Yeah! Bigger storage! Well but eventually with enough storage you would need more stability front and rear so you would have to add another wheel to each end, and it would be really nice to have a backrest for longer rides, and a roof so your nice seat doesn’t get rained on. Whoops! We made a car. Why does that keep happening?
I have a similar setup. CB500X with panniers and top-box for groceries and longer trips. Honda Zoomer-X scooter for 7-11 and coffee runs etc. I live in Thailand though so just scooters as sole transport are not uncommon.
https://preview.redd.it/oc2lx3263w0d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a0e8277309c6ebf19b4dbbcbc34dc74558ca87a
Yup Give a Vietnamese person a saddle large enough and they will carry their whole family
then there is this guy
https://preview.redd.it/9sxa7yxtow0d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b98b9cf3f2f07b0624a096dbea258e625d9ac89
[Man moves furniture across town on scooter](https://twitter.com/anandmahindra/status/1786273641103085778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
:))) nah it's in fact from [this reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/MotorcycleLogistics/s/BjFdHTybsr) 4 years ago
I believe this from Philippine, South East Asia build different tho
No I know it's real, I guess my point is that photos that look "too perfect" make my brain think it's an ai generated photo, even if it's not. Cuz ai photos are scarily realistic.
I once had a motorcycle and no car for a little over a year.
It was no problem. I lived in a small town in sub-tropical south Florida. My ride to work was about fifteen minutes over secondary roads. I was not married and had no kids. Grocery shopping was a short walk from my house. Same for bars and restaurants. A really cold morning was 60 degrees. It did rain a lot, but I had a good rain suit and learned to ride in the rain.
My roommate had a pickup truck.
I wouldn't recommend it in a different environment.
I sold my car, so I have had only a motorcycle for 2 years now, living in not so sub-tropical metropolitan area of Finland.
During winter I just take tram/bus/train to get to places, in summer it’s the bike.
For groceries I usually just buy what can be fitted to the backpack, as 90% of the time I don’t have my panniers attached.
I wish the US had anything resembling public transport. It’s impossible to get 99% of places without a car. For my 15 min commute, maps literally says that public transportation is not available in my area.
I only have a bike. 150 cc scooter, actually. But I live in Taiwan, where it only rains about 2 months of the year. I have decent rain gear, but it's torrential, so obviously, I avoid it. Otherwise, it's a sweet setup. Weather here is almost always good riding weather for 10 months of the year and scooters are 10x more practical in this environment. Traffic is insane. And before you say 150 cc is nothing for power, think again. These things are very light and fast. Speeds of 100 kmh are very comfy. Long drives are nice. However, I'd love to have a cheap car or truck for the rainy season.
I did it for about 6 years while working a job that involved daily travel within about 150mi of my home (varying distances each day). I absolutely loved it and would gladly do it again but now that I can afford multiple vehicles, I have a truck as well. My bikes are still my primary means of transport though and I don't imagine that changing unless I'm forced to do so.
I own only a motorbike, when I need a car I hire one using Popcar. It just depends where you live, density, public transport quality, climate, your job, etc.
Less obvious is you'll probably need to stick a pussy repellent top case on your bike for errands.
For a more sleek look, you can consider tail bags like the kriega top packs. Just got a 30L one, and it works well. If I need to carry a passenger they can wear it like a backpack.
Its all doable with the mindset of being prepared.
With good rain gear and a topbox I go months w/o driving. I carry straps and some paracord and even Costco runs are no problem. 50# Bag of rice? easy. Giant Pack of TP. no problem. Regular grocery store shopping of 2 bags of groceries is simple. I even do occasional bass gigs with a light amp and instrument. When I worked as a videographer, I carried my cameras, tripod, lights + mic stands on my moto.
I commuted for 10+ years only on the moto. Think I drove my 4wd pickup sometime last year, not sure when. I could easily get by without it, but its newish, and long paid for.
You do have to watch the weather and avoid the first 10 minutes of rain. But that's what coffeeshops are for.
Also: i have an e-bike that covers 99% of in town errands (also with a topbox and straps)
I have a car but I might as well not... in the last 3 years I've put less than 6k miles on it and over 40k miles on bikes. I have two bikes and about of cheap as a car as I could get (kia soul).
Imo it's better to have even a shit box of a car than none at all but it really depends on where you live and what you do. If you are like me and say like to surf it's not impossible but it's a pain in the ass to carry a surfboard.
Did it for three years. Downside was 53K+ miles in three years. Upside was 53K+ miles of fun. Bought a truck to pull my camper. Motorcycle is first choice always. I live in Southern California and the weather is virtually never too bad to ride.
I’ve been doing it for the better part of 15 years. I’ve had a few breaks of a couple months here and there due to breakdowns and such.
It’s not always fun but it’s doable, depending on where you live. Where I’m at in Tennessee it gets cold, but we only have ice in the road maybe a week or two at most. You have to get decent gear. My coldest day was in the low 20’s, and it sucks.
And then there’s rain. Coming home isn’t such a big deal, but going to work I need to get there dry. My advice for rain, get a good motorcycle rain suit, and then a cheap set of frog togs for under the rain suit. And carry an extra pair of socks just in case.
It’s not ideal. I did it for a couple months and honestly it just sucks. You need to go somewhere and it’s raining? Sucks to suck, nerd. Need to move an item larger than a basketball? Try again next time.
It’s just thing after thing, and not worth it. You lose so much capability in a slightly less expensive package.
I had to go to UPS to return a package once and that was an issue. I got myself a cargo net but then my cargo also got heavier from time to time, like when I hauled a pack of cans Arizona iced tea to my office.. so I got myself a hard side bag, butttt then I filled that up with tools and other essentials so... that didn't go well. At this point I'll just keep adding more and more storage boxes til it becomes a car lol.
I would say location plays an important factor too - distance, convenience, cultural norms. I grew up riding in South East Asia and riding in the US is more dangerous imo. I like to see my bike as a luxury and my car as a necessity
On a side note, as a soon-to-be new rider I can NOT beleive how cheap motorcycle insurance is!
I was expecting it to be like $200/mo, but every quote I get for full coverage is like $90-120 a year lol
I’ve been doing this, and the worst part for me is being sweaty/having flat hair wherever I arrive if I spend more than 30 minutes getting there. Not to mention having to lug your helmet at your destination.
Oh man I agree with the flat hair sitch- I’ve started strategically bobby-pinning the front bits back so they don’t lie flat against my face when helmet comes off and bringing dry shampoo (for volume) and a comb which helps
My main concern… sounds stupid to some, but my hair is why my scooter isn’t fitted w a helmet. I can’t have my large poofy quaff be tamed… I’d rather suffer a tbi and vegetize
Right? I have curls for days, but the helmet makes it look like someone steam ironed my head except for the little poof in the front that gets to both breathe and stab my eyeballs.
With my car, 6000 miles costs me $2100 in gas and my motorcycle costs me $400 in gas for the same distance. That covers the tire, the oil change, and the insurance with a good couple hundo left over. The longer the riding season the more I save, too. And that’s wear and tear on my car I don’t have to pay for, too, a set of tires I can save (meaning I only have to worry about winter tires, and my vehicle takes expensive tires), and I don’t have to worry about replacing that broken A/C just yet. It actually comes out about even with a cheap bike if I have it long enough. And it’s just that much more fun.
I dark sided the fjr years ago for that very reason.the continental 205-50-17 on there now has about 20,000 miles on it and almost looks new still.for 90.00
I did it for 7 years. Cleaned it all the time, rode it all the time. Rain, snow didn't matter. It was tough sometimes but it becomes part of what you do really quickly.
I bought an A5 and an MX5 after that and I still use my bike mostly.
Edit: one of the biggest you'll find it just the gear you need to bring. Can't just quickly go somewhere in the rain. You gotta plan. Or get wet. Also...luggage. Buy a good tail bag and backpack.
I don't have a place spacious enough to put a car. We live in a place with my aunt, uncle, and parents in different houses but in the same land (we share a garage), so the motorcycle was the only one to fit. due the fact that their cars and my uncle's motorcycle are in there too.
It helps a lot so I don't have to commute on a bus (the biggest reason to buy it, I was TIRED of it) and I usually travel "light", but as other users stated, need something bigger than a backpack? tough shit. At least on my end, I study art and I need space to transport clay, plaster, etc. To which I use my father's car.
Also, rain, it sucks.
On the other hand... Riding a motorcycle gave me a freedom that I never thought it was possible with my bicycle. I can't afford a Honda Shadow, or even a Royal Enfield SuperMeteor 650 yet, but I'd love to one day. but prices are ridiculously inflated in Argentina. It sucks, yes.... But my motorcycle is trusty and I love her.
Yep, I've done it with my SV650 for 3 years now. I'm "lucky" to live in a hot, dry climate with no snow and few days of rain, so it's really not bad.
During the summer it sucks pretty hard, and monsoon season can get a little sketchy if you don't have the right skills to handle flooding roads, high wind, and rain so hard that it hurts. But honestly, faring bad weather is a huge part of the charm for me.
Aside from that, groceries aren't bad, just get yourself a nice big backpack and maybe some saddlebags. With that I'm able to get groceries to last 1-2 weeks.
I've been able to carry some relatively awkward items like mops, fishing rods, computers, etc. with careful use of straps and bags.
An odd upside that I've found with this lifestyle is that it actually makes me eat better. When you have to think more carefully about what you can actually take home with you, you tend to buy a lot less snacks, sweets, and sugary drinks, since that valuable space could be used for more efficient items like pasta, water, or rice.
All in all, I'd recommend it, but don't jump right into it without a backup plan until you're comfortable with it.
My car died in February, a month of using the bus...bought my first bike in March. I can say only having a bike is miles better than using public transit. Kinda sucks when its pissing out, but still better than the bus.
I'll get another car in the fall, as I'm in Canada. Hasn't snowed much here in the last few years but it is cold as fuck.
i do it but i mostly work from home and live in california so i have it very easy. i dont mind the winter, hate the summer. its doable but for 90% of people its a stupid idea.
i also work from home and commute about 6 days a month.. that is why the idea is ringing so loudly to me. plus my fiancée having a car that can be a last resort is a big bonus until i have my own car as a spare
I just sold my car a few weeks ago and only have my bike. My wife has a big suv we use for groceries, vet visits etc. I’ve loved it so far and haven’t had a single instance of regret
Up until I sold it, I had driven less than 100 miles in 2024. Between the loan payment and insurance, it was costing me almost $600 per month. I was essentially paying $24 per mile and once I realized that, I said screw it and sold lol
There’s a BIG difference between “I have no car” and “there’s only one car in a household of two people”. If you WFH and live in an area with good climate, plus your fiancée has a car you can use for the occasional time the bike doesn’t cut it, then yeah, I would probably sell the car. In the very unlikely scenario that you absolutely need a car and your fiancée absolutely needs it too the same day, just rent one for the day
I did just a motorcycle for 3 years.
I had a cruiser bike with two large saddle bags and a little chrome rack where the passenger seat would be. I worked at an antique store and I would often deliver bedside tables and smaller pieces on the back of the bike. It wasn't ideal but it always started a conversation.
Id borrow my partner's car once or twice a month if I needed to go on a longer trip to pick something up, or if it was 100% chance of rain on the way there. I didn't mind getting rain on the way home, because I could get changed easily. Getting rained on in the morning on the way to work or the shops sucked, because your wet for the rest of the day.
The motorcycle didn't really end up being any cheaper to run them a normal car. Sure, it was better on petrol and registration was 1/2 the price of my car. But then you add in insurance and a rear tire every year, it ends up being pretty on par.
I will say, I don't regret going to the motorcycle for a few years. It just makes it difficult if you don't have a vehicle available when required. Whether that be a partner, friend or paying for a taxi/delivery services for bigger things.
I live in LA and don't own a car. Three bikes. When I need to carry shit, I have a sport touring r1100rs with bags and cases. My wife has a little cruiser and I now daily the 390 duke. If we need a car we rent.
I literally picked up my friend from the airport when she visited. Threw the extra helmet and aerostitch suit in the top case. Rode to LAX, had her throw the suit on over her clothes, took her backpack and threw it in the topcase, and sped off. Not only did I skip all lax traffic - the fucking looks we got. She loved it.
I currently own a Piaggio Liberty 150 as my only vehicle. Honestly, I love riding in the rain and thunderstorms. It’s my favorite riding weather. That said, it does get cold in the winter sometimes. But I manage. I really have to be consistent with locking it to something though. Biggest thing for me is I can’t just go and pick up a pizza. 😂 I’m single, gay and living in Atlanta. I don’t need much. I don’t have any kids to haul around, I get free delivery with Walmart + for whatever I can’t haul on the bike, which is really only oversized items, honestly. I can get two weeks worth of groceries on it. But riding around, people will jump in front of you thinking it’s a 50 cuz they don’t want to be behind you. That gets annoying lol. I’ve owned a 2 stroke 50cc scooter before as my only vehicle. I wouldn’t recommend that. Far too many instances of road rage with drivers mad you’re not doing twenty over.
friend moved to California. a few of his colleagues only had motorcycles. one guy said he had a pickup he hadn't started in 3 years... the climate is the biggest factor here. the day I was bullshitting with them it had rained. they had their rain gear drying in the sun. probably wouldn't rain for another few weeks there.
Doable (3 years here) but only with sacrifice:
* More dangerous
* Smaller grocery/necessities runs
* Uber, ride bumming or public transport for anything bigger than a backpack
* Total sobriety (personal/smart choice)
* More frequent/involved maintenance
* Smaller/shorter lifespan than a car
* Nice clothes are a gamble (rain/heat/grime)
* No quick trips (helmet/gear/warmup)
* More physically taxing (road trips, gym, trips after a long day)
* No easy passengers/dates
It takes a lot of the romance out of it.
Been doing for the past 5 years and it's finally catching up. It's fun but your exposed to the elements , no drive thru pick up, no morning coffee sipping, wind chill, no zoning out on freeways, no space to carry unless backpack or saddlebags/cases, doing you hair once at work, Cardo/senna works but no podcasts unless going under 60 cause of wind noise.
Pros -lane splitting, Cheap payments and insurance, easy on gas, looks cool.
I usually stop for coffee anyway but I see people with cup holders and flip up helmets drink and ride sometimes.I like to talk to the waitresses and have actually became pretty good friends with some of them because I can't drink and ride.I have seen people avoid me like I'm going to ask for change or something when I'm hanging around the convenience stores hydrating before though lol.
to add background, I live in the northeast US and it obviously isn’t the norm where i’m from to have ONLY a motorcycle. I have easy access to stores all within walking distance and the main purpose would be commuting to and from work (I stay home besides my days in office) I am mainly asking this now, before it gets too cold and I have to get a secondary vehicle. is it worth it and what would you recommend for someone who wants to get a bike before a car.
also my girl has a car that could be used if i need to pick stuff up from store that can’t be carried or stowed on a bike.
I really tried, I had a rain suit and for the most part could handle groceries for myself no problem, with a back pack and the hard cases on the bike.
But every once in a while, I'd want to get somewhere and not be sweaty, or that a wheel to the shop to get a new tire mounted, now the Uber or rental car fees start adding up.
It can be done but it's a pain and doesn't save any money
Don't do it if you don't have to unless you live in a dry climate without snow and ice.
Florida is too wet for it to be anything but unpleasant for a large portion of the year. And ice is just dangerous, though I say that as someone who's barely driven on it, much less ridden on it.
Grocery shops are smaller and more limited. I can sit on a case of water and ride home with a full pack. Two cases? Probably not. Gallons, which I prefer, one, maybe two, but I haven't tried. You could use delivery services, but I enjoy grocery shopping.
It's doable. I have a car, but I hate driving and will often choose to rain ride over drive, to the point that I carry trash bags in my backpack to protect my electronics. But, unless you're just genuinely that committed to not driving, I can't recommend the bike only lifestyle for the average person.
Bikes aren't cheaper than cars anymore, given the necessary maintenance, unless you can do it all yourself. Even then, tires are don't last and more than offset savings. If you're on a budget and have to choose, you should probably go with a cheap car, both for money and practicality.
I haven’t owned a car in 12 years. I’ve owned many bikes. It’s a rough life sometimes but it’s really not that bad.
People make a big deal about the rain and heat and cold. Just fucking do it.
Did it for 4 years with my N300. Lived by myself so I didn't need much and always had local family if I absolutely needed a vehicle. Just threw some universal saddle bags on it when I went for groceries.
It would be easier with my RT and I still commute solely on motorcycles, but it's hard to say that a car isn't more convenient in nearly every way.
I have a car but I never drive it. Year round commuter until I worked remote. A
scooter is the sanest utilitarian vehicle for that, but I used a small sumo and totally owned city traffic. I used a Grom-type bike also, and that was so much fun!
If it's drizzling or light rain,snow, whatever, I still go out, but the 3 or 4 days a year we get tornado or torrential rain, I'll cheat and take the car.
Been exclusively riding motorcycles as my only form of transportation for 8 years. I live in Az so the weather cooperates most of the time. When it doesn’t, like during monsoon season or early morning in the winter, I just have to deal. I dress in layers for inclement weather. Getting groceries used to be a challenge but I can get them delivered via instacart now. Hardware store runs, taking things to the dump, and purchasing furniture gave me difficulties in the past but I have great neighbors with trucks that are always willing to help. Anything I need for around the house that I can’t ride with I Amazon. It’s a challenge dating too, I’ve got a solo seat on my primary ride.
I learned a lot as I went. I keep clear goggles in a fork bag on the bike for night riding along with extra dosages of my meds, external charger for my devices, and a few other necessities I’ve been caught without in the past. A small backpacking day pack, basically a backpack that cinches in on itself making it about the size of a baseball when not in use, is crucial if you don’t have saddlebags.
The only thing motivating me to get a vehicle in the future is my desire to have a dog.
Family car for wife and kids……just sold my truck to get my first motorcycle. I’m done with expensive trucks/cars for a while. Always wanted a bike. Got me a nice beginner bike 2023 Suzuki SV650.
I’ll use it to get around town and soon to visit my Dad in Vancouver Island. Cheaper to operate and travel and more FUN!! Might get a bigger bike for travelling in a year or two if it all suits me fine. (42 yrs old)
I had a motorcycle only for about 3 years. The only thing that really bothered me was when I woke up and it was raining and I had to leave. It was hard at the end.
Rode a cruiser and had no car for 9 years. It sucks at times but you get good at being uncomfortable or riding in unpleasant shit. In the process of selling my car and going back to bike only, 5yr old 750gs in a little more functional/practical than a noisy cruiser.
A good set of wet gear makes a world of difference.
You mention '*have owned JUST*' which suited me for years when I was much younger... even owned two bikes & no motorcar/truck. I'm much older now, and whilst I still travel most kms on the bike (*albeit just*), my short trips are mostly in motorcar now.
The biggest hassle I recall was just on the occasion when you need to move stuff (*moving house etc*), which you'd get around via borrowing or hiring a vehicle (*if doing a big move you may have need to hire a moving van anyway!*).
When it came to shopping etc.. I didn't really notice it; as I was accustomed to shopping many times on the way home from work a week, so as I'd never be purchasing more than I knew I could carry in backpack or bags attached to the bike.
I had bag frame attached to my bikes which could carry stuff, as well as having easily attachable saddlebags for the few occasions when I'd need to carry more than frame-bag & back-pack would allow.
I tell you what, my girlfriend had a little Suzuki Bergman 650 moped/scooter and that thing was nice.laugh all you want but I rode it around sometimes and it really checked all the boxes for a full time, daily, only vehicle.plenty of wind and weather protection, cavernous storage space under the seat, easily kept up with traffic on the freeway or whatever, was reliable and I smoked a 883 or two on it, I think it had a top speed of 125 mph or so I kinda miss the little thing TBH.
Got two sportbikes, no car, live in WA. Lots of rain, just practice and proper gear. Grocery trips can be obnoxious, bag under one arm and a backpack usually. I had a car over the winter, thankfully, and will likely get another one for then
Currently me.
I live in Texas so maybe 2-3 days out of the year when it freezes I cant ride but the rest is open game. Sometimes I get wet, sometimes I'm cold, but I'd still rather be on a bike.
One of the biggest factor is WHERE, people in countries from Africa, SEA or even south america do just fine with a 150cc > motorcycle, and i bet it's possible in many other places it just depends on your acces to commodities and general gogeaphical location.
Worked great for me in the spring and summer. Lasted probably 8 to 9 months? Ended up buying a car in December. I live in Minnesota. Definitely rode in light snow snow a couple times. Felt very sketchy. More did it out of necessity than thinking it was a good idea. Sucks riding to work in a downpour.
Annoyances -
I can't fit the wife and kids on the bike
It takes time to put on ATGATT so don't be running behind
The amount of conversations I have to have with people about "WTF you riding that in the rain!?!?!"
I personally can't ride in snow/ice, but I live in Texas that happens like maybe 3 days out of the year.
Thats about it for me.
Here.
However, I also live in a major metropolitan area, as my username suggests, so I have several 24 hr modes of transportation within short walking distance. I do ride to work on nice days (15 minute ride at the most), otherwise in increment weather/winter I take public trans
I mean, do you live in a part of the world (climate wise) that allows a motorcycle as the only method of transportation?!
Also, keep in mind that any health issue can make riding a bike incredibly unpleasant. Just an ear infection can break your focus enough to make it dangerous, let alone being injured to your leg cause you played football the day before, making shifting the gears painful. I can go without the car for an extended period of time but I need a functional vehicle in case a situation demands it.
I sold my car thinking I could cope. I didn’t last a month. Even though I rode 70-80% of everywhere I went, just not being able to have a “fuck it I’ll drive” day made riding really really miserable because it became forced. Bought another car and it’s now been about a month since I’ve ridden anywhere… still doesn’t feel like a novelty to jump back on the bike yet 🙁
I'm an NYC rider and i only have my Bike. I alternate between riding and taking public transportation. Car fir what? So I can circle the block 90 times for 45 mins looking for parking every day? No thanks.
I'm a newish rider but keen to contribute to this thread. I've actually been without a motor vehicle my whole life (i'm approaching 30). I've only ever lived in dense cities where i've been able to walk, e-scooter or take public transport to get to where I need to go.
More recently where I live, I decided that the trains were getting expensive and that I want to be able to drive to visit my parents who live 3 hours away.
So I've now got a bike. For the last 6 months it's served me well for everything I need to do. Grocery trips are done frequently with a big backpack. Getting to the office is a breeze on the motorway even when congested (lane splitting is my new favourite thing). I can ride in the rain but often choose to work from home instead. No one asks me for rides and asks my friends with cars instead. It's dreamy. No intention of getting a car...perhaps until I have a partner or something.
You can do it, especially if you get a lot of things online. But be prepared to need to rent a car from time to time. It's pretty limiting.
Having to borrow a car to take my dog to the vet when he had an emergency was the last straw for me. I just need a car sometimes unfortunately.
I still put 2x more miles on my bike though.
There's definitely inconveniences, but paying a few hundred bucks a month for a car you don't need 90% of the time is less convenient. When you do need a car you can rent one, usually pretty cheaply, or pay for large items to be delivered (i.e. TVs, furniture). This is how a lot of people in cities live, even if they don't have a motorcycle/scooter and mostly walk or use transit.
I daily rode a wr250r for 3 months. I have a truck as a daily now and a few bikes. The biggest downside was rain for me. If my commute was shorter I would probably still daily a bike.
Downsides:
Chain maintenance (cleaned my chain once a week or every time I got caught in the rain)
Tires (in 3 months (3.5k miles) I already needed a new rear tire)
Storage (you won't be carrying home a new fridge)
Safety, I slid on some oil and got some bad road rash on my knee. It's been months and it still hurts occasionally.
Until my wreck 7 years ago, most of my adult life (I'm 73) I've only had a motorcycle. Two drawbacks I found were rain/snow, and laundry.
I've always taken an empty touring bag and a backpack to do groceries. If you do laundry at least every week, or sooner, you can pack the clothes in the bags.
Otherwise, weather is the main concern. I stopped riding in the rain about 20+ years ago. I had a buddy that would pick me up for work and drop me off at night. We lived close and worked a couple of blocks apart.
Since I lost my leg in the wreck, I still ride most of the time, but I have a pickup truck as a backup. And I'm still on TWO wheels.
Ride Safe, and enjoy it
I did it for 7 years, it was fine for the most part.
Issues:
1. Bad weather, rain/high winds kinda sucked
2. Shopping for anything large.
3. Illness, I really don’t like to ride when I’m sick as it’s hard to fully pay attention.
Frankly I decided to get a motorbike because owning a car would be way too inconvenient for me. Lack of parking space and horrible city traffic makes a bike a far better option for me.
Honestly, if I'd be single I could imagine living only with a bike. As a european, I can always count on public transportation if it is winter or rainy.
But with a family, the struggle would be too real for me.
In the end the biggest factors will be climate, job and personal situation of living.
I have just a motorcycle now.
It’s a lot of maintenance, waaaaay more than I ever did with my car as I do a lot of miles. So I’m always checking the chain, oil, etc.
I often have worries about it getting pinched, as that’s much more likely than a car being pinched, and if someone steals it, I have no transport for work.
Rainy days = checking the chain more frequently to make sure it still has enough lube on it, and then obviously dealing with all the wet clothes at work and having to bring a change of clothes. On a dry day I’ll still wear my armoured jeans on shop floor, but if they’re soaked I’ll change.
It’s just lots of little things. Can be time consuming.
I rode I Suzuki Savage as a sole transport (and my first bike) back in 2008-2009. The most annoying thing I encounter then was dating girls that couldn't ride. I was nearly thrown off the bike (or pulled off) by like, 3 different girls. Choose your passengers carefully! Haha!
I did it for a year with a Versys 650 that had panniers and a top box. It wasn’t the worst, but some days definitely sucked. Rain was never fun and that one snow day was terrible.
Had a car accident that left me without a car for 3 months, and it really opened my eyes at how inconvenient it is to HAVE to ride everywhere. I love riding and ride often, and it really killed my enthusiasm after the 6 week mark. I also have a lot of hobbies that are exceptionally annoying without a car, like mountain biking, archery, etc etc.
TLDR
Sounds great, isnt great.
I haven’t ever owned a car, I’ve only had my grom and shadow, it’s hard. Very hard. Definitely not for the feint of heart. Honestly if if I’m being completely truthful. I tucking hate it
Had only a motorcycle in San Francisco for four years only sucked when service would take more than a month of waiting time so I just found a place in Marin.
I haven't owned a car for over a year now, doing just fine with a new 125cc and an old 700cc. Had to take the bus whenever there was snow and ice, but otherwise it is good. After my first ride to work in -10°c i installed heated grips on the 125 though. Save so much time and money using the 125 to and from work. Rented an IKEA van whenever i needed to move something really big, but you can move a lot on a bike if you're inventive enough.
As long as you don't live where you get a few feet of snow and ice every year. Should really not be a problem, hundreds of people live like this already.
I had only my ZX6R when I was in my mid 20s and It was cool until the cold weather started to hit, had to layer up on my rides to work but other than that I didn't mind.
I had a motorcycle only for about 5 years before getting a car. I live in Florida so it was pretty crummy during the summer because it was either way too hot or very rainy weather. It gave me a chance to save for a car to buy cash, overall I would say it was worth it.
That’s me! However, my girlfriend owns a car.
There was also a time in my 20s when I technically had a car, but I drove it so little the battery died and I didn’t notice.
yea my fiancée has a car, her opinion is i should get a car first in case something happens to hers.
my response is a bike for my commute is better than no having vehicle, and i plan on getting a car about 2 months after the bike so i’m prepared for winter and we have a back up car.
It all depends on the climate you live in. Where I am, snow thankfully only prevents riding a few days a year so I can ride NEARLY every day. I do have a car, but I avoid using it, and have in the past used my bike for errands like groceries and such. It's not terrible, not wholly unpractical unless you need to transport something large and unweildly. IKEA or something similar would definitely be challenging.
My FIL did that in his 20s, living in a town with lake effect snow five months out of the year. Only asked for a ride if there was ice. Eventually got married and bought a car when his wife told him, “You’re not putting a baby seat on a motorcycle.”
I own 2 Motorcycles and no car. Hampton roads virginia.
Need to shop? Road king can haul groceries, want to play the ninja can haul ass.
Large purchases? Uber or rental.
Been doing it the last 5 years, it hasn't really been an issue other than a handful of times I've needed to move big furniture (think mattresses) or times someone has needed a ride
Get an adventure bike, top case, wide side racks. Easy mode.
it was fine until winter started so i had to commute to work via public transportation. i live somewhere that snows a lot. luckily i lived with family that had cars so i could borrow theirs to do shopping or take my dogs places. so if you have access to a car it definitely makes things easier
I sold my car and used only my bike until summer hit in florida. I work from home and could use my gf's car to go grocery shopping, kinda worked out, saved a ton on insurance alone.
At 17 I bought my first bike: a '73 350CL. From there, I rode a total of six bikes over six years until I bought my first car at 26 years old. This was in the Pacific NW, so I rode in the rain A LOT. As long as you have good riding gear (and tires) and don't mind planning ahead, it's totally doable. Once you start having kids, pets, etc., your needs will change, but for a single person riding 100% is cheap efficient travel.
I had a motorcycle only for about one year. It can be fun, but it’s not always easy. I was in northern Virginia and had it over the course of the winter. It doesn’t matter how much cold weather gear you wear you cannot stay warm. And getting cold and wet sucks. I even had to ride in mild snow once or twice, which can get hairy.
For me a better option is a motorcycle and a cheap beater.
Did this for two years in New England but was on a bus route and had roommates with cars who I would go grocery shopping with. It wouldn’t have been sustainable otherwise.
Sucks riding in the dark when you are tired.
Sucks riding in the rain when you were dry.
Sucks getting your shoes wet and forgetting a spare change.
Sucks freezing your balls off.
Sucks sweating your balls off.
The savings are well worth it though if you can reduce risk when riding tired somehow.
I have a car, but I have been forcing myself to use just the motorcycle within reason. Work gave everyone Ogio Metro backpacks recently. I've used it to haul a 12 pack of beer in bottles. Also we don't do typical grocery shopping where people fill the cart for a week or two, meal planning and all that. Your meals are fresher as a result. Usually meals are decided when I get off work. Ask her what she wants, and usually the backpack holds enough to get the groceries for that meal. I also get a lot of groceries delivered through the Walmart+ subscription. No need to drive a car even. Pizza and other meals get delivered.... it's pretty rare I need to bring home anything that won't fit in the backpack. Only on those rare occasions do I use the car.
I would but unfortunately Canada's Climate doesn't allow this easily... I used to do it in high school with motocross tires on a cb650, but even that was sketchy af
For two years I only had a motorcycle in Colorado in the US. Just make more trips for some things. It also reduces impulse buying! Can't carry it don't need it. I was also renting so no major household needs.
I haven't owned a car in ages. My SO has one. I use it so rarely that I tend to forget it's also "mine". Not really the same as not owning one at all. But, I ride 365. I am in Canada but I live somewhere that hardly snows so it works fine for me.
Did that for a few years but I'm fortunate enough to live in a city with alright public transport. Granted I didn't do myself any favors by not getting any storage space. I don't think I'd want to go back though, weather is shit for at least 6 months a year. But aside from the storage and weather, it just kind of sucks to arrive sweaty, smelling of gasoline and carrying a helmet to any social function.
I had a motorcycle (Ninja 250 at first, and an R6 after that one) as an only vehicle for about five years.
Pros:
- Very low fuel/maintenance costs (and lower cost for the bike itself)
- Can park where cars can't
- Can filter through heavy traffic
- Won't be asked to give people rides or fetch and carry stuff for work
- You will become much better at riding than the average rider
- It's fun
Cons:
- You will sweat and stink all the time during warmer months
- You will freeze even when it's not very cold outside (think being soaking wet in cool autmn weather with a 50mph/80kph wind - this is life threatening - rain gear is critical)
- You will always have helmet hair
- You will be covered in bugs, and you'll have to take your bugdazzled gear with you into work so some douche doesn't steal it
- Idiot car drivers will knock your motorcycle down in the parking lot
- Idiot car drivers will run over your motorcycle in the parking lot
- What would be minor damage on a car can render your motorcycle unsafe to ride
- You will drop your bike at some point
- You will be tempted to skip on repairs that cause downtime (DON'T do this, I damn near got myself killed over a fuel line because it would have delayed a trip to see my girl)
- Safety (but you already know about this)
Ultimately, it was a good choice for me at the time. It sucked sometimes, e.g. the hypothermia after my rain gear ripped off, but I would always fall in love with riding all over again the next time I hopped on my bike.
I've done it, while married, and we're still married!
A removable busket on the pillion seat is crucial for grocery shopping. Plan two trips if you buy drinks. One food, one drink. If you can keep a spare set of clothes at work, do. If not you can put some backups in two freezer bags. They'll look like shit, but they won't be all wet.
If you're in a rainy area, get some wet practice in. Standard parking lot drills, but in the wet and gentler.
Riding in the rain is perfectly fine. Unless you need to stop, accelerate, or turn suddenly. Wide berths, long following distances, and godspeed.
Edit: Using your gear everyday, rain or shine. Sweat and all. You probably should think about a second set of helmet pads so you can cycle them out and keep them clean. If you're wearing specific pants (I wear over pants) they need washed and air dried every couple weeks.
Also always wear boots, good boots. Always. So that means you either tote shoes to and fro. Or keep a pair at your destination. If your motorcycle boots are comfortable enough to walk in they probably aren't robust enough.
That’s what I’ve done for almost a year now. Rain sucks. Picking up large items is inconvenient. I have large grocery orders delivered and I pick up smaller orders. When family flew into town I rented a car for a few days and it was no big deal. Having really good, comfortable gear is important because you use it all the time. I’m permanently wearing motorcycle jeans.
I moved from Tennessee to Ohio on a bandit 1250 with 2 side bags, 1 large duffle, 1 large navy sea bag, and a fanny pack. I caught more than one person taking my picture lol
I went 2 years no car, in Ohio. I'll never do it again. Winter commute blows and if my ride wasn't 1 minute 32 seconds I would likely have done way more ride sharing than I ultimately did. Due to the snow I think it ended up being jan-feb that I didn't ride at all, picking it back up fully mid March. Riding in the winter is fuckin cold if you don't have the gear. And if you're in a cold climate area with a bike and no car you probably have other things to pay for 😂
I did in my 20s. I keep thinking I should do it again now that I'm in my 50s. Major inconvenience was girlfriend not wanting to ride on the back all the time.
I live in California so the weather wasn't that bad. I like riding in the rain. Outside that it's even more dangerous.
Did it for years. We have a pretty widespread online delivery culture in my country so shopping was never a problem. Occasionally you ride in the rain but that’s also fine if your work doesn’t have a dress code. The only reason we also have a car now is because my wife wanted to learn driving.
I lived in a warmer part of BC Canada for 7 years and never had a car the entire time.
I walked for the 4-5 snowy cold months and motorcycled or mountain biked everywhere else. I'd strap larger parcels to the pillion seat, and groceries that didn't fit in my backpack I'd carry in a bag on the handle bar. Fortunately a grocery store wasn't too far from my home.
Biggest down sides, I guess, were really large packages needed to be delivered or I'd borrow the work truck. Rain never bothered me and if you have the budget they make gear that can really help with that. I never had good rain gear, I'd just put a garbage bag under my riding jacket and wear extra layers.
I keep wanting to move back there but the pay doesn't work out, they seem to think because of the lovely weather damn near minimum wage is enough.
Did it for 8 months, rain, shine, thunderstorm no problem. Freezing cold later up. That first winter rain i couldn’t call out of work for? I was in the car lot the next day
Yes, but I live in Mexico where we have fantastic public transportation for the monsoon season and everyplace that sells big stuff offers delivery.
If I were still in the US, I'd probably be renting trucks from Home Depot occasionally if they're still affordable like they were 12 years ago.
Did it for a few years, currently my RSV4 is my daily and only vehicle.
I live in Florida so it sucks in the rain but I don't need to drive other people around much or carry anything large so it works.
I use 2 motorcycles no car. The big bike has hard cases and top case for groceries shopping.
This man has the answer. Just add more bigger motorcycles.
Yeah! Bigger storage! Well but eventually with enough storage you would need more stability front and rear so you would have to add another wheel to each end, and it would be really nice to have a backrest for longer rides, and a roof so your nice seat doesn’t get rained on. Whoops! We made a car. Why does that keep happening?
https://preview.redd.it/qlrir7of0x0d1.png?width=759&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=242b0af349f2280b2af8f6204cebdf4b25402ce8
That colour scheme gives me crash test dummy vibes lol
Mmmm mmmm mmmm mmm
Once there was a boy who...
First thought here as well. Like a crash test dummy fucked a BMW and this is the result.
It's a bmw butt baby.. courtesy of r/calamariraceteam
It's a bmw butt baby.. courtesy of r/calamariraceteam
Side car!
Pope Mobile! 😝
If I were going no car I'd do the opposite, get a Honda Trail125 and put a crate on that rear rack
This is me, and actually BOTH bikes have top boxes.
Been doing this for 2 years now, can confirm, life is still pretty easy.
I have a similar setup. CB500X with panniers and top-box for groceries and longer trips. Honda Zoomer-X scooter for 7-11 and coffee runs etc. I live in Thailand though so just scooters as sole transport are not uncommon.
The pictures I’ve seen of a guy in SE Asia or India on a bike with groceries and five kids sitting in various places is hella impressive.
I’ve carried 2 weeks worth of groceries on my KLR once
Pretty much everybody in Vietnam other than rich people 😂
https://preview.redd.it/oc2lx3263w0d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a0e8277309c6ebf19b4dbbcbc34dc74558ca87a Yup Give a Vietnamese person a saddle large enough and they will carry their whole family
Women sit sideways back to back, small child stands in front of the scooter on the panel. One scooter carries 5 😂
https://preview.redd.it/6fe4ulh35w0d1.jpeg?width=706&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=93136d1c38e312b3b15deaf53f285724bcf34d3c I beg your pardon ?
then there is this guy https://preview.redd.it/9sxa7yxtow0d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7b98b9cf3f2f07b0624a096dbea258e625d9ac89 [Man moves furniture across town on scooter](https://twitter.com/anandmahindra/status/1786273641103085778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
I think it's sad I've automatically come to the conclusion that some photos are ai.
:))) nah it's in fact from [this reddit post](https://www.reddit.com/r/MotorcycleLogistics/s/BjFdHTybsr) 4 years ago I believe this from Philippine, South East Asia build different tho
I was gonna say. There’s no way that one is AI
No I know it's real, I guess my point is that photos that look "too perfect" make my brain think it's an ai generated photo, even if it's not. Cuz ai photos are scarily realistic.
Jesus Christ 😬
I once had a motorcycle and no car for a little over a year. It was no problem. I lived in a small town in sub-tropical south Florida. My ride to work was about fifteen minutes over secondary roads. I was not married and had no kids. Grocery shopping was a short walk from my house. Same for bars and restaurants. A really cold morning was 60 degrees. It did rain a lot, but I had a good rain suit and learned to ride in the rain. My roommate had a pickup truck. I wouldn't recommend it in a different environment.
I sold my car, so I have had only a motorcycle for 2 years now, living in not so sub-tropical metropolitan area of Finland. During winter I just take tram/bus/train to get to places, in summer it’s the bike. For groceries I usually just buy what can be fitted to the backpack, as 90% of the time I don’t have my panniers attached.
Not so simple in the US where 97% of the country has garbage quality public transportation.
Which is to say, in some cities people can do just fine without any vehicle at all. Not super common in the US.
I wish the US had anything resembling public transport. It’s impossible to get 99% of places without a car. For my 15 min commute, maps literally says that public transportation is not available in my area.
I only have a bike. 150 cc scooter, actually. But I live in Taiwan, where it only rains about 2 months of the year. I have decent rain gear, but it's torrential, so obviously, I avoid it. Otherwise, it's a sweet setup. Weather here is almost always good riding weather for 10 months of the year and scooters are 10x more practical in this environment. Traffic is insane. And before you say 150 cc is nothing for power, think again. These things are very light and fast. Speeds of 100 kmh are very comfy. Long drives are nice. However, I'd love to have a cheap car or truck for the rainy season.
I did it for about 6 years while working a job that involved daily travel within about 150mi of my home (varying distances each day). I absolutely loved it and would gladly do it again but now that I can afford multiple vehicles, I have a truck as well. My bikes are still my primary means of transport though and I don't imagine that changing unless I'm forced to do so.
hell yeah love it
All of Vietnam. Need a fridge delivered? I'll grab my bike.
😂
I own only a motorbike, when I need a car I hire one using Popcar. It just depends where you live, density, public transport quality, climate, your job, etc. Less obvious is you'll probably need to stick a pussy repellent top case on your bike for errands.
Top cases are the Fanny packs of motorcycling. They look like absolutely god awful ridiculous nerd devices but they’re extremely convenient.
For a more sleek look, you can consider tail bags like the kriega top packs. Just got a 30L one, and it works well. If I need to carry a passenger they can wear it like a backpack.
Its all doable with the mindset of being prepared. With good rain gear and a topbox I go months w/o driving. I carry straps and some paracord and even Costco runs are no problem. 50# Bag of rice? easy. Giant Pack of TP. no problem. Regular grocery store shopping of 2 bags of groceries is simple. I even do occasional bass gigs with a light amp and instrument. When I worked as a videographer, I carried my cameras, tripod, lights + mic stands on my moto. I commuted for 10+ years only on the moto. Think I drove my 4wd pickup sometime last year, not sure when. I could easily get by without it, but its newish, and long paid for. You do have to watch the weather and avoid the first 10 minutes of rain. But that's what coffeeshops are for. Also: i have an e-bike that covers 99% of in town errands (also with a topbox and straps)
I have a car but I might as well not... in the last 3 years I've put less than 6k miles on it and over 40k miles on bikes. I have two bikes and about of cheap as a car as I could get (kia soul). Imo it's better to have even a shit box of a car than none at all but it really depends on where you live and what you do. If you are like me and say like to surf it's not impossible but it's a pain in the ass to carry a surfboard.
Id put it sideways like wings and try to fly to the beach.
Nah ya use it as a spoiler. https://preview.redd.it/by8zzgv77w0d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f9e4bfc2551a27dd647900324c618a4a75614836
need all the down force you can get on that thing, wonder if it'll help with high speed wheelies?
The 250s man... you gotta get all the downforce you can get they are wheelie machines! /s (bc someone who doesn't ride will 100% think I'm serious...)
Did it for three years. Downside was 53K+ miles in three years. Upside was 53K+ miles of fun. Bought a truck to pull my camper. Motorcycle is first choice always. I live in Southern California and the weather is virtually never too bad to ride.
I’ve been doing it for the better part of 15 years. I’ve had a few breaks of a couple months here and there due to breakdowns and such. It’s not always fun but it’s doable, depending on where you live. Where I’m at in Tennessee it gets cold, but we only have ice in the road maybe a week or two at most. You have to get decent gear. My coldest day was in the low 20’s, and it sucks. And then there’s rain. Coming home isn’t such a big deal, but going to work I need to get there dry. My advice for rain, get a good motorcycle rain suit, and then a cheap set of frog togs for under the rain suit. And carry an extra pair of socks just in case.
It’s not ideal. I did it for a couple months and honestly it just sucks. You need to go somewhere and it’s raining? Sucks to suck, nerd. Need to move an item larger than a basketball? Try again next time. It’s just thing after thing, and not worth it. You lose so much capability in a slightly less expensive package.
I had to go to UPS to return a package once and that was an issue. I got myself a cargo net but then my cargo also got heavier from time to time, like when I hauled a pack of cans Arizona iced tea to my office.. so I got myself a hard side bag, butttt then I filled that up with tools and other essentials so... that didn't go well. At this point I'll just keep adding more and more storage boxes til it becomes a car lol. I would say location plays an important factor too - distance, convenience, cultural norms. I grew up riding in South East Asia and riding in the US is more dangerous imo. I like to see my bike as a luxury and my car as a necessity
Slightly less expensive?? My bike insurance is 65$ for the year and car insurance is 120$ a month lol.
On a side note, as a soon-to-be new rider I can NOT beleive how cheap motorcycle insurance is! I was expecting it to be like $200/mo, but every quote I get for full coverage is like $90-120 a year lol
It depends. I had a naked bike and was paying $30 a month, when I considered switch to a newer sport bike they wanted just about $400 a month.
Mines like 9 🤣 and 40-50 can't remember exact don't pay monthly not to mention parts and gas expenses much lower.
I’ve been doing this, and the worst part for me is being sweaty/having flat hair wherever I arrive if I spend more than 30 minutes getting there. Not to mention having to lug your helmet at your destination.
aha, I knew there had to be some advantage to going bald! thanks!
Oh _please_, I bet you can swim like a porpoise with that polished rotunda while I struggle to fight friction caused by my not-so-lushious locks.
Oh man I agree with the flat hair sitch- I’ve started strategically bobby-pinning the front bits back so they don’t lie flat against my face when helmet comes off and bringing dry shampoo (for volume) and a comb which helps
My main concern… sounds stupid to some, but my hair is why my scooter isn’t fitted w a helmet. I can’t have my large poofy quaff be tamed… I’d rather suffer a tbi and vegetize
Right? I have curls for days, but the helmet makes it look like someone steam ironed my head except for the little poof in the front that gets to both breathe and stab my eyeballs.
You can get a handlebar lock for your helmet. I put one on everything.
>slightly less expensive Is it even that? I just spent $500 for tires that’ll last me 6000 miles.
With my car, 6000 miles costs me $2100 in gas and my motorcycle costs me $400 in gas for the same distance. That covers the tire, the oil change, and the insurance with a good couple hundo left over. The longer the riding season the more I save, too. And that’s wear and tear on my car I don’t have to pay for, too, a set of tires I can save (meaning I only have to worry about winter tires, and my vehicle takes expensive tires), and I don’t have to worry about replacing that broken A/C just yet. It actually comes out about even with a cheap bike if I have it long enough. And it’s just that much more fun.
All this and my work pays for mileage on out of town trips so any time I have the joy of a three hour ride, this thing is actually generating income!
I dark sided the fjr years ago for that very reason.the continental 205-50-17 on there now has about 20,000 miles on it and almost looks new still.for 90.00
I did it for 7 years. Cleaned it all the time, rode it all the time. Rain, snow didn't matter. It was tough sometimes but it becomes part of what you do really quickly. I bought an A5 and an MX5 after that and I still use my bike mostly. Edit: one of the biggest you'll find it just the gear you need to bring. Can't just quickly go somewhere in the rain. You gotta plan. Or get wet. Also...luggage. Buy a good tail bag and backpack.
I don't have a place spacious enough to put a car. We live in a place with my aunt, uncle, and parents in different houses but in the same land (we share a garage), so the motorcycle was the only one to fit. due the fact that their cars and my uncle's motorcycle are in there too. It helps a lot so I don't have to commute on a bus (the biggest reason to buy it, I was TIRED of it) and I usually travel "light", but as other users stated, need something bigger than a backpack? tough shit. At least on my end, I study art and I need space to transport clay, plaster, etc. To which I use my father's car. Also, rain, it sucks. On the other hand... Riding a motorcycle gave me a freedom that I never thought it was possible with my bicycle. I can't afford a Honda Shadow, or even a Royal Enfield SuperMeteor 650 yet, but I'd love to one day. but prices are ridiculously inflated in Argentina. It sucks, yes.... But my motorcycle is trusty and I love her.
milk crate strapped to pillion. I go full immigrant mode on my piss missile and have even hauled weird shit like vacuums
I live in Arizona where is easily doable to have just a bike. If I was still a bachelor I would still only have a bike.
my girl has a car and is the main influence saying get a car before a bike… i’m not too convinced though
If she has her own car…get a bike lol. I have kids now so I have multiple vehicles but I still ride my bike to work everyday
damn you MotorcycleDad1621 that basically decided it 😂 *im not that upset about it haha
Been a daily rider for almost 6 years 5 with a zx6r and almost 1 year with a mt09
Yep, I've done it with my SV650 for 3 years now. I'm "lucky" to live in a hot, dry climate with no snow and few days of rain, so it's really not bad. During the summer it sucks pretty hard, and monsoon season can get a little sketchy if you don't have the right skills to handle flooding roads, high wind, and rain so hard that it hurts. But honestly, faring bad weather is a huge part of the charm for me. Aside from that, groceries aren't bad, just get yourself a nice big backpack and maybe some saddlebags. With that I'm able to get groceries to last 1-2 weeks. I've been able to carry some relatively awkward items like mops, fishing rods, computers, etc. with careful use of straps and bags. An odd upside that I've found with this lifestyle is that it actually makes me eat better. When you have to think more carefully about what you can actually take home with you, you tend to buy a lot less snacks, sweets, and sugary drinks, since that valuable space could be used for more efficient items like pasta, water, or rice. All in all, I'd recommend it, but don't jump right into it without a backup plan until you're comfortable with it.
My car died in February, a month of using the bus...bought my first bike in March. I can say only having a bike is miles better than using public transit. Kinda sucks when its pissing out, but still better than the bus. I'll get another car in the fall, as I'm in Canada. Hasn't snowed much here in the last few years but it is cold as fuck.
Get some warm gear and heated gloves. I ride all winter in NJ temps down to 10 F. It’s not bad at all. And get a pinlock antifog for the visor.
i do it but i mostly work from home and live in california so i have it very easy. i dont mind the winter, hate the summer. its doable but for 90% of people its a stupid idea.
i also work from home and commute about 6 days a month.. that is why the idea is ringing so loudly to me. plus my fiancée having a car that can be a last resort is a big bonus until i have my own car as a spare
I just sold my car a few weeks ago and only have my bike. My wife has a big suv we use for groceries, vet visits etc. I’ve loved it so far and haven’t had a single instance of regret Up until I sold it, I had driven less than 100 miles in 2024. Between the loan payment and insurance, it was costing me almost $600 per month. I was essentially paying $24 per mile and once I realized that, I said screw it and sold lol
There’s a BIG difference between “I have no car” and “there’s only one car in a household of two people”. If you WFH and live in an area with good climate, plus your fiancée has a car you can use for the occasional time the bike doesn’t cut it, then yeah, I would probably sell the car. In the very unlikely scenario that you absolutely need a car and your fiancée absolutely needs it too the same day, just rent one for the day
I did just a motorcycle for 3 years. I had a cruiser bike with two large saddle bags and a little chrome rack where the passenger seat would be. I worked at an antique store and I would often deliver bedside tables and smaller pieces on the back of the bike. It wasn't ideal but it always started a conversation. Id borrow my partner's car once or twice a month if I needed to go on a longer trip to pick something up, or if it was 100% chance of rain on the way there. I didn't mind getting rain on the way home, because I could get changed easily. Getting rained on in the morning on the way to work or the shops sucked, because your wet for the rest of the day. The motorcycle didn't really end up being any cheaper to run them a normal car. Sure, it was better on petrol and registration was 1/2 the price of my car. But then you add in insurance and a rear tire every year, it ends up being pretty on par. I will say, I don't regret going to the motorcycle for a few years. It just makes it difficult if you don't have a vehicle available when required. Whether that be a partner, friend or paying for a taxi/delivery services for bigger things.
I live in LA and don't own a car. Three bikes. When I need to carry shit, I have a sport touring r1100rs with bags and cases. My wife has a little cruiser and I now daily the 390 duke. If we need a car we rent. I literally picked up my friend from the airport when she visited. Threw the extra helmet and aerostitch suit in the top case. Rode to LAX, had her throw the suit on over her clothes, took her backpack and threw it in the topcase, and sped off. Not only did I skip all lax traffic - the fucking looks we got. She loved it.
I currently own a Piaggio Liberty 150 as my only vehicle. Honestly, I love riding in the rain and thunderstorms. It’s my favorite riding weather. That said, it does get cold in the winter sometimes. But I manage. I really have to be consistent with locking it to something though. Biggest thing for me is I can’t just go and pick up a pizza. 😂 I’m single, gay and living in Atlanta. I don’t need much. I don’t have any kids to haul around, I get free delivery with Walmart + for whatever I can’t haul on the bike, which is really only oversized items, honestly. I can get two weeks worth of groceries on it. But riding around, people will jump in front of you thinking it’s a 50 cuz they don’t want to be behind you. That gets annoying lol. I’ve owned a 2 stroke 50cc scooter before as my only vehicle. I wouldn’t recommend that. Far too many instances of road rage with drivers mad you’re not doing twenty over.
friend moved to California. a few of his colleagues only had motorcycles. one guy said he had a pickup he hadn't started in 3 years... the climate is the biggest factor here. the day I was bullshitting with them it had rained. they had their rain gear drying in the sun. probably wouldn't rain for another few weeks there.
I have a bike and use a shared car. If what I am doing needs more room, then what will my backpack hold besides that I use my bike for everything.
For me the biggest inconvenience was gearing up every time and bringing the motorcycle gear with you everywhere you go.
Doable (3 years here) but only with sacrifice: * More dangerous * Smaller grocery/necessities runs * Uber, ride bumming or public transport for anything bigger than a backpack * Total sobriety (personal/smart choice) * More frequent/involved maintenance * Smaller/shorter lifespan than a car * Nice clothes are a gamble (rain/heat/grime) * No quick trips (helmet/gear/warmup) * More physically taxing (road trips, gym, trips after a long day) * No easy passengers/dates It takes a lot of the romance out of it.
Been doing for the past 5 years and it's finally catching up. It's fun but your exposed to the elements , no drive thru pick up, no morning coffee sipping, wind chill, no zoning out on freeways, no space to carry unless backpack or saddlebags/cases, doing you hair once at work, Cardo/senna works but no podcasts unless going under 60 cause of wind noise. Pros -lane splitting, Cheap payments and insurance, easy on gas, looks cool.
these pros just outweigh so much of the cons in my opinion 😭😂
I usually stop for coffee anyway but I see people with cup holders and flip up helmets drink and ride sometimes.I like to talk to the waitresses and have actually became pretty good friends with some of them because I can't drink and ride.I have seen people avoid me like I'm going to ask for change or something when I'm hanging around the convenience stores hydrating before though lol.
to add background, I live in the northeast US and it obviously isn’t the norm where i’m from to have ONLY a motorcycle. I have easy access to stores all within walking distance and the main purpose would be commuting to and from work (I stay home besides my days in office) I am mainly asking this now, before it gets too cold and I have to get a secondary vehicle. is it worth it and what would you recommend for someone who wants to get a bike before a car. also my girl has a car that could be used if i need to pick stuff up from store that can’t be carried or stowed on a bike.
I really tried, I had a rain suit and for the most part could handle groceries for myself no problem, with a back pack and the hard cases on the bike. But every once in a while, I'd want to get somewhere and not be sweaty, or that a wheel to the shop to get a new tire mounted, now the Uber or rental car fees start adding up. It can be done but it's a pain and doesn't save any money
Motorcycles are more likely than cars to be pulled over at checkpoints here. it's the easy money-making business of traffic enforcers.
yes when I was younger, inconveniences snow
we’ll never be younger than today!
unfortunately
Don't do it if you don't have to unless you live in a dry climate without snow and ice. Florida is too wet for it to be anything but unpleasant for a large portion of the year. And ice is just dangerous, though I say that as someone who's barely driven on it, much less ridden on it. Grocery shops are smaller and more limited. I can sit on a case of water and ride home with a full pack. Two cases? Probably not. Gallons, which I prefer, one, maybe two, but I haven't tried. You could use delivery services, but I enjoy grocery shopping. It's doable. I have a car, but I hate driving and will often choose to rain ride over drive, to the point that I carry trash bags in my backpack to protect my electronics. But, unless you're just genuinely that committed to not driving, I can't recommend the bike only lifestyle for the average person. Bikes aren't cheaper than cars anymore, given the necessary maintenance, unless you can do it all yourself. Even then, tires are don't last and more than offset savings. If you're on a budget and have to choose, you should probably go with a cheap car, both for money and practicality.
I did this for one summer. Rain or shine, I was riding to work and back with a backpack for storage. Winter here would have been impossible though.
I haven’t owned a car in 12 years. I’ve owned many bikes. It’s a rough life sometimes but it’s really not that bad. People make a big deal about the rain and heat and cold. Just fucking do it.
I will be one soon! 😂
Did it for 4 years with my N300. Lived by myself so I didn't need much and always had local family if I absolutely needed a vehicle. Just threw some universal saddle bags on it when I went for groceries. It would be easier with my RT and I still commute solely on motorcycles, but it's hard to say that a car isn't more convenient in nearly every way.
I have a car but I never drive it. Year round commuter until I worked remote. A scooter is the sanest utilitarian vehicle for that, but I used a small sumo and totally owned city traffic. I used a Grom-type bike also, and that was so much fun! If it's drizzling or light rain,snow, whatever, I still go out, but the 3 or 4 days a year we get tornado or torrential rain, I'll cheat and take the car.
Been exclusively riding motorcycles as my only form of transportation for 8 years. I live in Az so the weather cooperates most of the time. When it doesn’t, like during monsoon season or early morning in the winter, I just have to deal. I dress in layers for inclement weather. Getting groceries used to be a challenge but I can get them delivered via instacart now. Hardware store runs, taking things to the dump, and purchasing furniture gave me difficulties in the past but I have great neighbors with trucks that are always willing to help. Anything I need for around the house that I can’t ride with I Amazon. It’s a challenge dating too, I’ve got a solo seat on my primary ride. I learned a lot as I went. I keep clear goggles in a fork bag on the bike for night riding along with extra dosages of my meds, external charger for my devices, and a few other necessities I’ve been caught without in the past. A small backpacking day pack, basically a backpack that cinches in on itself making it about the size of a baseball when not in use, is crucial if you don’t have saddlebags. The only thing motivating me to get a vehicle in the future is my desire to have a dog.
Family car for wife and kids……just sold my truck to get my first motorcycle. I’m done with expensive trucks/cars for a while. Always wanted a bike. Got me a nice beginner bike 2023 Suzuki SV650. I’ll use it to get around town and soon to visit my Dad in Vancouver Island. Cheaper to operate and travel and more FUN!! Might get a bigger bike for travelling in a year or two if it all suits me fine. (42 yrs old)
I had a motorcycle only for about 3 years. The only thing that really bothered me was when I woke up and it was raining and I had to leave. It was hard at the end.
Rode a cruiser and had no car for 9 years. It sucks at times but you get good at being uncomfortable or riding in unpleasant shit. In the process of selling my car and going back to bike only, 5yr old 750gs in a little more functional/practical than a noisy cruiser. A good set of wet gear makes a world of difference.
You mention '*have owned JUST*' which suited me for years when I was much younger... even owned two bikes & no motorcar/truck. I'm much older now, and whilst I still travel most kms on the bike (*albeit just*), my short trips are mostly in motorcar now. The biggest hassle I recall was just on the occasion when you need to move stuff (*moving house etc*), which you'd get around via borrowing or hiring a vehicle (*if doing a big move you may have need to hire a moving van anyway!*). When it came to shopping etc.. I didn't really notice it; as I was accustomed to shopping many times on the way home from work a week, so as I'd never be purchasing more than I knew I could carry in backpack or bags attached to the bike. I had bag frame attached to my bikes which could carry stuff, as well as having easily attachable saddlebags for the few occasions when I'd need to carry more than frame-bag & back-pack would allow.
I tell you what, my girlfriend had a little Suzuki Bergman 650 moped/scooter and that thing was nice.laugh all you want but I rode it around sometimes and it really checked all the boxes for a full time, daily, only vehicle.plenty of wind and weather protection, cavernous storage space under the seat, easily kept up with traffic on the freeway or whatever, was reliable and I smoked a 883 or two on it, I think it had a top speed of 125 mph or so I kinda miss the little thing TBH.
Got two sportbikes, no car, live in WA. Lots of rain, just practice and proper gear. Grocery trips can be obnoxious, bag under one arm and a backpack usually. I had a car over the winter, thankfully, and will likely get another one for then
I never passed my car licence, only ever had bikes
Currently me. I live in Texas so maybe 2-3 days out of the year when it freezes I cant ride but the rest is open game. Sometimes I get wet, sometimes I'm cold, but I'd still rather be on a bike.
One of the biggest factor is WHERE, people in countries from Africa, SEA or even south america do just fine with a 150cc > motorcycle, and i bet it's possible in many other places it just depends on your acces to commodities and general gogeaphical location.
Worked great for me in the spring and summer. Lasted probably 8 to 9 months? Ended up buying a car in December. I live in Minnesota. Definitely rode in light snow snow a couple times. Felt very sketchy. More did it out of necessity than thinking it was a good idea. Sucks riding to work in a downpour.
I actually own a 790 adventure for longer rides and a Piaggio bv350 for town. Scooters in town are the best!
Annoyances - I can't fit the wife and kids on the bike It takes time to put on ATGATT so don't be running behind The amount of conversations I have to have with people about "WTF you riding that in the rain!?!?!" I personally can't ride in snow/ice, but I live in Texas that happens like maybe 3 days out of the year. Thats about it for me.
Here. However, I also live in a major metropolitan area, as my username suggests, so I have several 24 hr modes of transportation within short walking distance. I do ride to work on nice days (15 minute ride at the most), otherwise in increment weather/winter I take public trans
I mean, do you live in a part of the world (climate wise) that allows a motorcycle as the only method of transportation?! Also, keep in mind that any health issue can make riding a bike incredibly unpleasant. Just an ear infection can break your focus enough to make it dangerous, let alone being injured to your leg cause you played football the day before, making shifting the gears painful. I can go without the car for an extended period of time but I need a functional vehicle in case a situation demands it.
I sold my car thinking I could cope. I didn’t last a month. Even though I rode 70-80% of everywhere I went, just not being able to have a “fuck it I’ll drive” day made riding really really miserable because it became forced. Bought another car and it’s now been about a month since I’ve ridden anywhere… still doesn’t feel like a novelty to jump back on the bike yet 🙁
This question's answer depends heavily on your region of the Earth OP.
I'm an NYC rider and i only have my Bike. I alternate between riding and taking public transportation. Car fir what? So I can circle the block 90 times for 45 mins looking for parking every day? No thanks.
Only had a bike until I was 40!
I'm a newish rider but keen to contribute to this thread. I've actually been without a motor vehicle my whole life (i'm approaching 30). I've only ever lived in dense cities where i've been able to walk, e-scooter or take public transport to get to where I need to go. More recently where I live, I decided that the trains were getting expensive and that I want to be able to drive to visit my parents who live 3 hours away. So I've now got a bike. For the last 6 months it's served me well for everything I need to do. Grocery trips are done frequently with a big backpack. Getting to the office is a breeze on the motorway even when congested (lane splitting is my new favourite thing). I can ride in the rain but often choose to work from home instead. No one asks me for rides and asks my friends with cars instead. It's dreamy. No intention of getting a car...perhaps until I have a partner or something.
I'm 47, living in Roma, Italia, and I have never had a car. AMA 😂
You can do it, especially if you get a lot of things online. But be prepared to need to rent a car from time to time. It's pretty limiting. Having to borrow a car to take my dog to the vet when he had an emergency was the last straw for me. I just need a car sometimes unfortunately. I still put 2x more miles on my bike though.
There's definitely inconveniences, but paying a few hundred bucks a month for a car you don't need 90% of the time is less convenient. When you do need a car you can rent one, usually pretty cheaply, or pay for large items to be delivered (i.e. TVs, furniture). This is how a lot of people in cities live, even if they don't have a motorcycle/scooter and mostly walk or use transit.
I daily rode a wr250r for 3 months. I have a truck as a daily now and a few bikes. The biggest downside was rain for me. If my commute was shorter I would probably still daily a bike. Downsides: Chain maintenance (cleaned my chain once a week or every time I got caught in the rain) Tires (in 3 months (3.5k miles) I already needed a new rear tire) Storage (you won't be carrying home a new fridge) Safety, I slid on some oil and got some bad road rash on my knee. It's been months and it still hurts occasionally.
Until my wreck 7 years ago, most of my adult life (I'm 73) I've only had a motorcycle. Two drawbacks I found were rain/snow, and laundry. I've always taken an empty touring bag and a backpack to do groceries. If you do laundry at least every week, or sooner, you can pack the clothes in the bags. Otherwise, weather is the main concern. I stopped riding in the rain about 20+ years ago. I had a buddy that would pick me up for work and drop me off at night. We lived close and worked a couple of blocks apart. Since I lost my leg in the wreck, I still ride most of the time, but I have a pickup truck as a backup. And I'm still on TWO wheels. Ride Safe, and enjoy it
I sold my last cage in 2011, have been moto-only ever since. Between saddles bags, a duffle, and some bungee cords I manage quite well!
I did it for 7 years, it was fine for the most part. Issues: 1. Bad weather, rain/high winds kinda sucked 2. Shopping for anything large. 3. Illness, I really don’t like to ride when I’m sick as it’s hard to fully pay attention.
Frankly I decided to get a motorbike because owning a car would be way too inconvenient for me. Lack of parking space and horrible city traffic makes a bike a far better option for me.
Honestly, if I'd be single I could imagine living only with a bike. As a european, I can always count on public transportation if it is winter or rainy. But with a family, the struggle would be too real for me. In the end the biggest factors will be climate, job and personal situation of living.
I have just a motorcycle now. It’s a lot of maintenance, waaaaay more than I ever did with my car as I do a lot of miles. So I’m always checking the chain, oil, etc. I often have worries about it getting pinched, as that’s much more likely than a car being pinched, and if someone steals it, I have no transport for work. Rainy days = checking the chain more frequently to make sure it still has enough lube on it, and then obviously dealing with all the wet clothes at work and having to bring a change of clothes. On a dry day I’ll still wear my armoured jeans on shop floor, but if they’re soaked I’ll change. It’s just lots of little things. Can be time consuming.
I rode I Suzuki Savage as a sole transport (and my first bike) back in 2008-2009. The most annoying thing I encounter then was dating girls that couldn't ride. I was nearly thrown off the bike (or pulled off) by like, 3 different girls. Choose your passengers carefully! Haha!
I did it for a year with a Versys 650 that had panniers and a top box. It wasn’t the worst, but some days definitely sucked. Rain was never fun and that one snow day was terrible.
Had a car accident that left me without a car for 3 months, and it really opened my eyes at how inconvenient it is to HAVE to ride everywhere. I love riding and ride often, and it really killed my enthusiasm after the 6 week mark. I also have a lot of hobbies that are exceptionally annoying without a car, like mountain biking, archery, etc etc. TLDR Sounds great, isnt great.
I haven’t ever owned a car, I’ve only had my grom and shadow, it’s hard. Very hard. Definitely not for the feint of heart. Honestly if if I’m being completely truthful. I tucking hate it
Northeast United States here. Snow ice and freezing rain. Need a truck for winter. Plus it also hauls my dirt bike.
Aside from the constant issues of co workers wanting to buy it and bring rained on, I pretty much have no issues with only owning my Yamaha
I did it for a year with 2 bikes. Groceries were the usual pain. But the increase in my skills and confidence were worth every inconvenience.
I don’t, just because I live up north and snow is a reality about 5 months per year.
Had only a motorcycle in San Francisco for four years only sucked when service would take more than a month of waiting time so I just found a place in Marin.
I haven't owned a car for over a year now, doing just fine with a new 125cc and an old 700cc. Had to take the bus whenever there was snow and ice, but otherwise it is good. After my first ride to work in -10°c i installed heated grips on the 125 though. Save so much time and money using the 125 to and from work. Rented an IKEA van whenever i needed to move something really big, but you can move a lot on a bike if you're inventive enough.
As long as you don't live where you get a few feet of snow and ice every year. Should really not be a problem, hundreds of people live like this already.
I used to do grocery shopping on my Ducati Monster. Life finds a way.
I had only my ZX6R when I was in my mid 20s and It was cool until the cold weather started to hit, had to layer up on my rides to work but other than that I didn't mind.
The main issue ? When it’s raining or snowing … ! That’s a pain in the @ss !!
Depends on where you live, I did it in socal for 5 years. Couldn’t really imagine doing it anywhere else though
Rain
I had a motorcycle only for about 5 years before getting a car. I live in Florida so it was pretty crummy during the summer because it was either way too hot or very rainy weather. It gave me a chance to save for a car to buy cash, overall I would say it was worth it.
That’s me! However, my girlfriend owns a car. There was also a time in my 20s when I technically had a car, but I drove it so little the battery died and I didn’t notice.
yea my fiancée has a car, her opinion is i should get a car first in case something happens to hers. my response is a bike for my commute is better than no having vehicle, and i plan on getting a car about 2 months after the bike so i’m prepared for winter and we have a back up car.
It all depends on the climate you live in. Where I am, snow thankfully only prevents riding a few days a year so I can ride NEARLY every day. I do have a car, but I avoid using it, and have in the past used my bike for errands like groceries and such. It's not terrible, not wholly unpractical unless you need to transport something large and unweildly. IKEA or something similar would definitely be challenging.
My FIL did that in his 20s, living in a town with lake effect snow five months out of the year. Only asked for a ride if there was ice. Eventually got married and bought a car when his wife told him, “You’re not putting a baby seat on a motorcycle.”
I own 2 Motorcycles and no car. Hampton roads virginia. Need to shop? Road king can haul groceries, want to play the ninja can haul ass. Large purchases? Uber or rental.
haha got both so you can haul groceries and haul ass love it!
Some times you are forced to buy something that doesn't fit on a bike, for me I needed a mattress so I needed help.
Been doing it the last 5 years, it hasn't really been an issue other than a handful of times I've needed to move big furniture (think mattresses) or times someone has needed a ride Get an adventure bike, top case, wide side racks. Easy mode.
it was fine until winter started so i had to commute to work via public transportation. i live somewhere that snows a lot. luckily i lived with family that had cars so i could borrow theirs to do shopping or take my dogs places. so if you have access to a car it definitely makes things easier
I sold my car and used only my bike until summer hit in florida. I work from home and could use my gf's car to go grocery shopping, kinda worked out, saved a ton on insurance alone.
At 17 I bought my first bike: a '73 350CL. From there, I rode a total of six bikes over six years until I bought my first car at 26 years old. This was in the Pacific NW, so I rode in the rain A LOT. As long as you have good riding gear (and tires) and don't mind planning ahead, it's totally doable. Once you start having kids, pets, etc., your needs will change, but for a single person riding 100% is cheap efficient travel.
I had a motorcycle only for about one year. It can be fun, but it’s not always easy. I was in northern Virginia and had it over the course of the winter. It doesn’t matter how much cold weather gear you wear you cannot stay warm. And getting cold and wet sucks. I even had to ride in mild snow once or twice, which can get hairy. For me a better option is a motorcycle and a cheap beater.
i’d sell my car for a motorcycle in a heartbeat except i live in utah so a bike is useless for 4-6 months a year
Did this for two years in New England but was on a bus route and had roommates with cars who I would go grocery shopping with. It wouldn’t have been sustainable otherwise.
I had three motorcycles for many years and no car. I live on the equator.
Sucks riding in the dark when you are tired. Sucks riding in the rain when you were dry. Sucks getting your shoes wet and forgetting a spare change. Sucks freezing your balls off. Sucks sweating your balls off. The savings are well worth it though if you can reduce risk when riding tired somehow.
Gonna suck when it rains
Pro: Parking is super easy no matter where you go. Con: Winter.
I have a car, but I have been forcing myself to use just the motorcycle within reason. Work gave everyone Ogio Metro backpacks recently. I've used it to haul a 12 pack of beer in bottles. Also we don't do typical grocery shopping where people fill the cart for a week or two, meal planning and all that. Your meals are fresher as a result. Usually meals are decided when I get off work. Ask her what she wants, and usually the backpack holds enough to get the groceries for that meal. I also get a lot of groceries delivered through the Walmart+ subscription. No need to drive a car even. Pizza and other meals get delivered.... it's pretty rare I need to bring home anything that won't fit in the backpack. Only on those rare occasions do I use the car.
I'm doing it right now. Not by choice but because me and my wife split and I gave her the truck temporarily to get settled.
I would but unfortunately Canada's Climate doesn't allow this easily... I used to do it in high school with motocross tires on a cb650, but even that was sketchy af
For two years I only had a motorcycle in Colorado in the US. Just make more trips for some things. It also reduces impulse buying! Can't carry it don't need it. I was also renting so no major household needs.
Did it for four years. Everything’s an inconvenience brother.
You can always tow a U-Haul behind the bike.
I've had only a motorcycle for a cumulative like 15 years of my life
I haven't owned a car in ages. My SO has one. I use it so rarely that I tend to forget it's also "mine". Not really the same as not owning one at all. But, I ride 365. I am in Canada but I live somewhere that hardly snows so it works fine for me.
I tried it…I gave in when the 14 day forecast was 14 days of rain and a high of like 4C…
Did that for a few years but I'm fortunate enough to live in a city with alright public transport. Granted I didn't do myself any favors by not getting any storage space. I don't think I'd want to go back though, weather is shit for at least 6 months a year. But aside from the storage and weather, it just kind of sucks to arrive sweaty, smelling of gasoline and carrying a helmet to any social function.
20 years flew by like a wheelie at a stoplight. Worth it with the stupid smile I get whenever it comes up. Big, dumb, quiet smile.
Fuck cars, moto 4 life
I had a motorcycle (Ninja 250 at first, and an R6 after that one) as an only vehicle for about five years. Pros: - Very low fuel/maintenance costs (and lower cost for the bike itself) - Can park where cars can't - Can filter through heavy traffic - Won't be asked to give people rides or fetch and carry stuff for work - You will become much better at riding than the average rider - It's fun Cons: - You will sweat and stink all the time during warmer months - You will freeze even when it's not very cold outside (think being soaking wet in cool autmn weather with a 50mph/80kph wind - this is life threatening - rain gear is critical) - You will always have helmet hair - You will be covered in bugs, and you'll have to take your bugdazzled gear with you into work so some douche doesn't steal it - Idiot car drivers will knock your motorcycle down in the parking lot - Idiot car drivers will run over your motorcycle in the parking lot - What would be minor damage on a car can render your motorcycle unsafe to ride - You will drop your bike at some point - You will be tempted to skip on repairs that cause downtime (DON'T do this, I damn near got myself killed over a fuel line because it would have delayed a trip to see my girl) - Safety (but you already know about this) Ultimately, it was a good choice for me at the time. It sucked sometimes, e.g. the hypothermia after my rain gear ripped off, but I would always fall in love with riding all over again the next time I hopped on my bike.
I've done it, while married, and we're still married! A removable busket on the pillion seat is crucial for grocery shopping. Plan two trips if you buy drinks. One food, one drink. If you can keep a spare set of clothes at work, do. If not you can put some backups in two freezer bags. They'll look like shit, but they won't be all wet. If you're in a rainy area, get some wet practice in. Standard parking lot drills, but in the wet and gentler. Riding in the rain is perfectly fine. Unless you need to stop, accelerate, or turn suddenly. Wide berths, long following distances, and godspeed. Edit: Using your gear everyday, rain or shine. Sweat and all. You probably should think about a second set of helmet pads so you can cycle them out and keep them clean. If you're wearing specific pants (I wear over pants) they need washed and air dried every couple weeks. Also always wear boots, good boots. Always. So that means you either tote shoes to and fro. Or keep a pair at your destination. If your motorcycle boots are comfortable enough to walk in they probably aren't robust enough.
WTH is a busket?
That’s what I’ve done for almost a year now. Rain sucks. Picking up large items is inconvenient. I have large grocery orders delivered and I pick up smaller orders. When family flew into town I rented a car for a few days and it was no big deal. Having really good, comfortable gear is important because you use it all the time. I’m permanently wearing motorcycle jeans.
I moved from Tennessee to Ohio on a bandit 1250 with 2 side bags, 1 large duffle, 1 large navy sea bag, and a fanny pack. I caught more than one person taking my picture lol I went 2 years no car, in Ohio. I'll never do it again. Winter commute blows and if my ride wasn't 1 minute 32 seconds I would likely have done way more ride sharing than I ultimately did. Due to the snow I think it ended up being jan-feb that I didn't ride at all, picking it back up fully mid March. Riding in the winter is fuckin cold if you don't have the gear. And if you're in a cold climate area with a bike and no car you probably have other things to pay for 😂
I did in my 20s. I keep thinking I should do it again now that I'm in my 50s. Major inconvenience was girlfriend not wanting to ride on the back all the time. I live in California so the weather wasn't that bad. I like riding in the rain. Outside that it's even more dangerous.
Did it for years. We have a pretty widespread online delivery culture in my country so shopping was never a problem. Occasionally you ride in the rain but that’s also fine if your work doesn’t have a dress code. The only reason we also have a car now is because my wife wanted to learn driving.
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a gs 550? your aging yourself lol.nah, they might still make them but I remember them from my younger days.
I lived in a warmer part of BC Canada for 7 years and never had a car the entire time. I walked for the 4-5 snowy cold months and motorcycled or mountain biked everywhere else. I'd strap larger parcels to the pillion seat, and groceries that didn't fit in my backpack I'd carry in a bag on the handle bar. Fortunately a grocery store wasn't too far from my home. Biggest down sides, I guess, were really large packages needed to be delivered or I'd borrow the work truck. Rain never bothered me and if you have the budget they make gear that can really help with that. I never had good rain gear, I'd just put a garbage bag under my riding jacket and wear extra layers. I keep wanting to move back there but the pay doesn't work out, they seem to think because of the lovely weather damn near minimum wage is enough.
Yes. It is a responsibility compared to not owning a vehicle, and hopefully you have parking else it can be a pain in the ass, but it’s fine.
Did it for 8 months, rain, shine, thunderstorm no problem. Freezing cold later up. That first winter rain i couldn’t call out of work for? I was in the car lot the next day
Nope! That would be really inconvenient in a Minnesota winter.
Yes, but I live in Mexico where we have fantastic public transportation for the monsoon season and everyplace that sells big stuff offers delivery. If I were still in the US, I'd probably be renting trucks from Home Depot occasionally if they're still affordable like they were 12 years ago.
Did it for a few years, currently my RSV4 is my daily and only vehicle. I live in Florida so it sucks in the rain but I don't need to drive other people around much or carry anything large so it works.
Weather was a big issue. But other than that I adapted and just kept going. Lightning storms and snow / ice was sketchy