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Hey,
My wife just wrote this Hubpage article:
"Tough Guy or Tightwad? Getting a Motorcycle to Save on Gas"
http://hubpages.com/hub/Tough-Guy-or-Tightwad-Getting-a-kawasaki-ninja-250-Motorcycle-to-Save-on-Gas

Of course I think she did a great job and hope you do too!

I figured it would be appreciated here, since I have logged over 4kmiles commuting and averaged 74.5mpg.
For $2k or less, hard to find a better choice than a used (<08') Ninja 250 and of course www.ninja250.org (http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Main_Page) for support. The ninja250 site was were I heard about this site.

-Be safe, Be efficient, and Have fun!

Hi LCGarage:

___Tell your wife that was indeed a great write-up! If she would like to include a similar write-up here for the article section, let me know and I will add some formatting "stuff' to make it stand with the rest of what we do post around here.

___You are also making a lot of us blush with that 79.3 mpg tank last year ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Decent write up, but I have to say, the final analysis doesn't include other costs such as: MSF course, M licence, title/reg, safety gear musts (Jacket, helmet, boots if you don't have em), etc... So it's going to take AT THE VERY LEAST two riding seasons to pay it off in that scenario.

That said, can you put a price on that grin? I'd say no. I'm on my 3rd bike in as many riding seasons, and am still owe on my harley... If I could pay it off today I will have spent probably $20k across my riding career on bikes and riding gear, and saved Maybe $500-$1000 on gas (plus made back about $1600 back reselling bikes). So that puts me down at best $17,400 (not including interest on the loan).

That said, let me be perfectly crystal clear: It's money well spent.

Hey Wayne,
Thanks! She'd love that.

Maxx
Your right there are some additional costs, but not much (for me).
The permit was $30, endorsement $15, and class $275....but I left with license and enough confidence to buy a bike. The bike was $2k and only cost ~$70 to insure for the whole year. On insurance you get a discount for having MSF course, a small displacement engine (250cc), and low value (paid $2k in 08' for a 05' Ninja 250 with out a scratch and only 2kmiles on it.
It came with a helmet and I use regular boots and heavy gloves that I already had. Found armored Jacket/ pants on Craigs for $100. Which gave me more confidence and less fear in the rain.
Since then I've bought a cheap rain suit from JCWhitney for $40 and ride rain or shine...unless there is going to be ice on the road...so last year I lost 4months, but am back on.

Every ones cost analysis/ saving will be different and the ninja250 site does a nice job of pointing out all sort of hidden costs. I do all my repairs.

Bottom line for us this has and will continue to save us $...but most importantly to me, was a cheap way to use as little gas as possible. This is at a increased risk and slight inconvenience but great fun and bragging rights!

Thanks guys!

Very well written article! I have to commend you on going for a Kaw 250 instead of something like a HD FLH. Great choice in more ways than one.