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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through December 09, 2006 » Cheaper to drive my gas guzzeling SUV than my Buell? « Previous Next »

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Tomr
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 09:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The cost of tires and maintenance got me wondering if I could save any money by riding my Buell instead of driving my SUV. Turns out I can't.... ( I hope you can read my copy and paste from my spreadsheet):

Buell XB12Ss Miles $ $/mile
Tires 3500 380.00 0.109
Oil Change 3000 80.00 0.027
Fuel 50 2.50 0.050

$/mile 0.185

SUV
Tires 50000 380.00 0.008
Oil Change 5000 50.00 0.010
Fuel 15 2.50 0.167

$/mile 0.18

Of course, none of us rides because we're accountants, but I thought comparison was humorous..

Tom
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Kdan
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 09:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Throw the cost of the loan in there too. With interest.
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 09:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I believe your numbers are stilted a bit.

You have expensive tires for your bike, cheap tires for your SUV.

Your oil changes are VERY expensive on your bike, cheap on your SUV

Your numbers will also change greatly as gas prices go up.

At $2.75/gallon, there is only a $.005 per mile incremental increase for the bike but a $.0163 per mile incremental cost increase for the SUV.





Your conclusions are illogical.

(Message edited by ft_bstrd on December 02, 2006)
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Holling
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 10:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

LOL! Spock knows best! In the summer when gas goes back up to around $3 a gallon, The Buell will win out!
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Altima02
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 10:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

How can you put a price tag on fun?
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 10:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My wife does, and I can't afford "fun". : |

(Message edited by ft_bstrd on December 02, 2006)
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Tomr
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 10:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)



There are a lot of different ways that you could spin it.

BTW - I do pay around $50 to have mobile 1 put in my SUV every 5k and am able to get tires for less than $400 that last for 50k. I wouldn't want to corner on them though...
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Xbswede
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 10:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

For a fair comparison you would have to ride your bike the way you drive your SUV. Probably increase tire life to 12K +.

Change oil yourself and it would drop to $40 using Synthetic.

I did the math too. My truck get 13 miles to the gallon (60 mile round trip for work) $12/day just in gas. My bike $3.12/day.

I could buy new tires every two months and break even.
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Jaimec
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 11:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Only 3,500 miles on a set of tires?? I have over 8,000 on my Sportec M1's and there's still plenty of tread left!
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 11:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I would like to get 3500 out of the next set. The last two have only gone 2700 each.

To me, those numbers are optimistic. : |
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Jiffy
Posted on Saturday, December 02, 2006 - 11:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Do your own oil changes. Buy cheaper tires that last longer for the bike. Those SUV tires are the cheapest tires I have ever seen. I bought wally world tires for about that much.
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Debueller
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 12:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

FB,
How do you come up with all these goofy images?
I love the last one. (Spock)



BTW, I bought a cheap 250 Ninja to commute on during the summer. I did "the math" on how much I was actually saving after buying the bike, insurance, tires, ect,ect.
It wasn't as much as I would of thought. BUT....I really look foward to the commute home when I ride the bike. There defintely is a fun factor.

(Message edited by debueller on December 03, 2006)
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 12:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

We know what's going on the SUV:





;) ;) ;)
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 12:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have a rare deftness with Google. ;)
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Debueller
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 12:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Those tires



(Message edited by debueller on December 03, 2006)

(Message edited by debueller on December 03, 2006)
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Cactus_dave
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 03:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

7000 on my Dunlop rear, and 14000 on the front....I just grabbed a set of the Diablo's that Cycle Gear had on sale for $180, they make the bike handle so much better... but somehow I thinks they are a lot softer compound and will wear quick.
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Adrenaline_junkie
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 04:35 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I did the same calculation last spring for my XB12Ss vs. my Ford Ranger 4X4. The Ranger gets 20MPG instead of 15. Tires were about the same. I included the purchase price of each vehicle and how many miles I expected to get out of each. Result, WAY cheaper to drive the truck. Does it mean I don't commute on the bike? Nope. Just means I don't ride it when the weather is miserable as I'm not saving any money anyway.
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Gdmix
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 05:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The recommended oil change interval on the Buell is 5k. If you use synthetic, would there be a reason to change it before 5k? Who is charging $80 for the oil change, the dealer?

Also, the cost of gas is much more than the price at the pump.

Anyway, driving is not as fun!
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Lake_bueller
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 09:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Who is charging $80 for the oil change

I was wondering the same thing. I change my own oil using Amsoil 20-50 and Amsoil filter. I comes to about $35. And the Amsoil oil is about the most expensive on the market.
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Earwig
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 11:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Who buys a Buell to be practical anyway? Go get a cheap scooter.
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Garyl
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 02:16 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Your oil changes are VERY expensive on your bike, cheap on your SUV

If you think that $50 is cheap for an oil change on an SUV, then I want to be your exclusive oil change facility. I'll only charge you $60 (then sublet it to jiffy lube for $21.95).

Only 3,500 miles on a set of tires??

3500 - 4000 is the most I've ever got too.
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 02:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Garyl,

Jiffy Lube ain't charging $21.95 for anything!

You roll 6 quarts of synthetic at Jiffy Lube prices into your crank case, add a filter, and you are easily above $50.

I want to come to your "shop" to get my SUV oil change done with full synthetic for $21.95.


You sound like my dad:

"I remember when you could take a girl out to dinner and a movie for $5 and have money to spare." ;)
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Eboos
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 04:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I posted a pretty detailed cost per mile comparison a few months ago, and found that riding my bike was much cheaper if I rode more often.
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Etennuly
Posted on Sunday, December 03, 2006 - 04:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If I drove my Denali anywhere near the way I ride my Uly, the cost savings of riding the bike would be something even NASA would be interested in.

I run "real" tires on it at $800.00 a set that will go 70,000+ miles. I'm sure that I could drive it hard enough to reduce the tire wear to 4,000 miles and kill its mechanicals in the process. My Uly tires will cost about $2500.00 for the same amount of miles, but I will run it much harder and not hurt it.

Oil for the Denali; Mobil 1 at 7,000 mile intervals w/filter about $390.00 for 70,000 miles. The Uly; HD slippery stuff at 5,000
mile interval w/filter about $322.00 for 70,000 miles.

Gas mileage is a big concern also, as the Denali has done a best of 18.7 mpg on a 800 mile trip to 16 around town, to 10 towing trailers. I know if I run the crap out of it that will drop to 5 or 6 mpg. The worst I've seen out of my Uly has been 41 mpg, usually it is around 50+ mpg. For 70,000 miles the Denali; 4,375 gal. at $2.35 per equals $10,281.00, the Uly; 1400 gal. at $2.55 per equals $3,570.00.

Uly insurance is about $43,00 a month less. I won't even go into interest and finance differences.

What I'm saying is that I save a good deal of money, Buell vs. GMC, but then I also use them both for business and as such, can utilize the bike by myself to retrieve customer vehicles instead of paying an employee to go with me.

Then comes the FUN issue, you know the Buell side. A Denali is awesome too, especially for us grandparents needing 7 passenger, 4X4, boat toting, surround sound, heated seat, super cruise liner luxury, in a work truck.
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Xbeau12s
Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 06:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I wouldn't care if my bike cost thousands more to drive than my SUV. I enjoy riding it that much. Good comparison though. I believe it is more cost effective to ride my 04XB12S than my 2000 Jeep cherokee though.
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Tomr
Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 08:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It's been fun to see the different responses to this. The gist of my "analysis" was that my tires wore out so quickly that it got me to thinking about the true cost of commuting on my bike. Based on my commute of around 34 miles (round trip). I use up about 1% of my tire life per commute (!). I'm sure that there are longer lasting tires (I'll be looking at alternatives to the Dunlops - already replaced the rear and really need to replace the front).

My motorcycling is not a rational activity - it is, in fact "not logical"...
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Gdmix
Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 10:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Is 3400ish mi for both tires? So the front is wearing at the same rate? I would think the front would wear much slower.
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Skyguy
Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 10:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My bike has cost me more per mile than my Pinzgauer or Land Rover.

Gee a Buell a Rover and a Pinzgauer. I think I may be a vehicular masochist.............
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 12:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Skyguy WTF?

You disappear for a while, then come back and take a giant crap in every thread you can find?

What do you expect to accomplish?

Please sell your rig and be plagued no more!
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Thansesxb9rs
Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 12:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Where did you get tires for you SUV for $380, for my pickup they are around 1k. But they do last a few years so I guess you could cut the cost in half because of the life difference.
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Djkaplan
Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 06:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

"...I could save any money by riding my Buell instead of driving my SUV. Turns out I can't.... "

But you can't wheelie your SUV.
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Bigdaddy
Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 07:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Skyguy,

(edited: letting him vent)

Can you vent in one thread and not splatter your misery on multiple threads?

(Message edited by bigdaddy on December 05, 2006)
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Djkaplan
Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 07:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Let him vent if he wants to... so what?

I'm still pissed off at Kawasaki for the piece of shit 1975 F7D 175 dual-purpose bike I got brand new in 1976. It was the worst motorcycle I've ever had. I feel sorry for any sucker that ever got stuck with that pile after I traded it in 6 months later on a Suzuki.

People, People... listen to me and heed my words: Don't ever buy a 1975 Kawasaki F7D 175 dual-purpose bike!

I'm being serious here.
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Brucelee
Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 10:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I get about 8K miles on the Dunlop 220s. That would help on your cost per miles vs the 3500 or so.

Good tire, good price.
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Tomr
Posted on Tuesday, December 05, 2006 - 11:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Is 3400ish mi for both tires? So the front is wearing at the same rate? I would think the front would wear much slower.



I would have thought so too. I replaced the rear Dunlop (which wore out at 3k) for about $200 (including mounting for $65). I noticed this weekend that my front was into the wear indicators at 3600, so I'm claiming that it needs to be replaced now also.

For what it's worth - a local tire dealer quoted me $77 (Uniroyal)to $110 (Michelin) for my 235/75-15s on my '98 Yukon.

DJKaplan - you're right - I tried to wheelie the Yukon this morning and all I did was spill my coffee...
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