Cheap, reliable transportation...Cheap Car or Cheap Motorcycle?

Ok, I haven't looked into it that much so far, so please bear with me and provide as much useful information as you can.

My car was recently totaled while sitting in our parking lot by a hit and run driver. I have about $2500 to spend on a point A to point B vehicle. I work at home so it will not be a daily driver, but will be used about 3 days a week. My girlfriend would be riding with me some of the time. I live in the desert so it almost never rains, but does get very hot (100+) in the summer.

So, if I wanted cheap, reliable transportation, would a motorcycle be more of less cost effective than a car? I know motorcycles don't have the longevity of a car, but cars in that price range would already have over 100,000 miles. I know motorcycle insurance is more, but I don't know if that cost would be alleviated by spending less on fuel and general maintenance. I would be looking at "cruiser" type bikes, something like a Harley Sportster, but probably a Honda or something.

If anyone could direct me towards good sites with info for new motorcycle riders that would be appreciated as well.

Motorcycles are cheaper in some things and more expensive in others. The biggest thing is gas, and bikes generally get at leat 35-40 mpg. Smaller bikes can get up to 100 mpg, but are not good for long trips at high speed (freeway).

But just about everything else on bikes costs more. Tires are $100 and up, and they last only about 10,000 miles because they're made of a softer, more aggressive rubber. If the bike is chain-drive, you have to replace the chain (and probably sprockets) every 10,000-20,000 miles. Collision and comprehensive insurance on a nice new bike is more because they are easily damaged (but liability is much less because you can't do as much damage). Parts for bikes cost more but you don't need them as often, so I think that works out.

I live in California and my two motorcycles are my primary transportation. I use them year round, day and night. I have a car but I only use it when I have something big to carry, or when it's raining (you -can- ride in the rain but it's not fun).

Motorcycles today will last 100,000 miles easily. They have really become more sophisticated in the last few years with four valves per cylinder, fuel injection, electronic ignition, water cooling, etc. etc. A Harley or BMW or just about anyting made in Japan will last a long time if you just change the oil once in a while.

And you should be able to get something sufficient for your needs for $2500. Not a Harley Sportster (Harleys are EXPENSIVE) but maybe a Honda Shadow or Yamaha Star, two other 'cruiser' models that look more and more like Harleys as time goes by. Cruisers are the easiest kind of motorcycle to learn to ride, in fact I was really surprised to hear that 45% of buyers of new Harleys are newbies to riding, because it's such a big, heavy bike. But once I rode one I understood. Low center of gravity, very easy to handle, very forgiving. I expect the Japanese cruisers are about the same.

Be aware, though, that half of all motorcycle accidents (and fatalities) happen in the first year of riding. This means: Take the MSF course, and ride very carefully, especially at first.

Buy the Motorcycle of Course. Cheaper everything. Gas , oil, insurance, maintenance.
Naming a Harley and a Honda in the same sentence ? They are Light years apart. For $2500 you wont find a Harley that will make it out of the driveway unless you start on a hill. The biggest differance between the two bikes is Honda's carry their oil on the inside. For $2500 there is a pleathora of excellent running 10-30 year old Hondas. I think comfort is priority one ( post price) so sit on a few. If the manufacturer
s name ends with a vowel you should be rewarded reliability.

Get the motorcycle, bud. Maybe a Kawasaki Vulcan 500 or Honda Shadow 750?

Check out vento.com. Affordable American Motorcycles.

Depends on your situation. Worst thing about a motorcycle is you can't haul stuff, even groceries kind of suck to try to get very many home if you don't have a bike with lots of luggage.

I had probably 3 or 4 adult years when I only had a bike, worked then and I probably saved a little money on gas, imposable now. But it was cool to be the type of guy who only owned a bike.

You could get a low mile Japanese in-line 4 that is upwards of 20 years old and it would still be a great bike and would cost you like $1500, and it would outperform most cruisers.

Don't get a m/c because you want to save money.

On just gas mileage a 1984-ish Honda CRX HF kicks all full-size bikes' butt on gas mileage. Most full-size bikes only get 30-40 MPG. If you are street-only commuting a 400 cc scooter could save money but they're more dangerous (smaller wheels, less control with "chair" seating, less power).

Motorcycle tires do not last as long as car tires and other maintenance costs come up sooner (e.g. valve adjust, oil change). Some bikes are expensive to insure (just about anything sporty).

You need good protective clothing on a bike and that's not cheap either, given your rock-bottom budget. Not only that but riding in 100+ degree weather is extra-hot (right about where the breeze heats you up instead of cools you).

Hard for me to say but the car you can drive it to work year round in all kinds of weather save your money and buy a good bike

Cheap car. Can't carry a lot of cargo on a motorcycle, so when you go grocery shopping, you'll need a car.

Motorcycle insurance is NOT more.
My car insurance: $1100/year.
My motorcycle insurance: $75/year.

My motorcycle has about 86,000 miles on it.

Edit:
Yeah, some things about motorcycles are more expensive. Motorcycle battery costs twice as much as a car's, and lasts about one third as long. Motorcycle tires cost a lot more than a car's (I'm talking it cost more to put two tires on my motorcycle than four on my car), and last about one third as long.