Make change: Motorcycle hobby turns into way to save money

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By Doug Schorpp | Sunday, August 17, 2008 8:01 PM CDT | () comments

Julie and Tim Keehn of Eldridge, IA., didn't buy their motorcycles to save money, it just worked out that way. (Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES) Buy this Photo

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ELDRIDGE, Iowa — Buying his and hers motorcycles started out as just a fun thing to do for Tim and Julie Keehn.

But with inflation up — especially the high cost of gasoline — their newfound hobby has become a way of life. And the Eldridge couple is loving every minute of it.

“It is exhilarating but very calming. I can’t explain it,” Tim Keehn said while sitting on his Honda 750 Shadow Spirit.

“In a brazen attempt to reclaim even a small amount of ‘hip,’ my husband (age 58) and I (47) each got motorcycles last spring and have been thrilled with the way what seemed to be a splurge and ended up being extremely economical,” Julie said. “They have been saving us money in a variety of ways.”

Both make a 22-mile round trip daily to the Village of East Davenport where they work. She owns Camp McClellan Cellars, and he owns The Stripping Solution, an antique restoration

business.

“Not a big commute,” Julie said.

But enough of a trip that combined, they now are saving about $60 a week by riding to work rather than driving. Tim has a Jeep Liberty that he says gets poor mileage. Julie drives a Kia Spectra that gets good gas mileage. However, now she spends about 90 cents a day in gas with her Honda 250 Rebel.

Tim said their payments on the motorcycles also are reasonable. Combined, they pay less than $200 a month. He paid $7,000 for his Shadow Spirit, and Julie paid $3,000 for her Rebel.

They say they also are saving in other ways because of the bikes. They are saving on the life of their vehicles by driving them less. They also save on groceries because many of their trips to the grocery store involves using their small saddlebags on their motorcycles, which means they avoid impulse items.

“You buy what you need,” Julie said. “I do most of my grocery shopping going to and from work, and we are not buying extra stuff.”

But even if they were not saving money, Tim said they still would ride their bikes as much as they do, in part because of the “breathtaking views” they have been discovering while on their rides.

“I have lived in Scott County all my life, and there are parts that I had never seen before,” Julie said.

“The reality of it is, I love it,” Tim added. “It is gorgeous out there, and you don’t see (the scenery) in a car.”

Share your story

When the economy gets tight, people have to adjust their spending. Whether it’s dusting off the old bicycle, eating out less or expanding the vegetable garden, Quad-Citians are getting creative.

E-mail your story idea and contact information to newsroom@qctimes.com with the heading: Quad-Citians Save Money. You may also mail ideas to Quad-Citians Save Money c/o Quad-City Times newsroom, 500 E. 3rd St., Davenport, IA 52801.

We are seeking participants who will agree to being photographed and videotaped for interviews for a series of stories that will run both in our print edition and on our Web site, qctimes.com.

The series, “Make Change,” continues Aug. 25 and appears Mondays.

Doug Schorpp can be contacted at (563) 383-2292 or dschorpp@qctimes.com.