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How do you manage having multiple bikes?

I've had as many as five but have four currently (+ the wife has two) and I don't see any problems. I don't think I can live w/o three at a minimum.

Get L.I. batteries btw, no need for trickle chargers anymore.
 
I think I peaked at 12 bikes and it was too much for me to really handle. I had a big white board in the garage to keep track of maintenance and even last time they were started and tanked up. I didn't want to leave them constantly on the trickle charger so, I'd by 'em with long cables so, that I could rotate through.

Two-thirds of those were track or off road only so, insurance/reg was (almost) nothing. I've never had insurance for the street bikes exceed more than a few hundred bucks a year. I do all my own work so, overall that many bikes was more of a hassle than an expense. However, I sold 'em all off in the last 18 months to get down to a much smaller collection that's easier to keep track off and where I love all of 'em!

If you're going to commute exclusively by motorcycle I do recommend having a backup street bike though. Bikes aren't like cars where you can get parts and repair work done generally in the same day so, your primary commuter could be out of service for a few days on occasion.
 
I have 5 - like previous posters one for dirt, street, adventure, collecting ($)... and I turn them over. Probably don't make that much net wise, but nice to take a hunk of junk and flip into something really cool and runs well.

The only issue are problems that are tough - makes the bike sit for a while... and I always want to ride so that puts me back.
 
I'm alittle late on this post but iv had atleast 5 bikes for about 6 years now. It's helps a lot that I wrench on my own bikes but the registration and insurance is really the only money out consistantly. Insurance is a huge bitch. I pay more to insure my 02 hayabusa than I do for my custom chopper which is valued at more than 3x the busa. If you have track only bikes it's pretty easy to do because most are not registered but you can non op it be good on the cheep. Making sure you have a log of services and dates for each bike so it's easier to remember the services. I also sometimes write the milage on the oil filter with a silver paint pen to make sure I'm doing the oil enough. The hardest thing is to remember what one has fuel in it. Even with Stabill the fuel breaks down quick. Especially in carb bikes such as mx or sumo bikes. I'd have more bikes if I could but that decision would force me to not have a bed to sleep in any longer and the wife would leave me!
 
Went from 4 to 2 last month, needed the space and not riding as much.
 
kelsodeez said:
first step: be single

second step: have a good, safe storage area

third step: buy a bike for different disciplines (supersport, dual sport, dirt, vintage, etc)

fourth step: get bitches

fifth step: sell all your bikes because your girlfriend doesnt want you to work on your bike in the living room anymore

sixth step: get divorced 20 years later and buy that harley you always wanted

seventh step: realize youve made a terrible mistake buying a harley

eighth step: buy a bmw dual sport and be an old guy with an aerostich suit and a cup of coffee on 580
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Pretty much this. Having multiple bikes is a sickness.. A sickness that will consume you and every penny you have (and some that you dont) Its not for the weak of heart.

You have to be able to do your own maintenance, completely. I'm not talking about just your basic oil changes and things, but serious stuff too. If your uncomfortable removing a valve cover to do your own valve clearances then owning multiple bikes is not for you. If your afraid to have your motorcycle in a million pieces on your garage floor, Multiple bikes is not for you.

The one exception being the sickness that is the need for street bike, and a track bike so that when you wad it up in turn 3 you still have your daily rider to go to work on while you rebuild your side b!tch. Track bikes require no reg and ins which is why they are an exception to the rule and a necessity for track day junkies
 
jeffday said:
Pretty much this. Having multiple bikes is a sickness.. A sickness that will consume you and every penny you have (and some that you dont) Its not for the weak of heart.

You have to be able to do your own maintenance, completely. I'm not talking about just your basic oil changes and things, but serious stuff too. If your uncomfortable removing a valve cover to do your own valve clearances then owning multiple bikes is not for you. If your afraid to have your motorcycle in a million pieces on your garage floor, Multiple bikes is not for you.

The one exception being the sickness that is the need for street bike, and a track bike so that when you wad it up in turn 3 you still have your daily rider to go to work on while you rebuild your side b!tch. Track bikes require no reg and ins which is why they are an exception to the rule and a necessity for track day junkies
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Either that or have lots of money lol

Being able to do any and all maintenance and repairs makes it pretty cheap.

Insurance on #5 and onwards is like $14 per year ( liability) for me :party
 
My trick is to use stickers under the seat of each bike indicating when service was done ie, tires, oil, valves on each bike. Of course each bike has an individual file with all the reciepts.
Cycle Gear sells batteries with lifetime warranty.When one dies I get a new one free. I tape the reciept to the battery so it is not hard to find.(although they do have a record on the computor.)
Battery Tender sells units with 4 pods for 4 bikes.
All the bikes get Fuel Stabil after every ride. If the bike has carbs, they are ran dry.
 
I think I'm up to 8 right now but just because I have 8 bikes doesn't mean that I have 8 bikes to ride at any given time. Two if them are dirt bikes so those are out. One of them is tracktastic so that one is out too. Usually one bike is being modified or repaired at any time so there's another gone. It probably has to do with the type of bikes I buy but it's pretty safe to say that only 25-30% of them are streetable on any day of the week :laughing
 
kuksul08 said:
So then I got to thinking.. those of you with 3, 4, ... 12 bikes? How do you do it? The reg and insurance must be killer?
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I'm getting close to joining the multiple bike club.

Super torn:
- Dual sport?
- FZ-09?
- Multistrada?
 
man, I love you guys... so many things you say better than I can.

Yeah, the problem is giving multiple bikes the love they deserve. Cut the insurance and registrations down to a minimum and deal. Or sell to friends you love too.
 
OVerLoRDI said:
I'm getting close to joining the multiple bike club.

Super torn:
- Dual sport?
- FZ-09?
- Multistrada?
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Yes.

Duh… :rolleyes


:laughing




EnablerChick
 
Never mind says the jealous guy with one POS.
 
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I like having options. Its funny, the commuter and all around bike is the cheapest to keep going. But the enduro that doesn`t see even a quarter of the miles than other one does is a fuckin money pit.
 
too many yet not enough

At last count 8 but one is the wife's. 3 vintage MX bikes as that is my new thing. A trials bike because I want to learn. Ktm 530 dual sport, KLR650 as a cheap adventure bike and a project flat tracker. I need a road bike and a Harley.
 
kuksul08 said:
So then I got to thinking.. those of you with 3, 4, ... 12 bikes? How do you do it? The reg and insurance must be killer?
Click to expand...

I have 4, listed in profile to the left.

2 are for off highway use, so no insurance or reg. Insurance on the other 2 is about $200 per year, registration negligible. I do all the maintenance myself, so cost is just consumables/parts. It does seem like I spend a lot of time working on motorcycles though...
 
Insurance gets cheaper as the most bikes you pile on :D

The most streetable machines I've ever owned at once was 4. That was a bit much... I'd like to keep the stable at 2 street bikes (one Sport Touring daily commuter, and a supermoto) and one off road only. That is about perfect for me
 
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