skrapiron -FSO wrote on 03/11/08 at 05:46:22:Assuming that you are making payments for the explorer, then you only off setting the fuel costs of the truck. When you add everything together (fuel costs, monthly payments, maintenance costs) you are actually going to pay a little more per month owning both the bike and the explorer (and just riding the bike) than you would just owning the explorer.
The explorer is in fact paid for, but I'm not certain I understand your math anyway. The only on-going expense for the explorer is my good year credit card payment that is exclusively used for work on the Explorer, (Payment is about $100/month), fuel, and insurance. From a budget point of view those expenses are fixed with or without the bike but I am spending (or will) $140 less each month on fuel and $99.00/month more on the bike payment, which for at least the next 24 months includes all the servicing for the bike. Additionally I'll be talking to my insurance company that hold the policy on the Explorer to reduce my annual mileage which will also save a couple dollars. Plus, the tires on the truck will last longer and are more expensive than the bike, and I'm sure other general maintenance items are more for the truck as well. (6 plugs instead of 1, 5 quarts of oil instead of 1.8, a radiator to flush vs. none, A/C to service instead of zippers to open, etc.) The bike looks like a better and better deal as I go, however I will not claim to have perfect logic, so feel free to elaborate.