, riding a motorcycle is the next best thing to good sex 
My bike costs more than a small car to run, but I didn't buy it for economy.

[dazzler]

Thanks.  Will arrive at the gold coast late August out of this freezing snow covered island.  (still love it though).

I have been checking out a few of the bike forums.  For the Maroons - is mc parking mainly free at the GC and Brisbane?  I get the impression there are some grey areas where you can park yet thats just asking for it to be stolen. 

cheers

Was just browsing gumtree and there is an aprilia rs250 for sale at Mt Tamborine - now theres an idea!

[Matto]

Dazzler,

My $0.02: It can be cheaper, depending on what you buy.

I used to commute in Bris on a VTR1000F. Fantastic fun bike, but had worse fuel economy than the 4cyl Charade we had at the time, and chewed rear tyres like nobody's business. It was our all-purpose bike though, if you wanted a dedicated commuter then a dual-sport/motard would be cheap and easy to use in town. If you want to use it on the weekends though, then you're prob going to need to compromise. It will increase your running costs as well if you're buying more fuel and expensive sticky tyres.

I have ridden the big Triumph to work, but its pretty long and heavy and can be a handful. A K-series would be similar, if not longer/heavier. It's certainly possible, but something smaller would be easier in the city.

Parking at work in Bris was $9/day, at the time a car was $13/day. Its gone up since then. Cars got a dedicated spot though, bikes just parked against the walls. Not much of a saving really.

You could park under the overpass nearby for free, but it was always first in best dressed, and there were regular occurrences of bikes being damaged. There were also unwritten rules that would catch out newcomers. IE, no one locked their steering, so that more bikes could get packed in. If you came back early, you'd just move the bikes in front of yours, get yours out, the put the others back. It all worked until a newbie parked in front and locked his steering, buggering up the dozen bikes behind.

As has been said, lane splitting will get you busted in Bris. I was lucky and never got done, but my flatmate would regularly get done for it, poor bugger. He factored it into his running costs.

As has been said, good gear is worth it's weight in gold, and will keep you comfy and alive.

By the time you buy the bike, pay an additional rego and insurance (expensive), and fuel and tyres and servicing and everything else, you're probably not going to be as far ahead as you think (if at all).

But you'll have fun.

Aside - I know a bloke trying to sell a fantastic bike at the moment too. He'd do a good deal for a swagger, I'm sure It's not a BMW, but its under your budget, and he could probably throw in some of his gear to get you started (so long as you're "tall, lanky bastard" sized). Freight from FNQ to TAS can be arranged easily.

Cheers!
Matto


I don't always Tapatalk, but when I do, I make sure to misspell everything.

[dungee]

Get a pushy!

[Alan Loy]

Whilst I love my BMW if I was buying something for a commuter/allrounder I would have a look at these https://www.hondashop.com.au/Product/2491/NC700SA_Versatile!/

[cruisindub]

I have a 100cc Piaggio scooter, it rocks !! 
Runs on the drippings from my old utes leaky sump.

I love it, I also have a 125cc Piaggio in Europe, that uses a bit more fuel.

[Brumbypt]

Disclaimer, i didnt read all the above comments..




I thought i would commute via a motor bike years ago..

11 months of fun and some scary moments, then one day it took me 2 months to get home from work thanks to a hospital visit.. Wont say more..


Two hip replacements later.. I still limp and am in pain every day since.


Have fun, keep away from??? Well everything..


Tapa talk is annoying. 

[dungee]

I was serious about the pushy, I've ridden, raced and commuted on motorcycles for 35 years.  Had a good run too... until a couple of years ago when I got rear ended by a bus at about 40k/h.

I remember lying on the road and the Ambo asking if I had any messages for my wife as he reckoned I'd bleed out before we made the hospital.

I thought, oh well I'm gonna go now but then it made me think about the pain my family would have to go through.

I did get a replacement bike for the one that was trashed but I kept thinking about my family when I rode so I decided to sell it.  I bought a pushy and now commute 35k's each way to work 3 times a week.  Has done wonders for my fitness, I can still drink beer and lose weight :-). Also is a great de-stresser.

If you get a bike just remember one thing each time you leave for work... Give your wife and kids a hug and kiss goodbye, they may not see you again.

[Squalo]

If you get a bike just remember one thing each time you leave for work... Give your wife and kids a hug and kiss goodbye, they may not see you again.

It happens to car drivers too, and to people in the work place. Riders don't need to be told that.

Yep I have two VFR750s (one low mileage stocker and one modified) and they are a terrific all-rounder - mines gone to Phillip Island a few times, done track days at Eastern Creek and Oran Park, and plenty of commuting too. I was clocking up 1300-1400km per week at one stage - long commute to work plus fun in the hills on weekends. I'd definitely ride a $5k VFR750 (1994 to 1997) or VFR800 (1998-2001) before I committed to a purchase.

Here's a few we made earlier Black one is mine, green one is Losts, red one is Coxys (not a Swagger). There's a blue one in the garage too... when was this Bruce, 1999? Crikey...





Also a mate is selling an excellent 2002 VFR800 and it's got ALL the fruit - panniers with removable liner bags, Corbin seat, touring screen, heated handgrips etc.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/161058982533?ssPageName=STRK:MESINDXX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1436.l2649

[Bird]

It happens to car drivers too, and to people in the work place. Riders don't need to be told that.

Yep I have two VFR750s (one low mileage stocker and one modified) and they are a terrific all-rounder - mines gone to Phillip Island a few times, done track days at Eastern Creek and Oran Park, and plenty of commuting too. I was clocking up 1300-1400km per week at one stage - long commute to work plus fun in the hills on weekends. I'd definitely ride a $5k VFR750 (1994 to 1997) or VFR800 (1998-2001) before I committed to a purchase.

Here's a few we made earlier Black one is mine, green one is Losts, red one is Coxys (not a Swagger). There's a blue one in the garage too... when was this Bruce, 1999? Crikey...

Yea that was Pre Kids... so 1998... Coxy still has his with 200,000 on the clock.

Whatever happened to Spiders one? I miss mine

[Mallory Black]

I would go for a small car, especially on the Gold Coast.

Too many tourists gawking everywhere except where they are going
And bad drivers in general, Lots of blind old geezers and drivers on drink and drugs. I stopped road riding in 1980 and opted for racing my bikes, I felt safer!
Weather - remember this is the sub-tropics and cold is not a big problem but heat and thunderstorms are, you'll appreciate air conditioning!
Running costs - not enough difference to make up for the risk & inconvenience

[dazzler]

Hi all and thanks for all the advice.

I think I have made my mind up.  I will get a bike but not use it solely as my transport to and from and simply use it when I feel like it! Hell you only live once and whats the worst that can happen.  Hang on, don't answer that!

 

[Mallory Black]

Ha ha you could always buy one of these, the black paint will give you lots of cred on the goldie

[gqcamper]

I've been riding BMs for about 20yrs now and love them but when I was using an 1100rt and 1150rt for commuting it cost me about the same as my Pajero I had at the time to keep on the road for the year.
So unless you can do the servicing yourself they are not cheap,fuel not that much better than a small car.
At the time I was working 6 days a week in the construction game so had no time to service myself.
Was doing 20 to 25k a year so that meant 2 rear tyres (10k each) and almost 2 fronts(15k each) at roughly $300ea for rears and $250 for front fitted.
That also meant 1 minor and 1 major service per year plus all the usual costs.
Not sure what the servicing is like on the VFRs but I do know that they are a good thing.
Not sure how much riding you have done but commuting to work and back can be the most dangerous riding you can do,i travelled about 100ks a day in Sydney traffic so it probably doesn't get any worse than that travelling from western Sydney to the city centre in peak hour traffic.
But in saying that I do love my bikes and i'm still riding now and i'm over 50yrs of age.