Within this article, I will discuss some of the pros and cons of owning a motorcycle as your first vehicle. We will also discuss some important factors, such as maintenance cost and usability. By the end of this article, you should have a clear idea of whether a motorcycle is a good option for you as your first vehicle.
Buying a motorcycle certainly makes a good first vehicle. Motorcycles provide the freedom to travel around your city, town, or further afield. They are less expensive to own than a car, make excellent commuters cutting through traffic easily, and open up your social life, allowing you to travel to meet up with family and friends.
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What are the positives of owning a motorcycle as your first vehicle?
- Motorcycles are a more compact vehicle when compared to cars, which makes them great for city commuting.
- A motorcycle requires less gas to fill up and will take you just as far as a normal car, depending on the motorcycle and tank size.
- You get to experience a free and happy feeling when riding your motorcycle, making it a fun activity.
- You can ride your motorcycle wherever your heart desires unless it’s a restricted place or private property.
- If you are late, you can easily zip through traffic and get to your destination on time.
- The maintenance and running costs of a motorcycle are less expensive than a car.
What are the negatives of owning a motorcycle as your first vehicle?
- If you live in colder climates, it can be difficult to commute on a motorcycle all year round.
- Motorcycles can be dangerous riding in traffic, but the benefits outweigh the negatives with the correct training and riding responsibly.
- You will need to invest in protective gear such as a helmet, jacket, boots, and other items before you start riding your motorcycle.
- A motorcycle only has room to seat one extra passenger (or pillion).
- Motorcycles are more likely to get stolen than cars, so make sure you take the correct measures to secure them.
- If you get caught out riding a motorcycle in heavy rain, snow, or height winds, it can be dangerous as bikes are a lot lighter, so they can be blown about. Also, motorcycles are susceptible to hydroplaning.
Whether you live in a warmer or colder climate, if you have a good grasp of how motorcycles work and have the correct license, then the negatives are negligible. You can most certainly purchase a motorcycle as your first vehicle.
Now that we have discussed the positives and negatives of owning a motorcycle, let’s dive deeper into the factors associated with owning a
motorcycle.
Maintenance Costs
If you decide to maintain your motorcycle yourself, as I do, you can save a ton of money by maintaining your own motorcycle. However, if you don’t know how to work on motorcycles, then don’t worry as the maintenance is fairly inexpensive but more frequent than other vehicles
You can expect to pay anywhere between $500- $1500 a year on maintaining your motorcycle, depending on the age and amount of miles you cover and the type of bike you own.
The maintenance expenditure could be much higher if you own a European motorcycle. Brands such as Ducati and Aprilia and some other brands are more expensive to maintain, as they require more thorough servicing throughout the year.
If you want a less expensive motorcycle to maintain, it would be preferable to purchase a Japanese or American motorcycle such as Honda, Suzuki, or Harley Davidson. So, think wisely about which brand and type of motorcycle you should purchase.
Using A Motorcycle Around Town & For Commuting
Using a motorcycle around town is fantastic, as finding a place to park is easy and usually free. You will also be able to cut through traffic effortlessly since a bike is so compact. Do check first if the law within your state allows filtering through traffic.
Motorcycles make a good first vehicle if used as a commuter, especially if you live in large cities, busy towns, or live in more rural areas. But even if you don’t live in the larger cities, a motorcycle can still be a great vehicle for commuting and having adventures.
I live in a city suburb and use my motorcycle to travel into the city for work and social activities regularly. I travel past large amounts of traffic saving me time, and park in the center of the city for free, saving me money.
Another fact about purchasing a motorcycle as a first vehicle if you live in a city or large town is that you may not have access to a car parking space where you live, or you may have to pay for a parking space near your home if you own a car.
Owning a motorcycle will work out much less expensive, just saving on parking charges and the convenience to park near where you live free of charge.
A motorcycle can open up your life, being able to visit and make friends
A motorcycle will definitely open up your social life, allowing you to meet up with your friends and family traveling to any location easily, where you will be able to have some fun times.
There is a large motorcycle community that will allow you to make new friends with other motorcycle riders who like to ride their bikes to cool locations around the city and further afield.
Also a motorcycle can introduce you to a new hobby as you can purchase after market parts which personalize your bike allowing you to learn something new, interesting and enjoyable.
If you own a motorcycle, you could meet up with local motorcycle groups and ride out with them, enjoying a fun social experience.
One of the most well-known motorcycle groups is the Harley Davidson Owners Group. So if you decide to purchase a Harley Davidson as your first vehicle, you could join this group in your local area. Just click the link to be taken to their website.
Of course, there are also other groups available, so check out your local area to find them.
What is the Cost Of Buying Your First Motorcycle?
The cost of buying your first motorcycle will depend on your budget and the type of motorcycle you want. If you would like to buy a brand new European superbike, then it can cost you $30,000, but if you are looking
for a used cheaper Japanese street bike, you can pay as low as $2,000 to $5,000.
You can also purchase a brand new motorcycle for approximately $5000-$6000 if you look around.
It would help if you also considered your insurance, license, and registration fees as these factors can vary from city to city and state to state, so make sure you do your research before buying your motorcycle.
Just click on this AAA link to be taken to the AAA Motorcycle Information Website, where you will find the information you require for your state.
If you would like to save money on your motorcycle insurance, then I highly recommend you don’t get a high powered bike. The less sporty it is, the better chances of you paying a lower premium.
In some cases, insurance companies won’t insure you if you are new to riding a motorcycle and want to purchase a superbike. Ensure you get in touch with your insurance company and find out which type of bike will be a good option for you based on insurance premiums.
You also need to consider additional safety gear when buying a motorcycle as your first vehicle. You will need to add in the cost of a helmet, gloves, motorcycle pants, and leather jacket as well as possibly other items.
Buying what is necessary to keep you safe will cost you a decent amount of money, but it will be a one-time expense and will give you peace of mind whilst out on your bike.
Once you have factored in all of these extra costs we have discussed, you
should get a rough estimate on how much it will cost to purchase a motorcycle as a first vehicle.
It cost me quite a lot of money setting myself up with my first motorcycle, but I reaped all the rewards over time and haven’t looked back since!
What is the cost of running your motorcycle compared to other vehicles?
As mentioned previously, motorbikes are inexpensive to maintain when compared to cars, A full tank of gas should not cost you more than about $20 for a regular bike, and it will last you 150 to 300 miles depending on your riding style and tank size.
In comparison, a car’s full tank of fuel can cost you $50-80 and even more in some cases and will take you a similar distance as a motorcycle would for the $20.
Oil changes and full services are much cheaper on a motorcycle when compared to cars, and it can be much easier to work on your motorcycle by yourself than it is a car so self-maintenance on your bike is far more possible.
Overall, the cost of running a motorcycle will be much cheaper when compared to a car, so if you like motorcycles and it makes sense for you to buy a motorbike as your first vehicle, then you can expect to save
money.
Final Verdict
A motorcycle is a great first vehicle, especially if you live in a city or town where there is a lot of traffic, the parking is expensive, or maybe it is not economically viable to run a car
A motorcycle will provide you with everything you need to get from point A to point B easily, cost-effectively, and much quicker than a car, whether you are using it to commute or for social activities.
Make sure to take care of your motorcycle by performing regular maintenance and take care of yourself by riding the motorcycle responsibly and buying the correct gear to protect yourself.
I’ve added some website links to some of the more popular motorcycle manufacturer websites for your convenience.
| Manufacturer | Manufacturers Website |
| Indian | Indian.com |
| Harly Davidson | Harley-Davidson.com |
| Victory Motorcycles | Victory.com |
| Kawasaki | Kawasaki.com |
| Buell Motorcycles | Buell.com |
| Ducati | Ducati.com |
| Aprila | Aprila.com |
| KTM | KTM.com |
| Yamaha | Yamaha.com |
| Honda | Honda.com |
| Zero Motorcycles | Zero.com |
