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True cost of ownership

Then when you get more money you do things like have a summer suit & gear and a winter suit & gear. Double the amount of all the under garments PLUS the gear you buy but don't like and I must own $3000-4000 in gear!
 
I think motorcycles are still cheaper than driving a car but it's relative. The initial cost of my motorcycle was 15k plus all the other costs registration etc. I need a full size pick up truck with tool boxes and lumber rack a brand new 13 like my bike would be at least 27k so that gives me a 12k difference right there. Also the gas, a truck would get 20 mpg on the highway at best, my bike gets about 45mpg on the highway. My motorcycle is pretty low maint as well so a motorcycle while still expensive can still be less than a car. You guys that do all your own maint really don't value your time:laughing. Of course if you just drive an old 3k beater car then maybe a motorcycle with valve adjustments and water cooling etc, it would be more I suppose.
 
dtrides said:
I DO my own oil changes and it costs more than that. 4 liters Full synthetic 5-40 Motorcycle oil, filter and a crush washer is closer to $70.
So at a shop would be easily over $100...
I don't ride to save money, I ride to release my soul.:x
DT
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Exactly - $60-$70 oil change at a shop is cheap. I mostly change oil myself, but regular synthetic like Mobile 1 is $10/qt, and exotic synthetic could be $14-18/qt. Plus filter. If I have the bike in a shop for some other service, I let them do oil change also for the convince of it, plus I think of it as supporting the shop.

I just had a full oil change done at a dealer for my '07 SuperDuke - $199.92 (materials+labor) !!! :wow Only reason I did that was I got a discount from an earlier service delay, so ended up paying for materials/parts only, but still...
 
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canyonrat said:
Gear can add to the cost of motorcycling.

Helmet $250
Gloves $100
Boots $100
Jacket $250
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Can easily be double those figures for top Brand Name items.., especially boots.:p
DT
 
NoTraffic said:
I'm surprised that someone with 4 bikes takes their bike to a shop for service, but I'm even more surprised that someone with 4 bikes, who takes a bike to a shop, is still managing to do a financial shakedown on cost of ownership. Most owners after 2 bikes just thinks of it as a lifestyle and can afford it without batting.

If you did your own maintenance, you would be decreasing ownership cost dramatically. Oil change $60?!
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Because time has value. I used to do my own maintenance, but eventually I reached a point in my career that it was cheaper to send the bike to the shop than it was to do the job myself.

Two reasons for this:

1. The shop has more experience and better tools than I do. If I can do the job in 2 hours, they can probably do it in one.

2. I don't have a lot of free time. Spending two hours with my family, or writing, or riding my damn motorcycle is worth more than the cost of repairs.

Someone with 4 bikes who calculates their true cost of ownership probably falls into this category. :)
 
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I suspect that a modern low displacement shim-under bike would work out to be more cost effective. Bikes like that seem to hold their value well when purchased used, and don't need as much fuel or maintenance as a bigger bike.

My bro's old carbed 250 could go 10-20K miles on a set of tires, and had pretty minimal maintenance costs. Valve adjustments were probably the most expensive routine maintenance.
 
What a damn buzz kill............ this thread needs a warning or something:kicknuts

I'm in the camp of those that really don't want to know. Let me live in my fantasy world:laughing:laughing

I guess like in any sport one can enjoy it and cut cost significantly. At least unlike boats or horses most of the bike cost depends on how much one uses it. Boat slips and keeping a horse cost $$ even if just sitting there.

Unless one is sitting on the couch watching the Giants recreational time usually cost more than it seems. Flying even an entry level plane, boating at almost any level, mountain biking, and back packing can cost $$ especially when considering $$ per hour.
 
Of course the smart-ass EV guy has to weigh in: purchase of $18K, 30K miles over two years (no car), no tuneups, no filters, maintenance cost of $15 for a quart of oil for the tranny every 3K miles, 1 chain, 2 sets of tires, $0.01 per mile for electricity, and I think I'm doing OK.

The longer I keep it, the closer the TCO will come to off-setting the initial high purchase price. But I'm too lazy to add it all up and too busy grinning to care.
 
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Gary856 said:
Exactly - $60-$70 oil change at a shop is cheap. I mostly change oil myself, but regular synthetic like Mobile 1 is $10/qt, and exotic synthetic could be $14-18/qt. Plus filter. If I have the bike in a shop for some other service, I let them do oil change also for the convince of it, plus I think of it as supporting the shop.

I just had a full oil change done at a dealer for my '07 SuperDuke - $199.92 (materials+labor) !!! :wow Only reason I did that was I got a discount from an earlier service delay, so ended up paying for materials/parts only, but still...
Click to expand...

Gary, how do you go 4 years on a ZX10 with (from what I can cipher out with my gazintas), on one set of tires? $800 and change for maintenance and tires, I would assume 1 set of tires and maybe a service.

My KTM. At 20,000 miles or so (bought it used with 9000 miles in 2011 for $6000, blue book is still $5800 or so), valves were still in spec a couple thousand miles ago.

I change the oil with Valvoline or Mobil 1 full synthetic, $10/quart x 4, and a filter is $12, or $20 if I buy it from a KTM dealer. Every 3000 miles.

Needs hoses (they are starting to swell on the ends), that will be $100-$200 depending on where I buy them.

Factory Pro Jetting kit, $100, installed it myself.

Smog plate block offs and smog canister removal kit, $40. Installed myself.

1 set of LeoVince Slipons. $186, when they were having a big sale before they went under, retail is about $700.

I'm on my 3rd set of tires. At between $220 and $250, depending on who has a sale on Q3s, and I have a guy that will mount and balance them for a couple of scooby snacks (pain killers).

1 battery, $50 for a surplus Yuasa from a Honda Generator off Ebay (in my experience, Yuasa last much longer than any others).

1 DID ZVM-X chain and Supersprox rear, stock front. $215, $80, $45.

It's about time for a suspension service, still running stock, unless the guy I bought it from had it re-done (he might have, he wasn't shy about spending money on the bike). Quite possibly about $1000.

It isn't cheap to run. At least. when you figure in tires, insurance, depreciation, etc. I used to use that as an excuse to buy motorcycles, "but they are cheap to run". Yeah, maybe a Ninja 250 or something like that. It's actually a pretty expensive hobby.

I don't really want to know exactly how much it is costing me. I actually want another bike.

Almost forgot. It ate a waterpump shaft at 15,100 miles. KTM recommended changing it out at 15,000 miles. Can't get much closer than that. $200 for a hardened, 36,000 miles guaranteed one, with new bearings, impeller, waterpump shaft and teflon seals. Supposed to be a permanent fix.
 
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The guy who just bought my '04 Multistrada was calculating all the costs to stick to a budget. I jokingly told him that if he counted every dollar he wouldn't be riding a motorcycle, but then I had to ask myself - how come I've never looked beyond buying/selling prices? I look for good deals on used bikes to avoid new bike depreciation, but I've almost always had to do a major service plus new tires immediately after purchase. I never thought of tax/registration/service/tires as a part of up front costs, but I should. I had the Multi for 3.5 years, 12k miles; now I want to figure out how much was spent on it.

A pitfall of multi bike ownership is that for the same amount of miles per year, you're paying multiple time on registration/insurance.

corndog67 said:
Gary, how do you go 4 years on a ZX10 with (from what I can cipher out with my gazintas), on one set of tires? $800 and change for maintenance and tires, I would assume 1 set of tires and maybe a service.
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Like I said the total miles ridden on this one bike (ZX10R) was 14,715 miles over 4 years. Right after purchase I put on a new set of Pilot Road 2, which went 10,101 miles. Then a set of Angel GT, which had 4,596 miles when I sold the bike.
 
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Depressed

Ever regret looking at a thread :rolleyes
Soon in moto for sale; With retirement looming I've realized I can no longer afford my extravagant motorcycle lifestyle :wtf
Fleet sales discount will apply:twofinger
 
dtrides said:
Can easily be double those figures for top Brand Name items.., especially boots.:p
DT
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Jesus fucking christ. Until my most recent moto, the value of my gear always exceeded the value of the bike.

Hein Gericke full leathers: $900
Oxstar boots: $400
Shoei helmet: $600
Gloves (2 pairs): $200
Moto bag (custom messenger bag): $250
Stich roadcrafter light (next month): $1200

$3550 not including spare visors for main helmet and spare helmet.
$4600 2006 FZ1
$1500 service FZ1 (valves, ECU flash, tires, brake lines, oil, rear shock plus adapter, front springs and and and...)

$9600 No wonder I'm skint at the end of the month. At least my insurance is only $400 per year. 33mpg ain't great either, but my commute is 24 miles round trip.

The first part of the OP's post was so encouraging. Looking at my gas costs, I see a silver lining. $60 per month in gas is under $800 a year, including fun rides.
 
These are all numbers I don't want to think about, if I do than I will mind fuck myself out of some new goodie for my bikes !!!!!
 
Haven't run the numbers, but I probably should. I do know bikes require more frequent maintenance than cars, but since I get 65ish MPG on the bike and maybe 24 on the car I had assumed the cost of extra tires/brakes more or less evened out (but really, I haven't checked).

In my particular case, I work off-hours and so commuting by bus isn't practical. IIRC metered parking runs $2 an hour, if I plugged quarters in I'd pay eight dollars a day. My workplace does have a basement garage -- the car spots are reserved for the more important people but the motorcycle zone is a free-for-all and not many folks ride in, so I'm parking at work for free.

$8/day times five days a week times, let's say 50 work weeks a year equals $2000 a year that I'm saving, just in parking. Plus since it's indoors I don't have to worry about anyone breaking in, unlike when I have to leave my car. Yeah, the bike and the gear and the insurance adds up but in the long run I might actually be coming out ahead on this one.
 
dtrides said:
I DO my own oil changes and it costs more than that. 4 liters Full synthetic 5-40 Motorcycle oil, filter and a crush washer is closer to $70.
So at a shop would be easily over $100...
I don't ride to save money, I ride to release my soul.:x
DT
Click to expand...

This, my KTM uses Motorex 10w60 full synthetic, two filters and the associated rubber washers and a crush washer, so an oil change is around $85 with tax and shipping. There's actually four(4) oil filters but two are reusable. I've replaced those every other year.

Personally I'd not have a shop do my oil changes.
 
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My first year motorcycle adventuring around California national parks, and those in Nevada and Oregon. :ride I kept all my receipts and documents in chronological order. Here's what my looks like so far.....

KTM 1190 ADV - $16,799 (10/22/14 NEW)
Odo - 38,XXX miles (10/22/15)
Taxes - $1,673
Insurance 1 year - $1,081
Continental Trail Attack 2 (3 Sets) - $1,372
Fuel - About $3,000
Miscellaneous stuff I can't do because I'm a complete newb to moto - $3,387

Add-On ($5,946)
RUMBUX Crash Guards Set - $950.00
Touratech Steel Headlight Guard - $130.00
R&G Radiator Protector - $100.00
Akrapovic Carbon Titanium Exhaust - $1,100.00
Jesse Pannier System - $1,995.00
Rox Anti-Vibration Elite 2” Pivot Risers - $170.00
MFW Footpeg System - $125.00
Rigid Industries D2 HD Light System (2) - $566.00
KC Flex Spot LED - $269.00
Touratech Zega Pro Bottle Holder System (2) - $165.00
Bottle Canister Holders (4) - $68.00
Primus Fuel Bottles 1.0 L (5) 1.5 L (3)- $105.00
BDCW Throttle Control - $175.00
Tigra MountCase U-TAG Mount Kit - $28.00

Gear ($3,435)
Ariel XD-4 Explorer Orange - $650.00
Schuberth C3 Pro North America White - $830.00
Spidi Marathon H2OUT Jacket - $600.00
Spidi Marathon H2OUT Pant - $400.00
Sena SMH10R Bluetooth - $165.00
Sena 20S Bluetooth - $270.00
REV'IT Vapor H2O Gauntlet - $180.00
Racer Lime Gauntlet - $140.00
Spidi Race-Vent Gauntlet - $200.00

Motorcycling was worth every penny. So much fun and adrenaline, truely a life changer :thumbup
 
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Does the time saved in your commute count? A 45-minute bike commute vs. a 2-hour cage commute saves 1.25x2=3 hours of saved/gained productivity every day. What's your time worth? Multiply that out and factor it in. Add the attitude improvement of not stewing in traffic, too. :party
 
The Hardship of Accounting

Never ask of money spent,
Where the spender thinks it went.
Nobody was ever meant
To remember or invent
What he did with every cent.
- Robert Frost
 
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