I‘m considering buying a motorcycle after graduation and would like to sell my car, or at least leave it home in MD. But, I plan on living in Brookland with some friends and would much rather prefer getting around town in a motorcycle. Are permits cheaper? Is parking easier? What about storing a bike at an apt or garage?
Cheaper, maybe. Not so fun in the winter.
I did it for 4 years (19961999) in DC, had to rely on friends about 710 days a year for rides thanks to snow/ice storms. I didn't own a car at that time, but lost a bet to a friend about what was cheaper. His Corolla absolutely slaughtered me on my VFR when it came to operating costs. We even extended time-lines (mathematically) to include major service items on the car and it was the same deal. Day to day costs, an econo-box will obliterate a sportbike. Now, I paid $4,000 less for my bike than he paid for the car, so the buy-in is cheaper. It's not about fuel economy either, it's the tires, chain and sprockets, brakes, fluids, insurance, etc. that kill it for the motorcycle. You CAN bend those more to your favor, but the same can be done with a car. I now keep records of motorcycle vs my car (a 2001 VW Jetta TDI), and it's rare to find a motorcycle that's as cheap as Double what my car costs. If you have a car There that you can borrow/use with advanced notice, it'll be lots easier. Better for shopping and better for dating (seriously, dates do NOT want to be on the back of a bike every time you head out, nor do they want to drive you everywhere or meet everywhere). You need to be aware that if you take your motorcycle to a mechanic/shop to do everything, it will cost you both arms, a leg, and the other leg to the knee. You *must* be able to do your own work, otherwise you will be spending Way more than what it costs to own/operate a car. It was learning this that got me on the road to becoming a certified motorcycle mechanic, Best of luck if you go this route. It can be done, but there are compromises. DC was the easiest place I was motorcycle only (out of DC, Phoenix and Atlanta).
it will either push in or screw in, make sure you open the bleeder first(this step stops you from pushing dirt back through the system, possibly causing damage). when complete bleed brakes
