Does anyone commute into central london

[xjay1337]

supercommuter said:

Get a mechanically sound, but tatty, R6 or R1 and a back pack.

Like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-YAMAHA-YZF-R6-5EB-J...

Would the R6 be better than the ZX7?
R1 is too fast for me.

[xjay1337]

Thanks for your input Tim - Appreciate it

I am looking up on RIDE website for their best-buys. I remember having subscriptions and their recommended kit seemed to be quite good.
I have full leathers but I fear I'm too fat for them now lol. I will try them on soon (they're at my mums).
Gear wise I am probably going to buy new all weather top and bottoms. They need to fit over my trousers so will try.

Boots wise I'm eyeing up some RST Tractech Evo CE - http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/c...
Top and bottoms wise I'd like some zip togethere stuff (not sure if all the top and bottoms are zip together) but the Oxford range looks to be quite cheap and have good reviews. - http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/c...
Although no mention of bottoms.

Regarding the suggestion of an R6 above - It's twice as much to insure :\

looking up backpacks , tank bags and disc locks now. I hope to be able to buy most of the stuff from one place in the hope of a discount haha.

Edited by xjay1337 on Tuesday 19th April 12:17

[xjay1337]

Yeah I used to ride with earphones in .. will be doing so again - That may help then haha.

[xjay1337]

Blackbird is far too fast for me lol.

[xjay1337]

Crossflow Kid said:

I
I had parking on site at work but I do know of a very good and reasonably unpopulated bike bay in Southwark which is even under cover. PM me for details or the secret will be out.

Edited by Crossflow Kid on Wednesday 20th April 07:32

Tried to email you but says not permitted. Would you email me possibly, pleaaaaase

[xjay1337]

There is a square with some businesses, a taxi cafe thing (Great Suffolk Taxi Grill or something like that) - and some bits and pieces directly next to my work. I am hoping I can speak to an owner of one of the businesses and somewhere out of the way to park and somewhere I can chain the bike to which would mean I wouldn't ever have any parking worries.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5033275,-0.10134...

There's also a Union Car Park just up the road but I've not been able to find any details on parking for Motorcycles (they only list cars and vans) so I have emailed them.

Looks promising. I've also been sent a few places, plus the 2 or 3 bike parks directly around my office. I'm sure we can find something

Of course any further recommendations / ideas / suggestions are gratefully received. I don't mind a 2 or 3 minute walk but I don't want to be trekking halfway across London haha.

Regarding a bike - I have looked at the ZX7R that my friend had, and it really is mint, engine is sweet and at less than 14k on the clock with a good service history it seems like the one for me. It feels rather heavy from riding it up and down the road, but my last bike was a Street Triple R which was a very light beast, and it was about 5 years ago so a long time haha - So I have thought about it and while I think a Fazer would be better for me in the short term, for the price (I'm paying well under the odds) it's a no-brainer.
I'll upload some pics next week when I get it hopefully.

The only thing it needs are tyres - It has almost new Metzler racetec Interacts but they're wayyyy too track oriented for me so I will replace them with Pilot Road 3 or 4 unless anyone can offer any suggestions?

Edited by xjay1337 on Wednesday 20th April 17:49

[xjay1337]

happyWanderer said:

The one on Lavington St (premier inn side) is quite big, if you're in before 9 you should get a spot.
Half of it has railing you can chain the bike to, this gets filled up quite quick.
Small one at the end of that street gets filled up quickly.

The one next to Vapiano has a railing as well, but gets filled up quick.

That bit in blue is not really a motorcycle bay, but you can park there - side of an office building, anywhere within the bollards is good, gets filled up quickly and don't you dare take my spot!

Theres few spots on Pepper Street as well - no railing, but if you're lucky a lamppost you can chain the bike to.

Edited by happyWanderer on Wednesday 20th April 18:01

You are an absolute legend.
The section by the office building - to be clear it's the section vaugely outlined by white lines on Google Maps.. ?

:-)

Edited by xjay1337 on Wednesday 20th April 19:39

[xjay1337]

happyWanderer said:

ha, no! there's a pathway between two office buildings thats not showing on google maps.

Ahhh..think i have found it..Keppel Row.

[xjay1337]

TT Tim said:

A couple more places to park, the one on Hopton Street is small, but quite often spaces up to 8:45, has a rail to chain your bike too. Directly outside my office. ;-)

The one marked at bear lane to Southwark St is not a parking bay, it's outside an architects office on the pavement, they own about 3-4ft of the pavement and don't worry if one or two bikes park up on it.


HTH

Tim

Edited by TT Tim on Friday 22 April 09:20

Thanks Tim! Every little helps - Appreciate everyones advice

[xjay1337]

Today was a very expensive day!!

I went down to my local bike shop in my lunch and bought nearly everything I need.

I bought a Richa Infinity Jacket - The matching trousers were good, although they didn't have an appropriate size for me so I've had to order that in. Nice and waterproof.
Also some Richa gloves which are supposed to be waterproof also.
A nod to some sensibility I also got a big over-coat thing which is green and nice and high-vis.

In addition-

A big Oxford Stormex cover, a big Fk off chain for home, a couple of disc locks for London.
TCX S-Speed GoreTex boots - I have some older race type TCX Boots which were awesome but obviously not waterproof.
Nice new visor for my old helmet.

Also regarding tyres I got a quote of £282 fitted for some Pilot Road 3 tyres , is this a good price?

[xjay1337]

Yeah, thanks

Did a little bit of further searching over the weekend. I can buy them for 175 ish like you say and have them fitted.

I've had a quote from another place who I used to use back in the day and they have quoted me £238 instead of £282 for PR3s or BT023 for £213.

[xjay1337]

Cheers buddy. I sent you a PM :-)

[xjay1337]

2016-04-26_10-31-07 by Fat Bear Photography, on Flickr

Got it

[xjay1337]

sc0tt said:

I miss commuting and seeing mitzy every morning

Thats about the only thing I do miss. Change of job means ten minute walk to the station and a 22 minute train generally with a seat.

If its raining i'll get a cab home, stick it on expenses and be home in 40 minutes including a pint at the station.

All for £45 a week.

And the train has aircon.

To be fair that doesn't sound too bad at all!




I took the bike to work today (my first time out fully kitted out).
Was a little bit wobbly to begin with but soon enough got used to it! Old habits die hard

Do need to bleed the front brakes with a pressure bleed as they are a bit mushy but work, the clutch is fairly heavy so my hand is a little bit sore but again I suspect I'll get some muscle strength soon enough.
Comfy temperatures with the Richa gear and my work clothes underneath. Headphones in and enjoying the cruise.

[xjay1337]

I'll be careful with the filtering, ample revs to make people aware and full beam generally hope.
Had one idiot this morning pull out at a roundabout because he couldn't be bothered to stop, luckily my general road sense is fairly good


Regarding tyres, I didn't know, but I'm sorted for now (I think) - Ride In tyres in Reading, guy there is really nice, used to use him before.
If there are any issues I'll try Nigel
I could save 30 quid having it done with my mates help but it's a bit of a faff getting wheels off etc

[xjay1337]

Ok

Will do that. I was only flicking it on when filtering but I'll stop doing it

[xjay1337]

I will do! I've been quite tentative when filtering at the moment :-) since it's my first day back out!
Not really had to do too much.

sc0tt said:

Thats the worst time to do it!

Yes, thanks - I did gather that from your previous.



Question - On a motorway say for example the inside lane is queued up half a mile to the exit (as can happen sometimes) and I also want to get off at this exit.

What should I be doing in this situation, should I basically squeeze past on the line, should I stay in the middle lane and cut in at the end or should I filter on the inside between the hard shoulder and line of traffic?

[xjay1337]

Here she is after a wash and polish next to the car.

20160430_134054-01 by Fat Bear Photography, on Flickr

Had to do a few bits with a dremel to get my £15 paddock stand to work. It's not perfect but it does the job for now until I can justify a more pricey one.

20160430_124639-01 by Fat Bear Photography, on Flickr

Took it to Tonbridge at the weekend and then my mate and I went to the big Hastings gathering - great time.
Even in the shoddy weather. The Pilot Road 3s are great
Put about 400 miles on the old girl.

The front brakes are very...um...crap?? Tried bleeding them but no avail.. they need a pressure bleed really...
But I have bought new EBC HH front pads, and a complete rebuild kit for both calipers so will be fitting new pads, stripping the calipers and rebuilding them as I understand these Tociko 6 pots can be..umm.....fiddly.. once it's done I'll take it to my local bike shop for a pressure bleed.

[xjay1337]

Did that. Doesn't work. :-(
I didn't loosen the reservior cap because that would surely just introduce moisture to the system?
The brakes were good for about 2 minutes after being cable tied over night.. went back to being st...

I suspect the calipers need a rebuild because one flushes through with plenty of fluid, the other doesn't, and what does come out often has little bits of floating gunk in it.

If we can't get them working I'll whack some Bandit 1200 4 pistons on there instead.

[xjay1337]

had the um, "fun".... of rebuilding the front brakes.

20160509_161556_001 by Fat Bear Photography, on Flickr

20160509_194819 by Fat Bear Photography, on Flickr

All rebuilt now with fresh new seals, and cleaned as much gunk/corrosion from the inside of the calipers as possible.
Hopefully they aren't awful when they go back together!