While it may feel like there are a host of things to keep a biker from laying down those motorcycle miles, lately a somber slant comes from the struggling economy.

In better days, real life would steal away a biker’s time putting the open road one or two chores out of reach. But with more feeling the financial impact of the recession, bikers find themselves being kept away from the saddle simply from less money in their wallets.

It may not even be the lack of money that has the motorcycle permanently up on the kickstand, but the worry that comes with tightening economic conditions, concerns over ongoing employment and bills that seem to grow with each passing month.

In a recent study nearly eight-in-ten workers live paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet, up from six in ten just one year ago. How the American public goes about dealing with these tough times has created its own unique labels and categories.

Involuntary ‘Penny-Pinchers’ and ‘Steadfast Frugalists’ are just two of the four groups described by experts when categorizing how the country handles having less personal cash. In a recent study from marketing strategy and research firm Decitica, involuntary Penny-Pinchers make up about twenty-nine percent of the population and out of the four groups they have been the most severely affected by the recession. While the penny-pinchers may have been forced to embrace thrift like never before, the frugalists (one-fifth of American consumers) are committed to self-restraint, engaging in prudence with unequivocal enthusiasm.

Nearly half the country cutting corners wherever they can doesn’t lend itself well to the past time of motorcycles.

A popular t-shirt and slogan compares riding to therapy and while true in many aspects recent financial challenges make the costs feel comparable as well. Aside from buying a luxury item such as a motorcycle, monthly insurance, the simplest customization and apparel of where a rider rode, all are costly and add up quickly.

But just as consumers have changed their spending habits to make ends meet, riders can shift gears on how they ride and in turn spend more time on the road.

The largest expense is the motorcycle itself. Buyers should make sure they buy what they can afford and ideally, make the purchase without borrowing. Aside from the interest paid on a loan, because there is a third party involved (the company who lent the money) the motorcycle's insurance will be more comprehensive and consequently cost more.

At the end of the day, every penny spent on a motorcycle loan payment could otherwise be used for those would-be motorcycle miles.

Heading for the road, some riders cruise into the habit of incorporating meals into their rides, meeting for breakfast before tackling a few hundred miles of asphalt, grabbing lunch and heading home. Drinks are bought when stopping for gas, maybe a snack.

Ironically, paying for gas to enjoy time in the saddle ends up being the smallest amount of the trip’s spending with all the impulsive purchases adding up to much more. With a little planning, not only can the additional expenses be saved but also take many riders back to the spirit of our riding forefathers.

Packing a breakfast or lunch and bringing enough drinks or snacks for the entire ride can keep riders cruising safely by those impulse purchases and keeping that hard-earned money in the wallet. Having a paper bag breakfast with your closest riding buddies at a quiet spot along the ride’s route will not only save money but transport bikers back to the golden age of motorcycles and riding. When the highways were freshly built and modern America was still being discovered riders would eat what and where they could, always guaranteed a table with a view.

As with packing for road trips, the responsibility of a hearty breakfast can be shared. A thermos of coffee, some homemade egg sandwiches and even juice can be brought by different riders of the group spreading the cost even further.

Another savings can be found as closely as your insurance card. Reviewing the motorcycle insurance policy every year, ensuring it has been bundled with your home and auto policies can make the cost of owning a bike that much less.  Clutch and Chrome covers motorcycle insurance, what it is and how much a rider should have in its article ‘All About Motorcycle Insurance’.

And many experts agree, the savings could be significant.

"Rates really vary a lot," says Ben Sheridan, general manager for motorcycle insurance with Progressive Casualty Insurance Co., the top motorcycle insurance underwriter in the U.S. "From one bike to another, they can be five to ten times different."

Making each dollar matter may have riders putting off motorcycle events or rallies who feel they can’t afford the expense that comes with attending. Where to stay and buying rally memorabilia can both drain a bank account or charge up a paid off credit card very quickly.

Or maybe not.

While some may see camping as the only inexpensive way of attending a rally, pre-planning can be a frugal bikers best friend. Gathering together enough riders will allow a group to book a home or timeshare that comes with its own list of cost-effective advantages. Usually, by the time the rental costs are spread over the group staying in the house it turns out to be an unheard of bargain for each person. The houses' kitchen allows for a run to the local grocery store with the supplies for the entire event amounting to less than it would cost to have dinner in a mid-range restaurant chain.

But the biggest threat to bikers away from home is the event’s t-shirts and memorabilia. Riders like to remember where they’ve been with a t-shirt (or two) which can add up pretty quickly. How much is never truly known until riders arrive home and look at their credit card bill or bank accounts.

The easiest way to avoid the buyer’s remorse is to budget what a rider can afford to spend on casual, impulsive purchases such as t-shirts and event products and then carry that amount in cash. Once the money is gone, there are no more t-shirt purchases or bandana buys. Also, having the cash at hand helps weigh up the potential transactions adding some balance to how ‘cool’ that t-shirt really looks.

If riders time their visit to a rally well and arrive towards the end of the event, they could find themselves wandering booths of vendors who have slashed their prices, selling the unique merchandise for much less rather than taking it back home with them unsold.

And just like riding with friends at home, before leaving the ‘biker-compound’ or house for the day’s events, pack the food and drinks to save those hard-earned dollars.

As with renting a house, hotels get cheaper by the numbers. Riders should always consider sharing a room and if enough pre-planning is done, group bookings at hotels can be made along the route to and from the motorcycle event, saving some serious dollars.

While all these cost-cutting measures may seem like they take away from the freedom of riding, caging the very spirit that makes rider yearn for the next unknown mile, they actually re-open the road to many struggling bikers.

If further soothing of that rebel spirit is needed, those soaring souls who feel grounded as they pack bottles of water and snacks can tell themselves that this could be considered as a short term fix as we ride through this economic storm.

However, for some it’s not a short term fix but a new way of life.

Aside from the financial concerns, coming together as bikers not only grows the number of riding buddies, but it may bring those 'lone wolf' types into the pack. No one is saying which style is right or wrong, but it gives many the opportunity to test ride the world of group rides.

And economically speaking, these trying times just might work out for bikers. The prices of new motorcycles are at historical lows even as manufacturers continue to develop and improve their models to tempt riders back into the showrooms.

Even more wide-reaching, an online poll conducted by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) in August revealed that as a result of the economic crisis, 51 percent of the 3,201 respondents took steps to reduce their debt.

“If there is a silver lining to the recession, it is that it has served to refocus consumers’ attention on their personal finances,” said Gail Cunningham, spokesperson for the NFCC. “When times are good, we tend to put our finances on auto-pilot. The recent financial wake-up call has been harsh, but may have been the splash of cold reality many Americans needed to regain control of their finances. Consumers have apparently become uncomfortable carrying debt, realizing how detrimental it can be to their overall financial well-being, and have gotten serious about doing what it takes to pay it off.”

And less debt is only a good thing for the biker, looking to free themselves from the shackles of everyday life and society. If not only for that one, spirit-lifting motorcycle ride.