Traditionally-powered motorcycles vs. hybrid cars

[razor02097]

Really depends on circumstance... If someone goes out and buys a $10,000 motorcycle fuel economy is likely not why.

I bought my bike for $740 and put $1586 in new parts (almost every consumable part as well as all factory services done to the mileage). I now have a low mile, very reliable form of transport that gets 60MPG for $2326. As far as cost of ownership. Other than the oil filter there are no parts to buy until 10,000 mile intervals. Other than engine oil there are no fluids to buy. I use acar app to keep track of everything.

Last year I rode 1,950 miles. If it didn't rain so much I would have rode more. Basically if I ride to work and back for one day instead of drive I save $1.82 per day if gasoline is $3 per gallon and $2.12 per day if gasoline is $4 per gallon. That is just in fuel alone.

Motorcycles are cheaper to insure and cheaper to register. I can hold off on registration until I am ready to ride and there is no late fee which depending on when it's registered could be pro rated. (can't do that with a car...$20 late fee for cars in ohio...stupid tax man)

Motorcycles have other benefits also. I can push my bike up the street to the main road and nobody cares (imagine pushing a 2000lb car up the street to save fuel lol). I can EOC on my bike without having to fear losing braking function if brakes are needed multiple times (no brake booster).

[renault_megane_dci]

Anyway, posting this question in the motorcycle section is a good way to get a biased answer.

Motorcycle is not a reasonable way of transportation and that is why those who use it like it.
Actually, motorcycling might be one of the last patch of careless freedom in this Big Brother (in training) world of ours ...

[niky]

Not reasonable for some, but for many, it's the only form of motorized transportation that they can afford to purchase.

[renault_megane_dci]

When you have very low income, is the personal ownership of a form of motorized transportation reasonable ?

(I play with the different rating of what can be called reasonable)

[mechman600]

There's more to motorcycling (at least on this continent) than getting somewhere. I commuted on a motorcycle year round for a whole bunch of years. I kept tricking myself (and others) into thinking I was doing the economical thing, but now that I think of it, I just really love to ride motorcycles. People thought I was nuts for driving to work in January 1C (33F) pouring rain. I probably was, but I sure was having fun.

The best moments were on my CB400T. Here in BC in winter, if the rain does actually decide to stop, it gets colder. I found that -6C (21F) was the threshold at which the previously accumulated water in my throttle cable would freeze solid about halfway to work. Careful modulation of the brakes and clutch still got me there.

Now I have the Ninja ZX-7R. Not the best commuter. Actually, it's a terrible machine for a 4 mile commute, but I don't care. And now it's winter and I happen to have the Electric Booger, so the Ninja patiently waits till spring.

[razor02097]

When you live in a city a car is unreasonable. Over a 5 year span it costs less than a dollar a day to own, insure and ride a small motorcycle or scooter. If you can get a ride all over town here using other means of transport for a dollar a day I will eat my shoe. There are many places where bicycles and motorcycles can part free. Cars can cost anywhere from $1 per hour up to $30 per day to park.

Sure you can just buy a bicycle too. However the hills suck. At least on a scooter or motorcycle you can wear normal clothing and not arrive drenched in sweat.

[niky]

Depends on the motorcycle. If you've got something 400cc and over, that's a lot of motor to just move one man.

But with 250cc and under, or better, with a 150cc or under scooter, a motorcycle is often cheaper than public transportation over its lifespan, and it gives you more flexibility.

[razor02097]

Originally Posted by niky

Depends on the motorcycle. If you've got something 400cc and over, that's a lot of motor to just move one man.

But with 250cc and under, or better, with a 150cc or under scooter, a motorcycle is often cheaper than public transportation over its lifespan, and it gives you more flexibility.

I agree. Although I miss having extra power on tap 299cc does scoot along pretty well. Although 250cc is minimum if you ever need to use the expressway for any reason.

Many will never need to but that is something to consider

[niky]

I don't ride a lot, but I've always wondered why anyone would ever need more than 250cc. A good 250 bike will hit 60 mph in seven and a half seconds. Which is a few seconds faster than anyone would need to get there without losing their license to the next cop hiding behind a billboard.

And if you want to go faster, all you need is a willingness to shred tires everywhere you go. That should get you in the sub-six second range, easy, without having to buy a two-ton muscle car.

Of course... buying a bigger bike is hardly ever about needs. At least in this case, this one selfish act isn't as silly as a 400 horsepower "sports car" with the aerodynamics and mass of a brick wall.

Not that I'm immune to the allure of speed. All that sheer grunt is definitely pleasurable, though I can't imagine ever needing it on a daily basis.

[razor02097]

There are scooter people that wonder why anyone would need a 250cc motorcycle. To them 150cc is plenty. You can get up to 50mph and get 80+mpg.

If you are a larger fellow or ride 2 up a lot 250cc isn't going to be enough. I'm not talking about morbidly obease either. There are tall people that want to ride and are between 200 and 250lbs. Also riding 2 up on a 30hp bike isn't fun at all. Even if the total human weight and gear doesn't exceed the bike's capacity.