How many miles to be even??

[GoandChase]

Was thinking about this as I was going down a nice little two lane today. Let's just say that down the road your trade in value was $0 and you couldn't even sell your Ryker for a $1. How many miles would you have to have on your Ryker before you would figure you got back to even with the cost. In other words how much is each mile of smiles worth to you?

 

[ARtraveler]

If you really want to play with the numbers, check out "pay back" formulas. Any good Managerial Accounting or Corporate Finance book will have these. Or just google Payback and you should end up with some good stuff.

Me...Don't care, paid for, just plan on driving them some more for now. Did I get my money for them????? If we consider the "fun quotient" then a hearty yes.

 

[RICZ]

When I'm buying a toy, I never think on those things. Gas mileage, tire mileage, cost of maintenance, resale, etc., etc. are ignored and considered part of playing with my toy. But that's just who I am.

 

[BajaRon]

How much does it take to break even on any recreation? A boat, a motor home, a cabin in the woods or a night out on the town?

Bottom line. It's either worth it to you or it isn't. And you usually don't know until it's too late to change your mind.

I can tell you it's been two thumbs up on my Spyder!

 

[vstrommer]

It is really hard to put a price on FUN and Good Time Memories.......:2thumbs:

 

[Peter Aawen]

I passed that 'break even' point about 1-2 minutes into the ryde home from collecting my Spyder! Pretty much everything since then has been pure cream, and I'm STILL loving it!

I should say that I'm a bit of a gear head; I've always loved driving & riding & racing & going fast & even just tooling along thru the scenic twisties, and it doesn't really matter much what sort of vehicle it is if that's what's available; cars, 4WD's, trucks, buses, semi road haulers, off road buggies, even boats & aircraft, they all feed my addiction; but knees in the breeze however & whichever way I can manage that is by far the best way!! I've always felt that this has been a health & mood enhancing thing. For me, it is one of the best forms of therapy going; and my current crop of Doctors have (grudgingly for some) come to recognise & accept that, so like I said, from just minutes after I picked up my Spyder, it's all been cream!

Ride More, Worry Less!

And don't forget, it's not 'because you get old' that you stop riding, it's 'because you stop riding' that you get old! :2thumbs:

 

[BajaRon]

It is really hard to put a price on FUN and Good Time Memories.......:2thumbs:

That is because these things are priceless. It doesn't mean you have to mortgage the farm to have fun either. Some of the best times can be had with little more than time and a good friend to share it with.

 

[AeroPilot]

Just because I like to do math puzzles, I figure that since the first 2011 RT we've got our moneys worth. We still have the 15 RT and 16 F3T and figure its "gravey" from here with the total cost per mile coming to 50 cents per mile traveled down the road. Sunk cost is 33 cents per mile for the cost of the toys with a little over 200,000 miles logged. Add to that a fuel cost of 10 cents per mile, 2 cents for tires and oil (do our own oil and tire changes) 3 cents for insurance per mile logged, and 2 cents for the license and registration fees, and that comes to 50 cents per mile so far. Do I think to look back for those two quarters that flew out of my pocket each mile over the last 7 years?? NAHH - Just keep Rydin' & Smylin!!hyea:

 

[johnsimion]

If you have the money and enjoy it, it's worth it.
If you don't enjoy it, it's not worth it at any price.
The OP's example is just absurd. Assuming you enjoyed riding it - if you drove your Spyder/Ryker until it had zero trade-in or resale value in the real world, you would have gotten your payback many times over regardless of how many miles you actually drove. Even if you hated riding it and let your Spyder/Ryker just sit idle in the garage, it would always have financial value greater than zero (as stipulated in the example) since it would still be practically new. Of course it would be a poor investment, but why would you buy it in the first place if you hated riding it and just let it sit in the garage?

 

[Zoot]

I dunno, I kind of see the logic. If for example you can have an F3 or a Ryker - but not both - you can consider the dollars per smile quotient. But everything has an opportunity cost. Only you can make the determination of "worth it".

Or maybe your spouse.

 

[Sarge707]

I dunno, I kind of see the logic. If for example you can have an F3 or a Ryker - but not both - you can consider the dollars per smile quotient. But everything has an opportunity cost. Only you can make the determination of "worth it".

Or maybe your spouse.

I'm Lucky that I have the F3 and Ryker and although the Ryker is a Hoot of a Ride I'm Not gonna sell the F3 ANY time soon-?

 

[GoandChase]

Just because I like to do math puzzles,

@AeroPilot, thanks! Fun seeing your numbers. I like pushing numbers around too. Most of the time I realize an Excel sheet is not mandatory but often entertaining.

 

[canamjhb]

I think trying to put a dollar value on our recreational interests is an exercise in frustration development. I have been a life long boater. Talk about a money pit. The acronem for B.O.A.T. (Break Out Another Thousand) is very true. I have had everything from 8 foot hydroplanes to 50 foot twin diesel cruisers. Never expected to justify expenses. It is what I wanted and what I wanted to do. Tried to live within my means but never expected any money spent to provide ANY return. Over the years I have spent many hundreds of thousand of dollars (maybe more) on recreational product and adventures. But that is life. And in the end, I would like to come sliding into heaven pennyless with a smile on my face. No regrets..... Jim

 

[cptjam]

I think trying to put a dollar value on our recreational interests is an exercise in frustration development. I have been a life long boater. Talk about a money pit. The acronem for B.O.A.T. (Break Out Another Thousand) is very true. I have had everything from 8 foot hydroplanes to 50 foot twin diesel cruisers. Never expected to justify expenses. It is what I wanted and what I wanted to do. Tried to live within my means but never expected any money spent to provide ANY return. Over the years I have spent many hundreds of thousand of dollars (maybe more) on recreational product and adventures. But that is life. And in the end, I would like to come sliding into heaven pennyless with a smile on my face. No regrets..... Jim

Exactly my thoughts, Jim. It brings me joy to see how happy Ann is when she rides. Priceless. Worth every penny. Joe

 

[sandeejs]

40 cents a smile

I.R.S. puts each mile at $0.54; since I smile a lot when I'm riding my Spyder (Fang) I'm calling it $0.40 a smile.

~Sandee~

 

[Chupaca]

Tough one....

Gonna say mine is all profit..:2thumbs: more than break even it would be "Did you get your money's worth..?" And I did as I rode it home...:thumbup: