How is the motorcycle only lifestyle?

Question

I want to sell my gas hungry Camaro (13mpg) and but a nice sport bike.

I have about 7000 (after i get 4000 out of the car)

I live on campus @ college in Michigan..... i figure i don't drive much anyway especially in the winter so why not just get a bike and not own a car?

My summer job is one i could get the day off whenever so missing work due to rain / storms is not a problem.

I think i will have more fun and save gas money... plus i could visit my out of state friends more often due to the reduced cost of gas.

So how is the lifestyle?

Also what does it approximately cost to maintain a sport bike in a year (like oil changes or replacement parts)?

Answer 1

I second the choice of a motorcycle with saddlebags.  I would shy away from a sport bike to a machine with a more substantial windshield and fairing.  A more upright seating and handlebar position will be more comfortable for long trips.  As to a lifestyle you will be hot during the summer.  For cold weather I use Gerbing heated liner jacket, Union Ridge riding pants and their Classic Gloves.  Not cheap, but the gear keeps me warm when the temps head below 40 degrees F.  Good rain gear is a must.  I use First Gear Rainman jacket and pants.  

Figure around 45 miles per gallon.  Oil and filter changes every 3,000 miles.  If you buy a shaft drive machine, figure a couple of dollars for the once a year final drive oil change.  Belt drive machines may require an adjustment.  Chain drive will need weekly lubricating for long chain and sprockets life.  Tires can be a big expense.  Sport bikes are equipped with very soft, sticky tires.  I suspect you are looking at changing a rear tire from 4K to 8K miles.  Other motorcycles will return longer tire life.  

Good Luck

Answer 2

COOL

Answer 3

The Lifestyle is Hot in the Summer, Cold in the Winter, Wet when it rains. You will have to plan shopping trips carefully but it can be done. Having friends with Autos helps.

Answer 4

Best to be thinking cruiser with saddle bags and a rack to put things in. You gotta store a lot of s**t when you ride nothing but a bike. I carry a rain suit, leather, and a "ditty bag" to keep all my stuff I need handy. Both sides are full most of the time. I carry sneakers too when I plan on making a day somewhere.

Answer 5

lifestyle?

true life style?

prepare to ride in rain.

prepare to miss work a lot.

prepare to miss school a lot.

prepare to smell like exhaust gas and gasoline at all times.

prepare to be happy :)

prepare to enjoy the road for the first time in your life!!!

Answer 6

I only drive a bike all year round too. It is all right, but you have to be careful. I live in Ireland so we can never predict the weather so it is easy to get caught out with sudden down pours (I was even caught out in a snow storm which no one predicted which was no fun) so you always have to assume the weathefound change and you have to be ready for it. In a car you have stability so things like a bit of rain or a few gusts of wind may seem trivial, but on a bike they can cause serious accidents if you aren't careful.

The best thing to do is get a few lessons and find out if getting a  motorbike is for you. A lot of my friends claimed to be into bikes, but had one lesson and decided it was not for them. They loved the idea of a bike and the open road, but found that the reality did not live up to that.

If you are planning long journeys a sports bike is not a good idea either. They are built for speed and not comfort. The best option would be a tourer or a cruiser. They are designed with distance in mind.

Answer 7

1.  You can't go shopping because your trunk isn't big enough

2.  You can't get to work on rainy days

3.  Your girlfriend thinks it's unsafe and is unwilling to ride on the back, so your dating life ends there

Answer 8

I do it, I love it, wouldn't have it any other way.

I ride to work in the rain- decent rain gear, it's not a problem.

As long as you've got friends to help you pick up stuff when you need to, and don't need to carry other people much, I'd go for it.

Taking care of a bike for a year- depends on what you've got and how you ride it. Plan in maybe a grand...

Answer 9

I went three years with only a motorcycle and had a great time. I live in northern Illinois so the winters were a little rough at times but you get used to it. The lifestyle is "thumbs up" from everyone you see especially in a blizzard. I had a Yamaha XT500 enduro style bike that I rode in the winter and a Kawasaki H2 750 on all good days.

Answer 10

"The Lifestyle" is something yuppies purchase at the Harley dealership.

You still have to replace 4 qts of oil and a filter every 3-5,000 miles.  Tires cost more but don't last as long. You can probably get  50-70 mpg, but all that becomes secondary if you really enjoy riding.

Answer 11

riding only a bike is challenging at times with certain things like shopping but if you get a good sized back pack or put a bag on the bike of the bike you can bring a little.  I would suggest a cruiser with saddle bags, you can still use the bag on the back with added room.  Cruisers are also more comfortable, if you ride your sport bike all day you will be sore with a cruiser you wont be as sore.  I would say for the maintenance if you ride it hard about 500 a year.