5 ways to save money for your motorcycle

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5 Ways To Save Money



Times are tough, and expenses don’t seem to be easing up anytime soon. So what does that mean for your love of motorcycles? Sell your bike? No way. Sure, riding can be an expensive hobby—the gear, the fuel, the maintenance—it all adds up. But with a few smart (Smort!) choices, you can enjoy the ride without breaking the bank. Here are five ways to save money and keep your passion for two wheels going strong.

1. Doing your own maintenance



  • Shop labor rates are insane these days with some going as much as $120/hr, doing your own maintenance can be one of the best and most rewarding ways to keep more money in your pocket when dealing with motorcycling. Some examples are.
    • Oil Change
    • Chain Adjustment
    • Sprocket Changes
    • Coolant flushes
    • Valve checks/adjustments
    • Suspension Refresh
  • I recommend buying a service manual, such as Clymer or Haynes, for your motorcycle, and looking up other resources on YouTube and forums to help you along your maintenance journey. The first time doing things will always be the hardest, and it will get easier as you keep doing it.
  • You might complain about the cost of tools, but getting your own set of tools to be able to work on things is one of the best ways to save money in life. If you know how to use a good set of tools, then you can save a ton of money throughout your life. My reccomendation for tools is to get a cheaper set of tools from harbor freight and then replace whatever you break with something more expensive. Harbor Freight tools are no slouch though and plenty for most home mechanics.

2. Buying used



  • Facebook Marketplace isn't an addiction but a lifestyle. Buying used is a great way to save money on the initial cost of buying a bike. Be sure to look out for some warning signs with a used bike like this. Also consider used gear and bike parts for accessorizing your motorcycle and yourself. 
  • Like most hobbies, used gear and equipment can help keep costs down and allow some access to nicer equipment than what you could usually afford new. Finding used bike parts or even gear can have tremendous savings. Some examples are a used steering damper or luggage. Even some full sets of nice gear from people getting out of the hobby. 
  • Some good sites to look for decent used gear are eBay, estate sales, and, of course, Facebook Marketplace. What I like to do is research gear that I would like and then look up older models of that gear to see if I can get a deal on used. Sometimes, unfortunately, divorces do happen, and you can snag up the savings that way.

3. Look for sales and clearance/outlets


  • Motorcycle gear changes and improves over time. Finding the year (or beginning-of-the-year) sales that can occur can really help decrease the amount you're spending. Several sites list and sell closeouts or even "Last Season's" gear for a good discount. I have several listed here

4. Prep your trips ahead of time



  • Spontaneity can be expensive. Food and lodging when taking trips add up costs quickly.
  • Preparing ahead of time and making notes of places you can stay and eat can help keep costs down on some adventures. Having some semblance of a plan can keep you from going to that expensive restaurant when you know there is a hole-in-the-wall place nearby that's just as good.
  • Bringing food ahead of time to prevent having to eat out or buy stuff at a gas station can help increase savings. Utilizing drink packets for water instead of energy drinks and sandwiches/food from home can really cut costs. If needed, stopping at grocery stores can help when on longer trips. Gas stations are almost always the most expensive option when it comes to food outside of restaurants. I'm a big fan of peanut butter and tortilla shells, as they don't need to be refrigerated and can be smushed around in bags or in a backpack. 

5. Break from being convinced you need more and more

  • Social media does its best to convince you that you need to buy the latest and greatest gear and bikes to go and have a good time. Try to recognise that a lot of Instagram posts and YouTube videos are just thinly veiled commercials to try to get into your wallets. People have been going out and enjoying motorcycling for many years before all that stuff was invented!





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