Does anyone commute into central london
Discussion
Hi guys
I am possibly going to have to commute into central london. I live in Newbury which is about 1 hr 15 or so from London by road.
The train is £55 a day and I would need to go in twice a week.
Thinking of getting a Fazer 600 (the old darth vader one) as I had one before and it was a great commuter bike
Financially it makes absolute sense as a Fazer is about £750-£1000 and it would be £400 per month in train. It would be quite a lot cheaper (about £200 a month saving) taking into account fuel and insurance, tyres, etc.
My question is to anyone who commutes into London, what is the deal regarding parking. I see a few of those Motorcycle parking bays but if these are full are you able to just plonk it anywhere (respectfully of course) or do you get shafted by parking attendants?
I am possibly going to have to commute into central london. I live in Newbury which is about 1 hr 15 or so from London by road.
The train is £55 a day and I would need to go in twice a week.
Thinking of getting a Fazer 600 (the old darth vader one) as I had one before and it was a great commuter bike
Financially it makes absolute sense as a Fazer is about £750-£1000 and it would be £400 per month in train. It would be quite a lot cheaper (about £200 a month saving) taking into account fuel and insurance, tyres, etc.
My question is to anyone who commutes into London, what is the deal regarding parking. I see a few of those Motorcycle parking bays but if these are full are you able to just plonk it anywhere (respectfully of course) or do you get shafted by parking attendants?
Sounds like fun haha.
My start would be 8-9am. I would be looking at arriving at about 8:30 which is obviously peak time.
The motorcycle bay in question is this one on Google Maps - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5028199,-0.10128...
There is also this area underneath but I am not sure what the situation is regarding the parking here , whether it's private only (I suspect a simple "can I park my motorcycle here" would go a long way).
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5033275,-0.10134...
Would parking on this road / around this area be problematic?
In addition, can anyone else think of a better bike for around £1300-£1500 than an old FZS600 Fazer ? Open to suggestions. I've been out of bikes for so long.
My start would be 8-9am. I would be looking at arriving at about 8:30 which is obviously peak time.
The motorcycle bay in question is this one on Google Maps - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5028199,-0.10128...
There is also this area underneath but I am not sure what the situation is regarding the parking here , whether it's private only (I suspect a simple "can I park my motorcycle here" would go a long way).
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5033275,-0.10134...
Would parking on this road / around this area be problematic?
In addition, can anyone else think of a better bike for around £1300-£1500 than an old FZS600 Fazer ? Open to suggestions. I've been out of bikes for so long.
Edited by xjay1337 on Monday 18th April 10:22
sjtscott said:
I'm down the road near Waterloo/Southbank but I'm luckily provided free underground secure parking at my office. Given I know the fun some have with London bays I do realise how good I have it.
So I'm not that familiar with the onstreet parking situation. There are def bays around the Southwalk Tube station surrounding roads but I couldn't tell you how busy they are or when they get full.
I found this:
http://maps.southwark.gov.uk/connect/southwark.jsp...
and this:
http://www.parkingforbikes.com/
I can't vouch for any accuracy here but suspect the southwalk council map showing yellow motorcycle bays is the most accurate - I'm sure you could call them up to confirm where around southwalk tube you can park.
Don't leave it on the pavement at all you'll get a ticket or worse.
You'll get away only if its private land and you can prove it and of course you have the owners permission to park there.
OK thanks for that really appreciate it. I think the motorcycle bays should hopefully be OK. There are 2 or 3 around - What I may do is take a half day and ride in when I have it all sorted, and check out the local area. So I'm not that familiar with the onstreet parking situation. There are def bays around the Southwalk Tube station surrounding roads but I couldn't tell you how busy they are or when they get full.
I found this:
http://maps.southwark.gov.uk/connect/southwark.jsp...
and this:
http://www.parkingforbikes.com/
I can't vouch for any accuracy here but suspect the southwalk council map showing yellow motorcycle bays is the most accurate - I'm sure you could call them up to confirm where around southwalk tube you can park.
Don't leave it on the pavement at all you'll get a ticket or worse.
You'll get away only if its private land and you can prove it and of course you have the owners permission to park there.
Fleegle said:
Fazers are ideal for what you want. If you are going to be using bike bays, don't spend the extra on getting one in showroom condition as it won't remain like that for very long
Good thought, I'd like it to be OK condition haha. There's a cat D facelift for £2k (which I would stretch to) which looks like the best option for me at the moment.But plenty of others at lower price.
Yup, certainly looks like it.
I used to drive into Earls Court a few times a month. Was always... um... fun, shall we say (in the car).
I've google mapped my route and it seems quite easy. Go past the big Tescos, turn right, go along the river (one of my old clients is along there) . Could be worse I suppose.
Noisy can is a given haha. As well as heated grips and a tank bag for my nav.
I've just re-jiggled my finances so I need to wait a week or so before I can actively go and buy.
I would be looking for one with stainless downpipes already as the black ones rot (PITA). Quite a few have already been changed.
After that I'd just do a service and make sure everything's good, and fit a rad guard (stone through the rad, no thanks).
I used to drive into Earls Court a few times a month. Was always... um... fun, shall we say (in the car).
I've google mapped my route and it seems quite easy. Go past the big Tescos, turn right, go along the river (one of my old clients is along there) . Could be worse I suppose.
Noisy can is a given haha. As well as heated grips and a tank bag for my nav.
Fleegle said:
Cheers!I've just re-jiggled my finances so I need to wait a week or so before I can actively go and buy.
I would be looking for one with stainless downpipes already as the black ones rot (PITA). Quite a few have already been changed.
After that I'd just do a service and make sure everything's good, and fit a rad guard (stone through the rad, no thanks).
shielsy said:
Don't forget to budget for some half decent gear
Yeah I won't 
Luckily I have most of my biker gear from before, aside from a visor for my helmet.
I would probably buy some nice textile top and bottoms and maybe some new winter boots.
I have full summer scratching gear from before but I'm a bit more podgy than I once was so probably won't fit me anymore haha.
sjtscott said:
Not sure what route you have planned for the central london bit.
However suggest if you're coming in on Chelsea/Victoria Embankment after Earls Court you get across the river at either Vauxhall Bridge or you could do Lambeth Bridge too if you want to come along Millbank a bit, but you def need to be across the river before Parliament/Parliament Square which is one big delay with its sets of lights.
What I tended to find with doing a regular commute is testing all your possible logical routes on the central london part to see which ones work best both in terms of time/lights/junctions/traffic. Some roads however busy with cars are just easier to filter on than others. Its also good to have all of these learn't because roads gets closed from time to time, ultimately you won't need satnav you'll just learn all the routes/roads unless you really have zero sense of direction.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Newbury,+West+Berkshire,+UK/54-62+Great+Suffolk+St,+London+SE1,+UK/@51.4768443,-1.2732549,9z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x487402002f595ba9:0xc6646baff4a75c50!2m2!1d-1.3231139!2d51.401409!1m5!1m1!1s0x487604a59493b7cd:0x832b0ae0ec4a39b1!2m2!1d-0.1013377!2d51.5031588!3e0However suggest if you're coming in on Chelsea/Victoria Embankment after Earls Court you get across the river at either Vauxhall Bridge or you could do Lambeth Bridge too if you want to come along Millbank a bit, but you def need to be across the river before Parliament/Parliament Square which is one big delay with its sets of lights.
What I tended to find with doing a regular commute is testing all your possible logical routes on the central london part to see which ones work best both in terms of time/lights/junctions/traffic. Some roads however busy with cars are just easier to filter on than others. Its also good to have all of these learn't because roads gets closed from time to time, ultimately you won't need satnav you'll just learn all the routes/roads unless you really have zero sense of direction.
That is the defacto route from Google.
Where it goes down to the A3212 is a route I've used before, except in the past I've travelled to Battersea, this is going further along.
I'm pretty good with directions haha. I would just use satnav the first couple of times just incase.
Would you have any recommendations based on your experiences from the above?
On the bike front I've been looking at the following (faried variations if there are naked alternatives)
- Yammie Fazer 600 - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-Fazer-FZ6-/172162... or the older shape , although really hoping I can hold out for the newer model.
- Honda CBF600 / Hornet - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-CB600-HORNET-/2819...
- Suzuki GSF600 - Similar to this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-bandit-600s-gsf-k...
I think a newer shape FZS600 would be the best because I could also enjoy it as a weekend bike.
Primarily however the bike is to get me to and from London, if I can then get back into biking recreationally then that would be a bonus.
Edited by xjay1337 on Monday 18th April 12:11
Renn Sport said:
OP: Maybe a sport bike from late 90's or early 2000's would be the ticket? Japanese for reliability?
Was looking at ZX6Rs but insurance can go up quickly and while I do like sports bike it's my first time riding in about 6 years so probably something a little more sensible and easy to get me back into it!dibblecorse said:
Hi
I do J8/9 M4 to Central London regularly, one thing I can say is you won't be doing it in anything like 1hr 15mins from Newbury.
I was doing Caversham to Smithfield Market in 1hr to 1hr10 depending on light sequences and the slow'ish filtering speeds once you hit the A4, you can make decent progress but it won't be quick.
As others have said get over the river early as there's less congestion and just play with the routes to find one that works.
Also make good friends with Bob at FWR in Kennington as he will be your best 'repair my puncture' stop as they will be a regular occurrence.
Hopefully not!!! But thank you for the tip I do J8/9 M4 to Central London regularly, one thing I can say is you won't be doing it in anything like 1hr 15mins from Newbury.
I was doing Caversham to Smithfield Market in 1hr to 1hr10 depending on light sequences and the slow'ish filtering speeds once you hit the A4, you can make decent progress but it won't be quick.
As others have said get over the river early as there's less congestion and just play with the routes to find one that works.
Also make good friends with Bob at FWR in Kennington as he will be your best 'repair my puncture' stop as they will be a regular occurrence.
I'm sure that will save my bacon.Thanks for the time update. I can do Newbury to the end of the M4 in 1 hour, I have probably under estimated the time once you get into london!
CaptainSlow said:
If going for a Fazer go for the face lifted phase 1 (Fox eye), I wish I hadn't sold mine. The FZ6 wasn't an improvement.
If I could get a later model FZ6 for about the same would it not be worth it?I had the older model FZS600 (the darth vader one) and it was fine but the headlights were absolutely s
te.I don't think I could live with a CB500 or similar, not enough wind protection and too piddly for me. If I had a much shorter commute I wouldn't have an issues but 50 miles on the motorway on a 500 parallel twin isn't for me lol
May consider something like a Thundercat or Honda CBR600F....
Edited by xjay1337 on Monday 18th April 12:32
Edited by xjay1337 on Monday 18th April 12:33
kenloen said:
might be worth splashing a bit more $$ and getting a newer bike. I got a 2007 Hornet for just over £2k. Look at the government emissions rules, in 4 years there will be a charge for bikes/cars over 13yars old, my 2007 makes the cut off on the reg check.
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2015/march/lond...
As for commuting I've never had a problem parking anywhere, even after 9am, you might have to park a few streets away but there is always somewhere available.
Thanks for this.http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2015/march/lond...
As for commuting I've never had a problem parking anywhere, even after 9am, you might have to park a few streets away but there is always somewhere available.
I'll probably have changed bikes by then. This is more of a short term investment to save money - if it works I'll splash out something better and newer in a year or so , seems silly spending more when it's my first time back in the saddle.
Thanks for sharing your experiences
I think the best thing is once its all sorted, to ride in on a monday or a friday and see the spaces and local area. Theres quite a few spaces within a few streets so thats good at least.
I will invest in some basic security - disc locks front and rear. I will also probably take a chain to lock the rear wheel.
I think the best thing is once its all sorted, to ride in on a monday or a friday and see the spaces and local area. Theres quite a few spaces within a few streets so thats good at least.
happyWanderer said:
You want a not interesting bike if you're parking it up and around SE1 - notorious for bikes being stolen.
My office is on southwark street, in the last few weeks I saw a KTM 990 SM and Street triple gunning it down the road towards london bridge being followed by an L plated vespa - flip fronts up, balaclavas, running red lights. Dont take a rocket scientist to figure out those been nicked round the corner...
I didnt think about that.My office is on southwark street, in the last few weeks I saw a KTM 990 SM and Street triple gunning it down the road towards london bridge being followed by an L plated vespa - flip fronts up, balaclavas, running red lights. Dont take a rocket scientist to figure out those been nicked round the corner...
I will invest in some basic security - disc locks front and rear. I will also probably take a chain to lock the rear wheel.
Thanks for the insight - I've had an SV650S before. Was too slow for me. Although it handled lovely, it had Hagon springs, heavier fluid and a ZX10 rear shock. It was well sorted. For my budget I'd have to buy a "Curvy" one -
The main reason for considering the ZX7 is that it's a known quality and is local, and cheap. I will think long and hard. I would likely go with a FZS600 for a more upright bike as I really liked the old one I had but the suspension was tired! Bought it very tatty for £1100 and after 2nd gear went (they all do that, sir) put 20k on it and never let me down.
The main reason for considering the ZX7 is that it's a known quality and is local, and cheap. I will think long and hard. I would likely go with a FZS600 for a more upright bike as I really liked the old one I had but the suspension was tired! Bought it very tatty for £1100 and after 2nd gear went (they all do that, sir) put 20k on it and never let me down.
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