Got a Dilema.

[Jay-ZS+]

Cheers for that.

Well working from those figures that gives a rough saving of ?1200 in running costs! I thought it would be alot lower than that!! If the tax on the 180 goes up next year it will be even more!

Would save almost ?800 on insurance, tax and parking alone!! I dont do many miles a year, would only really be used for trips to uni and work.

Long journeys we normanlly go in the gfs car anyway as its loads cheaper on fuel.

What sort of cost is the test? Edit: spent too long typing this!

Also how does ncb earnt in a car work assume a bike license is completly seperate. Which means if Im not the main driver on a car for a few years will I loose my ncb?

Cant really justify running both as I dont do the mileage to get the saving.

The gf said why not get a less powerful car thats cheaper to run, in which I said why dont you by cheaper clothes. So now she sees my point. lol

[ZS]

Originally Posted by Jay-ZS+

Also how does ncb earnt in a car work assume a bike license is completly seperate. Which means if Im not the main driver on a car for a few years will I loose my ncb?

TBH it is almost worth buying a cheap crappy car and insuring it to keep your no claims... doesn't even need an MOT or anything, leave it to one side

But yes I beleive if you don't have insurance for more than 3 years (IIRC) you loose your NCD. Also if you don't drive a car for 10 years you loose your Car License!

Originally Posted by Jay-ZS+

The gf said why not get a less powerful car thats cheaper to run, in which I said why dont you by cheaper clothes. So now she sees my point. lol

That had me and a collegue in stitches! Quality argument!

TBH the only reasons I'm getting rid of the bike are because of cost (sounds strange but I can't use the bike any more due to point 2, so still paying insurance and finance for no reason!) and the fact I can't put two children under 5 on the back of it... I'm single so no GF or wife etc to sort the kids, its all down to me!

[ZS]

Oh, one other point...

The cost above only make sence with a 125... anything bigger and its less of a saving. - My collegue only rides bikes, has a 1200 BMW thing (not my style) but pay's more in fuel than My friends corsa, as much in insurance as my 180 and more in servicing costs than my ZS and the corsa added together...

Plus whoever buys my bike won't pay as much finance as its being sold for a lot cheaper that I paid for it (09 plate too)

[Jay-ZS+]

Originally Posted by ZS

Oh, one other point...

The cost above only make sence with a 125... anything bigger and its less of a saving. - My collegue only rides bikes, has a 1200 BMW thing (not my style) but pay's more in fuel than My friends corsa, as much in insurance as my 180 and more in servicing costs than my ZS and the corsa added together...

Plus whoever buys my bike won't pay as much finance as its being sold for a lot cheaper that I paid for it (09 plate too)

Yer id run a 125 to begin with at least, even I can see its madness to jump staight on a RSv4 or something meaty!

Got a mate with an RS125 thats doing his full test soon and wants a ninja so may end up with that. Know its up together as helped rebuilt the entire bike.

[Dan1971]

My views.

Downsides -

• Weather. As bad in the summer as the winter cause unless you're an idiot who rides in shorts and flip-flops you'll cook. When it rains, even the best gear costing hundreds will leak. In the winter although you'll get wherever you're going quicker, it'll take you an hour to warm up when you get there. If your gear got wet on the way, unless you have a drying room, it'll be wet when you go to put it on 8hrs later to come home.
• Hazards. Suddenly everything becomes a hazard especially in poor weather. People don't see you and you have to spend plenty time looking at the road surface taking in potholes, drains, white lines etc and when they are wet - they are a nightmare.
• Death. Very small percentage of road users are bikers. Very high percentage of deaths and serious injuries are bikers.

Positives.

• Cheap so long as you stay with a small engine bike - but the service intervals are more regular and they are not cheap to service.
• Quicker for a commute, but, remember to factor in the amount of time it takes to get all the gear on. It took me an extra 10 minutes to get the gear on in the winter, but it was a 20 minute quicker commute. Worth it ?
• Nothing compares to the outright performance of a high power motorcycle pound for pound.

My advice - have a go and try it or you'll always wish you did - but, keep a car too - even a little ZR 1.4 so that you have a choice in poor weather or if you want to go somewhere incase you need a bag.


Who am I to comment/advise ?

Dan - GPZ500 - ZZR600 - VFR 750 - Triumph sprint 900 - Police motorcyclist and having ridden on duty and very quickly whilst on surveillance - Yamaha Thunderace 1000 - ZZR1100 - CBR 1000 - Diversion 900.

[ZS]

Well Put Dan

[Jay-ZS+]

Originally Posted by ZS

Well Put Dan

+1

Cheers Dan thats good food for thought,

[Jay-ZS+]

Im a named driver on the gfs car, wonder if theres a cover that allows two named drivers? Or one that allows named driver to earn ncb as then I could split her insurance cost and it would be a win win.