This is how I see it:
If I lose 50% of my GSA over 2 years, that will have "cost" me about £6,000.
Commuting to work I do about 20,000 miles a year, assuming a heavy throttle hand gives me 45 MPG and fuel at £1.20/litre, my fuel cost would be £4,800 for those two years. Total cost £10,800. I leave when I want. I have my own seat and travel from door to door. I also have the bike to play with whenever I want. My travel time is just over the hour.
If I do not commute by bike, I have to take the train. The annual season ticket is about £4,000, a year. So over two years that will be £8,000. I have to leave when the train goes. If I am a little bit late I miss the train. If the trains is late, I have to wait. I am unlikely to have seat for the return journey unless I travel late at night. I have to get to and from the station. My travel time from the station to work is nearly two hours. Coming home the travle time is three-quarters of a life time. If I want to play motorbikes then I would still need to pay for it. Comparing this to commuting, I can buy a bike for less than £2,800 and I am quids in
Whereas If I commute on the bike I can while away hours on the motorway thinking up reasons why it makes sense, and this way I can afford a GSA. It only costs me £2,800 for 2 years use, including fuel !
For Christ' sake stop worrying about your "investment", get on it and ride it, everywhere, at all times, and enjoy it. You spent the money so get something out of it.
Who knows, if you spend enough time in the saddle you may be able to persuade yourself just how much sense it made to buy it. So you can buy another one
