What does your bike cost?

[RossKean]

A while ago, there was someone on the forum who ended out not buying an FJR from a person who was local (to them) because the owner wouldn't drop the price by a couple of hundred dollars. I started thinking about the costs of bike ownership (DANGEROUS) and came up with some interesting stuff. While the purchase price isn't trivial, it pales in comparison to the accumulated cost of ownership over the life of the bike. These costs are WAG (wild-assed guess) estimates and will vary by owner, driving habits and location but you will get the idea.

First of all, I'm going to list the things that I have NOT included in this analysis. Some of these are quite significant but can't be quantified in general terms:

Speeding tickets

License, inspections

Accident repairs, towing, accident medical etc.

Major (unusual) mechanical problems

Farkles (seats, aux. lights, aftermarket suspension, aftermarket exhaust, Power Commander, windshields, communications, frame sliders, GPS…)

Clothing (helmets, gloves, boots, riding gear)

Food, drinks (during trips)

Accommodations (during trips)

Financing costs for the original purchase

OK. You just spent $12,000 for your shiny new FJR. You are going to ride it 20,000 miles per year and we are forecasting a 120,000 mile lifetime (6 years). We will assume it will have little residual value at the end of that time.

Purchase: $12,000. $0.10/mile or $2000/year. Total $12,000

Gas @$4.00/gal, 40 MPG: $0.10/mile or $2000/year. Total $12,000

Oil: ($40.00/change, 5000 mi. interval) $0.008/mile or $160/year. Total $960

Insurance: Highly variable but let's say $500/year, $0.025/mile. Total $3,000

Tires: $800/year, $0.04/mile, Total $4800

Maintenance (mostly self, multiply x5 for dealer): $500/year, $0.025/mile. Total $3,000

 

Total Cost/mile = $0.298

Total Cost/year = $5,960

Total Cost/life of bike = $35,760

 

Value to personal well-being and mental health = PRICELESS!

 

Ross

 

[dcarver]

Oh crap, you just provided data for significant others to deny their partners a motobike!

Good think my SO understands...

and I quote - "You're gettng cranky. Go for a ride. A nice long ride. Start Friday evening. Be back late Sunday" :yahoo:

 

[Checkswrecks]

I actually come up with a bit more.

But to put it all in perspective and fend off the SO, do the same math for a car or - gasp - pickup. No wonder scooters are the #1 selling form of transport.

 

[Intech]

Pretty good ballpark analysis.

 

[Panman]

A while ago, there was someone on the forum who ended out not buying an FJR from a person who was local (to them) because the owner wouldn't drop the price by a couple of hundred dollars. I started thinking about the costs of bike ownership (DANGEROUS) and came up with some interesting stuff. While the purchase price isn't trivial, it pales in comparison to the accumulated cost of ownership over the life of the bike. These costs are WAG (wild-assed guess) estimates and will vary by owner, driving habits and location but you will get the idea.

First of all, I'm going to list the things that I have NOT included in this analysis. Some of these are quite significant but can't be quantified in general terms:

Speeding tickets

License, inspections

Accident repairs, towing, accident medical etc.

Major (unusual) mechanical problems

Farkles (seats, aux. lights, aftermarket suspension, aftermarket exhaust, Power Commander, windshields, communications, frame sliders, GPS…)

Clothing (helmets, gloves, boots, riding gear)

Food, drinks (during trips)

Accommodations (during trips)

Financing costs for the original purchase

OK. You just spent $12,000 for your shiny new FJR. You are going to ride it 20,000 miles per year and we are forecasting a 120,000 mile lifetime (6 years). We will assume it will have little residual value at the end of that time.

Purchase: $12,000. $0.10/mile or $2000/year. Total $12,000

Gas @$4.00/gal, 40 MPG: $0.10/mile or $2000/year. Total $12,000

Oil: ($40.00/change, 5000 mi. interval) $0.008/mile or $160/year. Total $960

Insurance: Highly variable but let's say $500/year, $0.025/mile. Total $3,000

Tires: $800/year, $0.04/mile, Total $4800

Maintenance (mostly self, multiply x5 for dealer): $500/year, $0.025/mile. Total $3,000

 

Total Cost/mile = $0.298

Total Cost/year = $5,960

Total Cost/life of bike = $35,760

 

Value to personal well-being and mental health = PRICELESS!

 

Ross

Bored at work today?

 

[GeorgiaRoller]

I just put gas & oil in mine and don't worry about the costs!

 

[wfooshee]

Now run the cost/mile numbers used by posers who buy their Harleys and do 200 miles a year at the rallies they trailer the bikes to! You want a jaw-dropping number???!!?! :blink:

 

[RossKean]

Now run the cost/mile numbers used by posers who buy their Harleys and do 200 miles a year at the rallies they trailer the bikes to! You want a jaw-dropping number???!!?! :blink:

But if you are counting the trailer miles as bike miles, they should last forever.

 

[Pat L]

 

[wheatonFJR]

I'm sorry, I'm going to have to put you on "ignore" so my wife never sees this post.

Sorry.

:lol:

 

[RossKean]

I'm sorry, I'm going to have to put you on "ignore" so my wife never sees this post.

Sorry.

:lol:

Just try adding in the "extras" that I didn't include in the calculation! My wife (thankfully) doesn't read this stuff.

 

[Fontanaman]

Oh crap, you just provided data for significant others to deny their partners a motobike!

Good think my SO understands...

and I quote - "You're gettng cranky. Go for a ride. A nice long ride. Start Friday evening. Be back late Sunday" :yahoo:

When my wife gets cranky I tell her I AM going for a ride. A nice long ride. See you when I get home.

She has been extra cranky lately so I am considering leaving Seattle for for South Dakota on a 10 day ride starting Zeptember 1st. (Led Zeppelin + September = Zeptember). T-mobile, my cell provider, has very spotty service compared to Verizon - if you are on a freeway or in a major metropolitan area you get service - otherwise nada. When I get home I just say no dear I didn't have service. Plausible deniability wonderful - thank you T-Mobile.

Like others here I don't worry about the cost of riding - it is not going to change - unless I quit riding and that ain't gonna happen.

 

[PhilJet09]

I have an app on my smart phone called "aCar" that tracks all that stuff for me. I didn't start using it until after the first 10k miles on my bike, but watching the numbers grow and cost breakdown is interesting.

So far:

Total cost of ownership: $20,649.93

Cost of ownership/day: $25.46

Cost of ownership/mile: $0.632

Running costs: $7,549.93

Running cost/day: $9.31

Running cost/mile: $0.244

Distance/day 42 miles

Avg MPG: 42.085

Last MPG: 47.601

Min MPG: 35.429

Max MPG: 51.471

and on, and on, and on...

 

[Top_Speed1]

Don't wanna think about it and break it down like u did (good job btw!), it may take some of the smile off my face <_<

 

[SkooterG]

There are some things I just don't want to know.

 

[user 28803]

There are some things I just don't want to know.

What he said <squeezes eyes shut>

 

[ionbeam]

I'm ignoring you Ross.

It's paid for so it's free to ride.

 

[roger dodger]

Verrrry interesting....

Better yet compare to the costs of other hobbies...such as a BOATS $$$

HORSES $$$$

SPORTS CARS $$$$$

I vote for bikes 'cause they can also be used as 'efficient transportation'. (At least that's what I tell the wife).

 

[Fred W]

Question: What is money?

Answer: It is some sort or a totally artificial societal value that a bunch of edumacated jamokes place on SnS that one needs to have to "get by".

What is Happiness?

If you have never achieved happiness there is no chance in the world that I could ever e'splain it to your sorry ass here.

Happiness is the stuff that you do that makes your heart go pitter-pat.

It's what gets you up at 5AM when you don't have to be anywhere else all day.

It's why you do... what you do. Nobody really works their asses off for money (unless that is exactly what gives them happiness)

So money? It don't make me happy (I guess you may have inferred that)

Cool people hanging out and jammin' together, that makes me happy. F'nA!

People on a downer, complaining about what upset them today, No.

People rising above, doing more than expected, showing their personal spirit and sharing that with their fellows. Yeah!!

Do these motorcycles facilitate these feelings? Damn straight they do. I mean, yeah... I've only been around for 55odd years total, but the best people I've ever met, the most righteous and caring and wonderful people, the most caring and giving and coolest people I've encountered along my "brief" journey", yup... they've been motorcycle people.

Sure there's always a bunch of assholes mixed in. Always will be right? We're all just humans and subject to our own frailties and such. But the positive ratio is far too high to be ignored.

I think about this often... as I'm tooling along and see a guy on a big scooter, or a Hardley Ableson... or maybe a crotch rocket kid in shorts and tee shirt... ???

Aren't these the same peeps? Don't they count too? Aren't they also experiencing the vibe that we are all so in tune with?

Dunno for sure. You tell me.

PS - 3 double martinis were required to reach this state of consciousness. Your Martini mileage may vary