Over the past several weeks, my wife and I discussed selling my motorcycle and my car to help reduce our insurance costs so we can get out of debt faster (we currently have two cars, a truck and a motorcycle, and the truck we're keeping). I have little trouble selling my car since there's a leak from the sunroof that would cost more than the car is worth to fix. However, the motorcycle is the big deal. It was a gift to me from my family, two of whom have passed away since I got the bike, so there is sentimental value there. I told my wife that I would sell the motorcycle, but I expected something in return. She said that I could use half of the profits from the sale to go towards a bicycle (either update the one I have or buy a new one). After doing a cost analysis of what it would take to update my current bicycle, I'd be better off buying a new, better model (oh, if life were always that easy )

I plan on bicycle commuting roughly 28 miles round trip now and, in about 5 to 8 years, 38 miles when our new campus opens up. Keeping that in mind, and the fact that it can get down right soggy in southern Mississippi, I need a bike that has fenders and a rear rack. I checked the web sites of the major bike manufacturers and concluded that the Raleigh Sojourn would be the best value. When I told my wife this, and the price tag, she was less than trilled (to put it mildly). And thus you have to Capricorns butting heads like a pair of, well, goats. She can't understand why I would spend that much money (not to mention more for lights) when a bike half that price would do as well. My argument is that given the distance I plan to ride (not to mention the possibility of longer rides in the future), that this is the best deal.

As a compromise, I did check out other bikes that were similar (i.e., touring bikes), like the Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee, and the Specialized Sequoia. Both the Fuji and the Randonee would need fenders and the Sequoia would need a rack and fenders. However, I still like the Sojourn, not just because it comes with everything except the pedals, but the fact it comes with disc brakes, a Brooks B17 Aged saddle, Brooks leather bar tape and a WTB Mountain Road Drop bar in addition to a Tubus Cargo rack and SKS fenders. What I don't like about the Sojourn are the 32 spoke wheels (the Sequoia has a 28 spoke front, 32 spoke rear). However, that isn't enough to stop me from buying it because if they fail or I decide to start touring or doing centuries and brevets, I can always build new wheels (can we say Schimdt SON28SB ).

I think about the only bike I willing to go down to that my wife would agree to is the Specialized Globe City 7, which, I feel, would not be suitable for a 14-19 mile trip across three cities. And, I would still get the DiNotte lights.

So, my question is this: Should I stick to my guns and try and convince my wife that the Sojourn is the best choice for my needs, or is this battle not one worth fighting and settle the Globe City 7?
(Keep in mind that a lot depends on the sale of the motorcycle, too. So, if I don't have the money to get the Sojourn, well, then that settles that.)

just buy a used bike in good condition.

my first bike I bought for $90 and it lasted me 53,000 kms and 11 years. The bike I used to replace that I bought for $180 and so far, I've had it 7 years (only use it on rainy days) and 21,000 kms (about)

The only bike I bought new, was paid for by insurance money for replacement value of my second bike (used only for sunny days) (bought for $400, used for 4 years and - about- 12,000 kms and received $1500 for the replacement). That bike is now 10 years old and over 30,000 kms

So I guess I've paid $670 for 116,000 kms of travel. Not a bad budgetary decision.

*edit - actually, I'm pretty sure I've travelled more kms that that, so I'd have to say the value is even greater

If it's under half just remined her when you pull the bike into yor bedroom the night you buy it....

If you ride M-F, the price of gas alone will save you at least $3 a day, $15 a week, $60 a month, $720 a year. So, some time in year 2 (or earlier if you don't get 28 mpg) it will have paid for itself. I see no better investment than that. And for that long of a commute, you really do need a decent, reliable bike. With a cheaper model, you'll just end up replacing marginal components and end up spending the same money as the Sojourn in a short time.

You'll also get uber fit! Tell her you'll look 20 years younger.

what kind of motorcycle? (or more specifically, how much will you get from the motorcycle?) For the distances you are talking about, a road-type touring bike is going to be better suited than a hybrid type bike, so I'd stick to your guns on the Raleigh. Raleigh is what...$1100 or so? Specialized is $700? I can see the difficulty in the argument, but the geometry and gearing and more durable frame material are your points of argument...in essence, the specialized will cost more because it will be a $700 garage decoration, while the $1100. Raleigh would be used, and offset fuel costs. Best of luck.

[Edit: fixed cost per JeffS...this difference is easier to handle. This is a no-brainer from my perspective.]

No, the Raleigh's more like $1100.

I just have to ask, what is the motorcycle?
Might be better to just drop the insurance on the bike and park it in a corner under a tarp out of the way, then use half the monthly savings towards a new bike.

Why don't you commute a few weeks on the bike you have to see if you even want to do it? Cost = 0 and you will know more about what you want based on experience.

On another note, what kind of roads would you be commuting on, do they lend themselves to bike commuting? When was the last time you rode a bike 28 miles?

This sounds a lot like thread going on a few weeks ago.

Kudos for trying to face the financial problems in your family. Most people are so afraid of this kind of discussion, they just ignore it until it is too late.

Keep in mind what you are really trying to do. You are not buying a new bike, you are trying to get out of debt. Sometime you have to make hard choices to get out of debt and I think a lot of people may not really be making those choices. Selling a bike to free up some cash, only to spend it on another consumer good, does not sound like you are making that hard choice yet.

It may well be that you and your wife's goals are different. Your wife is looking for long term financial security, you are looking to get compensated for your loss (the sale of your motorbike). I think a succesful resolution of your problem depends on your and your wife's ability to align your needs.
I know this may sound a little textbook like, but longterm I think you will be better off first focusing on aligning your needs and expectations. Once that is done, the discussion on a new bicycle should be a lot easier.

On the other hand, if you currently drive to work, you could calculate the cost savings you gain when riding to work going forward,

Good luck with that.
Duppie

No help with the bike, but if you leave this part out of your sales pitch you'll probably have much better luck!

I have to agree with the suggestion of a used bicycle. Such a great value. Classic steel frames do not, generally speaking, wear out.

If that were the case, she'd practically be robbing the cradle. Now, if I said I would have the energy of 20 year old . . .

Approach this from a Return on Investment approach. List the reasons you like the bike. Make the point that this is replacing a car and that it will be seeing 5000-10000 miles a year and needs to be dependable. This is not your usual bicycle but a piece of equipment used to transport you to and from work and should last at least as many years as a car. A cheap bike could equal time off work to repair it or take it to get repaired so dependable is likely worth a few extra dollars in the long run. In the end you could make the point that if she likes being cheap so much perhaps she should sell her car and drive a metro or a fiesta or something like that. This is your steed man, the friend who sticks with you rain or shine. Don't settle for the yugo of bicycles (if you rode every now and then a yugo type bike would be fine). A dependable bike will save you enough in gas and repair bills to pay for itself in a year or so. My road bike has paid for itself several times over and has 20000 miles on it. Anyway, My wife enjoys the low gas budget and is pretty easy on me when it comes to bicycle related stuff and we are pretty tight on finances right now too. In fact, I can't afford to drive to work ($9 bucks a day in gas).

Realize that this advice is based on the 5000-10000 miles a year use of a bicycle, if you are planning on less than that, by all means consider a cheaper route.

28 miles daily RT commute, and 38 in the future? That's some pretty serious mileage. I'd be thinking about a good electric bike with a range of 25 miles, and plug it in when I get to work for the return trip home. I mean, what will you do when you're sick, or you're just too tired?

I wouldn't worry too much about the 32 spoke wheels. With gear I have topped well over 300 on my 32 spoke wheel road bike and haven't had any problems. Even ran the bike into an expansion joint on a concret road and sunk it up till the hub and I haven't had any problems with it in the 1,100 miles since. I even curb hopped a couple weeks ago and the roads are crap so they get pretty beat up.

If you want a reason to avoid the fuji. Mine came with bad wheels that they will only replace with road wheels, poor hubs, poor RD, weak rear rack. It is just a track frame with a rack and brakes. The Sojourn is definately the bike I would have gotten if I knew about it last year but I ordered a Fuji because I didn't know any better and probably have ended up with more $$$ into then I would have into the Sojourn.

As for the motorcycle, it's a 1998 Harley Sportster Hugger. I'm hoping to get $3800 for it.

mparker:It's been a good 16 years since I rode that far (I was training for a century on a 1988 Specialized Hard Rock while living in Marquette, MI. Check Google Maps for the terrain between Marquette and Gwinn, MI to get a better idea.) The roads aren't an issue; it's more attitude (in my mind, anyways ) that's the factor. I've seen people cycling on the same roads I plan on taking.

Duppie: Thanks for the input. We are really trying hard to get out of debt and, I'll admit, I have been reluctant to sell the motorcycle, but reality is hitting me like a cold, wet herring across the face. I do want to cycle to work, not just to try and save money, but a whole host of other reasons. Mainly, though, I just miss cycling (and fly fishing, both of which I hope to pick back up this year ).

This kind of thing is tough for me, too. But it's mostly because we don't budget well, and my wife arbitrarily says "that's too much" for stuff I want far too often!

I'd write up a budget and consider the impact of the bike carefully. At the same time, I'd look into used bikes, too, and come up with a couple of alternative candidates.

Then also price a Fuji or other with all the upgrades you need--including the Brooks-- and then you have two or three new bike options and 2 or 3 used bike options.

Good luck, dude. I'm sure you love the Raleigh as it looks like an ideal bike. But, sometimes compromise and some extra shopping can keep the peace. Plus it is important to the budget. You just might find that a couple of hundred put into a high quality used bike can do the job while still bringing a smile to your face.

I'm not planning on going car-free, just very car light. Besides, it's been a long time off the saddle, so I need to start slow and work my way up. Then there is the lovely summers we have here in the 90/90s (90 degrees/90% humidity). Water and Gatorade: It's what's for dinner (and breakfast and lunch and . . . )

For some reason I was picturing a 1942 Knucklehead or something along those lines.

Stick to your guns. For that sort of distance, you absolutely want drop bars. Riding in the rain all the time will just chew those rims up when you brake so the disc brakes are a very good thing. As someone who commutes the sort of distances you're talking about and knowing others that do, I can't say I know anyone who would say that a bike half that price will do as well. Yes, you can get where you're going on less, but it is worth spending the money on a bike is really optimized for your ride.

My wife didn't understand what the extra money bought at first either, but she has come to appreciate the differences with time. I expect yours will too. If you absolutely have to back off, get a used bike, and then when your wife comes around, you'll be able to get a better ride. That's what I did. BTW, you still have to buy pedals even with the Globe. Platforms are absolutely the wrong tool for the job you have.

i think you're getting ahead of yourself. unless it's a really cheap bike, i wouldn't even think about that until a) you sell the motorcycle and b) your debt is gone.

I wish.

Best idea yet. Craigslist is packed with suitable commuting bikes. That's where I got all but one of my commuting bicycles. New bikes lose about half their value in the first day of use. I can't take that kind of depreciation hit.

If you get half the money for the motorcycle, that would be up to $1900. Don't forget to ask the insurance agent how much of your annual premium goes toward the car you sell and the motorcycle. Those are direct savings also.

You could do what I did initially to keep my motivation up. If you ride 28 miles, that is a firm $3 a day in savings on gasoline. Every day when you get home, put three dollar coins in to a jar. After a year show her those 720 dollar coins.

There are other savings that you can't see but that are there. Those would be on repairs you don't have to make on a car you don't have.

I would think you have some serious moral leverage. You are recovering a nice chunk of money with the sale of the vehicles, and making a non-trivial savings on an on-going basis. A high-quality tool for that job does not seem out of line (although I myself couldn't get that appoved easily either).

When I started, I rode my old bike for the first year just to show myself and my spousal unit that I was serious. Then I bought a new bike (nothing so fancy) as a birthday present.

That Sojourn looks nice. Parts list is dependable. Nothing fancy nor bottom of the barrel drivetrain wise. If you can get it on sale, you'll pretty much be set except for lights. Are you able to do the 28 mi r/t commute 5x a week now? What bike are you using now?