No doubt about it, motorcycle ownership can be an expensive undertaking. Some of the expenses are obvious and unsurprising, as motorcycles are generally considered a luxury item, with the best of them commanding a fairly high price. MSRP for the bike you choose is just the beginning. That's why we suggest you don't drop your last dollar on the bike, 'cause you're going to need more before you can ride it. While you might already know about the usual expenses, this article takes you deep into some surprise (or relatively unknown) charges. To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from my experience as a certified mechanic on the Big Four (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki) plus Harley-Davidson. Prices will vary with the region in which you live and the expertise of the shop where you have the work done. Service intervals given are general ranges. Always follow the service intervals and recommendations made by your bike's manufacturer. Insurance Possibly $1,000 to $3,000 per year Insurance companies are all about weighing risk versus payoff, and motorcycles by their very nature are rather risky modes of transportation. As a result, premiums tend to be high. This is especially true if you're young, male, and ride a large displacement bike. Old, experienced riders on paid-for cruisers with long-term clean driving records could pay a couple of hundred dollars per year.Young riders on liter bikes can expect from $1,000 to $3,000 a year for full coverage, which you'll have to have if you financed your bike purchase. Check with your insurance company to see if they have seasonal-use penalties, since year-round riding may not be automatically covered. Also, mods and aftermarket accessories may require additional coverage. DOT-Approved Helmet $200 to $800 or more Allyn Hinton | TopSpeedOpinions vary on helmets. Some love 'em, some hate 'em, some can legally ride without one and some can't. Generally, you can expect a $200 to $800 hit to get a DOT-approved helmet that will actually protect your noggin. This isn't a one-and-done purchase. Expect to replace your helmet about every five years, or after you drop it once. Even dropping one on the floor is considered impact and, according to the manufacturers, once the helmet experiences an impact, it may no longer be structurally sound and need to be replaced as unseen cracks inside the helmet wall weaken it. Don't play games with your head. Oil Changes Varies depending on the bike; $60 to $250+ Buying your new-to-you bike is just the beginning of a new-to-you maintenance schedule that you ignore at your peril. Most motorcycles are rather high maintenance compared to your average automobile, and are much less forgiving of poor preventative practices, so service intervals should be followed religiously. The oil is pricey, especially if the bike requires synthetic oil. The filter isn't cheap; brand-specific filters increase the cost. Even the little gaskets and seals for the inspection covers will add up quickly.Labor varies widely from area to area, but you can probably expect to spend at least $100 an hour for anything you have done. DiY is less expensive providing you have the mechanical skills to do it right. After your initial tool outlay, you're still looking at $25 to $80. Expect to replace the oil every 3,000 to 6,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. Maintenance And Consumables Expect shorter service intervals than with cars Indian Motorcycle Just like automobiles, motorcycles need periodic maintenance. Unlike autos, bikes need maintenance at shorter intervals than most cars. Motorcycle tires wear out faster than car tires, especially on sports bikes, and so do brake pads. Don't ignore the service recommendations for your bike if you want it to serve you reliably. Maintenance Estimates Accessories Customizing can run $100 to $1000 for each modification Dmitry Pavlovsky / TopSpeed Even if you're buying a bagger or a full dresser, there can be significant unforeseen costs before you even get it off the lot. Some of this comes in the form of all the custom bits of chrome or carbon fiber, and other custom accessories. If you bought a bike with a solo seat, but you want to share the fun with someone, you'll need to buy the pillion pad, sissy bar, sissy bar pad, and footpegs. That's obvious.What's slightly less obvious are the footpeg mounts and sissy-bar sideplates. Maybe some saddlebags to carry your new rain gear. But, in the invisible background is where we find the rear turn signal relocation kit that you'll need before getting set up, and the wiring-harness extensions to connect it all up as well, which is expensive and adds up fast. Don't forget the labor to have it all installed. All The Gear, All The Time It's not just one-and-done Kevin Wing Some people literally ride wearing shorts, flip-flops, and a T-shirt, then you have believers of ATGATT like me (short for All The Gear, All The Time). Riding gear isn't all about black leathers anymore. There are a lot of options out there, like Kevlar-reinforced denim jeans and armored jackets with button-down-looking shirt outer shells.My riding jacket set me back a few hundred, but it's reinforced with Kevlar for abrasion resistance and has multi-density foam-armor inserts to protect elbows-forearms, shoulder balls and blades, with a backpiece to protect the spine from impacts. I get to rebuy it about every three years or so because I wear it out. Either the outer shell is thread-bare or the zipper threatens to no longer close because my wife is a good cook. The gear wears out, including the soles of your boots, so plan on replacing them in the not-too-distant future.Chaps are nice for rain and cold, but there are other, less “Village People” types of leg coverings, none of which are cheap if they are built to withstand the weather at 70 MPH. Look at heated under-gear items and heated gauntlets that have a nice long cuff to keep the wind from blowing up your sleeves. That set me back around $500, but I can literally ride year round even when the weather gets a little chilly. Gear Expenditures Family Participation Gear and bikes for the family Kawasaki Imagine all of the above expenditures. Now imagine you get the rest of the family in on the action. Older kids will be able to do street stuff, but if you're into off-road fun, you can get very small children into the riding lifestyle. So now imagine all of the above purchases times two or three. Plus, kids will outgrow both gear and bikes, so both will need to be refreshed occasionally, which just adds more to the total tally. Similar thing: if the wife decides she'd rather ride up front than in the back, there's another “everything” for you to buy. If you decide to get into racing, well, you should already know it's a snake before you grab it. Storage And Theft Protection Don't skimp on a cover if you park it outside Kawasaki Even if you garage-keep your bike, you'll want a dust cover at the very least. If you're going to park it outside in the driveway, spend the money on a lockable, UV and heat-resistant cover for the best protection. Also, consider adding theft-protection devices such as a disc lock and helmet lock so you can walk away from the bike and feel better that the bike and your stuff will be there when you get back. For long-term storage, add a Smart Tender battery trickle charger with auto-shutoff. You'll get the best battery life possible with a good-quality charger when your bike isn't going to be ridden for a few weeks. Cover, Charger, And Extras Cost Fees And Unexpected Costs Yearly fees vary by state Indian Motorcycle Of course, there are registration fees that you'll pay according to your state of residence. Be aware also that some places are okay with parking your bike creatively (like in the yellow-striped area at the end of the parking row at the mall) and some places aren't. Putting your bike in a parking space is fraught with danger, but it might be the only way to avoid a parking ticket.Consider also what you'll do when you break down on the side of the road. Unless you have a buddy that has a trailer, you'll have to call for a tow. Towing a bike takes special equipment and it's expensive. If you have an AAA membership, upgrade to add RV coverage so you can get side-of-the-road assistance and towing if that didn't already come with your bike's warranty. Upgrades And Skill Progression Outgrowing your bike too soon is expensive Suzuki When buying your first bike, it's hard to know then what you'll end up riding, so don't go too small for your first bike that you'll outgrow in short order. You might outgrow a bike faster than expected, especially if you were conservative with your engine size or on a limited budget, which sets you up to buy an upgraded model and spend even more money.