Which Bike?

none | today | me

[Grizzled Bear]

I've been looking at motorcycles. I need something a bit more fuel efficient than my 1-ton pickup! There are two that I really like. One is an 09 Yamaha V-Star touring bike (not used, been sitting at the dealer) and the other is a Harley Fat Boy. Any recommendations?

[Eagle Eye]

Is the insurance influenced more by brand or displacement?

Theft risk has to be greater with HD than with Suzuki (and I love the M-109s!)

BTW, I carry rain gear in my saddle bags! ;)

[Dubya-M-Dees]

I’m sure there are some considerations about how targeted some bikes are over others, but for certain there are price ranges around displacement. I noticed the same thing with my Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe in comparison to the Boulevard C50.

[Ghengis]

I rode my brand new Street Glide home from the dealer... in the rain. They asked if I'd like to come pick it up on a better day, and I didn't even blink. If you "ride", you're going to get wet.. period. I put on between 10-12k miles a year and it doesn't matter if it's cold or wet. As long as it's safe, I'll ride.

I never understood those who bragged that their bike had never been ridden in the rain. Shoot, I recently was caught in a hail storm and rode through it for 10 minutes between rain storms. There was not good place to seek shelter and the windshield / helmet face shield protected the paint on my tank and skin on my face. If I'd know that weather was coming, I'd have avoided it. But you do what you gotta do when it hits you. I use the bike for work commutes also. In Ohio I would rarely ride if I avoided any chancy forecast.

Now for a bit of useful advise to the person asking. I've owned many bikes over the years, including Japanese bikes. It's all in what will make YOU happy. One thing I've noticed is that your insurance rates will be extremely different based on model and displacement of the engine. Since most of the newer Harley's are the 96" engines, the insurance will be nearly the same.. HIGH. If you go with something around 800cc, you'll have plenty of power (it hasn't been that many years ago when an 800cc engine was considered massive), and your insurance rates will be much MUCH cheaper. For instance, on my Boulevard C50, I pay around $140/year with Progressive, full coverage. For the Harley, I pay about $600.

Geography has a lot to do with it as well. I pay $240 per year for a TC 88 HD. Since the Bro/Sis-in-Laws are my agents, I'm biting the bullet and using Progressive (Only large displacement motorcycle coverage that they provide in their agency). Despite Progressive's socialist political positions. Those rates are typical of this area.

[Grizzled Bear]

If you go with something around 800cc, you'll have plenty of power (it hasn't been that many years ago when an 800cc engine was considered massive), and your insurance rates will be much MUCH cheaper. For instance, on my Boulevard C50, I pay around $140/year with Progressive, full coverage. For the Harley, I pay about $600.

The V-Star is 1300 cc. Would the insurance premium be painful?

[Ghengis]

The V-Star is 1300 cc. Would the insurance premium be painful?

I think it all depends on your insurance company, where you live and such. If you don't like the price your agent gives you, shop around.

Check out some motorcycle internet forums / bulletin boards and their insurance discussions. You'll see a ton of varied experiences by riders.

[absolootezer0]

depends on your gas mileage. in my truck that got 11.2mpg is was worth it to ride for the summer.
gas saved more than covered the payments, the insurance and the extras.

[Eye of Unk]

I think I pay 4 payments a year of about $75 with Safeco for my Yamaha Star 1300 Tourer.

Compared to $220 a month for my 2002 Silverado 3500 dually and the wifes 2005 Pontiac Aztek.

[Eye of Unk]

http://www.yamahamotorcycleforum.com/forum/index.php

http://1300tourer.com/

[Stegall Tx]

depends on your gas mileage. in my truck that got 11.2mpg is was worth it to ride for the summer. gas saved more than covered the payments, the insurance and the extras.

All the payments and insurance and extras for the entire year, or just the summer? The payments and insurance continues 12 months a year, but the gas savings can only be counted on for the riding months. Of course, the number of riding months varies by location.

I'll say it again ... if you want the bike and can afford it, then get the bike. But you are almost certainly not going to save enough money to actually come out ahead. It might come close or even pull a little ahead, but it's not going to be enough make a dent in your finances.

[absolootezer0]

I averaged cost out for year ‘round, but calculated my savings based on actual riding time. over the course of the year (only counting normal commute miles) i came out ahead by enough to make 2 extra payments.
if i counted in my vacations where i took my bike instead of my truck that would add another $4-500 in gas money saved.