Using a sporty as daily transportation...
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
I ride every reasonable day - 40 miles a day, 4 on gravel. The maintenance is only a bit more because the tires wear out faster. Insurance is cheap and I get 40 mpg in town/50 in the country. Bought my bike new in Feb and have 5000 miles on her - which is 5000 fewer miles on my truck!
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
I ride everyday to work when I can. Don't know about maintenance comparison, but with the mpg I get on my bike makes me feel good knowing I'm not financing Exxon-Mobil's profits.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,151
Likes: 406
From: Hurdle Mills NC
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
I do ... bout 84 miles round trip 1/2 interstate, 1/2 country roads. Just over 15k miles in 11 months. This is combined joy riding and commuting.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
I don't drive new cars cant afford them so your accountant does me no good. I drive used cars and used cars cost more money than new. They break down more and require some sort of maintenance every year especially if it's an American car because everything is made to wear out quicker. So basically your comparing apples and I am eating oranges.
My ford ranger last year cost me $4000 dollars in repairs because it hit 100,000 miles and the front end went to hell go figure truck was paid off. So it all depends on what you drive and were you drive it and how much you abuse it. Glad I sold it I now have a Japenese car Subaru 03 WRX with a 176,000 miles on it all highway and it runs better than any new American car I have ever driven. By the way in October its for sale I am going off to school again in FL and will not need the extra expense of having a car. I'll Sell for $8000 -Kelly blue book list for $9600 and dealer sale list is $10,400 All maintenance is done for the next 100,000 miles car will easily go 300,000. Fun and fast as hell. Turbo charged all wheel drive 230 hp.
So far so good on the American bike I would not want any thing else. Very user friendly easy to fix and runs great (must be the carburetor).
My ford ranger last year cost me $4000 dollars in repairs because it hit 100,000 miles and the front end went to hell go figure truck was paid off. So it all depends on what you drive and were you drive it and how much you abuse it. Glad I sold it I now have a Japenese car Subaru 03 WRX with a 176,000 miles on it all highway and it runs better than any new American car I have ever driven. By the way in October its for sale I am going off to school again in FL and will not need the extra expense of having a car. I'll Sell for $8000 -Kelly blue book list for $9600 and dealer sale list is $10,400 All maintenance is done for the next 100,000 miles car will easily go 300,000. Fun and fast as hell. Turbo charged all wheel drive 230 hp.
So far so good on the American bike I would not want any thing else. Very user friendly easy to fix and runs great (must be the carburetor).
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,167
Likes: 20
From: NE Pennsylvania
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
I agree with much of what was stated earlier in the thread ;
- Tires wear out quicker and cost more to have replaced at the shop. I had my first change done by a mechanic, though I'll probably pick up a jack and remove the wheels myself next time to save myself the labor $ involved. Cost of the tires - $90 for the front, $130 for the rear, not including the labor. Truck tires cost about $400 - 500for all four, labor included. Pretty much a wash when comparing prices for a new set of rubber for each vehicle, but I know I'll change at least 2-3 sets of bike tires before I change a set of truck tires.
- Gas mileage is about 18mpg in the Dakota, 50 on the Sporty. But I do drive many more miles than necessary on the bike so it kinda evens out. The bike is definitely more fun...
- I ride to work every chance I get, unless it's raining when I have to leave.
- I spend more money on accessories for the bike than I ever would for the cage.
- Oil changes are much more expensive for the HD. It cost me about $45 to do my first oil change in the bike (synthetic), my truck would be about $20.
All that being said, I still tell the wife the bike saves money....I wouldn't give it up for anything.
- Tires wear out quicker and cost more to have replaced at the shop. I had my first change done by a mechanic, though I'll probably pick up a jack and remove the wheels myself next time to save myself the labor $ involved. Cost of the tires - $90 for the front, $130 for the rear, not including the labor. Truck tires cost about $400 - 500for all four, labor included. Pretty much a wash when comparing prices for a new set of rubber for each vehicle, but I know I'll change at least 2-3 sets of bike tires before I change a set of truck tires.
- Gas mileage is about 18mpg in the Dakota, 50 on the Sporty. But I do drive many more miles than necessary on the bike so it kinda evens out. The bike is definitely more fun...
- I ride to work every chance I get, unless it's raining when I have to leave.
- I spend more money on accessories for the bike than I ever would for the cage.
- Oil changes are much more expensive for the HD. It cost me about $45 to do my first oil change in the bike (synthetic), my truck would be about $20.
All that being said, I still tell the wife the bike saves money....I wouldn't give it up for anything.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
Buda,
I see you're going back to school in the fall. Might I suggest some business/finance/accounting classes.
Probably not. I see you have a 2004 Roadster. I'm guessing less than 15,000 miles. To compare the maintenace cost of that with the maintenace cost of a truck with 100,000 miles is not relative.
Just enjoy the bike. Put 20,000 miles on it, and see how much your maintenance cost is. I do understand your point. In the short term, the bike is costing you less. This all started out about the maintenance costs of the bike versus the gas savings. The only way you can make that comparison is to look at the costs of a new bike, and a new car/truck.
You won't "drown" my accountant, I was just trying to keep people from falsely thinking they were saving money, so they didn't "drown" themselves.
Just a tip...if a Dr. tells ya you have cancer, don't argue with him. That would kinda be like takingon an accountant in a financial discussion, when you are woefully underqualified. The Dr. will just shake his head and walk away...but you'll still have cancer.
If it's all the sameya'll...I'd like to put the accountant away. SportyPig has a LOT more fun.
Ride Safe!
I see you're going back to school in the fall. Might I suggest some business/finance/accounting classes.
Probably not. I see you have a 2004 Roadster. I'm guessing less than 15,000 miles. To compare the maintenace cost of that with the maintenace cost of a truck with 100,000 miles is not relative.
Just enjoy the bike. Put 20,000 miles on it, and see how much your maintenance cost is. I do understand your point. In the short term, the bike is costing you less. This all started out about the maintenance costs of the bike versus the gas savings. The only way you can make that comparison is to look at the costs of a new bike, and a new car/truck.
You won't "drown" my accountant, I was just trying to keep people from falsely thinking they were saving money, so they didn't "drown" themselves.
Just a tip...if a Dr. tells ya you have cancer, don't argue with him. That would kinda be like takingon an accountant in a financial discussion, when you are woefully underqualified. The Dr. will just shake his head and walk away...but you'll still have cancer.
If it's all the sameya'll...I'd like to put the accountant away. SportyPig has a LOT more fun.
Ride Safe!
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
I ride to workeveryday it isn't raining. I got caught in the rain one day on the way to work and went home early cause the AC at work froze me out. It is a 30 mile trip both ways. I spend less on gas and the real bonus is burning less gas, but I don't save any money. The cost of the bike itself negates any money I would save... I still have a car. I don't think I could give up the cage altogether. There is just too much rain here in Florida for that. 
Cruiser
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
I guess they call it practicing medicine because they are always right.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,082
Likes: 8
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
ORIGINAL: SportyPig
I do all of my own wrenching. The maintenance cost eats up the savings on gas. Don't make me let the accountant outta the closet. Think about it, tires alone come close to eating up the gas savings. You would expect to get 50,000 miles outta a set of tires on a car. If you're lucky, you will only replace 3 set of tires in 50,000 miles on a bike. We had this discussion before on here....The Spreadsheet doesn't lie.
I do all of my own wrenching. The maintenance cost eats up the savings on gas. Don't make me let the accountant outta the closet. Think about it, tires alone come close to eating up the gas savings. You would expect to get 50,000 miles outta a set of tires on a car. If you're lucky, you will only replace 3 set of tires in 50,000 miles on a bike. We had this discussion before on here....The Spreadsheet doesn't lie.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 512
Likes: 1
From: Escondido, CA
RE: Using a sporty as daily transportation...
I ride my sporty to work every day, 60 miles round trip. I've put almost 3000 miles on her in two months. I also ride arund town for errands, unless its for something to big to carry on the bike.