How Much Does it Cost to Ride a Motorcycle?

09/11/2022 13:41 Share

How Much Does it Cost to Ride a Motorcycle?

Whether you want to join a thriving motorcycle community or have been inspired by James Bond bike scenes, hitting the open road on a motorcycle is an always tantalising prospect.

Well, we want to help you make your daydreams a reality. That’s why we have calculated exactly how much it costs to ride a motorcycle, covering learning fees, fuel costs, and essential extras.

Continue reading, below, to find out the ins and outs of motorcycle expenses.

The cost of learning to ride a motorcycle

Before you start browsing different models and researching scenic road routes, you first need to learn how to actually ride a motorcycle.

There are four levels of licence, each with different motorbike test costs to grant the rider access to more powerful vehicles. See the different types of licences and the motorcycles you can ride with them, below:

- AM licence: If you are 16 or older, you can ride mopeds or small 3-wheelers with a top speed of up to 45km per hour (around 28mph)

- A1 licence: From 17 years old, you can ride light motorcycles up to 125cc (or 11kW)

- A2 licence: At 19 years old, this licence allows you to ride standard motorcycles up to 35kW

- A (Direct Access) licence: You are unrestricted in the size or power of motorcycle you ride. You can either gain this licence at 21 with progressive access (held an A2 for two years) or directly at 24.

To know which licence is best for you, it’s good to have an idea of the type of motorcycle you want to ride and its power output. Of course, you can also work your way slowly through the different levels, learning to ride each motorcycle power level at your own pace. This learning route might be more expensive, but it gives you a more well-rounded appreciation and understanding of the different types of motorcycles.

For a full breakdown of motorbike licence costs, see our handy table, below.

*weekday cost

If you want to learn how to ride a motorcycle, take a look at the BMW Rider Training or the Honda School of Motorcycling on our website. 

The cost of running a motorcycle for a year

With the cost of learning to ride a motorcycle budgeted for, you can start to think about the motorcycle expenses you’ll need to shell out for every year.

The good news is that motorcycle fuel costs are relatively low. On average, you’ll be paying less than £1,000 a year to run your ride, which is under £20 a week. Vehicle tax is also cheaper as motorcycles typically have lower carbon emissions than other vehicles.

You can see these average motorcycle costs in the table, below:

Naturally, these annual motorcycle expenses differ depending on the type of bike you ride. That’s why we looked at 15 of the best-selling motorcycles over the last 12 months and compared their estimated annual fuel cost.

Our research found that the NSC 110 Vision and the PCX 125, both Honda motorcycles, offered the best savings at the pump. Both of these scooters cost less than £500 to fuel for the year, which works out to less than a tenner a week.

You can even enjoy savings with motorcycle models more powerful than 125cc. The Honda CB500X, for example, is 471cc and only costs £880 to run for a year, or £16.90 a week.

See how the motorcycle expenses of these best-selling bikes compare, below:

To find out more about how to double down on these savings, read our 13 tips to save petrol on your bike.

Extra motorcycle expenses to consider

As well as learning fees and running expenses, it’s important to remember the additional motorcycle costs associated with getting on the road.

We’re talking about the essential motorcycle accessories, such as helmets, leathers, and locks, that keep both you and your bike safe and secure. Read the breakdown of motorcycle equipment prices, below.

If you want to get a discount on any new gear, consider joining the Vertu Motorcycle Club. Not only will you be entitled to 10% off any accessories, clothing, boots, or helmets in-store, but you’ll always have first sight of any upcoming offers in our newsletter.

Total average motorcycle costs

Between the cost of learning to ride a motorcycle and the extra motorcycle expenses, it’s invaluable to know exactly how much riding a motorcycle costs.

For convenience, we’ve totalled up all the estimated motorcycle expenses, below:

Now you know how much to budget for motorcycle expenses, you can start to think about the type of bike to buy. Browse our collections of new and used motorcycles to find the perfect ride.