Motorcycles: A Financial Ruin with a High Real Cost

Motorcycles: A Financial Ruin with a High Real Cost

Motorcycles are not an economical means of transport. A detailed analysis of risk costs, lifespan, and maintenance reveals that, far from the 'lonchafinista' myth, motorcycles and mopeds are among the most expensive transport options. The cost per injury risk is 16.1 cents per mile for motorcycles, compared to 0.59 cents for cars, a 27-fold disparity according to the American Journal of Public Health. Additionally, the lifespan of a 125cc moped or motorcycle is only 12,000 kilometers, while a car exceeds 153,000. The conclusion is clear: motorcycles do not save money; they destroy it.

Risk Cost: 27 Times More Expensive Than a Car

The state of California decided not to authorize private motorcycles in state businesses or reimburse mileage to employees who used them. The reason: the high risk of motorcycle travel more than offsets fuel savings. California's data is conclusive: the cost per injury risk is 16.1 cents per mile for motorcycles, compared to 0.59 cents for cars. This huge disparity is due to medical and disability costs for motorcyclists. The high risk for employees fully justifies the state, as employer, in discouraging the use of privately owned motorcycles in state businesses, according to the note published in the medical journal. The motorcycle, with a risk cost 27 times higher than the car, makes no sense as a saving: the unheard-of medical risks incurred by the motorcyclist negate any economy.

Lifespan: 10 Motorcycles to Match One Car's Kilometers

The economy when buying a 125cc motorcycle or moped is entirely misleading. The life expectancy of these vehicles is 1/10 of that of a car. An approximate calculation based on the 20 cheapest vehicles on AutoScout24.com reveals that 49cc mopeds have an average mileage of 12,950 km, and 125cc motorcycles, 11,857 km. In contrast, cars reach 153,000 km on average. Therefore, 10 mopeds or 125cc motorcycles are needed to travel the same kilometers as one car. Even larger displacement motorcycles like 250cc (35,865 km), 500cc (56,340 km), or 1000cc (65,000 km) fall far short. Even humble Aixam quadricycles have an average mileage of 32,000 km, nearly equal to 250cc motorcycles and three times higher than 49cc and 125cc models. Smart cars, with 83,000 km, surpass 1000cc motorcycles. The 'durable' Harley-Davidsons, never seen in scrapyards, have an average mileage of only 29,000 km.

Maintenance and Accessories: Another Money Pit

Motorcycle maintenance, especially sports models, is another factor that drives up costs. Tires, drive kits, fairings, and insurance have frightening prices. One user recounts that approaching 15,000 km, the inspection of his 300cc scooter, including belt change, cost a fortune: 'I burst into tears.' BMW inspections with the mandatory Select Plan force changing parts even if they are fine, with costs of 180€ at 1,000 km, 250€ at 10,000 km, and similar amounts at 20,000. Additionally, there is the essential safety equipment: ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time), which includes helmet, special jacket, special pants, special footwear, and spinal protector. All this is necessary even for riding a scooter in the city. It's like dressing up as a medieval knight to buy bread.

The 'Destructive Sect': Accidents and Abandonments

The motorcycle world functions like a destructive sect. Many motorcyclists go through the full circle from enthusiastic novices to disabled ex-motorcyclists. A high school classmate died in an accident a few years ago; another high school classmate nearly lost his life as a teenager. Motorcycles do not retain users, except for a core of irreducibles who either die or abandon them due to physical incapacity. Motorcycle licenses end up unused after a few years. Some argue that motorcycle riding is a high-risk sport that can ruin practitioners due to lost earnings from injuries and accident sequelae. The DGT, however, clarifies that the risk of death in urban accidents is two and a half times higher on motorcycles than in cars, not 17 times. The statistical discrepancy remains on the table.

Parking: The Only Unsubstantiated Advantage

The main advantage motorcyclists cite is parking: close and free. But this is achieved by parking on the sidewalk, taking space from pedestrians. Motorcycles consume the capital's sidewalks, according to reports in the media. If this wild parking were allowed for cars, it would also be possible to leave a Porsche Cayenne on a public park lawn. Rude people who even boast about it. To make matters worse, some Spanish town councils allow it. The supposed sustainability of motorcycles is also questionable: a single motorcyclist produces less pollution than a car, but one must look at the displacement and technology. Euro III motorcycles emit more than a Mercedes E350 gasoline car, and there are still many Euro II and two-stroke models in circulation.

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With these figures, motorcycles as an alternative for economical transport do not hold up. The risk cost, short lifespan, expensive maintenance, and accidents paint a picture that debunks the 'lonchafinista' myth. The prediction is that, as data becomes more public, more people will abandon motorcycles. But while there are traffic jams and gasoline remains expensive, there will always be those who prefer to take the risk. The sect, like all others, has its faithful.