Looking for cheap transportation. Try a motorcycle. This is my set up.

dcruzer · 3 months

Adding some of my (short) experience that might help others looking into doing this:

I bought my first bike back in August for $1000 - a '93 Nighthawk 250. It's not old enough to be tagged as historic (which is cheaper), but titling and registering (for two years) was $100. (Note: I'm in VA, and titling tax was 3% or a minimum of $35). I have property tax on it, but I haven't the slightest clue how much it is yet (they'll be using the blue book).

Gas mileage: Anyway, since it has a small engine, I get about ~75 mpg. On a 3 gallon tank with under $15, I can go from my college to home (210 mi) on one tank and still have enough gas to do errands. With the amount of driving I was doing compared to the little Honda Civic I was previously using, I saved on gas pretty much the first month. I went from paying $100+ on gas a month to <$30.

Insurance: I had the option of not paying for insurance and paying the state $500/yr for not having insurance or getting insurance. I'm sure as hell getting insurance on it. I got liability from Geico for $167/year. My insurance was low because I'm a female rider, I'm a returning customer, I'm military, and although I told them I mainly ride my motorcycle within the DC area, I'm from a rural area, so they had to keep it low for that area. My insurance COULD be much lower. I told them I did NOT have my license at the time, and I had a permit. I also do not yet have my MSF card (motorcycle safety foundation). Other ways to bring your insurance down: Garage your bike. I told them I've only been riding for less than a year (truth) but if, say, you ride dirt bikes, some people add that in for how long they've been riding.

Gear: I borrowed gear (helmet and when it got cold, jacket and overpants) for a few months. Granted, it's not a great idea to borrow something like a helmet. Anyway, I got my helmet for free (a friend had 2 extras lying around, and gave me one, can't help anyone on that one). I went shopping when I was back home from college for gear, and almost gave up before finding a place right across the street from a dealer! It was Black Friday (whoops, didn't even realize, since I don't shop on Black Friday normally), and I got my jacket and overpants for $175 (50% off). When it comes to gear, you should portion probably $500 or less on it. You'll want a good jacket (you could get away with thrifting a leather jacket and layering up). You'll also want overpants (layers are still fine, but a pain in the ass - overpants are easier). Good gloves are gonna cost you about $100 or less. If you're getting a small bike, don't get heated gear, you'll kill the battery...Plus heated gear is a bit more expensive anyway.

Total cost of my first bike, insurance, and winter gear: under $1500

Carrying Groceries and Things: I haven't had a problem thus far. I've used a roomy bookbag and a crabnet on the back of the bike to tie things down. Be creative! My boyfriend's brought things home from a store without a bookbag or a crabnet by using extra plastic bags to tie it down! Or you could just buy saddlebags for your bike.

Edit: If you're thinking of buying your first bike, you shouldn't spend a lot on it. You're gonna make mistakes on it, but if you get a beginner bike, you're more likely to be able to buy it, practice/learn/get used to it, and then sell it for the same price. /r/motorcycles would be a good place to go :)

Also, winter is a great time to get cheap, but good condition bikes, cause people don't like winter/cold. My boyfriend's never bought a bike more than $700 cause he's gotten them in the winter!

r3dstormrising · 3 months

I hope you see this in time

As a motorcyclist for 8 years I wouldn't recommend and older motorcycle like that one. I have had early 80's machines and they required a good bit of maintenance, and parts were hard to locate and get. I would recommend a cheap used ninja 250/500 or Suzuki gs500. They are cheap reliable bike. They can often be bought for under 2k.

Rupert17 · 3 months

Can you please explain the details of the state minimum insurance? $100 sounds very low, are you worried you may be under covered?

Bhima · 3 months

I have an old car, an old motorcycle, and an old bicycle. Most days with passable weather, I ride the bicycle. On occasions when I have a longer distance to cover but the weather is still nice, I hop on the motorcycle. When the weather is poor (like today it's snowing), I have a lot carry, or someone coming with me, I use my car.

The amount of fuel I purchase per year is dramatically less than before I got the bicycle. The extra cost for insurance is minimal but I recall that being different in America. At the end of it all I've saved a lot of money, fluctuating fuel prices don't bother me, I've lost weight, I'm in better shape, and I'm enjoying my life the way I've always wanted to.

Motorcycles might not be for everyone... but anyone serious about being frugal needs to seriously consider avoiding using a car as much as is practical for them and that means some other form of transit: Bicycles, Public transit,... even walking.

mjar81 · 3 months

I really want a motorcycle for local transportation but I'm afraid the wife doesn't approve. She calls them "donor-cycles" since apparently that's what emergency room doctors call them.

Filburt_Turtle · 3 months

I used to ride a motorcycle in LA. Everyday I would almost get into an accident because people just didn't see me. I reacted and dodged but you can only do that for so long, I knew i was going to get hit eventually. Now I just ride dirt. At least i don't have to worry about other cars.

englad · 3 months

You can definitely ride in the rain, i live in a very rain-happy part of England and I see bikers all the time

negative_epsilon · 3 months

I rode a 2009 Ninja 250, and I loved it. 60 mpg, $70 a year in insurance. It was sort of fun to ride, though I ended up hating it because I live in Florida where it's either too hot or too wet.

The problem is that there are two types of riders: Those who have gotten into wrecks, and those who will. And it's never your fault. I didn't believe that, though. I was an incredibly safe driver, and I felt like I had better reaction time than most people so I could swerve and get out of the way and it wouldn't matter. I felt really safe, honestly. 2 months ago, though (The 8th of December, actually) I was on the local highway at night doing the speed limit (Driving home from school), and there was debris in the road. Someone had just sped up, got right in front of me, and immediately hit the brakes to avoid the debris. This caused me to hit my brakes as to not hit him, but the Kia Sorento behind me didn't see me or something and smashed right into me at ~70 mph, when I was probably going 35 or 40. I was really lucky, that I had nothing more than a messed up spine (But no tears or breaks) and some bad road rash on the knees (Couldn't walk for over a month), and while I can't play sports right now it's definitely better than I could have been. I was on a bridge over a lake, too. So many ways I could have died that night-- if I hadn't been wearing my DOT approved helmet I would have.

I guess when you're discussing being frugal, you have to take safety into account. There's a reason no one rides a bicycle in Orlando, you know? I now drive a mid-2000s Japanese 4 cylinder that I feel a lot safer (And comfortable) in. Yeah, I have to pay $60 a month more in gas and $1200 a year more in insurance, but to me that amount of money is definitely worth my life.

TechnoTrain · 3 months

I agree. I've had a motorcycle as an only vehicle for 3 years. Very, very frugal. Like cheating, almost.

lsc · 3 months

hah. I need to dig up the photo I have somewhere of a big 2u rackmount server strapped to the back of my motorcycle.

I think the biggest financial problem with motorcycles is the danger; if you factor in the medical expenses, it's probably not cheaper than a car.

The next biggest problem is cargo space. I had a nice big "krauser" brand topcase, but you aren't buying more than a few days worth of food with that. If you want to hit costco, well, you better have a friend with a car.

You are right, of course, about the maintenance, fuel, and purchase price. Also, if you are concerned with having a fast car, or an attractive car? You can get a very nice looking, very fast motorcycle for five or six grand, and it'll get more attention than a sixty thousand dollar car. (It'll accelerate way faster, too)

But yeah, I still think that the thing that makes motorcycles expensive is the health risks.

pimpybra · 3 months

I would love to get a bike, but no license, and if I were to do that, I'd go through the official rider course so I don't die (and an insurance discount), so that's a few hundred right there.

Also, winters kinda kill it, but then again, this winter has been pretty mild for a lot of people... so far. But a 33 mile commute with 95% of it on highway also worries me, especially with a lot of driving potentially early morning or late at night (dark).

I've wanted a bike for YEARS now, and it's just not going to happen any time soon, I'm afraid.

MJM83 · 3 months

That's awesome, great job. Is there a website that compares bikes MPG?

chickeeper · 3 months

I got a Honda ruckus 49cc after selling my wrx. Took the cash and locked into a cd. So far between biking and the ruckus I could careless about Iran oil issue.

ohhai1234 · 3 months

You forgot to mention tires, which wear at about 8 to 12 thousand miles, and are in the $100 to $200 range on average.

Irishpride1919 · 3 months

I have always wanted to do this instead of a car, though I know nothing about maintaining a motorcycle. Do you have any advice for me on how to keep it alive if i get one?

bahlgan · 3 months

Hey man, thanks for the info. I know a motorcycle would be a really frugal investment. Unfortunately, the greater risk of injury doesn't suit me at this time. If I decide not to get married, I'll ride bikes for the second half of my life. Thanks for the info, again, man, and shake the haters!

VVaffles · 3 months

I think you should clarify that this is for a full-time student. It does make some sense for a younger person who is single, lives in a decent climate, and is willing to take some risks. Going to work in a suit or business attire is going to be make this obsolete. I can't even imagine getting dry cleaning, grocery shopping, and any number of other domestic duties done with a motorcycle.

BOFslime · 3 months

As a motorcycle owner, I don't agree with this, at least not for most. I've seen some people do it, but the reliance on friends in certain situations can be less that ideal. Even in Florida where there's no worry about snow, it rains, and rains quite often. You are exposed to the elements which requires gear, more gear, and lots of preparedness. Other drivers simply don't see you either; People on their phones, people with earbuds in their ears, older people with speed/distance/perception issues, people that legitimately wish to kill you on the road. Its dangerous, requires that you be fully awake and alert and the more miles your commute the more exposed to risk you are each trip. Granted bikers know and accept these terms, but this is a bit different when being used as primary transportation rather than leisure. Cargo space, your bike has none. Even with side saddle bags and rear seat bags, backpacks, etc. You can't really move anything other than a few small objects. Getting groceries is a pain unless you plan on making daily trips for just what you need that night... and that itself isn't frugal in the slightest. If you're also a pet owner, there's absolutely no way you can get your pet to the vet, and that 40lb bag of cat litter, or 50lb bag of dog food isn't getting itself home. Yes you can order online and have this stuff shipped to you, but that has extra costs too, and we still haven't sorted out the vet thing. If you have family that's right out, I don't even need to elaborate here. For everything you absolutely can not do on a bike, you're relying on friends, SO's, etc etc, eventually you'll need someone's car, its a hassle. Really, the only way this can be done is if you're young college student with room mates to help with the groceries. It can be frugal for a very select few, especially in states that don't require insurance on motorbikes, but its not for everyone as most can only and should only use a bike as a toy/hobby and not sell their car on the idea that it will be frugal. Keep the car for when its needed, ride your motorbike to work on the sunny warm days, enjoy both.

Nelson1107 · 3 months

2400 is to much for a 30 year old bike.

amitrottl · 3 months

Jesus, [some] people are fucking assholes about their opinions on motorcycling.

That said, how are the 70s/80s japanese imports on their mileage? They seem to be the cheapest deals. I'm looking to get something smallish, as I am a small guy weighing 125lbs, and definitely cheap. But the gas mileage (and ease of maintenance, too) is important. Any recommendations?

d00m3d_d00d · 3 months

Been riding for years, it makes for a good extra vehicle during the summer but I wouldn't get a motorcycle for frugal reasons. You can't quite drive a motorcycle only and not own a car unless your in a warm climate all year, so you'll still need the car. Extra costs of tires/other seasonal repairs add up fast too. Hell I think I've put over $3k into my 03 CBR600RR in just 2 years/30k miles.

Motorcycling is not a cheap hobby, but its damn awesome if you like to drive long distances for no reason at all just to go somewhere when you're bored. I'd say it evens itself out, it is nice to have a second vehicle after all and it has saved my butt more than a few times.

Pipiru · 3 months

I really would like an alternative that isn't a motorcycle, and is cheap, like those mini-super efficient cars I saw all over Japan... Motorcycles TERRIFY me. I took the official rider course at the local Kawasaki plant, and freaked the fuck out, I broke down crying twice.

I hope something like this becomes viable in the US someday.

IHeartAmber · 3 months

I think one is most frugal when dead so having a motorcycle is a great path towards a frugal "life"style.

CHICOandtheMAN · 3 months

I want to go this way (motorcycles were my only transportation in high school and college), but honestly, it makes it very difficult to score with chicks. The novelty wears off in 20 minutes, the attitude is that responsible adults have cars, they don't want hair messed up, can't man up in the rain, and so on.

vanmillion · 3 months

CONS: Greater risk of injury i suppose. If you don't have health insurance, this may be a no go.

I think it'd be more worth mentioning the 35 times greater chance of DEATH on a motorcycle accident as opposed to being in a car. Funerals typically aren't very frugal.

I'm not saying motorcycles don't have their place, but for everyday commuting in traffic...a lot of risk to save a little money AND not be able to go anywhere if it's raining.

ramp_tram · 3 months

It's currently about 20f out. There's no fucking way I'm riding a motorcycle in that.

Also, I don't think you'd do that well in the first 3-4 hours of storms when the plow trucks aren't out yet. My Civic, on the other hand, has no problems with any of that.

Also, good luck bringing groceries home.

If you live somewhere where it never rains and there's no traffic, maybe a motorcycle is a good investment. But if you live in the first world it's really not.

ramp_tram · 3 months

Is this [2] /r/frugal? At least in my scenario, getting a car that would last more than a year was not an option.

My first car was an '89 Accord from a car auction with electric everything. It ran just fine, and lasted me 3 years. I paid $500 for it.

You may save a few bucks on the car, but you're losing out on being able to buy groceries and shit from places like BJ's and Costco for long term savings.

you'll need to login or register to do that

create a new account

login