How Much Money Should Your First Motorcycle Cost? Over $5000?

So, you have decided you want to buy your first motorcycle, but you are very limited in budget and do not know what to do and how much you should pay for your first motorcycle. No worries, everything will be discussed in this post.

So, how much should I spend on my first motorcycle? For a new motorcycle, you should spend at least $3,500 to $5,000, while for a used, prepare to spend between $1,500 to $3,000. But that’s based on average because price varies and you will also need to add more money every year on maintenance, fuel, safety equipment, insurance, and other things.

Taking a look at everything together (adding the insurance, maintenance, fuel, and safety equipment fee), for a new motorcycle, you will have to pay at least $7,000 to $10,000 while for a used, expect to pay between $5,000 to $7,000.

If you want to know more about the general cost you have to pay for your first motorcycle, keep reading because, in this guide, I will show you all the things you need to know about it and how to pay the lowest price for your motorcycle.

So, let’s get started.

How much should I spend on my first motorcycle (including maintenance, learning, safety equipment, insurance & more)?

Like I said earlier, for a new motorcycle, you will have to pay at least $7,000 to $10,000 on average, together with insurance, safety equipment, maintenance and others. Now, I will categorically show you the amount you are expected to pay for each and how everything sums up to that amount. This is for a new motorcycle, for the detailed cost of a used, I will explain later in this article.

The cost of the motorcycle ($3,500 to $5,000)

You will have to spend at least $3,500 to get a quality motorcycle while it is important to note that after buying a high-quality motorcycle, you will automatically have to pay more money on maintenance and fuel because the motorcycle will require more power.

As your first motorcycle, you may want to get a 300cc or 500cc motorcycle because anything beyond 500cc is very dangerous, not suitable for beginners, and is significantly more expensive. If you want to see why you can’t get a motorcycle beyond 500cc as a beginner, kindly click here

In general, a 300cc motorcycle is an amazing choice for beginners and cost averagely between $4,000 to $4,500, while the cheapest 300cc motorcycle I can recommend is the Suzuki GSX250R which costs $4,499 and is one of the cheapest you can find in the market. If you want to see the post I wrote on the best 300cc motorcycles in the market, click here

However, if you want to get a 500cc motorcycle that will provide more power, then the Kawasaki ER-5 is recommended for you. It costs $4,281 and will provide you everything you need, but expect to pay more on maintenance and fuel, while I highly recommend you check the guide I wrote on the best 500cc motorcycle click here to view

Note: Do not pay over $5,500 for your first motorcycle because you will have to ride it for at least two years before upgrading to something more advanced. If you are willing to spend more than $5,500, I recommend saving and investing the extra amount in your second motorcycle to get a more powerful one.

The cost of safety equipment ($500 to $1,200)

Safety equipment is a very significant part of what you have to consider in your budget before buying your first motorcycle, while in most cases, safety equipment is about one-third and sometimes half of the price of the motorcycle.

Generally, safety equipment costs between $500 to $1,200, and it all depends on how much you are willing to spend on your safety equipment, but I recommend you spend most of your money on a helmet because it is the most important.

In addition, it is important to note that you mustn’t buy used safety equipment, in particular, a helmet because used equipment is much less protective than new equipment. So, do not compromise your safety and invest in new safety equipment that is in good condition. Safety equipment comprises:

A helmet – A good helmet costs between $150 to $200, while there are even helmets sold at a much higher price of over $650. So, it is your choice and depends on your budget, but it is important to note that an expensive helmet does not protect your head better than a cheap helmet. A cheap and expensive helmet equally protects your head at the same level; the only difference is that an expensive helmet provides more comfort, design, protection against wind, and light in weight. If you want to see the full guide I wrote about cheap and expensive helmets, click here to view

Boots – Good boots cost between $100 to $200, while it is important to avoid using regular sneakers because they do not properly protect the feet. And in cases of an accident or serious injury, they can get you crippled. So, it is important to invest in quality boots.

Gloves – I do not know why, but people think riding gloves are not necessary, which is really wrong. Gloves are super important and protect your hands from any means of pain, especially the pain from long rides. For quality gloves, budget $75 – $250.

Riding suit (Pants & Shirt) – A good riding suit costs between $100 to $300 and it is a must because you can’t wear your regular clothes, even your Guinness clothes because it won’t properly protect your body and will be very uncomfortable

Body armor, jacket, elbow/knee guards (not mandatory) – I deliberately say this equipment is not mandatory for a beginner because, as a beginner, you do not ride at crazy speeds but at relatively lower speeds until you get used to the motorcycle, which will take time. So, body protectors and all other things are not mandatory but will give you extra safety while riding. So, budget $200 to $500 for all those extra gear.

In addition, I highly recommend you click here to see the complete motorcycle safety guide.

The cost of motorcycle maintenance ($800 to $1,500)

Maintenance is an important part of your motorcycle budget and it varies greatly between motorcycles. The more powerful and strong your motorcycle is, the more you will spend on maintenance. But in most cases, prepare to spend between $800 to $1,500 per year for motorcycle maintenance, which is not a joke. It’s something important that must be taken into consideration.

These are the things you will need to maintain in your motorcycle from time to time:

Tires – You need to replace your tires at about every 3000 to 5000 miles while tires cost from $50 to $250. So, the stronger and quality the tire is, the higher its price.

Brakes – Brakes will cost you between $30 to $150 while disc brakes are more expensive to maintain and you can do it yourself with the tires if you are knowledgeable about motorcycle repair. But it is better to leave it to someone who is professional even though it will cost you extra money.

Lights and flashlights – Lights and Flashlights can be upgraded at very low prices of $10 to $100, aside from the work that needs to be done in mechanics that also cost money.

Necklaces and belts – You will also need to replace your necklaces and belts occasionally, which will cost you about $150 to $250.

Frame and chassis – When it comes to frame or chassis damage, prepare to spend between $100 to $500 on repair.

Changing the oils, air filters, and cleaning your motorcycle – Replacing the oil and air filter will cost you about $50 to $200 a year, and the cleaning of your motorcycle will also require the purchasing of cleaning materials.

Winter storage – You also have to worry about the storage of your motorcycle during winter because if you don’t have a garage, you have to pay for a storage unit, which costs a few dollars a month.

In general, you will need to maintain your motorcycle after riding about 5,000 to 20,000 miles. And if you are interested in knowing more about your motorcycle maintenance, I highly recommend you check the complete guide I wrote click here to view

The cost of fuel ($250)

You probably won’t be able to ride your motorcycle without fuel, so your spending on fuel depends on how many miles you ride. An average rider rides between 3000 to 6000 miles each year, which costs $250 on average. So, take this into account.

The cost of safety course ($30 to $100)

Prepare at least $30 for motorcycle studies, and if you plan on getting a comprehensive safety course, it will cost you at least $100.

The cost of insurance ($200 to $500)

In most states, insurance is a must and is very important for you to have it in case your motorcycle got damaged. I personally know people who skipped insurance, and unfortunately for them, their motorcycle got damaged and they had to pay lots of money for repairs. Know that even in case of theft, the insurance company compensates you.

Insurance will cost you about $200 to $500 a year, which is expensive but believe me, it’s worth the amount you paid.

In addition, it is important to note that the more expensive your motorcycle is, the more the insurance will cost. For example, adventure motorcycles will cost much more expensive than sports motorcycles because adventure motorcycles are much more expensive, which causes insurance companies to raise the insurance price you have to pay.

The cost of repairs

Keep in mind that as a rider, you have a very good chance of making an accident during your first few rides, especially if you didn’t take a safety course. And during the course of the accidents, you are doing damage to your motorcycle. Even if you insured your motorcycle, know that the insurance won’t cover some damage and you will have to pay for the damage yourself.

And the more expensive your motorcycle is, the more you will have to spend on repair, but as your first motorcycle, you don’t have to worry because it is relatively cheap to repair parts of a 300cc motorcycle than 500cc motorcycles.

As my first motorcycle, do I need to buy a new or used?

It is up to you. If you are not ready to compromise on price, a new motorcycle is great for you, while if you are willing to compromise on price and ready to get a cheap motorcycle, then a used motorcycle is great for you.

But in my opinion, as your first motorcycle, the best choice is to buy a used because as a beginner, it will take you 6 to 12 months to learn all the basics of riding skills before probably upgrading to a more advanced motorcycle. So, a used motorcycle might be great for you even though it is not the best.

Also, for a used motorcycle, you won’t have to spend a lot of money on maintenance. So, I recommend you save most of your money for your second motorcycle to get something more quality and powerful.

In addition, I do not recommend buying a very expensive model as your first motorcycle because you will get bored quickly after a few months. So, buy a cheap motorcycle at first.

How much am I expected to spend on my second motorcycle?

The truth is that it is quite hard to state a specific amount because it varies according to different factors, but I can give a certain amount on average. If your first motorcycle is 300cc or 500cc, you will probably want your second motorcycle to be 600cc or 1000cc. First, these motorcycles will cost you over $10,000, which is very expensive, and like I said, you can only buy your second motorcycle (600cc or 1000cc) after at least a year or two of riding your first motorcycle (300cc or 500cc).

Second, you will have to spend a lot of money on maintenance, especially when it comes to a 600cc motorcycle because they are crazy and require much on maintenance, at least $1,500 to $3,000 a year.

Third, if your safety equipment is of lesser quality, you will definitely want to buy a high-quality one when you buy a more powerful motorcycle or you may consider replacing your existing equipment with a new one. Although it is not mandatory, it is advisable to buy more quality safety equipment when you buy a more powerful motorcycle.

Lastly, expect to pay more money on insurance and repairs, especially if you have no insurance. And even if you paid insurance on your first motorcycle, prepare to pay more because the quality your motorcycle is, the higher you pay on insurance.

In general, your second motorcycle will cost you a lot of money, while if you want to save some money, I highly recommend selling your existing motorcycle. Don’t just leave it in the garage without doing anything about it.