Use Your Motorbike For Commuting
Pretty much everyone has to commute to work, and depending on where you live and where you commute to, you may have plenty of options to choose from. Will you be using your own car, carpooling, taking public transit, cycling or walking? Lots of people don’t even stop to think about using their motorbike for commuting. That’s a shame, because there are a lot of good reasons to choose a motorcycle to get to and from work.
Motorcycles are Cheaper Up Front and Cheaper in the Long Run
Since motorbikes are so much smaller and mechanically simpler than cars, obtaining bike finance will cost you far less than accessing a loan on a new car. In fact, the average price for a new motorcycle is a bit less than half that for a new car. You can even find a new, commute-worthy bike for less than $10,000! Try paying that little for a new car. The low price tag also means that bike finance has considerably lower monthly payments, and you’ll end up paying a lot less interest overall.
The day-to-day costs of commuting by motorcycle are also a lot less than with cars. They don’t burn nearly as much petrol as cars because they’re so much lighter and more aerodynamic. An average motorcycle burns about 3.8 litres per 100km, which is more efficient than a Prius. To put that in perspective, the Australian Automobile Association estimated in 2011 that the average motorist spent nearly $3,500 a year on fuel. Considering how much petrol prices have kept rising, it’ll be even more than that by now.
Motorcycles Make for a Convenient Commute
Working in a crowded city centre means that you’ve probably struggled with finding a parking space. Infuriating, isn’t it? Well, a motorcycle doesn’t usually have that kind of problem. Many lots have dedicated motorcycle parking spaces that are much less crowded than the car park. You can even park a motorbike in between car spaces or in a narrow alleyway in a pinch.
Maintenance is also less of an issue for motorcycles than for cars. With their simpler engines and without all the long axles and complicated suspensions cars need, maintaining a motorcycle will likely cost you less than maintaining a car.
Because you can’t listen to the radio or sip on a cup of coffee or tea (or text) on the way to work, a motorcycle requires you to focus on the road, your surroundings and other motorists. It might sound counter intuitive, but if you ride at a reasonable speed and pay attention, you could make your commute safer by taking a bike rather than a car. On top of that, there’s no denying it: riding a motorcycle is fun.
If you’re interested in buying a commuting motorcycle but don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered. Take a look at our posts on the different kinds of motorised bike and our list of the five safest bikes on the market. They’ll show you the basics of what you need to know about choosing a motorbike and give you an idea of where to look from there. Once you find one you like, 360 Finance is here to help you finance your new motorbike. Then, you can enjoy the flexibility and low cost of fuel that using a motorbike brings to your commute.
