Station run - scooter or bike, or neither...
Discussion
I know nothing about motorcycles so go easy!
I'll soon have a 2.5m trip to the station and I'm unsure of how to get there. It hardly seems worth taking the (3 litre petrol) car and paying £1000/yr to park it.
Should I get a twist-and-go scooter or look at getting an actual motorbike (wife NOT keen)? I also cycle loads so that's an option but something with an engine will obviously get me there quicker and with less sweat, although I will need more 'gear' with a motorised-anything.
I'm just over 6 feet tall, 13 stone, age 34 with a full clean driving license. Would I look a bit like Bowser of Mario Kart on a scooter? Can I hop straight onto a 125cc scooter? The thought of riding a 50cc chicken-chaser seems faintly ludicrous especially as they can't even keep up with the traffic.
Any thoughts appreciated...
I'll soon have a 2.5m trip to the station and I'm unsure of how to get there. It hardly seems worth taking the (3 litre petrol) car and paying £1000/yr to park it.
Should I get a twist-and-go scooter or look at getting an actual motorbike (wife NOT keen)? I also cycle loads so that's an option but something with an engine will obviously get me there quicker and with less sweat, although I will need more 'gear' with a motorised-anything.
I'm just over 6 feet tall, 13 stone, age 34 with a full clean driving license. Would I look a bit like Bowser of Mario Kart on a scooter? Can I hop straight onto a 125cc scooter? The thought of riding a 50cc chicken-chaser seems faintly ludicrous especially as they can't even keep up with the traffic.
Any thoughts appreciated...
On an anecdotal note, my friend (a motorcycle mechanic) has a regular customer who owns a Kawasaki ZX-10R ninjaaaaaah. He commutes 3 miles to work on it, and 3 miles home. When he starts it up from cold, he lets it idle for 10 minutes.
A few weeks back, he filled it up at a petrol station (probably doesnt do that very often) and when he restarted, the petrol fumes in the oil (from all that rich-map running I assume) ignited and blew the rocker cover gasket with a rather loud "bang".
A few weeks back, he filled it up at a petrol station (probably doesnt do that very often) and when he restarted, the petrol fumes in the oil (from all that rich-map running I assume) ignited and blew the rocker cover gasket with a rather loud "bang".
In the middle of winter, when the wind is howling and the rain is pouring down, it's pitch dark and you've just got off the train late home after a busy day in teh office, you'll wish you'd got a scooter.
Get an all-in-one oversuit and you can wear 'normal' clothes with it over the top. add cheap helmet and gloves and you're away.
I'd do the CBT and get a 125 though, rather than a 50. Found it much more useful when i stepped up in capacity. Ideal for popping to the shops, going to the gym, etc.
Get an all-in-one oversuit and you can wear 'normal' clothes with it over the top. add cheap helmet and gloves and you're away.
I'd do the CBT and get a 125 though, rather than a 50. Found it much more useful when i stepped up in capacity. Ideal for popping to the shops, going to the gym, etc.
For 2.5 miles I'd probably take the bicycle. As far as motorised transport goes, you could do a lot worse than get your CBT done and get a cheap twist n go scooter. Or maybe something like a Honda CG125.
I'd not get anything too "nice", seeing as you're unlikely to be going motorcycling recreationally by the sounds of it, and you'll not want to worry too much about it depreciating/getting nicked/knocked over.
Why does your wife think a scooter is safer than a bike? Just wondering. Oddly, I seem to think that too, but I don't know why. I guess it's the number of people wearing suits and normal clothes you see on them in London, where a proper motorcycle generally has a more geared up rider?
I'd not get anything too "nice", seeing as you're unlikely to be going motorcycling recreationally by the sounds of it, and you'll not want to worry too much about it depreciating/getting nicked/knocked over.
Why does your wife think a scooter is safer than a bike? Just wondering. Oddly, I seem to think that too, but I don't know why. I guess it's the number of people wearing suits and normal clothes you see on them in London, where a proper motorcycle generally has a more geared up rider?
Last few posts are spot on. I have 7.4 mile round trip to the station daily. I've used scooters for years. 100mpg, saves £1000+ per year parking and means no traffic or queueing leaving the car park when a couple of trains come in at once.
For a commute that short a 50cc bike is fine if you have passed your car test before *I think* 2001 - no CBT or L plates needed.
A 125 is better, but you will need a CBT for it.
I could cycle, but with hills and my propensity to pour with sweat with any exercise, it's not on for me. I tried it for a bit (when I was hobby cycling 30 miles twice a week) and it was grim and slower.
All you need is a helmet and gloves for a scooter. People will talk s
t about all the safety gear, but you are doing bicycle speed and look at Europe for what they wear on scooters. As long as your hands and head are protected you are ok on a scooter at sub 35 mph bicycle speeds.
One thing to watch is security though - Scooters are pennies to buy new, but after having a couple stolen, I use unfashionable older scooters purely as they attract no pro thieves or joyriding kids.
Zero fks given by the police about scooter thefts from stations and negative fks given by Railway staff or carpark owners. Massive chain and chain it to something.
For a commute that short a 50cc bike is fine if you have passed your car test before *I think* 2001 - no CBT or L plates needed.
A 125 is better, but you will need a CBT for it.
I could cycle, but with hills and my propensity to pour with sweat with any exercise, it's not on for me. I tried it for a bit (when I was hobby cycling 30 miles twice a week) and it was grim and slower.
All you need is a helmet and gloves for a scooter. People will talk s
t about all the safety gear, but you are doing bicycle speed and look at Europe for what they wear on scooters. As long as your hands and head are protected you are ok on a scooter at sub 35 mph bicycle speeds.One thing to watch is security though - Scooters are pennies to buy new, but after having a couple stolen, I use unfashionable older scooters purely as they attract no pro thieves or joyriding kids.
Zero f
ks given by the police about scooter thefts from stations and negative fks given by Railway staff or carpark owners. Massive chain and chain it to something.I've got a 5.5 mile dash to the railway station. I do ride the bicycle to the Station, however, I also have a Yamaha X-Max 250 (I've had a full bike license for years) and I use this whenever I don't fancy taking the bicycle. Believe it or not the difference in time taken to ride the bicycle and the scoot is minimal. So I ride whatever takes my fancy on any given day. Although when it comes to the winter I'll probably use the scoot more as it also has heated grips!
I had the same decision and while i can cycle, I'm sweaty when I get to the station (particularly if I'm late) and that means I start my day sweaty and horrid or I take a change of clothes and some wet wipes to work. Either way it's an arse ache.
I've ended up riding the bike into the office the last couple of days (70 mile roundtrip) and so far so good. More kit etc required but the savings should be quite significant.
I've ended up riding the bike into the office the last couple of days (70 mile roundtrip) and so far so good. More kit etc required but the savings should be quite significant.
Yeah the sweaty thing doesn't appeal but it's pan flat so maybe I won't sweat too much. My hobby is road cycling anyway so 2.5 miles on the flat shouldn't result in too much exertion.
I just hate carting helmets and gear around. It's bad enough when you get on the train in the winter and have to practically get undressed before you sit down. Can you store all the trousers, jacket and helmet on the scooter somehow when you park it?
I passed my driving test in about 1998 and the license card says 'B,B1,f,k,l,n,p' on it. Does that mean I'd need to take a CBT to ride a 125cc 'anything'?
I just hate carting helmets and gear around. It's bad enough when you get on the train in the winter and have to practically get undressed before you sit down. Can you store all the trousers, jacket and helmet on the scooter somehow when you park it?
I passed my driving test in about 1998 and the license card says 'B,B1,f,k,l,n,p' on it. Does that mean I'd need to take a CBT to ride a 125cc 'anything'?
Edited by Neil G60 on Thursday 31st July 15:10
WinstonWolf said:
Get a Brompton, win win 
fk Bromptons they're for smug wkers. Get something like this;Full suspension and gears and without the 'Brompton asshole' factor.
Personally I'd just buy two piece of s
t bikes and ride one to station A, lock it up and then ride the other from station B to my destination and vice versa.LOL - I did think the Brompton's were very expensive. When you see them close-up the welding's pretty rudimental and the drop outs looked like cheap stamped steel. The value for money when compared to a £700 700c road bike is dreadful.
As for buying 2 - I can use a Boris bike at the London end
As for buying 2 - I can use a Boris bike at the London end
crashley said:
Oh, one thing i will add - you can cycle home having had a skinful, the police tend to get funny if you do that on something motorised.
I've tried that quite a few times. One time I landed in a bush and another time I had a sprained ankle for a week or so afterwards.
Going by train though the worst that has happened was having to get off to upchuck (I have standards, so would not do it on the train) then getting back on with bits stuck to my shoes.
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