Motorbike or Truck?

Or go with the Jeep? I always like the look of them, and they look totaly bad ass with 33" tires, or even 31's.
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They do look great with some 31x15.5r15 tires, and you don't have to modify anything to run with that size.
But how are the reliability?
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Jeep products rank rather low for reliability. I don't recall for sure, but they may be the lowest-ranked American brand. You can read the reports over at JD Powers and Associates and see for yourself.
I'm also worried about having no top. Isnt that just asking people to steal your stuff?
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There are a variety of tops available for Jeeps. Bikini-style sunshade, full canvas cover, or even a hard plastic shell. It's as secure as any other convertible, or motorcycle saddlebags. You could even put a bolt-on locker box in the rear that would perhaps be more secure than a car trunk.

-Bob
 
Glad to hear that you're going with a 4-wheel vehicle. I spent several years with a motorcycle as primary/only transportation, and it worked fine for me... in Florida. My '92 Seca II got 55mpg, would go 0-60 in 4.4, and looked pretty snazzy for $3800 new. On the other hand, buying groceries was a pain in the ass, and winters got pretty chilly... even in Florida. I miss my bikes now, but living in Canada really doesn't work well with having a bike as primary transportation.

When buying transportation, you need to look hard at your needs. Look especially closely at mileage and reliability at your age. You aren't going to be making much money, and you don't want to be sinking it all into your gas tank or the local Autozone. A jeep with big tires looks cool, and it's great off road, but sucks on the road (where you'll be driving 99% of the time) and they suck down gas. I don't know what the prices in ON are like, but here in AB they're about .79 a liter (right at $3 a gallon). A small pickup would probably be your best bet for a compromise between practicality and "rugged fun toy".
 
Dr. Thor,

I ,still a newbie to my motorcycle (four years), would have preached the virutes of an older Japanese or German enduro motrcycle to you. Having a bike as only vehicle may not be ....practical....but it would have taught you :

nomadacism
lightweight living
mechanical skills
how to stay in or bum rides in bad weather
driving manners
the effects of motorcycle ownership on your dating
the importance of leather as a wardrobe product
emergency walking skills

However, I see the point and the practicality of having a truck first, especially in Ontario.

I would recommend an older, smaller truck. Either a toyota or a ford, due to ease of getting parts. An older, dented one, that runs great and has a camper shell. Get a 4x4 if you can afford it, but it's hardly nessecary. Don't ever go 4 wheeling, as that is just a great way to break your vehicle with friends. Don't be overly concerned with towing power, aesthictics, or horsepower. Be concerned with reliability and the abilty to sleep in the back.

Incidently, I would consider a Jeep as a four wheeled motorcycle...they are a lot of fun, but not the most practical or reliable thing out of the box. JEEP =
J(ust) E(mpty) E(very) P(ocket)

Have fun,
Jeff
 
Has anyone seen the new Toyota FJ coming out? Pretty sharp. When I had my Jeep with the soft top on, I never bothered to lock the doors. I figured if someone was going to break in, let them open the door over cutting one of the windows. I also ended up not taking things that I couldn't carry with me most of the time. My Jeep was broken into twice and I ended up losing a sweatshirt and some university books. I was lucky and bought a 9 month old YJ and never had any pproblems with it other than regular maintenance, although I understand that's quite rare. That said, I wonder if it's more the owner's of Jeeps than the Jeeps themselves in terms of reliability? Drive something hard in unforgiving terrain and problems are bound to come. I actually off-roaded quite a bit but never drove it like it was a Baja racer. I just putted along taking advantage of the gears and torque. Good luck.
 
Hi Dr. Thor-

Absolutely, positively obtain a car or truck before investing in a motorcycle. Just envision some of these scenarios:
  • Attending a funeral dressed in a suit while it is sleeting outside
  • Going to a job interview and it is 95*Fahrenheit in the shade
  • Bringing the roasted turkey and mashed potatoes to the family Christmas dinner
  • Giving your boyfriend/girlfriend a ride to a nice restaurant
  • Carrying six gallons of latex paint and a can of spackle for your new apartment
The list goes on and on. I am a very enthusiastic motorcyclist and I love every moment that I'm up on two wheels, but I also understand the intrinsic limitations of this mode of transportation. Use the bike whenever you can to save on fuel costs and to get out in the fresh air...but it is good to know that backup transportation is there waiting for you.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Of course, we are forgetting the middle way Grasshopper.
Bike with sidecar. I speak as one who briefly owned a Triumph Saint with a 2 adult/1child sidcar attached. Perfect for the family man. This looks like your kind of weather though...
http://www.imz-ural.com/
 
I have 3 bikes and 2 trucks. both my trucks work, i detonated my dirtbike chasing an r1 My tt600 just wont start for some reason and my speed triple started knocking yesterday. get a truck
 
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