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| Motorcycle Message Board - Motorcycle USA > MotorcycleUSA.com! > Newbies! > another guy needing help with a school research project | Forum Quick Jump
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c-manJ
Registered Member
      
Date Joined Nov 2009
Total Posts : 3
| Posted 11/1/2009 8:22 AM (GMT -8) |   | Hey guys,
I'm a newbie and am really needing some help and advice for a school project I'm doing. The project is to perform a cost analysis between the costs of commuting daily on a motorcycle versus a car. One of the main reasons I decided to do this as a topic for my project is because I'm very interested in getting a bike someday and being a biker commuter myself, and this was a good way to do some detailed research on it (and get some credit on a school project I have to do anyways!)
So here are some of my questions:
First of all, I need to pick a bike (not a scooter) that would be an overall best representation for a commuter bike (reasonable price, good reliability, comfortable for a commute, can hit freeway speeds, decent gas mileage) - basically the "Honda Accord" of the motorcycle world. I'm guessing something in the 650 - 750cc range.
What can you guys recommend? After I pick the bike, I'll be taking a look at some of the other costs involved of a daily commute, such as gas mileage, insurance, registration, tires, and other standard maintenance and repairs needed over time.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! | | Back to Top | | |
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c-manJ
Registered Member
Date Joined Nov 2009
Total Posts : 3
| Posted 11/1/2009 8:38 AM (GMT -8) | | It's me again. I forgot to mention a couple other key items:
First, the bike I pick needs to be a 1999. Basically, I need to go back in time 10 years and do my research based on data that's available for the last 10 years. The assumption is that I started commuting on a bike on Jan. 1, 1999 and commuted through the end of December, 2008 (10-year period). A couple assumptions to simplify the analysis is that the weather is always good enough to ride (I know that's not the case, although it is most of the time here in Tucson!) and you could commute just as often on your bike as in a car. The assumption is also that you'd put just as many miles on your back as an average person puts on a car (I'm saying 1,000 miles a month for simplicity). That brings up another question - will a motorcycle even last that long, in this case 120,000 miles? Even if it's well-maintained? (assumption in analysis is that its maintenance record is perfect and that no major out-of-the-ordinary repairs are required).
Thanks again everyone! | | Back to Top | | |
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GAJ
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 4763
| Posted 11/1/2009 8:46 AM (GMT -8) | | Here is the bike:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawasaki_Ninja_500R
Here are the guys that ride them and love them; I'm confident you'll find somebody on here who has been riding their's since 1999...and might even have all the data you need!
www.ex-500.com/
And yes, bikes like the Kawi, maintained properly, could easily last 120k miles.
Let us know what grade you get and post up the final paper for us to read. | | Back to Top | | |
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Well Enuff
--- Regaining my sanity --- one ride at time
Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 1252
| Posted 11/1/2009 9:21 PM (GMT -8) | | | | |
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Casper
The teddy bear of doom,,,
Date Joined Sep 2006
Total Posts : 2635
| Posted 11/2/2009 6:45 AM (GMT -8) | | PC800 would make a fantastic commuter, 'tis true. Middle of the road everything,,, good power, not great. Good ergos, good brakes, good everything - great nothing, excellent all arounder that does everything Ok and nothing super well. The mid-size engine and mild power delivery should keep fuel costs and tire costs down. And tons of storage,,, trunk like a small car!
Lemme save you some work. Is motorcycle commuting cheaper than car commuting? No. My bike gets 45 mpg, so I save some gas. But I chew up $600 worth of tires every year. And I'm constantly replacing or upgrading riding gear. You have to save one helluva lot of gas to cover the cost of a Shoei helmet. All in all, if you're looking for lo-cost transpo, get a little car. A Honda Fit will eat a Honda Shadow alive on cost to operate, no 2 ways about it.
We ride motorcycles because we love them.
Proving the skeptics right since 1967. | | Back to Top | | |
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Andy VH
Forum Moderator
Date Joined Apr 2005
Total Posts : 3999
| Posted 11/2/2009 7:49 AM (GMT -8) | | When it comes to the economies of riding a motorcycle, you need to consider the added "upfront" costs to the overall cost picture, especially as a new rider:
1. The cost of training, which could be anywhere from $50 to $350. Figure $225 to start as an average.
2. The cost of riding gear, helmet $150, boots $35 to $250, cycle jacket $100 to $400, gloves $25 to $125, pants $100 to $250, rain gear $25 to $100.
3. The cost of insurance. But since your goal is the "Accord" of bikes your insurance could be $250 to $600 annually.
4. Maintenance. If you do it yourself, based on 5,000 miles per year, means at least two oil changes at about $15 each. Tires should go about 10,000 miles so that is about $300 per two years or $150 per year. Routine maintenance, chain cleaning and adjustment, valve adjustment, coolant flush (if the bike is water cooled. An air cooled bike is less expensive), battery, air filter change. Doing that all yourself is about $250 per year. At a shop, about $600 year.
5. Bike support costs: a cover if you don't have a garage $100. A lock if you don't have a garage $50.
6. If you really plan to daily commute on a bike, you need some means to carry things, like a carrier rack, tail box, saddlebags, back-pack, whichever works for you. That could cost as little as $25 and as mich as $500 (one time).
Then the real question, is how much you REALLY ride? Every day? Year round? In all weather? In a car that is a non-issue. On a bike it is a factor to consider. If you can't do it all year round, then you need to factor in the cost of other transportation for those times you don't/can't ride.
I agree with Casper. For the real costs these days, with some cars getting 40+ mpg, going 60,000+ miles on ONE set of tires, and with maintenance costs equal to or LESS than a bike, it becomes a tougher comparison. Car and Driver did a recent report of the costs to drive a brand new Honda Insight or Toyota Prius (GREAT gas savers, but expensive up front) versus a 1989 Geo Metro (which does get 40+ mpg). The result? For the costs involved, a used Geo Metro BLOWS AWAY the Insight or Prius on a dollars per mile cost.
One thing you cannot put a cost factor on:
Cars move our bodies. Motorcycles moves our Souls.
In that alone, is ALL the rationale most of us need to decide a motorcycle makes sense, and not cents.
Training, the best safety and performance "equipment" you can get!
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GAJ
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 4763
| Posted 11/2/2009 7:58 AM (GMT -8) | | Keep in mind the bike I suggested can easily get 55mpg while your average accord gets closer to 30, so in 10,000 miles you are $450 ahead at $3.00/gallon.
Plus a used beater car could have costs associated with it as well, (ie. replacement every 2 years with another beater), so it all comes down to the assumptions used in the analysis.
But you are comparing apples to oranges in terms of protection from the elements.
My friend in Miami has a choice of commuting by bicycle, 50cc scooter, 150cc scooter, 650 BMW motorcycle, 696 BMW motorcycle, a Jeep or a 320 Mercedes.
He chooses bicycle most of the time, (cheapest), but in terms of the vechicles, for that particular slow speed commute, usually in dry weather, the 50cc scooter is actually best. He says a car is an abomination for his particular commute. | | Back to Top | | |
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jsanford
'07 BMW F800ST, '08 M695, '77 Kaw KH400 2-stroke
Date Joined Feb 2005
Total Posts : 2302
| Posted 11/5/2009 5:32 PM (GMT -8) | |
c-manJ said...
Hey guys,
I'm a newbie and am really needing some help and advice for a school project I'm doing. The project is to perform a cost analysis between the costs of commuting daily on a motorcycle versus a car. One of the main reasons I decided to do this as a topic for my project is because I'm very interested in getting a bike someday and being a biker commuter myself, and this was a good way to do some detailed research on it (and get some credit on a school project I have to do anyways!)
So here are some of my questions:
First of all, I need to pick a bike (not a scooter) that would be an overall best representation for a commuter bike (reasonable price, good reliability, comfortable for a commute, can hit freeway speeds, decent gas mileage) - basically the "Honda Accord" of the motorcycle world. I'm guessing something in the 650 - 750cc range.
What can you guys recommend? After I pick the bike, I'll be taking a look at some of the other costs involved of a daily commute, such as gas mileage, insurance, registration, tires, and other standard maintenance and repairs needed over time.
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated! Here's a '99 Accord--sensible vehicle that's not too expensive, nor too cheap:
I had the entire service history of mine (which was a '97). Some pricey stuff occurred around 2 years and more 7 years out. After ten years my F650 had 40k on the odometer.
Newbodometer: 30647 miles | | Back to Top | | |
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GAJ
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 4763
| Posted 11/13/2009 4:32 PM (GMT -8) | | | | |
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