# If you could afford it, would you buy this $250,000 motorbike? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 17, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904 "2003-10-17T01:04:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/21 "2003-10-17T21:28:48Z")
30 something, male. Yes please, when do they go on sale? ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/22 "2003-10-17T22:00:36Z")
Only as a museum piece. First, because no one has yet been daft enough to ride it, and we don’t even know if it works. Second, because you can’t insure a vehicle that costly. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/23 "2003-10-17T22:17:41Z")
It’s a grotesque, silly, utter impractical and dangerous vehicle even for most collectors. If like trying to mass market Batmobiles. Your only market is likely to be vehicle museums and some bored collectors looking for something different. 45 male ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/24 "2003-10-17T22:29:00Z")
- - - FIRSTLY: I seem to remember reading somewhere that one was built that was ridden at low speeds on a track. Maybe not one with that engine, but it had the four wheels set like that. It does work. . . . . . . . . SECONDLY - As far as “400 mph”, that’s a _guess_. I challenge the peanut gallery to go forth and find me anyplace that makes street-legal motorcycle tires that size that can withstand 300 mph, much less 400… THIRDLY - Before I clicked I thought this was about the helicopter-jet-engine motorcycle, like what Jay Leno has. It cost up around that much too, weighed a lot less I bet, and actually is street-legal already. I forgets how much HP it has, but it’s a lot. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/25 "2003-10-18T00:28:11Z")
[http://marineturbine.com](http://marineturbine.com) I’ve seen these online, and they sell about 5 a year. I doubt Dodge will do that. Of course, any bike I can idle and melt bumpers in traffic is way cool. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/26 "2003-10-18T01:09:07Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by mossman_\*\* > You have to promote it on the basis of it’s extreme engineering. On the uniqueness of the vehicle. The the rarity of it, and the select few in the world who could possibly afford to own it. > \*\* Yes, that’s what we were thinking. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by DougC_\*\* > It would have to meet all safety regulations of cars, such as safety glass, bumpers, airbags or automatic seatbelts, crash standards, etc. In the US, there are lots of requirements for cars, and very few for motorcycles. \*\* I’m in Australia, where the laws are different. We’re marketing the bike as is though. > [@](#): > > _originally posted by LMM_\*\* > There is no way in hell this thing can turn. Look at it. Aren’t there any engineering students at your school who could explain why this just won’t work? \*\* I’m thinking they probably would have designed it so it can turn. But I’m not about to pay $250,000 to try it out. (Assuming they make any more and sell them!) > [@](#): > > _originally posted by MrO_\*\* > The main reason I’m posting is to express a little mild consternation over the age ranges you’ve given us: 46-64? For marketing purposes, I’m in the same range as 64-year-olds? Oh well. Beats being a teenager. \*\* Heh. Well, I picked that one as a ‘middle age to retiring age’ bracket. Couldn’t have too many brackets! > [@](#): > > _originally posted by Saint Zero_\*\* > [http://marineturbine.com](http://marineturbine.com) > > I’ve seen these online, and they sell about 5 a year. I doubt Dodge will do that. \*\* Yes I saw that, I think it’s the one Jay leno has. > [@](#): > > \*originally posted by Enderw24 \*\*\* > I’d set my sites on an international market. Germans businessmen who wish to zip down the autobahn. Sheiks who can make their own rules. \*\* We’re only allowed to market to the Australian market. ☹ **Mangetout** , I’d much rather have been assigned that to market! I want one, dammit. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/27 "2003-10-18T06:03:35Z")
Depends. Am I the Prince of Persia? Then yes, I buy the bike. Because I can. The exclusivity of it is what is important. It sits in my garage along with my authentic Shelby Cobra and my Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (daily driver between the palace and my airstrip). If I drive it three times while I own it that’ll be surprising. It’s there to impress my guests, not to be ridden. Do I have 250000.01 to my name? Then no, I don’t buy it. This product is not something anyone would buy out of need, it is an excellent example of extravangance for extravangance’s sake. That is how it has to be marketed. Having said that, I bet they’ll sell every one they make. (M 21-35) Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/28 "2003-10-18T06:37:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mangetout \* > \*\*I’d buy [one of these](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3077508.stm) instead. \*\* Now _that_ is a cool vehicle. Amphibious car with retracting wheels! The manufacturer’s site is [here](http://www.aquada.co.uk/), by the way. I don’t know why but the motorbike in the OP looks ugly to me. And it’s not very exciting technologically - the steering mechanism looks interesting, but that’s about it. I wouldn’t buy it. (M 21-35) ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/29 "2003-10-18T07:15:04Z")
No. It looks absolutely hideous. I’d rather save up for a yacht. M/14-20 ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/30 "2003-10-18T08:06:43Z")
That thing is hideous. Possibly the ugliest vehicle I’ve ever seen. Definitely in the top 5. A Yugo had more aesthetic appeal than that bike. There are bikes that I would spend more money than I can afford (Triumphs are gorgeous. Someday I will learn to ride just for one of those) …but that thing? I’d think twice if it was $5. $250000, you’ve got to be kidding. Black, Female, 21-35 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/31 "2003-10-18T14:54:43Z")
Male, 35-45. If I had gobs of money and $250,000 specifically to spend on a motorcycle, I would not buy this bike. Instead, I’d buy a [Marine Technologies Y2K](http://motorcyclecity.com/turbine.htm). I love the smell of jet fuel! But in fact, I would much sooner spend $250,000 on a [_flying_ motorcycle](http://www.robinsonheli.com/index.htm). A new R-22 costs $170,000, and a new R-44 costs $307,000. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/32 "2003-10-18T14:55:44Z")
Oh, and for the record, the bike in the OP is really, really ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/33 "2003-10-19T02:22:59Z")
21-35, white female. It’s fugly. Even if for no other reason, hell no. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904/34 "2003-10-19T11:41:23Z")
Yeah I might, but “afford it” would require several 100 million dollars. ie there are a lot of things I’d buy before that bike. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-could-afford-it-would-you-buy-this-250-000-motorbike/207904.md?page=1)