HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
TO START RIDING A MOTORCYCLE?
How much does it cost to start riding a motorcycle?
Riding a motorcycle is a passion for many and a dream for some of us. Many people might even want to get into motorcycling but are pulled back by thinking about the costs involved from getting a license to buying and maintaining a motorcycle. If you are one of such people, and are looking to start motorcycle riding and want to know what would be the cost to start riding, you came to the right place.
Although you will need money to start riding a motorcycle, you don’t need to put all your life savings into it. The exact costs vary owing to a few factors like your location. This guide will give you a clearer picture of how much money you’ll need to invest for one of the best decisions of your life.
Cost to get a license
To get a driving license you need to meet certain minimum age requirements. However, in some European countries, these limits may be higher or lower or there may be some additional requirements. There are no upper age limits for holding a driving license. Starting from the age of 16 you can apply for the class of AM (mopeds), light motorcycles (A1), and quadricycles (B1), whereas at 18 years of age you can switch to more powerful (standard) motorcycles in the so-called A2 class and start riding motorcycles that are limited to a power of up to 23kW (48HP) with a minimum experience of 2 years in A1. Finally, you can join the “big boys club” and start riding heavy motorcycles in the A category from age 21.
Within the UK a CBT (compulsory basic training) test enables you to ride a moped or scooter with L plates on. The best part about this is, that you can get this done in one day and it usually costs between £99-£140. In short, you don’t have to get a full license to start riding. If you want to ride your scooter with a passenger, you might need to qualify further. To get the full A license, the prices change between European countries and also showed quite an increase over the last decades. In Germany, it was quite common to pay around 1500€ around the year 2000, while now you need to face costs of around 2000 to 3250 €. Note, that these numbers only apply in case you pass your test on the first attempt. If you also make your driver’s license for a passenger car at a later stage (starting at 21 years of age) you can get better deals when you apply for both licenses at the same time.
Cost to purchase a motorbike
If you are buying a motorcycle for the first time, we suggest you go for a used bike than a new one. There are many advantages like lower buying costs and less to no regrets about minor scratches to the bike. We all know that second-hand bikes come in cheap and can go a long way too. They’ve once been someone’s first love and still want to give all the love they have. New motorcycles can easily cost between 5000 € to 30000 € while a good condition used motorcycle will cost you around 2500 €.
Cost to get your bike insured
The type of insurance your bike needs basically depends on the type of bike you own, the engine displacement of the bike that correlates to power to some extent, and the place where you live. For young and first-time motorbike riders, the insurance cost can be a serious topic of discussion. After the motorcycle purchasing cost, taking a look at insurance might be the next big thing on your list. If you own a bike with excessive bodywork and luggage, it is recommended to get a comprehensive insurance plan to cover the costs of those rather expensive repairs in case something bad happens like getting kicked over.
Frankly, the cost of insurance can hover around the 400 to 800 € mark for a year. Another way to look at this is by breaking the cost down into monthly payments.
Cost for protective gear
One thing is for sure you need protective gear if you want to start riding a motorcycle. They are truly essential as they can save your life. You can get good quality protective gear for a few hundred Euros and as high as thousands of Euros without finding satisfaction. It depends on what you are looking for. Some people want everything to be ‘cheap and best’ while others want to spend heavily in search of ‘the Best’.
Like many things, also motorcycle riding gear comes in both these forms so it is for you to decide which way you want to go. What you can also do is try a third option of trying what you like and then do some research online. Most of the time, the expensive items can be found much cheaper in retail dealerships or online at the end of the riding season.
Other costs
- Road tax may apply for highways, tolls or certain mountain passes with varying costs depending on your location and the plan.
- Fuel costs may be something a lot of us do not pay attention to initially, but it is a very important cost considering it is a recurring cost. Just like the purchasing cost of a motorcycle might be a one-time cost and insurance maybe once a year, fuel costs are continuous costs that showed quite an increase over the last years and are depending on how much you ride your bike. There is no fixed fuel cost, but you can certainly figure out a budget window for your fuel costs by breaking down your average fuel consumption and how many kilometers or miles you want to ride.
- Your overall cost to start riding a motorcycle will be around 4000 € to 5000 €, with a second-hand motorcycle included. These costs are very reasonable if you just want to start riding a motorcycle. Once you get accustomed to it, you can always upgrade. It is noted that bike costs tend to go down instead of going up once you start riding regularly. This is mainly because you don’t have to pay too many costs after a while. All you will be spending are the running and maintenance costs of the motorcycle. The insurance costs will also go down eventually after a certain point if there are no major incidents.
There is a completely different way to go about the whole ‘starting to ride a motorcycle business and the costs involved with it, which is by getting a used dirt bike that will cost you half the cost of any other motorcycle. They are cheaper and offer a different spectrum of fun. You can learn and enjoy off-roading and this experience will not just be cost-friendly, but one to savor for a lifetime. Something you can share with your grandkids with pride in the future. You will need good quality off-road riding gear though and bring along some physical fitness.
The final verdict will be that you go economical by picking your motorcycle as a mean of transport instead of a car wherever you can and save up to get a good motorcycle for yourself at a later stage.
If you are uncertain about picking a motorcycle or a car and the cost question keeps popping up in your mind, then do not worry! A motorcycle is a better option any time of the day, any day of the week, any week of the month, and any month of the year. It is cool, the costs are comparatively cheaper and the sense of freedom and enjoyment that you get while riding a motorcycle is just incomparable with anything else!
I'm on a budget but want to have fun on my motorcycle while being safe. But how?
Actually, there is a great way to do so! Motobit helps you to ride more safely by warning you of fixed dangers such as dangerous bends, damaged roads, and much more, as well as bends that are taken a little too recklessly. The curve assistant as we call it can be key, especially if you are exploring new and unknown areas. It’s easy: More safety = more fun!
So make sure you not only maintain your motorcycle properly, but also that Motobit is installed and active on your smartphone before setting off on your next tour. If you have not installed Motobit already, get it now for free!
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