The Cost of Owning and Running a Motorbike

Petrol

The average person in the UK spends around £70 per week on housing, power and fuel, with the latter often taking up a considerable portion of that. However, as many of us will know, bikes use half as much petrol as cars, and comparatively they're much cheaper to fuel and run. Of course, if you drive them at full throttle everywhere then they will be less economical, but I think it's fair to say you can budget 50-75% of the fuel budget you would expect to spend if you had a normal, family-size car. 

Insurance

As with cars, the cost of insurance will vary depending on your driving record, your age, your annual mileage, engine size and a host of other personal information. Generally they're not too expensive to insure, but I've found that they can be more than my car for certain models. This is partly down to perceived likelihood of getting into an accident, but mainly due to how easy insurers think they are to steal. You can dramatically reduce insurance quotes by keeping your bike in a locked garage overnight, and also by using any additional security such as an immobiliser or chains to help prevent theft. 

Courses

Not strictly necessary, but if you're a new or young rider, I think it's a good idea to take an advanced course before heading out on the open road. Not only will this make you a better (and safer) rider, but it can also help reduce your insurance premiums. Training courses are available through the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the British Motorcyclists Federation and the Institute of Advanced Motorists (among others). The course cost will vary depending on the length, complexity and provider, but you can expect to pay around £100-150. 

Additional equipment

Buying the bike is the first step, but you'll also need to be prepared to shell out for additional safety equipment, some of which are legally required. You should expect to buy: 

• A protective helmet that conforms to industry standards. The cost of these can vary dramatically, ranging from around £50 to several thousands, depending on the brand, the quality and any additional features. 
• Protective gloves, which you should pay around £100 for (although they can range up to £600-700)
• A jacket is an essential piece of equipment, and again will cost you at least a couple of hundred for a good one. 
• Protective trousers, which you should expect to pay anywhere from £500-1,000 for. 
• Boots, which are another essential bit of kit, which will likely set you back around £150. 

As you can see, the cost of the protective gear can quickly add up - in some cases even rivalling the cost of the bike itself! I'll be honest here too, the spending probably won't stop there. I have several helmets, three jackets, three sets of gloves, an intercom system allowing me to talk to a passenger, a bike-specific satellite navigation system and endless other bits and pieces to maintain my bikes. I've even had to fork out for new prescription glasses on several occasions after minor falls, and spent hundreds on various bags and boxes for taking luggage with me on journeys. 

So the answer is, it's not cheap to buy, ride and maintain a motorbike, but if you're prepared for these costs and happy to shop around, you can easily bring down the overall cost. And let's be honest, it's worth every single penny!