Hi fellas,

I am considering to start traveling on a push bike and at first i thought this was a stupid question to ask: a cycling trip must be cheaper than a motorcycle trip.

Or not?

A bike is surely cheaper than a motorcycle, which also requires an insurance, fuel, possibly the carnet and so on. Moreover, the motorcycle is more expensive to be shipped and has more spare parts to care of.

However, traveling the same distance with a bicycle will take longer, which means more money for accommodation (unless camping), more water and food needed. This may also end upon more visa extensions = more $.

Long story short, I am not sure anymore that traveling on a motorcycle is always cheaper than with a push bike, so I ask you more seasoned travellers.

Did any of you try to cover more or less the same distance both by motorcycle and bicycle?

How do the two means of transport compare in terms of expenses?


Cheers!

Depends on the trip, as you say. If you want to cover a set distance that will take some time, a moto will take less time and therefore cost less for accommodation and food.

Personally I just find motorcycles a lot more fun than bicycles.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

I have done both and certainly in relation to time spent travelling bicycle travel is considerably cheaper and depending on how fast you like to cycle the distance can cost less as well, the running cost of a motorcycle can mount up. The middle ground is small motorcycle travel which I have also tried and could be the best compromise, if you are on something 125cc or under the savings are considerable but distance covered is not much less.
I would suggest you try bicycle travel and see how you get on with it, at the end of the day it is about enjoying the trip.

Im shure traveling by bycicle or bus is way more expensive then by bike

With a bicycle you cant escape big citys and therefore have to pay for hotels

Same with a bus. Busses only go from city to city.

With a bike you can wildcamp anywere for free. Renting a bike in Asia is only $4 per day + 3 liters petrol for 100 km. Human work is more expensive. Buying a bike for $1000 and selling one year later for 500 in Africa or Southamerica is $500 per year loss of value: Offroad Motorrad Weltreisen - das letzte Abenteuer

It would all depend on destination and distances and time available. On a day to day basis bicycle travel is usually cheaper than a motorcycle.

I've done many tours by bicycle and motorcycle and I've managed to "escape" big cities with both. I plan not to be in a city in the first place whenever possible, regardless of whether my two wheeler has a motor or not.

Definitely agree.

Same on a bicycle, plus there is a worldwide bicycle hosting network at www.warshowers.org. On top of it all, it's much easier to push a small bicycle into the forest to disappear from view and set up a nice quiet camp without being discovered. A motorcycle requires a road or a trail for access.

Definitely some valid points here. In southeast Asia I would definitely consider the cost differences to be more negligible. I was recently in Indonesia where I rented a motorbike for 3 weeks and wouldn't have done it any other way.

Selling a motorcycle in Africa or South America would also incur a "loss of value", probably a much larger one given the way motorcycles sometimes have to be sold illegally due to import restrictions. Besides, there is absolutely no reason to sell a bicycle at the end. Wrap it up in cardboard and take it on the plane as on oversized piece of luggage for anywhere from $50 to $250. The same can't be said about motorcycles.

PS: I'd love to know where one could get a proper touring bicycle for $1000 Mine cost me more like $2500 when all was said and done. Still a lot cheaper than the $15,000 I paid for my F650GS without factoring in the expensive tires and parts over the years.

Bicycle:
You do eat more! Energy to move yourself and the bicycle comes from the food you eat.
You can wild camp .. easier than on the motorcycle as there is less to see and be heard.
Distance travelled per day are, say, 1/10 of that by motorcycle ...
You see more - because of the lower speed it is easier to notice things and stop.

Motorcycle:
Faster - more comfortable and easier on the body.
You can take more stuff.
More expensive - purchase, depreciation, shipping, running, insurance and possible theft of the motorcycle.
Less expensive - food + accommodation .. as you spend less time travelling.

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They are simply different. If I really want to know a road then the bicycle is best. If I want to get from A to B quickly or transport over large distances the motorcycle.

I too have spent more than $1,000 on a touring bike and prefer hub gears but this one is good value and reasonable quality for under $1,000.

https://www.evanscycles.com/dawes-ga...FQ4R0wodSv4FTw

No

Motorradreise durch Indien - die grosse Freiheit mit 110cc

Why shound you ship if you can just buy and sell?


Yes we need those kind of people to finance the corrupt government. Someone who dont want to waste his lifetime working in an office just buys used trustfull Hondas. My was just 700 Euro before i rode around Africa and still running fine with more then 250.000 km. My used bikcycle was $50 also perfect. Rather invest the money in petrol and time. My 3 years world trip was cheaper then what you payed just for equipment before you even start so its may be not bike or bicycle it depends on how people can deal with money

Offroad Motorrad Weltreisen - das letzte Abenteuer

A gem my friend a long time cyclist lobbed when i asked him why doesnt he join me on a moto----- "you just added another zero to the price of the trip"


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Popo

I think it also depends on what type of trip you are planning and what countries.

Europe, British Isles, Japan and SE Asia bicycle would be a valid alternative.

Africa, America's, Russia etc maybe not so. (edit: cause there are some looooong stretches that would have me at least crying on the shoulder of the road begging for a lift)

We get caught up a bit IMO on RTW being done like an ad for Macho Man Monthly on a batted old (insert cliché old motorcycle) or shiny pimped out (insert cliché new motorcycle) stuck in a mountain range in a country that Stan once pillaged.

I think its really whatever it is at the time. My wife and I have plans for 12 months in and around Japan as the next stage of our adventure. Our (clichéd new motorcycle) will probably be tucked away in our garage and we will be taking;

Planes, trains (mmmm - shinkansens) ferries, buses, bicycles and shank's pony. We will probably hire MC's for day trips just to have some fun.

We hope to duck in and out of Japan to the surrounding countries. After that the next adventure will be to the USA, Canada and Alaska. Que (clichéd new motorcycle)...

For me every single trip with the mountainbike came out way cheaper than those with the motorbike. That said, those with the motorbike have been more comfortable overall. When i do a tour with my mountainbike i tend to sleep in a tent, whereas with the motorbike i often use guesthouses or motels, because i dont like to keep my motorbike out in the open I also try to cut costs with my bmx but following a very strict diy approach with help of those pros. So i really dont think it is comparable that easily.

I'm sure it is possible to have a more expensive trip by bicycle.

But I am also sure you would have to try really hard to make it so!