You won't save the money you think you are saving with a motorcycle after adding in the additional cost of the bike, tires and insurance.
My Harley-Davidson gets 37 MPG but the new ones get about 40 MPG. So, at 40 MPG and $3.50 / gallon, the cost per mile for gas is 8.85 cents / mile. Back tires for my Harley-Davidson last 8000 miles if I'm careful and cost is $135 each plus a $45 mounting fee. This works out to 2.25 cents / mile for the back tire. Front tires for my Harley-Davidson last 12000 miles if I'm careful and cost $120 each plus a $45 mounting fee. This works out to 1.375 cents / mile for the tire. In other words, 3.625 / mile for tires and $8.85 cents / mile for gas totals of 12.475 cents / mile. My Jeep cost me 17 cents / mile in gas and tires. Not much savings here. Factor in the added insurance and additional payment and the rest of the "savings" usually evaporates from a motorcycle. I still ride as much as possible for fun. This generation of hybrid cars are another exercise in false economics. You'll save gas but will spend more buying the car. Last I read, the break even point was somewhere around 10 years. In other words, if you are an average driver, your savings will catch up with your initial "investment" in about 10 years. I suggest that you wait for the next generation of hybrid vehicles to come out before buying one. These days, the best economical vehicle on the market is a VW Turbo Diesel. This is unless you are cheap like I am. With so many car buyers running towards better mileage cars, you can pick up an older car for less than 3K that will get 20 MPG in town, which works out to 17.5 cents / mile for gas and tires are less than 1 cent per mile. 20 MPG may seem terrible but you need to remember that it's total cost per mile, including the vehicle cost. If you drive a "typical" 15,000 miles / year, here's the cost / mile for your car payment: $200 / month = 0.16 cents / mile $250 / month = 0.20 cents / mile $300 / month = 0.24 cents / mile $350 / month = 0.28 cents / mile $400 / month = 0.32 cents / mile $450 / month = 0.36 cents / mile $500 / month = 0.40 cents / mile Now factor back in the gas mileage: A nice used vehicle that costs $200 / month and that gets 20 MPG costs you 33.5 cents / mile plus insurance & maintenance cost to drive. (0.16 per mile for payments + 17.5 cents per mile for gas) A new vehicle with a $400 / month payment (a low payment, these days) and that gets 35 MPG in town costs you 42 cents / mile plus insurance and maintenance cost to drive. (0.32 per mile for payments + 10 cents per mile for gas) In other words, assuming your older car costs you $200 per month in payments, then trade in you older used car that gets 20 MPG for a new 40 MPG model and you just lost 8.5 cents / per mile just to save gas! And there is no way that the additional maintenance cost will come close to the $1275 / year difference! Thanks, Tom Hargrave www.kegkits.com 256-656-1924 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 1:52 AM To: mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] was diesel, now Motorcycles for Bob/NOT! Bob, Riding a motorcycle in 100 degree plus weather is like riding in an oven! Proper safety gear makes it even more uncomfortable. YOU WILL NOT LIKE IT! That said, you would want four cylinders for smoothness, and enough power to push a full sized wind screen for comfort. The Honda 750 Goldwings are reliable and will go 100,000 miles. a smallish two cylinder will die in a year! All the big bike manufacturers make something similar. Rent or borrow a bike for a few days in june/july and get this idea out of your system. Get a used turbodiesel VW TDI and you will average in the 40's with AC and 4 walls around you. The Toyota dealers are rebating on new Prius hybrids, as production has caught up with demand. Your Commute is not ideal fior the Prius, but it should also get mileage in the 40's. I think the drivetrain has a 10 year warranty, and there are some tax credits available too. Jim in Phoenix -----Original Message----- From: Robert Rentfro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: 'Mercedes Discussion List' <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:12 pm Subject: Re: [MBZ] was diesel, now Motorcycles for Bob I have no experience. I would most certainly take a course. There are many people I work with who ride all the time and I've heard all the stories and I've listened carefully to them all. Bob R -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Douglas Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 8:18 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] was diesel, now Motorcycles for Bob Robert you didn't mention if you have experience riding! I have been riding for 40 years and yes I have a honda shadow 1100cc. There are things that you should be aware of, the new rider shouldn't buy something to commute on and learn on at the same time. I would suggest that you take the highway safety course for riding. They usually use small motorcycles and you will learn alot! One thing that people do not understand is that people in CARS (thats you and me) Do NOT See motorcycles! So if you are one that gets freaked out when a cars pulls out in front of you while you are in you car. Then you are really going to know how tight your sphincter will get! This happens all the time! So take the course, and they buy the most comfortable motorcycle you can afford. One of the often over looked brands is the BMW. Yes expensive at first look but very well built and comfortable! hope this helps Douglas ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Rentfro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Mercedes Discussion List'" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 12:58 PM Subject: Re: [MBZ] was diesel, now Motorcycles for Bob > Weather really isn't a concern here, I don't think. I work with guys who > ride all year round. > Maybe the time has come I should consider getting a bike. In your opinion, > Dan (and anyone else who has an opinion), what would be a good bike for me > to start with knowing my commute would be 80 miles a day? > My wife is thinking I'm having a mid-life crisis but she doesn't ever fill > the cars with fuel. > > Bob R > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of LWB250 > Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 11:08 AM > To: Mercedes Discussion List > Subject: Re: [MBZ] diesel > > It's not all great - I don't ride in bad weather, or > when the temperatures go below 50F. > > Down here the weather is finally (I say that with > great disappointment) getting into the summer cycle of > 70F nights and near 90F days with oppressive humidity. > If going to work requires you to be somewhat composed > and professional, forget it. > > It's been really windy down here the last few days, > and getting out on the interstate with heavy > crosswinds can make things really exciting - in a way > that you don't care for, unless you have a death wish. > People drive like idiots down here, so you have to be > super attentive or they'll kill you. > > I'm fortunate in that I can wear jeans and a polo > shirt if I choose, so that helps, but I'm still hot > and sticky by the time I get there in the morning. > Don't even ask about the ride home... > > By moving back and forth between motorcycle and car I > save some $$. it's not an end all to be all. > > Dan > > > --- Robert Rentfro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Yer killin' me. >> I wonder how much worse it needs to get before I, >> who has never had a bike, >> will consider getting one? Especially with my 80 >> mile RT commute......which >> I could make all back roads and stay off of the >> freeway. >> >> Bob R >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> On Behalf Of LWB250 >> Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 10:45 AM >> To: Mercedes Discussion List >> Subject: Re: [MBZ] diesel >> >> Darn. And I was upset that I've only been getting >> in >> the high 30s/low 40s on my Virago. >> >> I couldn't believe it - a fillup cost me over $11 >> the >> other day! >> >> Dan >> >> >> --- "Kaleb C. Striplin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> > Well, diesel is now 4.17 here. Geez, I need to >> get >> > my 190D going quick. >> > Why the hell did I get rid of my 92 300D with >> its >> > 33mpg? Its too >> > expensive driving a SDL back and forth to work. >> > -- >> > Kaleb C. Striplin/Claremore, OK >> > 94 E420, 92 300SD, 92 250D Turbo, 92 300E >> 4Matic, >> > 91 300D, >> > 89 560SEL, 89 260E, 87 300SDL, 86 560SL, 85 >> 380SE >> > 5.0 Euro, >> > 84 190D, 84 300D euro manny, 81 240D, 80 240D, >> 76 >> > 240D, >> > 76 300D, 72 250C, 69 250 >> > http://www.okiebenz.com >> > >> > _______________________________________ >> > http://www.okiebenz.com >> > For new parts see official list sponsor: >> > http://www.buymbparts.com/ >> > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > >> > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> > >> > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> > >> >> >> >> >> > _________________________________________________________________________ ___ >> ________ >> Be a better friend, newshound, and >> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. >> > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> For new parts see official list sponsor: >> http://www.buymbparts.com/ >> For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> For new parts see official list sponsor: >> http://www.buymbparts.com/ >> For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >> > > > > > _________________________________________________________________________ ___ > ________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. 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