How do you afford to ride in Finland?!
 

Ok, I understand I need to stop comparing the dollar with the Euro as it is quite worthless these days. But even if the dollar was even money with the Euro, it is so bloody expensive here!

A Metzeler Z6 170/60ZR17 in the states, is on average $140. In Germany it's 130€ and Finland... 240€! I can get one shipped to me from Germany for 163€, but the shops around here want a minimum of 40€ to seat the tire! Even if I bring the tire to them off the bike. I can have one shipped from the states for $270, roughly 170€, 70€ less than if bought here in Finland.

I made a big mistake and waited until I arrived in Finland to put new rubber on. I just had no idea it was that big of a difference.

So any Finns on here with advice? What do you do to save money on these things? Do you ferry over to Tallinn to get some Eastern European discounts? Is there a shop around here that is a bit more reasonable? Or is this all city prices, and it's cheaper in the north (I'm in Helsinki)?

Your absolutely right, the prices in Finland skyrocketed after we switched to euro. Especially on all small buys - a cup of coffee, that used to be 5 or 6 Finnish marks (0,8-1euros) is now 1,5-2 euros.

Just looked at the ferryboats going to Germany. Sometimes in the nineties, you could get a bargain seat and your bike over for around 130-160 euros... now you´re looking at 300 euros minimum, and if you want even a basic cabin, it more than doubles. And this place is practically an island, if you want to get to Central Europe!!!

40 euros to seat only one tire seems a bit high, however... I would think you can get both tyres done for around 50 euros in several places in/around Helsinki, especially if you buy from there.

I hear people order tyres from Germany these days, and I guess its okay as long as they dont send you some old ones (somebody said he received a tyre made in 2000!)

He he I'm in Finland at the moment and my wallet has taken a beating!. I am hoping my front tyre lasts until I get back into Germany before replacing it.

The price of fuel here seems to be higher here than the rest of Europe. It's about 10 cents dearer than Sweden.

oh yes.....
 

Yes it´s very expencive:thumbdown:,that´s why I don´t spend much time in my home country anymore.Why stay home and suffer when there is so much else to see?
I used to get my tyers from Sweden,have a cousin there that sendt over what I needed,usualy saved me around 20-30% Haven´t tryed the German option mainly because of what is mentioned above,you can´t chek the manufacturing date when you mail order.

I do think you can get a better price further north, I live (used to) 80km north from Vasa. And don´t think I ever payed more than 200-220€ for a tyer + fitting. But it´s at least 2years ago since I changed tiers at home,so things might be diffrent now.

Im traveling to Finland at the end of the week for vaction,haven´t been there for over a year so it´s probably going to be a shock again.........


cheers.

Tom