Gas is one of the biggest expenses in the average person’s budget. What if you could cut your gas budget by half or even two thirds? Both hybrids and motorbikes allow you to get MPGs of 50 or higher. So which should you get if you want to save gas?
From a Strictly Gas Perspective
From a strictly gas perspective, motorcycles get better mileage than even top of the line hybrid vehicles. An average motorcycle can get 50 to 60 MPG. A hybrid vehicle really can’t get any higher than 50 MPG, even on perfectly paved and even roads. From a gas consumption perspective, the motorcycle wins out.
Upfront Cost Investment
Hybrid vehicles start at $19,800 for a Honda Insight. You can even get cheaper hybrid vehicles if you decide to invest in a pre-owned car. Pre-owned vehicles can be purchased from a certified dealer with a manufacturer’s warranty, meaning you’re protected against any breakdowns. If you’re willing to go pre-owned, you could purchase a hybrid for as little as $10,000.
A motorcycle, on the other hand, can cost as little as $2,000 for a used motorcycle in decent shape. On the other hand, a high end brand new motorcycle could cost you $10,000 or more.
From an upfront investment perspective, the hybrid is definitely much more expensive.
Safety Concerns
One big negative strike against the motorbike is the difference in safety. A hybrid vehicle has all kinds of safety devices that reduce the chances of injury in an accident. They have crumple zones, anti-locking brakes, six airbags, seatbelts and much more. A motorbike on the other hand is quite dangerous. Even with a helmet and padded suits, the chance of death in an accident is much higher.
Transportation Capacity
Another consideration is the motorbike’s ability to transport people. With a sedan hybrid vehicle, you can transport up to five people at a time. With a motorbike, you can transport a maximum of one person. That means that if you regularly need to bring kids, co-workers or friends around, then you probably want to go with a hybrid rather than a motorbike.
Making Your Decision
When it comes to making the final choice, you essentially need to weigh the money against all the other factors.
From a purely financial standpoint, the motorcycle wins out. With an upfront investment of around ten times less than the hybrid and a mileage that’s about 10 MPG better, you’re definitely saving more money with the motorbike. However, having a car offers many benefits that a motorbike simply doesn’t. You can bring people from place to place. And it’s much safer to boot.
At the end of the day, the decision is yours. Weigh the benefits and the drawbacks and make your own decision.
