Is the cost of fuel impacting your bike fun?

[Ben Diesel]

Is the cost of fuel impacting on my bike fun?

Yes - because the species of car driver who believes that pootling along dual carriageways at 49 MPH will save fuel, thereby forcing lines of 44 tonners to overtake and effectively rolling road block for miles, is doing my foccin' swede.

And no - because apart from the above, it hasn't slowed me down at all.

And with effect from yesterday, for the first time in 35 years, I am without a car. So all the money it was costing me each month to keep the cage standing outside my house, not being used, will now be diverted into the bikes.

[AdieR]

Thing is, for commuters anyway, fuel prices are a headache compounded by the fact that there isn't always public transport available (and when / where there is, it's expensive and not always that efficient); particularly so in rural and remote areas.

There was a story elsewhere that prices of economical bikes (in particular 125s) are going up due to next-to-nothing running costs.

One factor that hasn't helped is the focus on high-revving sportsbikes in recent years - they're not exactly renowned for frugality.

Must admit that whilst I don't constantly monitor fuel prices, I am wary of riding style and how I use the bike these days.

Those that use the bike mostly for fun will find a way to afford it - a bit like smokers who will find a way to afford tobacco.

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

[quote author=Tiberius Onklevaart link=topic=4213.msg34755#msg34755 date=1344946286]
[quote author=Grahamm link=topic=4213.msg34742#msg34742 date=1344940603]

Admittedly I only ride maybe a couple of times a month on average

Wow, how's that for a perspective?
[/quote]

Yes, it's not the same who commutes every day, but I've averaged about 6,000 miles a year for the last couple of years and most of my rides tend to be 100 miles plus. So it's not the same perspective as others may have, but it's still valid.

[/quote]

Not quite what i was meaning but you're perfectly correct in what you say. I just find it a bit bewildering when it looks like you try to invalidate the perspectives of others who cover that mileage in weeks or months and have been doing it for decades, that's all. That's how it looks, not saying its actually the case.

[Grahamm]

I just find it a bit bewildering when it looks like you try to invalidate the perspectives of others who cover that mileage in weeks or months and have been doing it for decades, that's all. That's how it looks, not saying its actually the case.

Well I have to say I find it a bit bewildering how it looks to you, because as far as I can tell I haven't tried to invalidate anyone's perspective, I just commented from my own.

By my calculations I would have been spending roughly £1800 a year on fuel, now it's more like £2400, so in percentage terms, my fuel costs have increased by 33% and that sort of rise is going to affect pretty much everyone.

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

I don't necessarily mean in this thread.

[Fuzzygoth]

I must admit at the moment I commute up to Aberdeen and Back for work
twice a week from Glasgow which is a tank each way. Combined with my
leisure mileage (say the Yorkshire Pudding just outside Sheffield) that brought
the whole trip to around 900 miles (Work and Lesuire) which fair puts a dent
in the old pocket regardless at around 6 tanks at about £18-£22.

As for tyres I generally stick to sport touring tyres mainly as my bikes are my
only transport I get  lot of miles down. I got between 6-8k out of the BT023's
my Road Angel ST's are similar but a little higher by a couple of K but I did
accidently run them to the canvas (the back wheel is at 7.5k and climbing)
and I am still running in the Road Pilot 3's but I'd rather pay a little more and
have my tyre last longer (I'm lazy) but the road pilot 3's must be coming up
for quite a few k now.

Fuzzy

[Fuzzygoth]

* I will add the road angel on the Thou at 7.5k is a new one
not the one that I accidently ran down to the canvas

before someone mentions it

Fuzzy

[MadDogMcQ]

I've had 022' and 023's in the past. Cracking tyres!

[Fuzzygoth]

I get on better with the Angel St's and the Road Pilot 3's but its always
a personal preference thing. I just find the two sets I am running atm
give me more traction and grip in the wet, and living in Scotland as
you can imagine its handy