Well, the title is a little misleading but I have your attention. In February I turned 62 and I decided I needed a new challenge, both mental and physical so I chose to buy and learn to ride a motorcycle. Intelligence and good judgement is a leaf that sprouts only now and then on my family tree so those that know me were not surprised. They just pat me gently on the head (helmet?) and tell me to be careful as I play in the traffic.
Anyway, it has been six months now since I bought the bike and I thought it would be intersting to add up everything I have spent so far to see what it really takes to get started. Several folks have told me I got a great deal on the bike but the math shows that was only half the expense. The list below does not include fuel so I have more than doubled the price I paid for the bike in only six months.
If I had kept the $3,000 I have spent so far, I could borrow a line from Major Kong, the B-52 pilot played by Slim Pickens in Dr. Strangelove, "Shoot, a fella' could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff."
I have no doubt that there are some out there that, due to major mechanical failure or planned major upgrades and modifications have exceeded the cost of the bike by three, four, or maybe five times in the first six months of ownership. This was an an attempt just to see what I spent to get started but let's hear all the details of your "investment".