Should I ditch the car when I get a motorbike?

lvm

Hello,

Looking for a little advice really.

I'm learning to ride a motorbike (well, start next Friday but passed Theory this morning:j) and I'm wondering what most people do when they get a bike if they already have a car.

I'd like to save as much money as possible and having my car on the road is around £850 a year (£500 insurance, £130 tax, leaving £220 for MOT/repairs).

As I'm a complete novice at the moment, my only issue would be during winter. I'm not completely sure how less safe motorcycles are on snow and ice compared to cars. Is riding on snow a complete no-no or is it reasonably safe with the right tyres? I am fortunate that I can easily work from home so that wouldn't really be a big issue if I couldn't get out.

Do most people that have a bike also have a car and have costs reduced through fuel when the weather's good or is it wise just to ditch the car altogether and rely on lifts or public transport in extreme weather conditions?

And a wee other point - in December I'll have 1 year no claims. If I didn't renew and insured a bike instead then went back to a car, could I say I then had 2 years no claims or are cars and bikes counted seperately?

Any advice on this (or anything else you think relevant) would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Cash-Strapped.T32

I've commuted the last 3 winters in a row on a 125, through a mixture of town & rural a-roads,each year getting progressively worse even in heavy snow, so it's entirely possible.
However, it's no fun..

Perhaps a 6-month tax & insurance policy on each vehicle to split the costs?
I agree it's massively cheaper, my 125 cost £15 tax, and about £8-£12 per week petrol, doing nearly 250 miles per week.


I don't drive, but if I were you I'd keep the car, at the very least sorn it & keep it just in case.

Ps: The very best of luck to ya btw - I hope it all goes well. Winter's the best time of year to learn anyway!

Billy-no-Money

I ditched my car when I got a bike licence in 2005, and it's been reasonably successful bearing in mind:

• My wife runs a car so we're not completely without one
• I also cycle to work, and there's the bus as last resort
• I live in Blackpool where winters aren't as cold as inland

This all worked fine until a couple of winters ago when we had snowfall followed by sheet ice lingering for a month. It was nothing like as bad as most of the country but in those conditions a motorbike is a complete no-no. It's possible to get away with riding in fresh snow but even then it's a buttock-clenching experience. If you can use public transport or work from home you should be OK, but keep a close eye on the forecast to avoid getting caught out.

No claims is usually separate for cars and bikes; I have full bike no-claims, but my car one has lapsed. However, some insurers will take it into account (but not necessarily the cheapest).

I ride a bike because I love it, and couldn't justify the cost of running two vehicles; a big motorbike isn't any cheaper than a car to run - you'll need tyres and servicing more frequently, and getting started with all the right kit for year-round biking is an expensive business. You probably won't save on fuel either (my 650 returns about 50mpg).

If you grow to love your bike you'll put up with the inconveniences, just go in with your eyes wide open and understand it's much, much more than just a way of getting about and the upside more than makes up for having to get the bus when it's icy!

[EDIT: above applies to a 'big' bike, a 125 is much cheaper than a car to run, and light so easier to handle in snow (but still not recommended) - but as you're planning to get a full licence I'm assuming you'll be going for a 500cc+ bike]

Trebor16

Forget about riding on snow or ice on a bike, it is utterly foolhardy to even consider it.

SailorSam

We could say it's foolhardy to go out in the car when it's icy, or even not to walk down the road after a week of snow.
True it's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but if you drive or ride to the conditions it can be perfectly safe.

lvm

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Ideally 6 months tax and insurance would be perfect to switch between bike and car although if I don't necessarily need to leave my house to work if it gets really bad, might be worth giving up the car. It's getting more and more tempting actually.

It's a 125/250cc I'd be getting initially - it's the restricted licence for 2 years before being allowed a bigger bike so at least gives me a couple of years to settle into biking first.

Nice excuse to not go out to work as well..."sorry, couldn't possibly risk my own safety and others just to get to work"

Thanks again!

paddedjohn

I keep my 125 taxed and insured all year round, £16 tax and £65 full comp insurance and about 100mpg. i ride as often as i can to save money on fuel (30 round trip for work) but when the snow and ice comes it goes in the shed and I use my van. Despite what people tell you about it being possible to ride in the snow, it is utter madness and not worth your risking your life to save a couple of quid on petrol.

wazza

If you can rely entirely on your motorbike and in snow etc prepared to walk to work or take public transport then i would get rid of the car.

When you have a need of a car you can either borrow one from a friend, hire one or get a taxi depending on your need. I am sure these options will not cost more than £850 a year.

Also the money you get from selling your car can go towards your new/used motorbike

lvm

paddedjohn wrote: »

I keep my 125 taxed and insured all year round, £16 tax and £65 full comp insurance and about 100mpg. i ride as often as i can to save money on fuel (30 round trip for work) but when the snow and ice comes it goes in the shed and I use my van. Despite what people tell you about it being possible to ride in the snow, it is utter madness and not worth your risking your life to save a couple of quid on petrol.

£65 fully comp!!! Lucky you! Cheapest quote for me on a 125 was £209 3rd party, fire and theft. Saying that, I am 25 and only had car licence 4 years. Still, better than forking out car insurance I suppose.

Think I'll give the idea of of considering riding in snow a miss now. I live in Edinburgh so it's bound to snow at some point but I managed fine using my Dad as a taxi service for 2 weeks when my car wouldn't move last year.

Thanks again for all the helpful advice

missile

Owning a m/c is more expensive than you might think. Get the bike circa March and keep the car until then.

Nice excuse to not go out to work as well..."sorry, couldn't possibly risk my own safety and others just to get to work"

Your boss might not be too happy! Get the bus or maybe the tram if and when Edinburgh council ever gets their act together.

Trebor16

SailorSam wrote: »

We could say it's foolhardy to go out in the car when it's icy, or even not to walk down the road after a week of snow.
True it's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but if you drive or ride to the conditions it can be perfectly safe.

And you think it would be perfectly safe to ride a motorcycle "to the conditions" when those conditions happen to be snow and ice?