Same Old Question, Should I???

[newyork0900]

I currently have a Citroen C2 1.1L, which I only use to go to and from work, which is a 50 mile round trip, half on the motorway and the other half on the main road.

I am looking at selling my car and getting a 125 cc motorbike, to get to and from work. We have a family car, which my wife use to get to work twice a week.

Th fuel for the car costs me about £100 to £120 a month, the insurance is £40 (about £500 per year) month and the car tax is £120 pa. the only reason for selling the car, is to save money.

My concerns are, would I save money, each month?

I would need to use the bike to get to work in winter, is this safe?

Is a 125cc able to take the pace of riding 50 miles, roughly 4 to 5 times a week, (1000 miles per month)?

Would I be able to get a 125 cc motorbike for under £1000?

The ultimate question is, should I buy a motorbike? (I have never been on a motorbike and the only reason for changing, is not interest, but in order to save money)

Thanks for reading and your advice.

Ste

[Teflon-Mike]

No.
Your C2 probably does more MPG than a super ecconomical 125, and is probably faster.
Motorbikes aren't 'safe' any time of year.
You cant take a 125 on the motorway, on L-Plates.
Small 'ecconomical' bikes are not very comfy.
You would have to budget, over price of bike for:
- Training (CBT at very minimum)
- Tests (Got to do them some time, or keep repeating CBT)
- Helmet
- Riding 'apparel'
- Maintenence (Motorbikes need servicing about every 1000 miles)
Riding can be cheaper than a car, depending on circumstances, but against a super ecconomical small hatch back, very unlikely, and if you have no enthusiasm or interest, in the dynamic engagement of riding a motorcycle that demand you balencing it to stop it falling over, and the raw edged exilleration of being out in the elements exposed to all the dangers of the world, like wind rain, idiots car drivers that are half awake cossetted by thier cocoon, and completely obliviouse of any other vehicle type than the familiar box on wheels..... then you are unlikely to enjoy it, and the misery will almost certainly NO be worth any saving that you MIGHT, but are unlikely to find ecconomically.
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[fozzym]

From a financial point of view it would be worth while, you'd use less fuel and pay less insurance and tax for a 125 is next to nothing.

You'd easily get a good commuter 125 for a grand or less. You'd need all the gear but thats not too expensive if you shop around or go down the ebay route.

The biggest questions you need to ask yourself are

1. do you want to ride in all conditions?
2.Can you be bothered getting all your gear on before leaving for work and then off once you get there and same coming home?

If like me you answered no to either or both of the above, commuting on a bike isn't for you.
My bike stays in the garage until I fancy a ride and its nice weather ( don't judge me!lol)

As for safety, riding a bike is less safe than driving a car. Riding in adverse weather conditions is again far less safe than riding in good dry conditions. Ice is a nightmare situation for a bike.

To some it might not seem a big decision but to me it a pretty big deal. I wouldn't do it unless i really had to.

[fozzym]

Citroen C2 1.1 - 47.9mpg (combined )
Honda CBF 125 - 87.5 mpg (combined)

[Paulington]

Hey,

My answer to your ultimate question is: no.

As you have never ridden I am assuming you don't have a full licence or CBT so you would have to take your CBT (£150 or so for a day of training) and would have to use 'L' plates.

You say half your commute is on the motorway? You cannot ride on the motorway with 'L' plates and such you'd have to find another route which would probably take longer to ride.

As you've never ridden before, I highly doubt you'd have not only the psychological will but also the physical ability to ride in all conditions.

As for that budget, you could do it no problem and yes, if you rode it you would save money every month that's for sure. You'd get over double the amount of mileage out of the same fuel, insurance would be a pittance and tax is about £15 for the year.

I'd say you'd save at least £1000 a year if you include fuel, insurance and tax etc.

However, don't do it, because you are not likely to enjoy it as riding a motorcycle can be a real journey at times especially in very very rough weather and you don't have the correct licence to ride on the motorway.
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[Rogerborg]

Forget it. You'd want a license and at least a 250 for that trip, and you'd have to keep the car and pay the tax / insurance / MOT / depreciation on it anyway for those days when taking a bike would be an act of mentalism.

Bikes are great for short commutes where you could get a bus or walk it, or for hooning around on weekends. As a sole means of every-day transport, no, not in this country.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[mowmow]

[bikertomm]

I'd say you would want an interest in bikes to get one..

You might discover that interest as soon as you get on one though?

Google 'Get on' one hour free rides
____________________
07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[newyork0900]

Thanks for all your replies, it is much appreciated.

Just to clarify, I us the motorway when I am in the car, but I am aware I can't use it whilst on"L plates". I have 2 different routes I can rake, which would only add 10 minutes onto my journey.

I was also aware that my Citroen only does 48mpg, where as certain 125 bikes can do 100 - 130 mpg, hence the realisation that I could save money.

The main issue of winter - I could use our family car sometimes to go to work, then ride 3 miles to a friends and get a lift with them, but on some occasions I would have to ride my bike.

I have never been on a motorbike before, but neither did anyone when they started. I do believe I would enjoy it once I started commuting.

Also I have been driving for over 17 years, so have a full licence, the CBT would cost me exactly £125 and just before the 2 years were up I would consider getting my full licence; if I decided I liked being a "biker boy", can I say that?

In short:

Finance - I would save quite a bit of money, which was the main idea, at least £100 a month. i would be selling my Citroen, so that would pay for my bike and all the extras, with money left over for the wife.

Inconveniences - weather (rain) theres always rain, so it would be a case of learning from your mistakes and take it easy. SNOW, as stated above I would have 3 options.

I was looking at Honda CBF or a Honda CG??

I will have to think long and hard before selling my car and getting a bike, I've got 3 weeks, as thats when my licence comes back from having a new picture put on it.

Honestly thanks for your thoughts and opinions, it is much appreciated.


Ste

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[newyork0900]

[fozzym]

When I was 16 I left school and started work, I needed to get to work under my own steam, only a 18 mile round trip. My Dad bought me a Suzuki TS50, did CBT and off I went. I rode to work all year and all weathers.

I think i came off 3or4 times, all those occasions when conditions were adverse. Now as it was only a 50cc and due to a bit of luck, I was never injured and never did much damage to the bike.

When I passed my car test at 17 I couldn't afford a car straight away but one winter on the bike made me save hard for a car. In the end I did 3 winters on the bike.

After that experience I never thought about bikes again for 10 or more years. When i did think about it, it was only wanting a bike for fun. I'm now 33 and have just done my full test and bought a 650. As mentioned before I only ride in fine weather for pleasure.

It boils down to you in the end, do you want to do it? riding a 50cc at 35-40mph in the winter is cold and no fun not to mention more dangerous.
You want a 125cc so you're talking double the speed of a 50cc that means harder falls and more risk.

Like everyone has said, you'll save money no doubt about it. People do it and I'm sure some people wouldn't have it another way.
For me biking is about fun and commuting isn't my idea of fun.

[fiveus]

simples
sell the car.Get cbt bike gear and a 125 bike
then buy a chepo car to use on the bad days
That's what i do seems to work out ok

[Teflon-Mike]

I must admit I thought the Citreon did a few mpg more.
But as said, thrashed to do the same sort of road speeds, typical sub grand 125 will struggle to do much more than 70mpg... you'd be lucky to get a 130mph fuel injected CBF for that money, and as said, thrashed to do NSL roads, that fgure will drop significantly.

As for 17 years driving a car... sorry but that does NOT in any way qualify you to ride a motorbike..... if it did WHY the fuck would we have to take a separate test for them?

I've flown a microlite.... does that mean I ought to be able to jump into a Jumbo jet and fly it to America?!

Would you expect to be able to get into an articulated lorry and drive it, on the public roads, unsupervised? Well, I can drive a car, whats the difference?

Riding a motorbike is not rocket science, but it is a lot different to driving a car. There is more to do, becouse to begin with YOU have to stop the damn thing falling over.

1/3 the width of a car, not surrounded by metal, your view of the road is very different, and whats important for you to take notice of a lot more demanding. Road positioning, hazard awareness, is far more critical. Then actually controlling the machine, takes more work, because of the complex dynamic of having to use the bikes weight and your own balence to make it go round a corner.

You know NOTHING about riding a motorbike.......

Dont kid yoruself that umpety years in a car will give you some kind of head start.

CBT?!?

That is basic training. It tells you where the controls are, and makes sure you know what side of teh road to ride on.

It does NOT make you a safe and competent rider, and it is NOT a driving 'qualification'......

I know I'm banging on a bit, but!

If you are starting out with these pre conceptions they need dispelling.

When you learned to drive a car, you did not presume that however many years riding a push bike qualified or prepared you to drive a car, on your own, unsupervised, did you?

You took lessons, and waited until you had passed a test before you were allowed to legally drive on your own.

Motorbike, YOU are 30 times more likely to crash than in a car.... as a qualified rider. On L-Plates, multiply that by at least ten.

STILL a good idea to just get a bike and go ride?

If you want a bike, then first thing you should be planning is getting trained and getting a licence....

Yeah, plenty of people do it, and learn the hard way, but hey.... having to fix bent bits of bike, rather dents the ecconomies you are hoping to find......

There is little room for error on a bike, and the consequences of getting it wrong, rather more severe than a scraped bumper and loss of No Claims Discount.

It sounds like you have a litle more enthusiasm than you claim, and WANT a motorbike regardless, but want to some hoe justify it on more rational grounds, to others.....

Thats's fine, and actually a BETTER starting point. Admiting you just want a bike, for its own sake, being honest, and not trying to fool any one, especially yourself is a MUCH better place to start.

Yes it is dangerouse.... hence take it seriousely, start by booking CBT on a hire bike, and planning training and tests right from teh start, showing those that doubt, YOU are one of the 'sensible' ones that dont intend making up the stats.

Winter riding? Longer commutes, even in teh winter, IF you have the enthusiasm, need be no more onerouse than in the summer, and riding kit these days is fantastic compared to what we had twenty or more years ago.... ten years ago electrically heated handle bar grips were a luxuary... now folk have entirely heated riding suits!

Even my G/f has a little 125 with heated grips and fancy bar muffs, for longer distance winter riding!

Lightweights aren't the best machines in the more slippery conditions, becouse when they dont have the weight or momentum for stability, and a bigger bike would possibly be a little more comfortable and confidence inspiring... but entirely possible to commute hapily on a tiddler, if you are sensible about it.

But, as said, the ecconomics are slim justification on thier own, and the cost of bike, training, tests, gear, and everything else, is a big overhead to defrey, on the savings that might be possible in Road tax and fuel.

If you want it, do it... but do it becouse you WANT to do it, not becouse there's some financial incentive, and dont kid yourself or others about the whole scheme, and go in with your eyes and mind fully open, presuming you know nothing, and enjoy the learning experience, rather than missing stuff becouse you THINK you already know....
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[newyork0900]

Teflon-Mike

You are very wise man or at least come across very wise.

At no point did I ever say that my 17 years driving ever qualified me to ride a bike, my point was I haven't just got my licence and want to jump on to a bike.

And you are probably right, I probably will end up getting a bike, no matter what anyone says. When it is raining heavy and the snow falls , I will no doubt be regreting my decision. As you've already said I was looking for a majority of yes votes and if I didn't get them, do it anyway (like a politician).

I think in 3 weeks time I will do my CBT, sell the car and buy a good 125 and gear.

I shall live on a fist of flies and tarmac

[Teflon-Mike]

[Bendy]

[newyork0900]

[fozzym]

[Frog]

Couple of points:

My CBF does 106mpg (calculated by hand in excel - I have company fuel costs to look at - so I know it's accurate).

I was driving for 10 years before I took up riding; it gave me an appreciation of signs, lanes, etc., but the main thing was "that feeling" whe you can tell a particular car/bike/truck is about to do something idiotic. "that feeling" is priceless, and cannot be provided by tests, only experience.

If you're not sure (although it sounds like you are!), try get on, and see if you do like it - biking is a lot scarier than it looks

I suspect you'll save money month on month, but winter riding is not good fun unless you're very geared up for it, or just one of those that's willing to tough it out - only you'll know whether you are this person, and whether you have "that feeling"

If you do go for it, good luck
____________________
CBT 23/09/10 - Theory 19/03/11 - Mod1 19/04/11 - Mod2 06/05/11
Bikes: CBF125 (sold 30/10/10-25/09/12) - CB400 24/06/11 (broken) - ER6-f 25/09/2012

[Teflon-Mike]

[Bendy]

[Teflon-Mike]

[fozzym]

Teflon

Are you the guy at my work that does a 2 hour course on safely changing light bulbs!!

We've all told the guy that commuting isn't all that fun. But you make biking sound like its brain surgery!! It pretty simple IMHO. Yes you need to be careful and gain experience but its not hard.

Don't try for a job with"Get on"

[newyork0900]

I've just got a quote for a Honda CBF 125 (2009) £114 TPT&F. My Citroen was £300 fully comp. The CBF fully comp is £200.

A quote for a Honda CG 125 (2008) was the same £114.

Pretty good I think, at least compared to car insurance.