Buy it.

If you don't spend a fortune on the bike itself, just the pure enjoyment of when we CAN ride is enough to pay for it no matter how many days we get.

I rode March 5 through November 19 last year. I started on March 11 this year. I attribute that to having an Aerostich suit (made in Duluth). I get 80 mpg on my  250 dual-sport. I try to wait until it's above freezing for fear of ice.

My current bike gets 75mpg. It's duct-taped together. It always starts, even after the long winter. It's ugly, and I love it.

I am an ex-Floridian who only rode a motorcycle (no car) before I moved up north. I had a bigger bike down there (500cc) and have a enduro up here now (250cc), but it does make me sad that I cannot use it more often. 

Some day, I hope to save up enough for an Aerostich suit. In the meantime, most of the year, even summer, I end up wearing my ski parka, gloves, ski pants or jeans w/long underwear, etc to stay warm and dry on the morning commute. In the pm, the deer and roadkill keep me on my toes. And the wind-- riding by the lake during my commute between Two Harbors and Duluth can just be brutal.

I agree-- you can't go wrong with a cheap, reliable bike in any climate. Add on a good riding suit, full helmet and windshield and you'll have a good start to handle the weather. You'll either find the riding passion or not. For me, the feeling of freedom found on a bike nothing else. But, there's no denying that this is a tough place to own a bike, and it will gather dust for half the year.

Yep -

March - Nov last year here as well -

There is no better way to see the fall colors - 

Rout #1 from Tettaguach - Ely is one of the best roads in the Northland.

Remember - cages can't do wheelies in 3rd gear.

I ride as much as I can. I started in March last year and rode till October. I have a fully dressed Harley, but still wear leathers when it's cold. I always take the long way home from work. It's a big bike so I have to watch out for sand, especially on city street corners.

Do It!  Can't recmmend it enough.  I bought a scooter last year in the 2nd week in May and used it until it was ran over (!)at the Farmers Market the 2nd week of September.  Only spent $60.00 in gas during that period.   So if your objective is to save on gas, there's some hard numbers for you.

Old Skool

I have an '81 Kwaka 650 CSR low miles w/manual I'd like to unload - needs a tune-up? (backfires some) to run as it's sat a few years (3) and the battery charged (stored indoors - but was charged last year), so you can either sort that out in the(my) garage - bring your own tools/charger, or a trailer to haul it. $500 firm.

Take a safety course, wear the proper gear, and you'll love it.  There are tons of forums on line that have (more) good (than bad) advice.  One of my favorites: svrider.com.