The Real Cost of Ownership

Prior to committing to a particular transaction, consider the sum of the following expenses associated with motorcycle ownership:

Purchase Price
Accesories
Taxes
Dealer Fees
Finance Charge on Credit
Licensing of Vehicle
Licensing of Rider
Insurance
Any Necessary Repair
Fuel
Maintenance
Tools
Additional Training, Literature, etc.

I share my own experience in the preparation for and execution of a cross-country trip, October through December in the year 2005:

$4800	I made the decision to purchase a new 2006 Kawasaki KLR650.
$5600	$800 taxes and fees.
$5700	$100 to the State of Illinois for licensing.
$6700	$1000 for a new helmet, a new pair of gloves and new a Aerostich Roadcrafter suit.
$6850	$150 for waterproof soft luggage
$7250	$400 for liability and comprehensive insurance.
$7450	$200 for metric tools and an air pump.
$8063	$613 for fuel -- over 13,000 miles in 2006 while refueling at an average of $2.50 per gallon per 53 miles ridden.
$8663	$600 for routine maintenance -- including the bike's first service and a new rear tire.
$8678	$15 [thanks to a Border's coupon] for the 2nd edition of the MSF's Guide to Motorcycling Excellence

The real cost of ownership of a lightweight, fuel-efficient, easy-to-service $4800 motorcycle for a period of one year was $8678.

It is not unreasonable to suggest that you might spend twice a motorcycle's advertised purchase price during the first year of its ownership. Budget accordingly.

It is tempting to suppose that the purchase of an inexpensive, used motorcycle will greatly reduce the overall cost of ownership. And it might -- but consider that parts wear with:

(1) miles driven;
(2) hours of operation;
(3) time; and
(4) an operator's driving habits.

Imagine the training bikes employed in the MSF courses -- they're left running at idle, run at low speed, and shifted from gear-to-gear in a less-than-loving manner. So that the mileage on the odometer doesn't necessarily correlate with the real world wear and tear to which the bikes have been subjected. Ditto for bikes that are raced.

If you don't purchase new parts and new fluids with a new bike, you need to be prepared to replace the old parts and old fluids in your old bike -- on average: engine oil every 1,000-3,000 miles, tires every 5,000-15,000 miles, brake fluid every two years, drive chain every 10,000-25,000 miles, a stock battery might last 1-3 years, etc. And so it goes...

It is not uncommon for the cost of "vintage" motorcycle restoration to exceed the value of the motorcycle.

Wear and Usage

Engines are meant to be run. A motorcycle is a collection of systems: oil, fuel, electrical, etc. Running a motorcycle -- at a reasonable speed, temp, etc -- on a regular basis is the best way to keep those systems functioning properly. A carburetor through which quality fuel routinely passes is very much less likely to be problematic than is an identical part put in storage with fuel. Varnish is bad. Likewise, a battery discharges over time. Rings, seals, and other internals that are allowed to dry or rust because of a lack of oil circulation will degrade more quickly than will their well-lubricated counterparts.

Whether a motorcycle is standing still or running it's going to cost you money.

Be warned that an older motorcycle with very low mileage on its odometer might be a cause for concern, unless you have the resources -- time, money, tools, skills, connections -- to rebuild it.

Three off-site articles related to the purchase of a new or used first motorcycle:
(1) Adam's motorcycle buying guide @ clarity.net
(2) Dan's used motorcycle guide @ dansmc.com
(3) Yen's new biker's guide @ blogspot.com

T O P | N E X T

This is a document that reflects its author's personal experience. The information presented on this page is not a substitute for any factory manual, or professional service. Go to the MSF, the SMF and the AMA; they want to help you. Read the Hurt Report. Do your own research; formulate a hypothesis; test it. Read the material linked from this site. Take responsibility. Ride to be alive.