Motorcycle guys... Info please.

[Ex-Member]

I'm spending ~$350/mo on fuel for my truck right now; thinking about getting a motorcycle in the near future. Don't want to spend too much, will mostly be for commuting; looking online it appears I can buy a decent used bike for ~$3-4k. Kawasaki ninjas good? yamaha fz1s? vespa?

Just starting to seriously consider it and looking for direction...

 

[redlineguy]

Kawasaki ninjas good? yamaha fz1s are both good biks. There are Many good bikes out there now.












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[shortstop20]

I get about 35 MPG on my R6. Not sure what the bikes you listed get for MPG but I bet it's about the same. If you figure the truck gets 15 MPG(no idea what you drive) and the bike gets 35 MPG, you will save $200 a month. It will take 20 months of riding the bike to work to break even.

Not trying to change you mind or anything just sayin' because many people don't think about that side of things. I have my motorcycle for the enjoyment mostly, gas mileage is an added bonus though. If I wanted something just for riding back and forth to work I'd be looking at a Jap cruiser.

 

[ruffryder]

I get about 35 MPG on my R6. Not sure what the bikes you listed get for MPG but I bet it's about the same. If you figure the truck gets 15 MPG(no idea what you drive) and the bike gets 35 MPG, you will save $200 a month. It will take 20 months of riding the bike to work to break even.

Not trying to change you mind or anything just sayin' because many people don't think about that side of things. I have my motorcycle for the enjoyment mostly, gas mileage is an added bonus though. If I wanted something just for riding back and forth to work I'd be looking at a Jap cruiser.

Bingo!

 

[maluchm]

Not trying to change you mind or anything just sayin' because many people don't think about that side of things. I have my motorcycle for the enjoyment mostly, gas mileage is an added bonus though.

Very good point but I look at it this way, It's a good reason to go out and get a bike

 

[redlineguy]

LOL it is Funny how many people will bail out of there big suv's into a little chit box Losing 10's of thousands to save 150$ a month!!









.

 

[justadude]

Bingo, Bingo and bingo!!!

FZ1 is also more comfortable and can turn it into a tourer.

I get about 35 MPG on my R6. Not sure what the bikes you listed get for MPG but I bet it's about the same. If you figure the truck gets 15 MPG(no idea what you drive) and the bike gets 35 MPG, you will save $200 a month. It will take 20 months of riding the bike to work to break even.

Not trying to change you mind or anything just sayin' because many people don't think about that side of things. I have my motorcycle for the enjoyment mostly, gas mileage is an added bonus though. If I wanted something just for riding back and forth to work I'd be looking at a Jap cruiser.

Bingo!

Very good point but I look at it this way, It's a good reason to go out and get a bike

 

[Ex-Member]

Yeah, I'm getting around 14mpg on a good day; fillups are about $80 now and last me about a week.

 

[Supplicate]

I would get a supermoto before I got a crotch rocket.

You have to look not only at initial purchase price, fuel costs, but also insurance on a bike like the ones you listed. Especially being white, single, and on the young side (expensive side) of the insurance scale. You could wind up paying the same ammount with full coverage on a bike like a Ninja or FZ1 that you pay in fuel right now. I know a few people that bought bikes because they wanted to be cool a few years back and then had to sell them a few months later due to insurance costs killing them.

These cost a bit more then what you are talking about, but IMO would be a better buy for what you are talking about:

http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/721768538.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/692369540.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/mcy/671481027.html

 

[ruffryder]

You might want to look at KLR650's. I got one some I am biased, but it is a good bike, 50-60 mpg, 400 bucks for full coverage insurance annually (27 yrs old, single, white, and in Seattle metro area (very expensive insurance)), they run forever, parts are easy to come by as the bike hasn't changed any since 87, though the 08 models are new.

Oh, its got a 6 gal tank too, and a wide enough seat that your azz won't get numb.

Just another perspective...

 

[Killerk]

Bikes you listed are good, as long as the ninja isn't a 250.
If you have to commute very far, a sportbike may not be a good option, not very confortable, and very little cargo room.

 

[redlineguy]

Took mine to work yesterday......Took the LONG way home too

 

[maluchm]

I've been looking at the Yamaha RZ350. They seem to hold their resale value, are the last of the two stroke street bikes and being the same motor as the Banshee there should be a ton of options for them.

 

[ruffryder]

I've been looking at the Yamaha RZ350. They seem to hold their resale value, are the last of the two stroke street bikes and being the same motor as the Banshee there should be a ton of options for them.

I talked to a guy that had one. They can be really scary if you suddenly get on the pipe in the middle of a corner. He did say they were really fun though, and they sound wicked!

 

[Ex-Member]

I'm not worried about cargo room, most of what I carry on my long commute goes in my pack... computer, clipboard, a book or two, palm, calculator, and some accessories (Cables, PSU, etc).

Have been wanting a supermoto for a while... seen a lot of street-legal dirt bikes around here too.

Saw a KLR parked at harbor freight last weekend... was an older one but if they run forever that's a big plus.

 

[Spiced Wafer]

buy a cheap car that gets good milage.....sold my klr650 to buy a car....i can drive a car year round, and i don't want to drive a bike year round.

 

[bigfoot]

You might want to look at KLR650's. I got one some I am biased, but it is a good bike, 50-60 mpg, 400 bucks for full coverage insurance annually (27 yrs old, single, white, and in Seattle metro area (very expensive insurance)), they run forever, parts are easy to come by as the bike hasn't changed any since 87, though the 08 models are new.

Oh, its got a 6 gal tank too, and a wide enough seat that your azz won't get numb.

Just another perspective...

That's mostly what I was going to say, cheap buy in, excellent mileage and great all around bikes!

 

[Ex-Member]

dont' have room for another 4-wheel :\

2 I can fit though.

 

[GODEEP]

I had 2 Yamaha R1's and got around 45-50 mpg just commuting to work. Dude your R6 should easily be around 50 mpg. you sure on that 35?? My guess is you cant stay off the throttle.. lol.

Hell, you could always get one of those Aprilia scooters. they get like 100 mpg.

 

[GODEEP]

Not sure exactly how accurate it is, but here is a site I found that may help you out.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/MotorcycleFuelEconomyGuide/index.htm