Fix Truck or get bike?

[Vagrance]

no pasta

[TheWitchDoctor]

If you need the truck now to haul stuff what are you going to do with a motorcycle? Plus IMO if you're using a motorcycle as a DD your chances of eventually getting into a crash are going to be pretty high, so if you're smart you're going to wear all your gear everyday. Which is more stuff you have to carry around.

[Vargus]

The 250 is fairly tame, so don't worry about it being a sports bike.

The 2.2 is pretty bad about head gaskets going. So you've got that and the associated issues going along with it like warped heads, oil and water mixing, and all that.

I'd personally fix the truck since it's got a lot more utility, and not to much more valuable. Pulling the head should be no sweat. Get a metalized gasket and it shouldn't happen again.

And, no, the bike really isn't that cost effective when you consider they wear out chains and tires quite often. Sprockets as well if you ignore the chain. It would probably be a break even as far as maintenance is concerned, but you get a whole lot more vehicle with the truck. That's the reason I chose my Isuzu Trooper instead of a Samurai (more vehicle for the money), and it can go just about everywhere the Sammy can anyway, plus my 91's got a 3.4 in it now.

[typedthiswithmytits]

Buy the bike, be a mad cunt.

Also LOL 250cc

[dyrtybyrd]

Yep, that was a dumbass question...Get a bike when you have a license for one and have money to buy one as a "toy" and not your only formal means of transportation.

[typedthiswithmytits]

Really tho, if it was economical everyone should have a bike for when they don't need a car

[reggie_love]

How are you getting a 4 year old motorcycle with only 4,000 miles for $800? That sounds... semi-questionable.

Also, don't forget about registration/tax plus gear plus maintenance. It could easily eat up your whole vehicle budget. Then you have a means of transport that won't be feasible in the winter, can't hold cargo, can't hold passengers, is much more liable to be stolen when parked (do you have a garage? Factor that into your expenses too), and not to mention the whole danger thing. I'm not one of those "OMG MOTORCYCLE = DEATH" people, but you do have to accept a greater degree of risk, and you need to ask yourself if you really want to accept that risk for commuting.

I dunno, doesn't seem like the right call. I loved my Ninja 250, but if I were you I'd go for a used Civic or something just so you have a transportation appliance before you go for the bike. Otherwise, you're likely to get yourself stuck in a difficult position by buying the bike and not being able to afford anything else. I think you're right about the truck, if it's as fucked as you say it is, you'd probably get more for your money by buying something else altogether.

[Captain Falcon]

bikes are death-traps. Seriously, get your truck fixed. What if you need to have someone else with you? What if, god forbid, you have to LIVE in it for a time? Come on, man, the truck is just a way more sensible option.

[dyrtybyrd]

Yeah, I agree^. You just need to think about the situation a little more logically. There are plenty of options for enclosed transportation under $2500, you just have to look (and actually want one instead of a bike).

Edit: I mean, what if you try to go socialize somewhere and it rains? Do you date women?

[dyrtybyrd]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1995-...item27c18e95d6 There's ya a Trooper to go along with Vargus. Not a bad deal...

[dyrtybyrd]

Somebody tell the man what the fuck he wants to hear!!!! Go get the goddamn bike right fucking now!

[dyrtybyrd]

Who ever said anything about it costing $2500. It ended and didn't sell at $2195. Also, earlier you said your budget was $1500 plus whatever you could get for the truck. I would assume you could at least get $500+ somewhere around there for it. And winter motorcycle riding SUCKS unless you have the appropriate gear for cold weather, which is gonna run you nearly another $500-$1000 for everything, so no, it isn't in your budget for "winter riding".

[dyrtybyrd]

Originally Posted by Vagrance

The only thing I need a passenger vehicle for is either for emergencies when nobody else can be contacted or for the rare occasion I purchase something in a retail store instead of online.

I work online and go to college online. I literally have no commuting to do. Having a motorcycle in my situation is much more feasible than for most people.

Sounds to me like you don't need a car or a bike right now, just save what $ you have now for a little while longer until you can afford something more reliable or something that you want. BUT if you MUST... I said under $2500 because I didn't know exactly what you're truck might be worth. So lets start over... You need reliable transportation from around $1500-1800 or less. You don't give a shit about hauling shit, having people ride with you, safety, not ever dating, BUT you do want to stay fairly warm and dry while you are cruising in the WINTER.... I'll get back to you...

[Motherfucking_Toast]

Just fix the damn headgasket on the truck! i dont know how mechanically sharp you are but if you got the right tools, just go for it. cheap and fairly easy fix

[ACE_187]

Originally Posted by Vagrance

Yesterday morning I went to get some last minute Christmas gifts and blew a headgasket on the way back. My heater usually works but didn't for this trip, so I'm thinking the heater core had a leak and leaked out all of my coolant during the hour-long trip and half-hour back (until I had to stop.)

This was my only means of transportation so I have to decide whether to get the engine rebuilt (friends of the family run a side-business working on cars), get a different vehicle, or go ahead and purchase the motorcycle I was planning on next week.

The facts:

The truck is a 1996 S10 2.2l. I bought it because it has good mpg and can haul what I need to haul. I paid $900 for it and have since replaced the fuel injectors and pressure regulator, and tie rod ends. Parts totaled about $400.

The truck is only worth $1800 in good condition and it's far from it. I don't think that rebuilding the motor is going to be worth it because selling it down the road won't recoup my money.

The bike I'm looking at is an '07 Ninja 250 with 4k miles. It's $800. However, I haven't had a motorcycle for a few years, never ridden a sports bike, and don't have an endorsement on my license.

I can probably scrape together $1500 for another vehicle (plus whatever I get for selling the truck) but don't want to buy another car that's going to blow up on me in a few months.

What is Zoklet's opinion on this matter?

Get the bike. Unless you need the truck for stuff. I'm getting a bike soon but I have to have a car/truck too because I like to take my dog with me sometimes and I have to take certain things from place to place.

[dyrtybyrd]

Originally Posted by ACE_187

Get the bike. Unless you need the truck for stuff. I'm getting a bike soon but I have to have a car/truck too because I like to take my dog with me sometimes and I have to take certain things from place to place.

KEY WORDS: "have a car/truck too"

Without this, you will be caught in many binds in life. Unless your parents are willing to take you anywhere you need to go at the drop of a hat, keep the truck. Anything crazy can always come up, and just as soon as you have a bike and no truck, you better believe it will.