Would you own only a motorcycle?

[Watcher]

Ok, so last year I was sort of in a rut with work being slow and my Cherokee basically pulled a Blues Brothers and fell apart shortly after I parked it one day, and I ended up having to sell my GS500 in order to buy a car to drive around during the rapidly approaching winter.

I got a VW Golf, which I initially liked, but having driven it around for the past 5 months or so the truth is I hate it.  I really can't stand it, for a ton of reasons I won't bore you all with.

Anyway, I am set in my mind that I want to sell the Golf and replace it with something better by next winter, and the sooner the better since I really dislike that car.  I also want to get the bike I so sorely miss, and that I want ASAP.

Originally I was going to just save up until I could get another GS500, but what I really want is a Yamaha FZ-07.  I figured I wouldn't be able to afford one for a while, but fortunately for me I just started a new job part time at a local liquor store, and on top of that I got a call from my old boss who wants me to pick up the hours of an employee who will be moving in 2 weeks.  So by the end of the month I'll have dual income, estimated about $2500 a month before tax so not a ton but a comfortable amount.
I was thinking of selling the Golf in a month or so and then using the money from that to put down on a new FZ-07.

Problem would be that if I am paying $$ towards the bike and paying $$ towards an apartment it'll take some time to save up enough for a car.  Estimating that I won't be able to get one of those until it starts getting cold again.  It will leave me all summer to save money riding a bike, but it'll also leave me all summer with only a motorcycle.


Has anyone here owned just a bike and not owned a car?  I've always owned a car/truck and haven't always owned a bike, but I have ridden rain or shine and I have gotten groceries on the bike before.  It's not ideal, but it works if all I need are a few small things.
The biggest issues I can come up with are transporting furniture for when I find an apartment and going to the range with several firearms and ammunition.  However, in both instances I wouldn't be going alone and know plenty of people with cars I'd be able to use.  So I'm thinking it's a non-issue.
Plus, every time I am out with friends either we are all meeting somewhere or there's so many of us we're driving in more than one vehicle anyway.  So my limited personnel space isn't a big deal either.

Mentally I'm prepared to do it, just wondering about some unforeseeable circumstance that could screw me over for not having a car.

Comments?  Opinions?  Ideas?

[Kiwiinoz]

I moved from NZ to Australia. The climate here in winter is much like NZ in summer. So I only have the GS at the moment. I live close to where i work(within 5 mins drive). The closest Supermarket is 30 KM away. But as im single that isint a problem. Plus I get to drive down a road beside the ocean to get there.

I guess what you need to weigh up is.

What the winter weather is like where you are. Assume its always going to be at its worst. Do you want to ride in that daily?
How far to work, Supermarkets ect? Do you want to ride that far in the above conditions?

[PantheraLeo]

Ok, so last year I was sort of in a rut with work being slow and my Cherokee basically pulled a Blues Brothers and fell apart shortly after I parked it one day, and I ended up having to sell my GS500 in order to buy a car to drive around during the rapidly approaching winter.

I got a VW Golf, which I initially liked, but having driven it around for the past 5 months or so the truth is I hate it.  I really can't stand it, for a ton of reasons I won't bore you all with.

Anyway, I am set in my mind that I want to sell the Golf and replace it with something better by next winter, and the sooner the better since I really dislike that car.  I also want to get the bike I so sorely miss, and that I want ASAP.

Originally I was going to just save up until I could get another GS500, but what I really want is a Yamaha FZ-07.  I figured I wouldn't be able to afford one for a while, but fortunately for me I just started a new job part time at a local liquor store, and on top of that I got a call from my old boss who wants me to pick up the hours of an employee who will be moving in 2 weeks.  So by the end of the month I'll have dual income, estimated about $2500 a month before tax so not a ton but a comfortable amount.
I was thinking of selling the Golf in a month or so and then using the money from that to put down on a new FZ-07.

Problem would be that if I am paying $$ towards the bike and paying $$ towards an apartment it'll take some time to save up enough for a car.  Estimating that I won't be able to get one of those until it starts getting cold again.  It will leave me all summer to save money riding a bike, but it'll also leave me all summer with only a motorcycle.


Has anyone here owned just a bike and not owned a car?  I've always owned a car/truck and haven't always owned a bike, but I have ridden rain or shine and I have gotten groceries on the bike before.  It's not ideal, but it works if all I need are a few small things.
The biggest issues I can come up with are transporting furniture for when I find an apartment and going to the range with several firearms and ammunition.  However, in both instances I wouldn't be going alone and know plenty of people with cars I'd be able to use.  So I'm thinking it's a non-issue.
Plus, every time I am out with friends either we are all meeting somewhere or there's so many of us we're driving in more than one vehicle anyway.  So my limited personnel space isn't a big deal either.

Mentally I'm prepared to do it, just wondering about some unforeseeable circumstance that could screw me over for not having a car.

Comments?  Opinions?  Ideas?

I just got my Rapid Red 2015 FZ-07.  It's an amazing bike.  You will love it.  It is quite a bit different from the GS500, although they do have a few things in common.
 
I also have a car if I need one.  I wouldn't want to rely on a motorcycle as my only transportation.  To me, that would make riding less fun. 

Good luck deciding.  It's a hard choice you face.

Roaring via Tapatalk.

[Alan_nc]

Most of us older guys on the forum have had "just a motorcycle" at some time in our lives....it isn't the best.

Think of the hot date....it's cold and raining.....you need to dress nice....

A really nice reliable bike will allow you to buy a cheap car.  Keep only the minimum insurance on it.  This is usually doable even with other payments.

[Watcher]

A really nice reliable bike will allow you to buy a cheap car.  Keep only the minimum insurance on it.  This is usually doable even with other payments.

That's what I was thinking.  Just pick up a beater with a heater whenever and use it once in a while as a bad weather vehicle.  Thats essentially how I treated (or mistreated) my Cherokee.  I barely changed the oil on it, just used it to and from the range, for groceries, and in the winter.  90% of the time I was commuting and running errands on the GS.

I just want the bike ASAP and don't want to wait to save up a down payment.  I basically wanna sell the VW and immediately go and get the bike...

[Kijona]

I did it for two years because I was flat broke.

Don't do it.

[Janx101]

If you do it. .. make sure you have GOOD wet weather gear until you are able to get the beater!... riding in soggy clothes is still 'fun' but loses its shine pretty quick! ... riding in the rain with the right gear so you stay mostly damp free is so much better! ..  gloves and boots are probably still gonna suffer though!?