How Much Has Motorcycling Cost You?

[Jiggles]

I caught myself wondering what getting into motorcycling truly costs me per day. So I created this little spreadsheet to figure it out.



Holy balls! Motorcycling costs me $61 per day since I first got into it! What about you?

You can use my excel sheet to figure out your total cost and daily cost of motorcycling. I tried to take into account all aspects of cost. Simply replace my numbers in the gray boxes with your numbers.

You can download the excel from me but the link is only active when my computer is on. If someone else has a more permanent file sharing solution then help me out. Have fun

http://xps.jiggles01.operaunite.com/...835ec7dc47923f

Oh yeah, there is a special surprise in the spreadsheet for you

Edit: File is now zipped up and attached to this post. Folder contains 2 excels, one with my numbers and one that is blank.

Update: Excel file now calculates your days ridden with todays date. Simply put in the date you started riding and the spreadsheet will automatically update with current information anytime you open it

[Jiggyfly]

$100k+

I've owned over 100 bikes, 10 sets of leathers, 25 helmets, 20 sets of gloves, 10 pairs of boots, raced since 1997....add entry fees, travel costs, race gas, tires, blown engines, parts, crashed bodywork, broken bones, trashed gear, oil changes,.......$100k, no problem.

$100k & growing. Every penny & experience worth it. Just wait till my son starts racing..... Retirement? I'll live now, thank you.

[headshrink]

Stop this right now... How dare you confront our delusions. We will NOT accept your reality!

Alex, please lock this thread immediately!

[Firehorse]

Originally Posted by headshrink

Stop this right now... How dare you confront our delusions. We will NOT accept your reality!

Alex, please lock this thread immediately!

I just calculated mine against the alternative and this is what I got:

No car = Minus $1000 ins, Minus $17000 purchase, minus 500 maintenance.
Have bike = + $470 ins.(next year), +$5000? purchase - $100 maint. (lubs, polish, oil, fluids)
Saved $12930 without factoring in gas and I'd like a tiny fast BMW or Audi so the bike wins there too.

Psychiatry costs = Minus $10,000.

What's your peace of mind and happiness really worth?

[DerTeufel]

Originally Posted by Jiggyfly

$100k+

I've owned over 100 bikes, 10 sets of leathers, 25 helmets, 20 sets of gloves, 10 pairs of boots, raced since 1997....add entry fees, travel costs, race gas, tires, blown engines, parts, crashed bodywork, broken bones, trashed gear, oil changes,.......$100k, no problem.

$100k & growing. Every penny & experience worth it. Just wait till my son starts racing..... Retirement? I'll live now, thank you.

Now that's a very realistic number. It cracks me up when I hear people wanting to get into riding because it's more "economical".

However, I wouldn't trade it for anything else.

[leed]

Man, you've only spent 490 dollars on gear? And dang, how many bikes do you plan own owning! :P

I've spent close to 1600 on gear! But, I've also accumulated a lot of gear, and this is including a 1 piece suit (though it was cheap!) and my back protector.

For the bike itself (maintenance and farkles/mods), I will have spent about 3900 dollars on my 250.

Grand total on my Motorcycle Investment (not including gas or insurance): ~5500.

I've been riding since March, so that ran me to 23 dollars a day. My insurance is only 100 a year, so that helps too.

EDIT: Jiggles, if you put your Excel file into a Zip folder, you should be able to add it as an attachment here.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

I'm not calculating mine. Do you even know how pissed off this will make me if I get the sum of my spendings on the bike? F*ck that!

[choneofakind]

Yes please put this up as an attachment so I can just pop my numbers into your table and see what my costs are per day

[rusninja]

Iv spent over 1k on gear and still dont have a bike. FAIL :{ lol :P

[alex.s]

ugh. i spend way too much. and i really want to go blow a bunch of money on another new 600... but i'm really trying to hold myself back... must... save... money... for panigale!

[Liist]

Originally Posted by alex.s

ugh. i spend way too much. and i really want to go blow a bunch of money on another new 600... but i'm really trying to hold myself back... must... save... money... for panigale!

Haha I'm in a position to try not blow money so I can save for a 600.

As for being economical, having a motorcycle just makes sense in a college town due to parking and fuel economy.

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by rusninja

Iv spent over 1k on gear and still dont have a bike. FAIL :{ lol :P

Not fail. This is good, cause you'll ride away on your new bike in full gear. I say well done to you sir.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Firehorse

I just calculated mine against the alternative and this is what I got:

No car = Minus $1000 ins, Minus $17000 purchase, minus 500 maintenance.
Have bike = + $470 ins.(next year), +$5000? purchase - $100 maint. (lubs, polish, oil, fluids)
Saved $12930 without factoring in gas and I'd like a tiny fast BMW or Audi so the bike wins there too.

Psychiatry costs = Minus $10,000.

What's your peace of mind and happiness really worth?

If you sold a car (or bike) you can add that in under Cost of Bike as a negative number. If you bought a bike and then sold it you can just put in the difference, i.e. bought for $3000 sold for $2500, Cost of Bike is $500

I decided not to add in a savings calculator for gas because I'm sure the majority of people ride more than they would if they had a car, and at that point it becomes difficult to calculate.

[W8INLINE]

I smoked a pack a day at $10.50/pack.

I quit smoking October 13th 2010 and calculate the money I smoked going towards the bike. That should "allow" me to spend just over $3800 a year on motorcycling and feeling like I'm not really spending anything.

After all is said and done though, you cant nickel and dime your hobby.
The smile it puts in my face at the end of the day is priceless.



Besides... the girlfriend/wife hobby costs way more

[Jiggles]

Excel Sheet Updated

Excel file now calculates your days ridden with todays date. Simply put in the date you started riding and the spreadsheet will automatically update with current information anytime you open it

[bluepoof]

Good lord, between 10 bikes, multiple sets of gear, multiple cross country trips, countless weekend/week-long trips, parts, gas, etc...yeah, I won't be calculating that number.

[FrugalNinja250]

I bought a used 2006 in 2009 for $1,500, fixed it up, bought gear, and started riding full time. According to my records, the savings in fuel over driving the car paid for the bike and all initial gear and accessory purchase back in March of this year. Basically, every time I fill the bike up I save $20-30, not counting wear and tear on the car or the fact that oil changes on the bike only take two quarts instead of the 5 on the car.

The key was buying used and cheap. If I'd bought new and financed I'd still be in the hole, and for the foreseeable future.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by bluepoof

Good lord, between 10 bikes, multiple sets of gear, multiple cross country trips, countless weekend/week-long trips, parts, gas, etc...yeah, I won't be calculating that number.

Thats why I created the spreadsheet, I want to keep track of everything

Initially I was going to make a simple C++ program to track everything but excel is just easier.

I'm a geek.

[Guoseph]

Remember that your bikes have resale value, thus your true cost is the amount it depreciated while under your ownership. Also, I don't see a maintenance column, unless you put it under "Mods". Proper maintenance reduces your cost of ownership over time

+1 on getting more gear.

[Alex]

This is a report I pull up in Quicken with the door locked behind me.

[Toly]

An arm and a leg... thankfully, not literally. YMMV.

["A"]

Far less than some other addictions I used to have.

[Heed]

Nice. :P

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Guoseph

Remember that your bikes have resale value, thus your true cost is the amount it depreciated while under your ownership. Also, I don't see a maintenance column, unless you put it under "Mods". Proper maintenance reduces your cost of ownership over time

+1 on getting more gear.

I added in my maintenance under mods, but I can surely add another column

And although your bikes, gear, etc. have resale value, that value isn't easily accessible to you until you sell it. Therefore until the point of sale, it is a cost/debt.

Anyone see the awesome ninjette I excel painted in there? lol

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[massacremasses]

Originally Posted by "A"

Far less than some other addictions I used to have.

strippers and guns?

[Liist]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I added in my maintenance under mods, but I can surely add another column

And although your bikes, gear, etc. have resale value, that value isn't easily accessible to you until you sell it. Therefore until the point of sale, it is a cost/debt.

Anyone see the awesome ninjette I excel painted in there? lol

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When doing your books, you factor in depreciation expense each year for expected depreciation of your bike. That counts as an expense on your bike.

What your bike is worth counts as an asset, not an expense.

Of course I don't do this with my own stuff because I don't have to file business taxes.

[NDspd]

I've probably have already spent $700-800+ on just gear, and I'm about to get a really nice leather jacket, so there is another $400 there. I won't attempt to add everything else, I would just go crazy. It's a hell of lot better than a car, I'll tell ya that.

[kyrider]

I am out less than two grand and I started this summer. I paid $1300 for my bike and a couple hundred in gear and a lil over $100 in work on my bike. Insurance at $96 a year and three tanks of gas.

[Boom King]

Entered in all my receipts into Excel and when I did the SUM function, things didn't go so well...

GIFSoup

[Sailariel]

I think that Firehorse summed it up. To paraphrase: What price do you put on your mental health?

I am a retired Mental Health Professional (LCSW). I have been riding off and on since 1958. How much have I spent on motorcycling? If you ask, you can't afford it.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Firehorse

I just calculated mine against the alternative and this is what I got:

No car = Minus $1000 ins, Minus $17000 purchase, minus 500 maintenance.
Have bike = + $470 ins.(next year), +$5000? purchase - $100 maint. (lubs, polish, oil, fluids)
Saved $12930 without factoring in gas and I'd like a tiny fast BMW or Audi so the bike wins there too.

Psychiatry costs = Minus $10,000.

What's your peace of mind and happiness really worth?

That sounds more realistic. The OP forgot to add in the benefits of biking. It also looks like he forgot to amortize over the life of the bike. A typical Ninja will go $50K miles before anything major is needed.

Here are my calcs:

Ninja pregen: $1600 amortized over 5 years = $320/yr
Farkles: Trunk and homemade rack $100 amort 5 yrs = $20/yr
Maintenance: Oil, filters, chain lube, gaskets, etc. = $100/yr
Gas: 10,000 miles @ 60 mpg = 167 gallons @ $4/gal = $668/yr
Gear: $190 ($50 mesh jacket, $100 helmet, $20 gloves, $20rain suit) ---
amortized over 5 years - $38/yr
Insurance: $160/yr (its not required in FL, but I have it anyway)

Total cost: $1306/yr or about $109/month or $3.56/day.

Now subtract the need for happiness pills:
Abilify: $508/month
Psychiatrist: $150/month
Prozac: $4/month
Total happiness surplus: $662/month

Net cost of motorcycling: $662-$109 = ($553/month)

That is, I'm saving $553 a month by having a motorcycle and the cost of ownership is essentially free. Since I also have a car for getting groceries, I can't subtract out that too, but if I could, that would be even more savings.

The cost above is for a used pregen, but even with a new newgen, its not that much different.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

That sounds more realistic. The OP forgot to add in the benefits of biking. It also looks like he forgot to amortize over the life of the bike. A typical Ninja will go $50K miles before anything major is needed.

Here are my calcs:

Ninja pregen: $1600 amortized over 5 years = $320/yr
Farkles: Trunk and homemade rack $100 amort 5 yrs = $20/yr
Maintenance: Oil, filters, chain lube, gaskets, etc. = $100/yr
Gas: 10,000 miles @ 60 mpg = 167 gallons @ $4/gal = $668/yr
Gear: $190 ($50 mesh jacket, $100 helmet, $20 gloves, $20rain suit) ---
amortized over 5 years - $38/yr
Insurance: $160/yr (its not required in FL, but I have it anyway)

Total cost: $1306/yr or about $109/month or $3.56/day.

Now subtract the need for happiness pills:
Abilify: $508/month
Psychiatrist: $150/month
Prozac: $4/month
Total happiness surplus: $662/month

Net cost of motorcycling: $662-$109 = ($553/month)

That is, I'm saving $553 a month by having a motorcycle and the cost of ownership is essentially free. Since I also have a car for getting groceries, I can't subtract out that too, but if I could, that would be even more savings.

The cost above is for a used pregen, but even with a new newgen, its not that much different.

lmao go ahead and manipulate the numbers to make yourself happy

[gfloyd2002]

Oh, dear Lord, Jiggles. If my wife ever sees this, its over for me. You evil, evil man. Everyone, this can be our little secret. Shhhhhh.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

lmao go ahead and manipulate the numbers to make yourself happy

Ok, well maybe I didn't actually take prozac, abilify and see a shrink before I got the bike, but who's to say I wouldn't have needed all that if I hadn't of gotten the bike?

But not counting the happiness surplus, the figures are accurate. Your figures are off because it looks like you have amortized over the time you have owned it rather than the expected lifetime of the bike.

[little fish]

lets see.....
bike -- $0.00 (did a straight trade)
tag and title -- $35.00
insurance (per year) $95.00
new helmet $105.00
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well thats about it...other than gas .. but i'm avaraging 63 mpg which is a lot better than my truck (20mpg) sooooooo i'm saving about $150.00 a month in gas

so over all per year spending will be
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- negative thats NEGATIVE $1800.00 if i didn't have the bike and had to drive my truck

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

Ok, well maybe I didn't actually take prozac, abilify and see a shrink before I got the bike, but who's to say I wouldn't have needed all that if I hadn't of gotten the bike?

But not counting the happiness surplus, the figures are accurate. Your figures are off because it looks like you have amortized over the time you have owned it rather than the expected lifetime of the bike.

I think you caused the housing market to collapse

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I think you caused the housing market to collapse

Nope, that was caused by flippers and greedy bankers.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

Nope, that was caused by flippers and greedy bankers.

The fact remains, I would be 10k richer if I never got into motorcycling.

[n4mwd]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

The fact remains, I would be 10k richer if I never got into motorcycling.

So how much poorer would you be if you got into cars instead? Or would you take the bus everywhere?

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by n4mwd

So how much poorer would you be if you got into cars instead? Or would you take the bus everywhere?

I have a car, and two bikes so yes 10k richer I would be.