Saving Money on a Motorcycle

Well, some of you might know I'm an avid rider. Already had the bike out this year and today I had to spend some money.

I've got a 2004 Buell XB12R (It's basically a sport bike made in Wisconsin with a highly modified harley engine).



Harley dealer got me for 145 bucks today which isn't bad at all. I needed a new battery and the computer reset (archaic early EFI system...) I ride 10 months out of the year up here in Wisconsin and whenever I do not need my truck I use the bike as commuter transportation. I'm a die hard I have rode it while it was snowing but not by choice I was caught off guard.

Anyways, this brings up something I wanted to share with everyone. Motorcycles for most are just toys used for recreation but some of us use them to commute and really rack up the miles. (58,000 on mine). I have noticed that even though tire replacements happen on a regular basis every 6-8K miles since I run a sportier tire and the oil changes every 2500 miles cost 45 bucks that 70 miles to the gallon is simply unbeatable. All this and I can tell you my cost per mile to operate it is under a nickel a mile right now. That means I can commute from Madison to Germantown for about 6 bucks. Versus my Dodge, which needs a 1600 dollar set of tires soon and gets 14mpg if I'm driving like my grandmother. No brainer at all.

For the scrapper I even buy scrap or scout a load, meet with a client, etc. While I am on my bike. Some of you have met me when I've got my bike. I don't have any other viable transportation besides my truck and bike. I cannot justify a car, I have one, it's a Fiero but it's by no stretch a daily driver. Point is, I love to ride and integrate my riding into daily business. Now is a time where most of us are rubbing pennies together hoping to make nickels, and with that we are looking to cut the fat. I see alot of my friends selling their bikes and cars and downsizing. Well...I can't simply justify losing money so I figure I'd ride more, which saves me money. So what if it's a little cold out right?

I haven't driven a motorcycle, but I drove a 50cc scooter for 3 summers to work, real cheap on gas, took $5 to fill the tank, and I drove it forever on that tank

Motorcycles and boats are about the same, people buy them and after a year loose interest or just drive a couple hours on a few weekends.

My friend is an avid rider, he moved from coastal NC to the middle of TN just so he can ride curvy roads. He has an older Honda Valkyrie with about 140k on it. He also has a Kawasaki Concourse 14 with about the same mileage. He has a heated vest for really cold days.

I keep trying to get him to give me the honda, it a beautiful bike and everyone who sees it thinks its new. Honda does a great job on the paint, design and mechanics. Keep saving money and having fun. Mike

Riding is my drug. It's just how it is. I put alot of miles on anything I've got seat time in or on.

I once road a Honda 350 from LA to Omaha. My nads were numb for 3 months.

Even though it is technically illegal I do have studded tires for bad weather biking.

Been riding year round for 11 years.
NE Winter Camp 2014 Its the 4th 5th annual 280_zps0ibengra.jpg Photo by immulmen | Photobucket
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