How much would buying a motorcycle, insurance, and gear cost?
2010 March 9
I appreciate any answers.
Here are some figures I have seen:
Insurance
- – 0 a year
Motorcycle gear
- New helmet and gear = +/- 0
Motorcycle
- 0- ,000 or more
10 Responses
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The biggest variable will be your insurance, and $90 per year is EXTREMELY low, even for limited liability ONLY. If you are over 25, good driving record, married, with an MSF course under your belt and NOT starting on a 1000cc superbike, you can expect under $50/month for full coverage (required if financing through a bank).
If you’re 18, on a used Gixxer 600, with a ticket or two, expect $400 or so just for liability!
As for gear, expect to pay AT LEAST $500, but a mroe realistic expectation is to budget another $1000 for good gear, leather if possible, and the RIGHT helmet that fits properly. Some people are fine with a $200 HJC helmet, others can’t live without a $500 Shoei. If you have a $50 head, then by all means buy a $50 helmet.
The bike itself doesn’t have a straightforward answer. Your first bike should be a smaller USED one, so you can learn and drop it a few times without getting in over your head. Maybe $5000 tops. Then after you have a couple years’ experience, you can shop for your Wonder Bike. So do you want a small sportbike under $10,000 or an exotic $23,000 MV Agusta F4? Maybe a two wheeled motor home like a Gold Wing?
The future of your motorcycling life is up to you, but it all hinges on whether you start out right and live to see it.
It all depends on the bike and your experience, but…
Insurance: $100 – 3000+ a year
Gear: $800 is ridiculously cheap. It’s more like $1500 – 3000, since this is the worst place to skimp.
Motorcycle: $1000 – 20000
If you’re spending less than $1200 on your motorcycle, then your motorcycle is a "fixer." If you’re spending less than $2200 on the motorcycle, then it’s a "beater."
Your other numbers are more realistic… you’re getting some nice gear for $800.
Edit:
Yeah, I was thinking helmet and gloves, and jacket for gear. If you want boots and a full body leather suit, it’s going to cost more than $800.
Depending on your area — insurance varies. If you live in the midwest (or anywhere where you will not be driving in winter) make sure you say that you don’t want to insure it during those months. A helmet will be from 100-300 dollars.
say insurance varies bigtime,all of it depends on what kind of bike you have,but for your accesseries I highly recommend http://www.sturgisleatherstore.com He stands behind his work and specializes in motorcycle wear and accessories.and I garentee you that they will hook you up with gloves,chaps,jacket,and helmet with lifetime garentee for less than 450…he also has armor plated jackets too…the leasther is good quality and think
I don’t know what you might think but the guy that said…."If you live in the Midwest (or anywhere where you will not be driving in winter) make sure you say that you don’t want to insure it during those months."…..is crazy. If your bike gets stolen out of your garage or if your garage would catch on fire you would just be out of quite a few thousand dollars. If you get a nice bike your insurance will be higher than you figured. Insure it for theft. Mine was just about stolen from a YMCA parking lot. Bikes get stolen. I have a few helmets, a few pair of boots and different jackets depending on the weather but you don’t have to buy them all the first year. If you get a bike for $500 you will not be riding it because it will not be running half the time. Lean more toward your higher figure. You did not say what kind of bike you wanted but all decent bikes cost more than $500.
Here are the costs converted to US dollars of putting one of my bikes on the road from scratch:
Insurance $150 for full cover
Helmet $50 (New old stock reduced for $250)
Armoured riding jacket and trousers $300 (M/C store in off season sale)
Workmans armoured boots $20 (Builders Merchant)
Leather M/C gloves $20 (bargain store)
Motorcycle $110 (Free ad in local paper)
Fix-up costs of motorcycle $200 (New parts, DIY so no labour costs)
So a minimum of $900 even on a very cheap bike bike (It’s been an excellent bike even though it was so cheap – I’ve been to six different European countries on it).
Anywhere from $100 to $80,000. Depending on what you want. You could spend a lot more if you wanted.
My girlfriend bought a very nice 20 year old Honda 1000 four cylinder for $1200. Two years later still running fine.
I pay $80 for liability and uninsured motorist on my sport-bike, and the same on my BMW but I’m old, have a prefect record and live in a smaller city.
I know it is all the style to wear special motorcycle clothes, but for about 80 years it was ok to just wear whatever you want to be wearing when you get there. So spend $100 on a perfectly good no name full face helmet and you are on your way.
I spend 12.00 a month on Insurance.
200.00 for my helmet.
200.00 for my spring/summer/fall jacket
350.00 for my winter jacket
25.00 for gloves
30.00 for a new helmet shield (i have one clear one tint)
I paid 3,200.00 for my bike and got a 250 (wish I got a 650)