[ale] [OT] Looking for an old beater motorcycle.

Thu Aug 1 21:45:32 EDT 2013

I pay just under $300 a year for full coverage on a BMW and liability on another BMW and 2 Yamahas.  This includes roadside assistance for all four bikes.  Use what you save in insurance cost for safety gear (helmet, riding boots, jacket, pants and gloves).  All my bikes are over 850cc and all get better than 35 mpg.  The best gets in the upper 40 mpg.  If you're mechanically inclined you can do most maintenance yourself.  I wouldn't be riding a BMW if I always had to pay the dealers labor rate!

Ray Knight

On Aug 1, 2013, at 12:48 PM, Adrya Stembridge <adrya.stembridge at gmail.com> wrote:

> I am a motorcyclist and these are good points.  One other thing to consider is insurance.  My KTM is fully covered at around $300/yr.   Liability on my small car is around $500/yr.  Full coverage on the same car was over $1000/yr. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Aug 1, 2013 at 12:29 PM, Ron Frazier (ALE) <atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> wrote:
>> I am not a motorcyclist, so what I'm about to say is hearsay.  At one point in the past, there was a situation where I needed to change cars and I saw a somewhat reasonably priced motorcycle at a thrift store.  I was considering buying it.  I talked to a local motorcycle mechanic who also races them.  And I talked to a friend who used to own one.  I became convinced that I'd have to add about $ 1000 to the cost of the bike to get a really good helmet and really good riders safety gear / clothing.  The mechanic said it's not if you lay it down and go sliding, it's when.  Flimsy fabric won't protect your body parts.  I also figured another few hundred $$ for driver training.  My friend said the tires only last about 20K miles, and there's a good bit of routine maintenance.  He said you don't save that much over a small car.
>> 
>> In the end, I decided to go with a conventional car.  Someone more familiar with motorcycles can elaborate on these issues.  That's what I heard for what it's worth.
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> 
>> Ron
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Sean Kilpatrick <kilpatms at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> >Richard,
>> >Can you get into town (fairly) easily without getting on an Interstate?
>> >
>> >If so, you might be able to find a 4-5 year old Honda/Yamaha/whatever
>> >250cc
>> >bike in your price range.
>> >
>> >If you NEED to get up on the interstates you are going to want at least
>> >a
>> >500cc bike. Smaller bikes have neither the speed nor weight to be safe.
>> >
>> >The bow wave of a large truck can push a small bike over a half lane or
>> >
>> >more. Really scary.
>> >
>> >The problem is that any 500 cc (or larger) bike you can find in the
>> >$500
>> >range is going to need a LOT of work. You could easily sink another
>> >$500
>> >into it.
>> >
>> >And, of course, if you don't already have an endorsement on your
>> >driver's
>> >license for a motorcycle, you'll need to deal with that hassle as well.
>> >
>> >Please do not even consider a 50 cc putt-putt.  Most of them can not
>> >pull
>> >a moderate hill at 30 mph.  They are dangerous on most roads outside
>> >the
>> >Loop as most drivers coming up behind you will think you are a
>> >motorcycle
>> >and not realize how slowly you are going.
>> >
>> >Sean
>> >
>> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >
>> >
>> >On Thursday, August 01, 2013 10:00:07 am Richard Bronosky wrote:
>> >> I am newly divorced and am faced with challenge of finding a social
>> >> life outside of my wife and children. This was going pretty well when
>> >> I was sleeping on a coworker's couch downtown. Now that I'm in a home
>> >> far west of Atlanta I face a $10 fuel investment anytime I drive into
>> >> town. (I usually take the bus to work.) That will result in me
>> >sitting
>> >> on the computer every night and being a recluse.
>> >>
>> >> I sold a TV for $500 and would like to spend that on motorcycle. I'm
>> >> looking at 30+ year old Hondas on Craig's List. If you know of
>> >> anything or anyone, please put me in touch.
>> >>
>> >> .!# RichardBronosky #!.
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>> 
>> --
>> 
>> Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.
>> Please excuse my potential brevity if I'm typing on the touch screen.
>> 
>> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
>> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
>> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)
>> 
>> Ron Frazier
>> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
>> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
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