monthly bike cost

[breakdirt916]

how much do you spend per month on your bike?

I was more interested in maintenance, track days, mx days, gear, goodies, repairs, etc.

girls says I spend a lot on it...I said no...but when I added it up, she's right...gotta pay to play...bikes ain't cheap, but just curious how my situation fares amongst other bikers

I found $200/month is really, really easy...examples:
November 2011:
$24.95 (serivce manual)
$30.49 (trip to lowe's - wrench to carry for chain adjustment, rags, WD-40, chain lube)
$75.75 (rain suit, chain lube)
$33.68 (4 quarts oil, oil filter)
$4.30 (oil driveway cleaner)
$75 (RK Chain & sprockets)
--------------------------------
$244.17

November 2012:
$39.94 (high vis vest, neck scarf from cyclegear)
$34.20 (SDC LED battery health monitor)
$40 (new battery after faulty R/R toasted old one??)
$14.11 (missing fasteners, ordered from bike bandit)
$11.74 (fuel filter for DR200)
$60 (new R/R)
------------------------
$199.99

and any month that I'm repairing after a fall, buying fairings, picking up new gear, paying vansons to wash & re-dye my leathers, or paying the yearly insurance...it's easily in the $500-$700 range for a month...and I don't do track days!

I thought bikes were cheap...but I think Randyo said that an econobox car was (mile for mile) cheaper than a bike for commuting

[Chippertheripper]

I prefer not to know.

[csmutty]

I pay more than that just in insurance and the loan payment for one of my bikes.

[DZircher]

how much do you spend per month on your bike?

I prefer to look at my riding budget on a seasonal basis.
My latest forecast for how the 2013 racing/track day season will land is ~32.08 dollars a track mile.
Bike purchase included.

-diz

[breakdirt916]

hmm...I never calculated it per mile - so that all of the costs vs. not having it all? hmm...not having tracked any expenses the first few years of ownership, I don't even know how to calculate that

smuts - what about on top of that? I figure that's (roughly) fixed for everyone

[csmutty]

hmm...I never calculated it per mile - so that all of the costs vs. not having it all? hmm...not having tracked any expenses the first few years of ownership, I don't even know how to calculate that

smuts - what about on top of that? I figure that's (roughly) fixed for everyone

I don't ride enough to have regular bills. I think I got to ride my dirt bike once this year for an hour. And I only put 2k on my street bike.

[Sheppo]

Aside from insurance, payment if you financed and gas. I think the rest could be left as annual or amortized over the life of the bike or riding season. I don't do track days this is all road related. Helmet, boots, gloves and jacket every couple years unless they get damaged, oil change every 5k, rain suit mines about 10 years old. Brakes as needed, etc. See it breaks down annually, or over the life of the bike. I don't have a monthly note, so my monthly is gas only.

[RandyO]

how much do you spend per month on your bike?

I was more interested in maintenance, track days, mx days, gear, goodies, repairs, etc.

girls says I spend a lot on it...I said no...but when I added it up, she's right...gotta pay to play...bikes ain't cheap, but just curious how my situation fares amongst other bikers

I found $200/month is really, really easy...examples:
November 2011:
$24.95 (serivce manual)
$30.49 (trip to lowe's - wrench to carry for chain adjustment, rags, WD-40, chain lube)
$75.75 (rain suit, chain lube)
$33.68 (4 quarts oil, oil filter)
$4.30 (oil driveway cleaner)
$75 (RK Chain & sprockets)
--------------------------------
$244.17

November 2012:
$39.94 (high vis vest, neck scarf from cyclegear)
$34.20 (SDC LED battery health monitor)
$40 (new battery after faulty R/R toasted old one??)
$14.11 (missing fasteners, ordered from bike bandit)
$11.74 (fuel filter for DR200)
$60 (new R/R)
------------------------
$199.99

and any month that I'm repairing after a fall, buying fairings, picking up new gear, paying vansons to wash & re-dye my leathers, or paying the yearly insurance...it's easily in the $500-$700 range for a month...and I don't do track days!

I thought bikes were cheap...but I think Randyo said that an econobox car was (mile for mile) cheaper than a bike for commuting

when I was riding 35k/year, I was easily spending $1000-$1200/month during some of the higher milage months in the summer but average throughout the year about $500/mo.

[Lxpony]

No idea but I do know I spend $1050 to finance 2 cars and 2 bikes each month. Kinda sucks everything but my WRX is currently on the road . Shit just sitting in garage till spring.

[MaRce1o]

I prefer not to know.

[R7]

The cost is pretty low, but also I had a low mileage (4,000 miles) season...not to mention the bike was in the shop for 3 of the best weeks of the season to ride
Bike payment, insurance, 1 set of tires, 2 oil+filter changes, estimated fuel, new leather jacket... taking that total and divided by 12 months, about $325 per month

[tsorfas]

Worst thread ever. Nothing positive can come our of this for me.

[Degsy]

I have better things to do than to plot charts of my trending minor bike purchases over the the same months in previous years.

Seriously. Where the fuck does someone get the time, let alone the inclination?

[breakdirt916]

manny's thread is like a sore dick: you just can't beat it

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...o-laugh-or-cry

my commuting rides are cheap!

randy - your figures actually seem more accurate than what I posted...even commuting, this stuff adds up!

[maxim_X]

Anywhere between $40 and $10,000 a month.

[Garandman]

God, you guys are rookies. Do I have to explain everything?

The answer to the question begins with a scrutinizing your bank statements for any fashion items, cosmetics, clothing, and entertainment. These things tend to even out especially this time of year.

All racing equipment, track days, etc is "safety equipment" or "safety training." For example a three day CSS course at NJMP? "Safety training."

Oh, a final but of advice: don't listen to me. You are talking to a guy who spent around $6,000 on a track bike, gear, etc, which only cost me $14,000 for a new kitchen......

[nhbubba]

Seriously. Where the fuck does someone get the time, let alone the inclination?

Some people take their financial planning seriously. The only way I know how to accurately predict the future is to look at the past. As such, I record almost every transaction to the penny. I use software to add tags and categorize my spending. Right now I could probably answer the OP's question with a fairly accurate number.

I won't because:
A) I'm too lazy to pull up the software and do the division
B) That info is not for public consumption; it's my problem and my problem alone

But I can definitely understand why someone would track their expenses. I have detailed records going back to about 2000 myself.

Oh, a final but of advice: don't listen to me. You are talking to a guy who spent around $6,000 on a track bike, gear, etc, which only cost me $14,000 for a new kitchen......

You got off cheap.

[RandyO]

I have better things to do than to plot charts of my trending minor bike purchases over the the same months in previous years.

Seriously. Where the fuck does someone get the time, let alone the inclination?

the only reason I know is cause I consider my bike a business expense

[RandyO]

Going to the darkside has saved me $50/month

[TheIglu]

Bike payments? What is that?

[RandyO]

Bike payments? What is that?

whether you have payments or not, you have amortization

unless all your bikes were gifts

[TheIglu]

whether you have payments or not, you have amortization

unless all your bikes were gifts

Or they stop going down in value.

[Tunertype]

Up until this year I'd say it was pretty low with it being $200/year in insurance, $150/year in tires, $100/year in maintenance and 40% gas savings when I commute to work instead of using the car and no bike payment. Probably evens out between joy rides wasting gas and commuting saving gas.

I decided to try track days this year and I am in $350 for full leathers, $200 for a helmet, $150 for new boots, $750 for 5 track days, $500 for hotel stays, $100 for trailer, And I'll need to replace the plastics on my bike at some point($400). So that puts me at about $200/mo for track stuff. I should be able to use most of my gear again next year. Also camping instead if hotel and keeping a lookout for auctions and specials should reduce next years cost.

If you amortize the price I paid for the bike over 5 years(into year 3) its $75/mo. But after 5 years I can probably sell it for half of what I paid so that's really only $37/mo. Excise taxes add in another $20/year on the bike and $10/year on the trailer.


So $75/mo without track days.

$275/mo with track days.

[breakdirt916]

yep, track days = will make it expensive

gotta love them to do it I guess...

Randyo - if I could get a darkside tire to fit an 18x4" rim, I'd do it in a heartbeat!

have you been able to check the price for chains?

ie. given the same level of maintenance - does a $250 chain last twice as long as a $125 chain

[RandyO]

yep, track days = will make it expensive

gotta love them to do it I guess...

Randyo - if I could get a darkside tire to fit an 18x4" rim, I'd do it in a heartbeat!

have you been able to check the price for chains?

ie. given the same level of maintenance - does a $250 chain last twice as long as a $125 chain

ya, you'll never find a 18" CT that fits (hard enuf with 17") unless you go to special antique bias ply car tires intended for wooden wheels that have cotton or rayon cords and might last 2500 miles if you keep speeds below 40mph

I've gone from a stock 525 on my V-strom to a 530 chain & sprockets, and yes, it does last twice as long and not for double the money, only 25% more