Are young people interested in motorcyles?

[not-fishing]

Mr Fishing , did you factor in tire costs ?

 Dusty

Yeah, the V uses very special tires Y rated speed that only last 30,000 miles at more than $250 per tire.  My Griso is getting 12,000 miles out of a set of Metzlers @ $380 installed.

Right now my V needs a new oil pressure sending unit (not expensive), all the fuel injectors cleaned (more expensive) and another set of motor mounts/ rear diff mount (very expensive).  Those little hidden costs (like motor / mounts every 60,000 miles) run the cost of maintenance up a fair amount for the car.

[HDGoose]

Disagree,

I bought the youngest a Aprilia Scarabeo 150 for $1000 last year.  We put $200 in parts (new battery, added key and fuel pump) then he rode it for a year to school.  Insurance was $500 in his name ($300,000 in uninsured motorest was $275 of that - this is California don't-cha-know).  Gas was $3.00 per week or so a full tank and school parking $60 per year.

Just to insure him in a $3000 beater car would be $1400 per year.  Then you have double for gas, double+ for parts and double parking fees.

Also he saves 10 minutes every trip to school by splitting lanes and loves riding his little Scarab. 

This year we did the valves, brakes, tires, oil, tranny oil (belt was good) and spent about $250 for parts.  The tires are good for 10,000 miles.

I figure the car would cost double to triple what that little scooter costs.

Still there is a hidden cost in bikes ........I have a road trip to make this weekend and if all goes well ............

How much traveling will be done on a 150? anything below a 400? I doubt you see him putting 400-500 miles on it in a day traveling someplace.

[ScepticalScotty]

No need to go that far in a day anyway. Slow down and smell the roses. Or eat em.

I think the people that will come in will come in, and those that won't...won't. My daughter was mad keen to go on the back of the Guzzi but Jill is dead set against it. Now Amelie is losing the desire to go on the back, so oh well, I suppose in this family it will be just me that will ride a bike. Started at 7 years old, and still loving it. 

[HDGoose]

Yeah, the V uses very special tires Y rated speed that only last 30,000 miles at more than $250 per tire.  My Griso is getting 12,000 miles out of a set of Metzlers @ $380 installed.

Right now my V needs a new oil pressure sending unit (not expensive), all the fuel injectors cleaned (more expensive) and another set of motor mounts/ rear diff mount (very expensive).  Those little hidden costs (like motor / mounts every 60,000 miles) run the cost of maintenance up a fair amount for the car.

So you are comparing a high maintenance car to a motorcycle? My 1998 C1500 truck required only a water pump before 100,000 miles. I replaced the tires at 80,000 for $600 on sale. Except for oil changes, $20 or under, no maintenance was done.

Motorcycles are more comparable to a $20,000 car than a a high end vehicle or performance vehicle. I know people who buy a $10,000 vehicle every 3-4 years and do very little to them. During the same time frame of ownership, run through 2 or three tires every year. The car needed nothing. And the car got the same or better fuel mileage. Today, many cars approach 30 mph easily. Motorcycles struggle to obtain 40.

[HardAspie]

I have owned several vehicles new enough to have digitronics. Bear in mind that I am biased by lifelong poverty (my own damn fault for being autistic). What I find about digitronic vehicles is that they run perfectly until they don't. That don't is likely to be pretty sudden. Then the costs begin and can be - for me - staggering. What in the old days was the turn of an adjuster screw is now probably a sensor or module replacement; after the specific part is identified. For people like myself this improvement - and improvement it truly is - may not be so wonderful.

Oh, I plan to get a 150 and I do plan 400 to 500 mile days. But then I have always been a bit meshugge.

[Triple Jim]

Today, many cars approach 30 mph easily. Motorcycles struggle to obtain 40.

Mine will easily get to 45 mph!

[HardAspie]

My brussel's sprout never ventured at all, but the local pet store had nothing nearer to beaver than a guinea pig!

[Triple Jim]

 

[LaMojo]

My daughter expressed interest in riding motorcycles so I bought her a nice '84 65C.   She may have put 50 miles on it and that was it.   My wife was next.  Maybe 200 miles and it was parked.  I ride it occasionally to keep the fluids circulating but it seems like a toy compared to the EV.