Motorcycle vs car

[terry_gardener]

i'm 29 yrs old and i have a full car licence and when i leave college and get a job it might be little to far to commute by cycle and i was thinking of alternatives.

I don't like the idea of getting public transport because in Stockton it is crap.

i have been looking into the idea of a motorcycle nothing flash, but since i have never been on one just have couple of questions since i know that there is a few motorcyclists on these forums as well.

1. is it cheaper or more expensive for motorcycle over car ie insurance, tax, fuel etc
2. what are the advantages and disadvantages of motorcycles
3. where do i start, do i just go straight into CBT or take lessons first.

or other comments i have thought of yet.

PS my full car licence covers provisional cat A according to the counterpart.

 

[Linford]

Insurance is by and large cheaper for motorcyclists. Some cars are VED zero rate, and my ZX636R costs £40 for 6 months road tax, Fuel is a steady 40mpg, but then it is 125bhp out of a small engine, and goes well - it was never bought for economy. Tyres and maintenance are expensive if you pay others to do it on my bike, but my last major service cost the grand total of £45 as I did all the work myself.
Advantages - so much more fun than 99.5% of cars on the road, you don't get held up in traffic, disadvantages, not much fun in the winter, hurts a lot when you fall off
You can do the DAS direct access, if you only want a 125, then you can do the CBT, but need to retake it every 2 years or go for the test.
I would favour the DAS personally to get it all over and done with.

 

[vernon]

The down side is the time taken to boot and suit up and down.

The time gained by reduced journey time on the motor bike is more than negated by the time taken to get the bike out of the garage, getting togged up securing the bike at work, shedding the motorcycle clothing and boots and freshening up for life at the front of the classroom.

I never used to mind it when it was my sole source of motorised transport. Now that I have a car it's a now brainer. The car wins every time.

As for running expenses, tyres and chains are not particularly cheap or long lasting, at least they weren't on my FJ1200 Yamaha. I now do less than 500 miles per year on my Honda CB500 and it's more of a toy than a legitimate form of transport for me.

 

[simon.r]

I'm someone else who has a motorbike as a toy rather than as serious transport. If I was looking at one for day to day use I'd start by looking at some of the bigger engined scooters that are available nowadays - on the face of it they have the advantages of better weather protection and more storage space than most 'normal' motorbikes.

Years ago when a motorbike was my everyday transport I seem to remember being very cold and very wet quite often AWBs (all weather bikers) are a hardy and fairly rare breed!

Ask the same question on a motorbike forum and you'll probably get more positive answers though!

 

[col]

I used to love having a motorbike years ago, but now it would be just an expensive toy for me. A small car like a fiesta or similar would be my choice if I were you. As has been said, bikes are expensive to maintain and service if you cant do it yourself. So any savings on first getting it can be negated as time progresses. And the comfort difference is massive too. The only real way it would be a saving is if you opt for a moped sized bike, but then the speed would be an issue as you would be doing about 30 flat out, depends how far your needing to go I suppose, a moped could be the answer if it wasnt too far?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Proper Vespa. Cooler than a cool thing.

 

[col]

Proper Vespa. Cooler than a cool thing.

A gt200? always wanted one of them in the late seventies too.

 

[simon.r]

A Royal Enfield Bullet with a diesel engine (c. 200 mpg) and a pre-1972 frame (i.e. historic vehicle excise duty = £0) should be fairly cheap to run!

http://www.pricepartmotorcycles.co.uk/page_2219102.html

 

[col]

A Royal Enfield Bullet with a diesel engine (c. 200 mpg) and a pre-1972 frame (i.e. historic vehicle excise duty = £0) should be fairly cheap to run!

http://www.pricepartmotorcycles.co.uk/page_2219102.html

Would that also apply to the old FS1E'e and others from the mid seventies?

 

[simon.r]

Would that also apply to the old FS1E'e and others from the mid seventies?

AFAIK anything that's pre 1973 is £0 VED, but please don't rush out and buy one on my say so!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/TaxationClasses/DG_4022042

 

[col]

AFAIK anything that's pre 1973 is £0 VED, but please don't rush out and buy one on my say so!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/TaxationClasses/DG_4022042

Ta, bit early maybe anyway. Would have loved an old FS1E or AP50 or Mallagutti monte or Garelli tiger cross or oh well I can but dream, those were the days

 

[simon.r]

I WILL own an RD350LC again before I die!

 

[col]

I WILL own an RD350LC again before I die!

Ahaaaa my brother had one, after his RD400, both cracking bikes.

 

[Fab Foodie]

http://www.eddybullet.com/shoot_LML_eddy_bullet1.png

 

[col]

Back in those days it was 250 and no need for a full licence. The group I knocked about with had em all, 250superdream, TS250, RD250, X7 ,Kawasaki triple KH I think? great times, then we started going large, and the gsx1100, Z900, GPZ550, honda 400 four, GSX1000, Z1000, kawasaki 650 cant remember the letters.