Hey who here doesn't have a car?

[sclay115]

I did this for a few weeks, just bike, no car. Bike was a Bandit 400, rare little thing stateside. At the time, not that I hated it, but certain things were a hassle, simply going to the store was a bit of a chore. I ended up selling the bike to get a car, and while I do like my car, and I bought it just for towing some bikes(turbo Volvo), I've been absolutely going crazy about getting another bike. It's just the finances aren't up to it, and I'm not sure if I really need a bike and a car. So comes the question, sell the sled and get a bike? Or just wait it out(who knows how long) to get another bike? I don't work a fantastic job, so saving the money would take a fair amount of time, but would be doable if I just watched what I spent it on. It doesn't help that my helmet and jacket are hanging in plain sight in the closet. If I were to get a bike now, I would actually save up more money to get a car at a much faster rare, from the gas savings and insurance savings, and then I would be able to buy another tow worthy vehicle in a much shorter time than the time it would take me to save up for a bike.

Simply put, what would you do? Or, what DO you do if you are one of the people with no cage.

Steve

[nathanael]

I had no car for over a year. For a while I didn't have ANY vehicle (and was taking the bus). Then I got the GS, and drove that as my sole vehicle for a year. Worked fine for me. Granted, I live in southern California. But I drove it year round, rain or shine (and believe me, it's scary to ride around in the pouring rain with a bunch of idiot drivers around you who barely know how to handle a vehicle when it's damp.  ). Now I've got a car and the GS, and I also live very close to where I work and go to school now. So now, ironically, I don't really need either of them very much. Sadly, I'm actually thinking of selling the GS. It's hard to justify owning two vehicles when I barley need one. But three years ago I was just driving the GS, and it worked fine as my main transportation.

[annguyen1981]

I wish I didn't have a car.

I just got  a flat on my way to school.  luckily, I left my house 30 minutes early, but I still don't have a jack in my car.  I'm "running" on Fix-A-Flat.

I don't think that stuff works.

[spc]

I recently sold my truck to get  my GS.  Mostly because I wanted a bike, but also  because of the gas and insurance savings..... $118 dollars a year!!!!  shaZam! I was paying that to insure my truck for a month.  So far no problems, it's only been two months though.  It probably helps that I have all my issued goretex for the rainy/cold days.........just throw on my reflective PT vest over it and go.

[Jarrett]

I've been doing the bike only thing for almost a year now.  I bought a truck one icey day last december.  Drove it home and haven't touched it since.  I enjoy riding and rain and cold aren't too big an issue for me.  I'm pretty tough.

[sclay115]

Yeah that's my only concern here, living in Florida, we sometimes get those freak rain storms, people in cars as such, tend to forget how to drive, making for a scary ride. But how do you guys deal with rain and the like? I had a good set up before, check the weather before I leave for work, and if it even looks like it's going to rain, I'd bring my bag with a change of clothes. I hate having wet clothes on at work(done this before), so I'd either need to find a good rainsuit, or just keep with my setup.

But what do you guys thing of my ideals? Is it silly to sell the car just to get back on a bike sooner? I suppose it's a pretty biased crowd I'm asking  . But I'm just trying to not make a bad decision.

Steve

[Unnamed]

I'm a poor college student, and I'm riding a GS largely because $1200 won't get you anywhere near a car but will get you a damn fine GS.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I don't have a car. I commute 20 miles each way to work, 6 days a week, rain or shine. Wouldn't have it any other way.

[mach1]

my gs is the onl;y way i can save money the other truck i have is a 89 ford bronco with a 6inch lift 36inch tires and no gear modding so gas goes quick i think its about 60 or 70 to fill it up and thats almost twice a week and my gs is about 20 to fill her up and thats about every two weeks. i cant really say anything abou tthe rain cause ours is just going away and i have not hit any yet so yeah. IMHO do whatever makes you happy. best of luck

[Kaizer]

Nope never owned one, never will. I just had bicycles and now got my 2001 GS500.  That is all I need year round. Once in a while I bum a ride from my friends. When I get super old and "rich,"  I will THINK about getting a chauffer.

[Mk1inCali]

I live in SoCal, used to live in CenCal and I haven't had a car for daily driver status for almost 5 years now.  I freaking love it.  Commuting is like a mini-GP where I get to dodge cars and trucks and big, slow-moving heavy things.  Feels almost like being back on my old dirtbike racing thru the woods of Minnesota/Wisconsin.

It's somewhat awkward if a girl you meet thinks you have a nice car AND a nice bike, but I wouldn't want to date somebody like that anyway.

[ledfingers]

i went without a car for the first 3 months of having a bike. thats the reason i got a bike. i had no qualms, but i'm glad i got the car back when i did because i wrecked the gs shortly thereafter. as soon as i get paint on the gs the car goes bye-bye for a month or two so i can save up and finance a newer BMW.

[sclay115]

You know, I've asked this on another forum or two, and this is the most "I only have a bike" replies I've gotten. Good to hear. 
Tells you something about the people on this forum. The weather is the big factor though, how do you guys deal with it?

Steve

[Cal Price]

I don't have a car, I have not driven since the mid 1970s. I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of a small town centre with pretty much everything I need. I also live on a pretty good bus route and near the railway station so all this combined with the GS serves my transport needs. Being over 60 I get the customary old git's free bus pass which is useful.

Given the past very wet winter we have had I have seriously considered getting a car, I would need to qualify from scratch but given the age thing and how long since I last sat in a driver's seat that seems fair enough. A lot of people manage to convince themselves that they could not manage without a car and probably a small percentage are right but it is like anything else, once you have a gadget, it has you. There seem to be plenty of small, gas-wise cars around some with five-year warranty available here so I might be taking that particular plunge before next winter.

[jazerr]

I got my GS to supplement the gas expense I had in my 91 Suburban.

I found out riding was just plain better.

So I sold the truck.

Havent DRIVEN a cage for months.

[ginji]

i don't have a car... I don't have many issues with carrying things around either (unless it's too big to be on a bike anyway as I have (currently, looking to get some more for touring...) a Ventura Rack with two 45 litre bags, as well as a tank bag... looking to get some panniers for touring now as well though.

I travel about 180km a monday to friday atm to and from uni

[sclay115]

Yeah, I've been really considering getting out of the car and into just a bike as of late, seems more and more I just get tired of driving, all I want to do is ride, thinking how boring a drive it will be, and how much more fun it would be to ride there. Funny how that works. Anybody have and good suggestions for all weather gear?

Steve

[bettingpython]

7 years w/out a car rode the bike year round in Oklahoma. As a home owner and parent and being professionally employed I kind of have to have more than 2 wheels. Plus you gotta have something to haul the dirt toys out to your favorite playground.

[sclay115]

Yeah, see it's nice, I'm not married, no kids, I work in a service department, and go to school, so no suit and tie for me just yet. Thank goodness. 

Steve