If you haven’t been following along my social media, I’ve really gotten into motorcycling! In fact, I just bought myself a new bike so I can travel and explore all around the Philippines on two wheels.
Owning a motorcycle is more than just owning a vehicle: it’s a combination of a beautiful machine, exhilarating speed, and the ability to drive comfortably and easily, without needing to (necessarily) sit in traffic like car drivers have to. However, some aspects of motorcycle ownership can be expensive, so here are some tips on how to make owning a motorcycle more cost-effective.
Insurance
When it comes to insurance, it’s a must. Not only is it the law, but if you did have an accident, your bike could be repaired or even replaced, and if you were injured, you would have a claim for compensation and for your medical costs to be covered. Your insurance company might even be able to help when it comes to finding the right motorcycle accident attorney for you.
Some insurance is costly, however, especially for those who have only just passed their test or who have had claims in the past. The best thing to do is to shop around for a great deal. Don’t just do this online (although comparison websites are a good start), but actually phone the companies up and discuss your particular situation. See if they can beat other prices you’ve been given. The worst that can happen is that they say no, but you might get a deal out of just picking up the phone. If you’ve already got insurance, don’t forget you can shop around too; make a note of when the insurance will expire (just in case you don’t get informed) and start looking. You can even tell your current supplier that you’re leaving, and they might be able to arrange a discount to keep you with them.
Repairs
Every mechanical thing will need repairs from time to time. To begin with, you’ll want to buy the best bike you can with the budget you have; buying too cheap can lead to you needing to spend a lot more money on getting things fixed, and this will often be more money than you would have spent buying a better quality motorcycle in the first place. Even when you buy brand new, there will still need to be repairs done after a while. Why not take a course or at least learn as much as you online to learn how to do the more straightforward maintenance yourself? Of course, this is only cost-effective if you pay close attention to doing it right, otherwise you could spend more than you need or make expensive mistakes.
Use Highways and Drive Steady
It’s great to be able to take a motorcycle out into the country and meander through the twisting, turning roads enjoying the scenery, but just know that this actually uses up more fuel than driving at a steady pace.
The most fuel-efficient way to drive a motorcycle is to keep it at a steady speed (ideally around 90-100 kph), just like you can maintain on a highway. Fuel is wasted when you have to keep changing speed, changing gears, and when you need to keep stopping for lights or stop signs. It’s also more fuel-efficient to only top up your tank to half full, as there is less for the bike to carry.
