Does anyone commute into central london
Discussion
TT Tim said:
A few comments...
I'm a daily commuter into C.London (Southwark/Bankside), from Kent coast.
Get decent gear, nothing worse than getting to work looking like you've pi***ed yourself! My experience has been Goretex = Great.
Pissing yourself is going to happen anyway once you reach your mid 40s. Just keep the damp look and embrace old age early. I'm a daily commuter into C.London (Southwark/Bankside), from Kent coast.
Get decent gear, nothing worse than getting to work looking like you've pi***ed yourself! My experience has been Goretex = Great.
creampuff said:
TT Tim said:
A few comments...
I'm a daily commuter into C.London (Southwark/Bankside), from Kent coast.
Get decent gear, nothing worse than getting to work looking like you've pi***ed yourself! My experience has been Goretex = Great.
Pissing yourself is going to happen anyway once you reach your mid 40s. Just keep the damp look and embrace old age early. I'm a daily commuter into C.London (Southwark/Bankside), from Kent coast.
Get decent gear, nothing worse than getting to work looking like you've pi***ed yourself! My experience has been Goretex = Great.
T
xjay1337 said:
Yeah I used to ride with earphones in .. will be doing so again - That may help then haha.
I moved to London in 2000 before people had Sat Nav and smart phones and google maps. I had a pocket A-Z for when I really got stuck or was going somewhere new and a good memory to learn. You do hell learn quickly when you have no technology to assist you. I spent my first 7 years in London commuting from East to South West London everyday all year round. 
40mins on average from Canary Wharf area to Putney/Wandsworth area each way once I'd mastered it.. no other road transport can do it that quick peak time.anonymous said:
[redacted]
Used to be possible, certainly not anymore. All the traffic light timings and junctions were changed under Red Ken.Averages out at 20mph lol You'd be lucky to get close to that now a days.
Also in 15 years the traffic levels have gone up significantly a lot of time is spent stationary at the lights and the large chunk of london is now a 20mph limit too.
Edited to add more cameras and esp speed averaging cameras on all river crossings tower bridge east and all the tunnels
Edited by sjtscott on Tuesday 19th April 16:17
black-k1 said:
I commute across town on a K1300S and have no issues filtering. Whatever bike you get, make sure it has folding mirrors as that can make all the difference.
I used to commute on a Honda Blackbird, similar experiences no issues. Proper folding/spring back car style mirrors do help as well.Second recommendation for the Blackbird
Not only great for the motorway stretch, but it's narrow (if your shoulders can get through a gap, so can the bike). beautifully balanced at low speed,and wonderfully smooth fuelling makes filtering a cinch. As does, importantly, the mirrors, which just fold in and then flick back into position when you're done filtering.
Not only great for the motorway stretch, but it's narrow (if your shoulders can get through a gap, so can the bike). beautifully balanced at low speed,and wonderfully smooth fuelling makes filtering a cinch. As does, importantly, the mirrors, which just fold in and then flick back into position when you're done filtering.
I commute on an FZ1 and occasionally R1, both are good, neither is perfect. Used to have a KTM 950SM, bars were wide which was a pain, but it'd fair better riding over obstructions, if one desired.
With regards to exhaust noise, I disagree with TT Tim and find having the option to make a bit of a racket can be useful as gentle encouragement to drivers when it gets tight or when you're passing on either side and want to make your presence known for whatever reason. Also helps to scatter pedestrians crossing on a red man.
BTW old Sidney made me chuckle, hope you mean b
ds haven't scared him off, the poor ickle flower.
With regards to exhaust noise, I disagree with TT Tim and find having the option to make a bit of a racket can be useful as gentle encouragement to drivers when it gets tight or when you're passing on either side and want to make your presence known for whatever reason. Also helps to scatter pedestrians crossing on a red man.
BTW old Sidney made me chuckle, hope you mean b
ds haven't scared him off, the poor ickle flower.I too use my k1300s going into the wharf and I usually go straight through town and have no issues, I did have to park in the waitrose car park a few times when my key card got destroyed by bad weather. But sports bikes are the best for town, I love using the s1000rr but can use the bmw softpack on the k much easier and its just more comfortable day in day out.
My two cents are go for the R6 if you can, and get a good kriega back pack (and an akrapovic for safety of course
)
My two cents are go for the R6 if you can, and get a good kriega back pack (and an akrapovic for safety of course
)Sid Snot said:
Whatever you do OP, don't use cameras because you might film yourself having a crash. If you don't believe me then take the above twunt's advice from my own thread, look on YT for bikers who filmed their own crashes...seriously, that's what this twunt Fleegle decided to hijack my own thread with on commuting into London. BTW don't confuse a bike with...err...a bike?
Fleegle, you're a t0$$er. Why are you not seeing if the OP of this thread is a "biter". Which bit of my original post got you jealous? My GoPros, the new bike or the C63?
I was wondering who this was, then I remembered it's the chap with the scooter.Fleegle, you're a t0$$er. Why are you not seeing if the OP of this thread is a "biter". Which bit of my original post got you jealous? My GoPros, the new bike or the C63?
Edited by Sid Snot on Monday 18th April 20:45
Edited by Sid Snot on Monday 18th April 20:47
As for loud exhausts, I'd have one on a commuter (and on any bike I intended to have fun on
), when I'm in my car I can generally hear filtering bikes long before I can see them unless I'm on a straight and particularly orderly bit of road. It's good to know they're coming. Was enjoying reading this thread as I commuted from Sutton to Victoria for a couple of years - then I realised I did that in 1998/1999! 
Parking there was never a problem, but you probably want the scruffiest looking POS you can find! I had a £300 Yamaha XJ550 that never let me down, but looked decidedly past it's best - very slim though so good in traffic!
One work colleague with a half-decent bike used to park in the same bay as me, but his got removed without his consent! I think they used to just back up a van with a tail-lift and load them up, which makes locks pretty pointless, unless you can lock it to something!
Parking there was never a problem, but you probably want the scruffiest looking POS you can find! I had a £300 Yamaha XJ550 that never let me down, but looked decidedly past it's best - very slim though so good in traffic!
One work colleague with a half-decent bike used to park in the same bay as me, but his got removed without his consent! I think they used to just back up a van with a tail-lift and load them up, which makes locks pretty pointless, unless you can lock it to something!
I did Basingstoke to Southwark for three years by bike in all weather, and used the M4/A4 route with the M3/A316 as a fall back plan.
Loved it. Never a dull moment and on the way home especially, no matter how crappy the weather, it was a great way to de-work myself.
The route I ended up using was A4 all the way through to Knightsbridge, along to HPC, down Constitution Hill past the Palace, along the Mall, turn right behind Horse Guards and Downing Street, then across Parliament Square, over Westminster Bridge, then essentially turn left to reach Southwark. Usually took me just over an hour door to door and that was without riding like a PH God. Timing was very consistent with little variation and I was only late once in three years.
Top tips, going in to town, past Harrods switch from the bus lane option (which works well up to that point) to the centre of the road and filter - even the bus lane gets rammed at this point and you'll end up stuck in traffic. On the way out, as you approach Earls Court and the big Tesco, go wide, really wide over to the right as this'll allow you much better visibility around the very slight bend in to the traffic lights and you'll be able to see if there's a gap right at the front to filter in to or not.......Or do it the scooter way and wobble round each car at a time with barely a vehicle's length of view.
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.
Loved it. Never a dull moment and on the way home especially, no matter how crappy the weather, it was a great way to de-work myself.
The route I ended up using was A4 all the way through to Knightsbridge, along to HPC, down Constitution Hill past the Palace, along the Mall, turn right behind Horse Guards and Downing Street, then across Parliament Square, over Westminster Bridge, then essentially turn left to reach Southwark. Usually took me just over an hour door to door and that was without riding like a PH God. Timing was very consistent with little variation and I was only late once in three years.
Top tips, going in to town, past Harrods switch from the bus lane option (which works well up to that point) to the centre of the road and filter - even the bus lane gets rammed at this point and you'll end up stuck in traffic. On the way out, as you approach Earls Court and the big Tesco, go wide, really wide over to the right as this'll allow you much better visibility around the very slight bend in to the traffic lights and you'll be able to see if there's a gap right at the front to filter in to or not.......Or do it the scooter way and wobble round each car at a time with barely a vehicle's length of view.
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 anonymous-user on Wednesday 20th April 07:32
mitzy said:
Reardy Mister said:
Whilst the commuters are looking at this thread, can I ask if anyone knows of a good spot to park in or near Canada Square at the Wharf? I have to be there 3 days this week and permanently from about June. Which is arse.
Hello I work in Canary Wharf
There is a car park at Waitrose which is underground and that has bike parking and camera's and i think its £2 a day.
Not sure there is anywhere else round there that does bike parking , think there is a canary wharf estate car park for the shops but never been in there tbh as I have secure underground parking for bikes where I work.
If you need any other advice about the area let me know
Mitzy
Guy in our office parks under the shopping mall in CW because he has a new bike which he doesn't want pinched, but it's £5 a day and it's a small hike to our office (Harbour Exchange, right by South Quay DLR). I get to park for free by sharing a car bay here, but it's outdoor and there is zero security beyond what I put on the bike itself, i.e. there's nothing to lock to. However, my choice of steed was based on that (I'd have a Tracer if I could secure it, instead I have it's elderly cousin the TDM900).
There are one of two places I've spotted where you appear to be able to park, well, leave a bike but they're few & far between if you're not paying. Where will you be working, RM?
CaptainSlow said:
Dr Jekyll said:
No, the handlebars are the widest bit.
But you see and move them. Panniers are a pain in London.I'd suggest something like this:
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/honda...
It's bullet proof, fun, should get @50mpg, comfortable and not too desirable. I had one of the first of this shape and it was one of the best bikes I've ever owned.
I did commute in on a VFR800 which was great but I found myself wanting more steering lock, better visibility (more upright) and just more comfortable (I do about 70 mins each way).
I'm now on a Honda Crossrunner which apart from the slightly too wide handlebars and non-foldable mirrors is pretty much perfect.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/honda...
It's bullet proof, fun, should get @50mpg, comfortable and not too desirable. I had one of the first of this shape and it was one of the best bikes I've ever owned.
I did commute in on a VFR800 which was great but I found myself wanting more steering lock, better visibility (more upright) and just more comfortable (I do about 70 mins each way).
I'm now on a Honda Crossrunner which apart from the slightly too wide handlebars and non-foldable mirrors is pretty much perfect.
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