Have a GRE
My husband and I need a second vehicle and I really want a motorcycle, but is it practical? I think Im safe to assume that a motorcylce gets better gas mileage than a car right? But by how much? Of course we will still have the car to get groceries and to haul around stuff. The motorcylce is mainly for me to get back and forth from work and school because i work in the city and my husband works closer. Oh and by the way Ive been riding dirt bikes and motorcycles for years so yes I know what Im doing lol. So, what do you think?
Answer
As a 'motorcycle only' kinda guy, I may be biased! But looking at it logically, yes it is.
To answer your sub-question, yes motorcycles get better mileage than cars - although it has to be considered what bike you're talking about. An average 500cc twin for example can get 50-70mpg, but a litre sized sportsbike really isn't much better than your average 'sensible' car. It very much depends how you ride of course - burying the needle in the redline or using maximum exceleration doesn't help! The main benefit (fuel wise) is that you make more efficient use of the fuel, by safely filtering you're not sitting stationery while fuel is being pointlessly burned away.
The other issue is weather, you really need good gear if you're going to make a go of it. You can buy an average textile jacket for £70-140, it will last 3 months of British weather. A good investment is paying a little more for long lasting and quality gear, such as Rukka. For many years I bought cheap waterproof trousers for £60'ish and they lasted 3 to 6 months. I've had my Rukka trousers for 3 years now and they've never let me down - and that includes in severe downpours. They cost £180 BUT they're guarranteed for 5 years - so do the maths and they work out cheaper! As yet I've not managed to save up for one of their £400+ jackets...that's just too much in one lump!
If you didn't have children I would even suggest selling the car and just hiring one when you need it. For £25 you can get a reasonable sized car for a day, all taxed, mot'd and insured. That's not applicable for you so I won't go on!
In this petrol dependant world we live in, you may even want to save money by considering an electric scooter for the shorter journeys your husband makes. It's not macho but large cc's and short journeys are not a good mix for maintaining reliability. An example (top end) electric scooter is a Vectrix (I may have mis-spelt), here is the spec:
100% charge takes 3 hours (cost equivalent to boiling the kettle for a brew)
80% in 2 hours)
60-70mile range
62mph top speed
re-charges going downhill
has a reverse gear(possible due to weight)
Informative display (precise)
3metre charging cable with typical 3 pin UK plug
£0.00 Road TAX.
Battery lasts approx 10 years
downside is price tag: £5,500. :-(
Motorcycles do need more TLC than cars, for example a chain driven (shaft is easier to live with, but boring) bike needs regular lubing and adjustment - although the latter is a more regular thing for powerful bikes. Then there's tyres - bikes do wear them out quicker than cars - and you can't go and buy cheap rubber as you need stability and grip.
Then there's the safety - "everyone on the road is an idiot". To ensure your children continue to have parents I would advise you enroll in some sort of 'advanced' training. There are many organisations and the police organise this themselves, although there are others. IAM and RoSPA immediately come to mind, These are very different in skill levels and IAM is generally much much easier than RoSPA, but nonetheless beneficial.
Just something to consider, hope that helps!
Keep the rubber side down!
As a 'motorcycle only' kinda guy, I may be biased! But looking at it logically, yes it is.
To answer your sub-question, yes motorcycles get better mileage than cars - although it has to be considered what bike you're talking about. An average 500cc twin for example can get 50-70mpg, but a litre sized sportsbike really isn't much better than your average 'sensible' car. It very much depends how you ride of course - burying the needle in the redline or using maximum exceleration doesn't help! The main benefit (fuel wise) is that you make more efficient use of the fuel, by safely filtering you're not sitting stationery while fuel is being pointlessly burned away.
The other issue is weather, you really need good gear if you're going to make a go of it. You can buy an average textile jacket for £70-140, it will last 3 months of British weather. A good investment is paying a little more for long lasting and quality gear, such as Rukka. For many years I bought cheap waterproof trousers for £60'ish and they lasted 3 to 6 months. I've had my Rukka trousers for 3 years now and they've never let me down - and that includes in severe downpours. They cost £180 BUT they're guarranteed for 5 years - so do the maths and they work out cheaper! As yet I've not managed to save up for one of their £400+ jackets...that's just too much in one lump!
If you didn't have children I would even suggest selling the car and just hiring one when you need it. For £25 you can get a reasonable sized car for a day, all taxed, mot'd and insured. That's not applicable for you so I won't go on!
In this petrol dependant world we live in, you may even want to save money by considering an electric scooter for the shorter journeys your husband makes. It's not macho but large cc's and short journeys are not a good mix for maintaining reliability. An example (top end) electric scooter is a Vectrix (I may have mis-spelt), here is the spec:
100% charge takes 3 hours (cost equivalent to boiling the kettle for a brew)
80% in 2 hours)
60-70mile range
62mph top speed
re-charges going downhill
has a reverse gear(possible due to weight)
Informative display (precise)
3metre charging cable with typical 3 pin UK plug
£0.00 Road TAX.
Battery lasts approx 10 years
downside is price tag: £5,500. :-(
Motorcycles do need more TLC than cars, for example a chain driven (shaft is easier to live with, but boring) bike needs regular lubing and adjustment - although the latter is a more regular thing for powerful bikes. Then there's tyres - bikes do wear them out quicker than cars - and you can't go and buy cheap rubber as you need stability and grip.
Then there's the safety - "everyone on the road is an idiot". To ensure your children continue to have parents I would advise you enroll in some sort of 'advanced' training. There are many organisations and the police organise this themselves, although there are others. IAM and RoSPA immediately come to mind, These are very different in skill levels and IAM is generally much much easier than RoSPA, but nonetheless beneficial.
Just something to consider, hope that helps!
Keep the rubber side down!
Trying to decide between a 1972 Norton Commando and a 1969 triumph Trophy?
Dennis Gal
what are the pros and cons between them? Thanks!
Answer
Well done, excellent classic choices.
BUT either will require re-engineering, consider if U are up to it. They will have had numerous previous botching owners, think in terms of a full strip and re-build.
The Norton mark IIA 'bendy' (as you had it in the US) 850cc nominal was the best of the bunch, pre the electric non working start (so, much lighter), the Trumpet '69 pre oil in frame was also the best of the crop, the single carb Trophy was the bees knees and actually went round corners (pre '65's didn't).
Both will kill you if the chassis isn't 100%, both will frustrate you if you don't love 'em.
Spares? You can build both from every nut bolt and washer now from stock, at a price, Norman Hyde (Triumph including racing parts) and Fair Spares or Norvil, all in the UK have every part - websites give details, downloadable parts lists etc. You can actually build either (for $$$$$) from scratch, using retail spares off the shelf. You can buy a new Norton from Fair Spares with modern materials for around $15000 plus shipping. I personally would sooner have Kenny Dyer's prototype and sort it........
I donated a Mk IIA to a chum (as I hate him, three years on he is still trying to re-assemle it) Friend of mine had a '68 TR6 (late relative of the Trophy) and it is worth a lot now, prettiest bike I ever saw, but required experienced blueprinting with modern spares to make it right. Here in UK it is $8000 in 'as seen' condition.
With these bikes, everything depends on previous owner's attitude. Join the owners' clubs, talk to the guys who run them, buy from within the club. Don't forget they are lawn-mower technology stretched to record breaking levels by a dying industry
If the bike is say $ 5000 for a cranky 'going concern', reckon on another at least $6000 for rebuilding it, but it is as stated, entirely possible mail order - everything for both models is now off the shelf, more so than when they were made even, at a price. Forget your man-hours - three winters at least!
Hope you do it, though, another piece of history resurrected.
The Norton is the most comfy long distance, the Trumpet the most style; the rest is up to you.
PS having ridden the Norton in a state of calamity, and having seen the Trumpet in immaculate Dream Machine paint, I would choose the Trumpet as a toy and the Norton to cross continents on, bad as she was, we made a European tour on her, albeit, only just. Be realistic buddy.
Well done, excellent classic choices.
BUT either will require re-engineering, consider if U are up to it. They will have had numerous previous botching owners, think in terms of a full strip and re-build.
The Norton mark IIA 'bendy' (as you had it in the US) 850cc nominal was the best of the bunch, pre the electric non working start (so, much lighter), the Trumpet '69 pre oil in frame was also the best of the crop, the single carb Trophy was the bees knees and actually went round corners (pre '65's didn't).
Both will kill you if the chassis isn't 100%, both will frustrate you if you don't love 'em.
Spares? You can build both from every nut bolt and washer now from stock, at a price, Norman Hyde (Triumph including racing parts) and Fair Spares or Norvil, all in the UK have every part - websites give details, downloadable parts lists etc. You can actually build either (for $$$$$) from scratch, using retail spares off the shelf. You can buy a new Norton from Fair Spares with modern materials for around $15000 plus shipping. I personally would sooner have Kenny Dyer's prototype and sort it........
I donated a Mk IIA to a chum (as I hate him, three years on he is still trying to re-assemle it) Friend of mine had a '68 TR6 (late relative of the Trophy) and it is worth a lot now, prettiest bike I ever saw, but required experienced blueprinting with modern spares to make it right. Here in UK it is $8000 in 'as seen' condition.
With these bikes, everything depends on previous owner's attitude. Join the owners' clubs, talk to the guys who run them, buy from within the club. Don't forget they are lawn-mower technology stretched to record breaking levels by a dying industry
If the bike is say $ 5000 for a cranky 'going concern', reckon on another at least $6000 for rebuilding it, but it is as stated, entirely possible mail order - everything for both models is now off the shelf, more so than when they were made even, at a price. Forget your man-hours - three winters at least!
Hope you do it, though, another piece of history resurrected.
The Norton is the most comfy long distance, the Trumpet the most style; the rest is up to you.
PS having ridden the Norton in a state of calamity, and having seen the Trumpet in immaculate Dream Machine paint, I would choose the Trumpet as a toy and the Norton to cross continents on, bad as she was, we made a European tour on her, albeit, only just. Be realistic buddy.
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Title Post: Is a motorcycle practical?
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Rating: 83% based on 9498 ratings. 4 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming T0 My Blog
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