What eventually made you start/stop commuting by motorbike
Discussion
Think it was seeing a K1300S on here written off by hitting a deer during the autumn/winter. Was that black-k1?? Can't remember.
Anyway. THAT DAY riding home on my K1300S there was an enormous deer/stag stood by the side of the road, just caught by my headlights as i was right on top of it. Really s
t me up!! I got home, parked up and decided to forget the bike until it would be light on the way home in feb/march.
I couldn't stop commuting by bike completely though. When the weather's nice it just makes the commute that bit more interesting. It only saves time if the traffic is really bad as the added time to get my gear together at each end is really a PITA. Plus it makes exercise more tricky as it's horrible putting bike gear on top of a sweaty body, and i can't stop off for a swim on the way home as easily.
Anyway. THAT DAY riding home on my K1300S there was an enormous deer/stag stood by the side of the road, just caught by my headlights as i was right on top of it. Really s
t me up!! I got home, parked up and decided to forget the bike until it would be light on the way home in feb/march.I couldn't stop commuting by bike completely though. When the weather's nice it just makes the commute that bit more interesting. It only saves time if the traffic is really bad as the added time to get my gear together at each end is really a PITA. Plus it makes exercise more tricky as it's horrible putting bike gear on top of a sweaty body, and i can't stop off for a swim on the way home as easily.
I've been commuting by bike for 6 odd years from east and south east London to west, or central London using various sized bikes 125,250,600,650,1000cc and there are days where I'm just fed up of it but after using the train once or twice I feel like getting back on.
The crazy tailbacks on the dual carriageways are putting me off however, lots of drivers not paying attention of course when changing lanes. I'm seriously considering getting an E-bike now, don't have to deal with crazy insurance prices MOTs etc get some exercise if wanted and have a much more direct and off road route to work while costing much less to run.
The crazy tailbacks on the dual carriageways are putting me off however, lots of drivers not paying attention of course when changing lanes. I'm seriously considering getting an E-bike now, don't have to deal with crazy insurance prices MOTs etc get some exercise if wanted and have a much more direct and off road route to work while costing much less to run.
Ox88 said:
Before changing jobs I use to travel by train Newbury to Liverpool Str about once a week - the commute did my head in as you were packed in like sardines.
Now 3 months into a new job based in Farringdon where I commute in about 3 days a week. Decided to put the train costs (£8-9k/yr) into a bike instead and so far very happy I did.
My commute is ~60miles each way and takes about 1h30-1h45 each way. What I learnt so far, but proper kit (heated jacket & gloves rock!), ride the bike that puts a smile on your face, get a decent BT set for radio/music & take it easy.
I also live near Newbury, I contract so place of work changes as time goes by, but recently I have been commuting to Brentford (Jnt 2 M4), Feltham and Woking, which is a good 50 miles each way. I have been commuting all year round but I also have the option to work from home if the weather is really bad. Now 3 months into a new job based in Farringdon where I commute in about 3 days a week. Decided to put the train costs (£8-9k/yr) into a bike instead and so far very happy I did.
My commute is ~60miles each way and takes about 1h30-1h45 each way. What I learnt so far, but proper kit (heated jacket & gloves rock!), ride the bike that puts a smile on your face, get a decent BT set for radio/music & take it easy.
The right gear helps a lot, as does heated grips and muffs (when referring to bikes), although not sexy, they work.
I run old VFR's, £1000 off ebay, faired and enough power for commuting. I have had three off's during my commute, mainly from my own mistakes but luckily no injuries, apart from to my wallet.
I have tried taking the car on occasion and although generally going into work there has not been that much difference in time, coming home in the evenings can be hell. On a bike I am always an hour door to door, in a car coming home has taken two or even three hours.
Taking the train for the places I have had to go has never made much sense.
Road 5's are an excellent, all season, all weather tyre and you get decent mileage from them.
New contract is in Zurich, so I am flying each week and the bikes have not moved in two months now which is slightly depressing.
I stop using the bike when the temp drops below 7.
I have a 4x4 with winter tyres for that job.
I live out in the country where it is a few degrees colder than the towns, and we get snow/ice before others... and it's a 14% twisty gradient road to my house... no fun on a bike in those condidtions.
I also found that when the clocks change for winter, it gets really dark on the road, and people seem to go mental..
I could have been punted off a couple of times this year if I didn't have my wits about me... so all in all, I would rather just take the car..
I have a 4x4 with winter tyres for that job.
I live out in the country where it is a few degrees colder than the towns, and we get snow/ice before others... and it's a 14% twisty gradient road to my house... no fun on a bike in those condidtions.
I also found that when the clocks change for winter, it gets really dark on the road, and people seem to go mental..
I could have been punted off a couple of times this year if I didn't have my wits about me... so all in all, I would rather just take the car..
PTF said:
Think it was seeing a K1300S on here written off by hitting a deer during the autumn/winter. Was that black-k1?? Can't remember.
Anyway. THAT DAY riding home on my K1300S there was an enormous deer/stag stood by the side of the road, just caught by my headlights as i was right on top of it. Really st me up!! I got home, parked up and decided to forget the bike until it would be light on the way home in feb/march.
I couldn't stop commuting by bike completely though. When the weather's nice it just makes the commute that bit more interesting. It only saves time if the traffic is really bad as the added time to get my gear together at each end is really a PITA. Plus it makes exercise more tricky as it's horrible putting bike gear on top of a sweaty body, and i can't stop off for a swim on the way home as easily.
Sorry! Anyway. THAT DAY riding home on my K1300S there was an enormous deer/stag stood by the side of the road, just caught by my headlights as i was right on top of it. Really s
t me up!! I got home, parked up and decided to forget the bike until it would be light on the way home in feb/march.I couldn't stop commuting by bike completely though. When the weather's nice it just makes the commute that bit more interesting. It only saves time if the traffic is really bad as the added time to get my gear together at each end is really a PITA. Plus it makes exercise more tricky as it's horrible putting bike gear on top of a sweaty body, and i can't stop off for a swim on the way home as easily.
I assume it was this thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...You can never predict if/when such an event will happen. It's not stopped me commuting in the dark and I would be saddened to think my thread/pictures stopped anyone else commuting or reduced their riding enjoyment.
black-k1 said:
PTF said:
Think it was seeing a K1300S on here written off by hitting a deer during the autumn/winter. Was that black-k1?? Can't remember.
Anyway. THAT DAY riding home on my K1300S there was an enormous deer/stag stood by the side of the road, just caught by my headlights as i was right on top of it. Really st me up!! I got home, parked up and decided to forget the bike until it would be light on the way home in feb/march.
I couldn't stop commuting by bike completely though. When the weather's nice it just makes the commute that bit more interesting. It only saves time if the traffic is really bad as the added time to get my gear together at each end is really a PITA. Plus it makes exercise more tricky as it's horrible putting bike gear on top of a sweaty body, and i can't stop off for a swim on the way home as easily.
Sorry! Anyway. THAT DAY riding home on my K1300S there was an enormous deer/stag stood by the side of the road, just caught by my headlights as i was right on top of it. Really s
t me up!! I got home, parked up and decided to forget the bike until it would be light on the way home in feb/march.I couldn't stop commuting by bike completely though. When the weather's nice it just makes the commute that bit more interesting. It only saves time if the traffic is really bad as the added time to get my gear together at each end is really a PITA. Plus it makes exercise more tricky as it's horrible putting bike gear on top of a sweaty body, and i can't stop off for a swim on the way home as easily.
I assume it was this thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...You can never predict if/when such an event will happen. It's not stopped me commuting in the dark and I would be saddened to think my thread/pictures stopped anyone else commuting or reduced their riding enjoyment.
I was hating commuting by bike in the winter anyway. The bike was getting ruined, i was fed up with being cold, etc. Having done it on/off for 12 winters i decided enough was enough. Seeing that deer by the side of the road was the final straw!
I'm much happier now with a super economical car that i can just jump in and whack radio 4 or 6 on in, coffee in hand. And the bikes are nice and cosy in the garage
I used to commute from Guidlford to Central London all year round. It was about 50 mins in and about 60 mins back. Verus the train, door to door it was 15-25 min saving each way so for me that was good, although betterthan the time saving was that you could leave work when you wanted and you weren't always rushing around to make sure you got your train on time.
Costwise it was about the same when you add in servicing, insurance, gear, etc. Main downside of the bike was the bad weather, I especially didn't like the cold in winter, but I bought decent gear and it was perfectly bearable, if a little uncomfortable sometimes.
Main benefit over the train though was that I enjoyed riding my bike, I enjoyed riding through London, especially in the morning. I think it might have helped having a fun bike to ride (CBR600rr).
I've since left the UK and now live walking distance to my job. If I change jobs though, I'll definitely be back on the bike.
Costwise it was about the same when you add in servicing, insurance, gear, etc. Main downside of the bike was the bad weather, I especially didn't like the cold in winter, but I bought decent gear and it was perfectly bearable, if a little uncomfortable sometimes.
Main benefit over the train though was that I enjoyed riding my bike, I enjoyed riding through London, especially in the morning. I think it might have helped having a fun bike to ride (CBR600rr).
I've since left the UK and now live walking distance to my job. If I change jobs though, I'll definitely be back on the bike.
I used to commute every day, all year round, about 8 miles each way. Depending on what time I left, it could be pretty much solid, standing traffic from about a mile away from my front door, right into the city centre, so a gentle filter past everything meant it was much quicker than the car. There’s no car parking at work during the week, so there’s a fight for on street parking. Bikes are allowed to park in the work car park.
The bus was about an hour each way, with about 100 metre walk to/from the bus stop near home and about 500 metres to/from work to the bus station. Getting the train would’ve meant getting to the railway station a couple of miles from the house (limited parking) and about a mile between the station and work. Also, Northern Rail...
I could’ve cycled, if I wasn’t such a lazy, fat tt. I think it’d have taken me about an hour each way. Google Mpas says 36 minutes. lolz...
The big issue for me for using public transport is that on a “duty day”, we’d start at 8am and be scheduled to finish at 6pm, but if there was a job in to deal with, it could easily be midnight or later before finishing, with the expectation we’d be in again the next morning at 8am to rinse and repeat. The last bus/train home was about 10pm. The ideal solution (other than motorbiking) would probably have been a cycle/train combo. We’ve got showers, locker rooms and a drying room at work, so changing isn’t an issue.
I’m at a different station and I’ve also moved further away. I’m able to drive a bit now and I get a car parking space in the garage when I’m in work, so for now, I’m using the car. Once I’m fully recovered I intend to go back to commuting by bike. Yes, it’s a bit grim in winter but the Explorer I rode had a heated seat and heated grips. I wasn’t that fussed about the heated seat until I started using it in the winter and quickly realised it was a godsend. I also got myself a Keis heated (sleeveless) jacket, which I could power direct from the bike or via a battery pack and that made a big difference to comfort.
My commute will be about 21 miles door to door on a mixture of A and B roads, with a stretch of dual carriageway (which has average speed cameras along it at 50mph). The amount of people who’ll sit alongside someone else doing about 47mph for mile after mile is a pain in the car, but on the bike, it’ll be easy enough to filter. Cruise on the bike is great f9r stuff like this, especially used with GPS to get a more accurate speed - 56 on the speedo was about 52, so enough to make a bit of progress, not enough to get a ticket.
The bus was about an hour each way, with about 100 metre walk to/from the bus stop near home and about 500 metres to/from work to the bus station. Getting the train would’ve meant getting to the railway station a couple of miles from the house (limited parking) and about a mile between the station and work. Also, Northern Rail...
I could’ve cycled, if I wasn’t such a lazy, fat t
t. I think it’d have taken me about an hour each way. Google Mpas says 36 minutes. lolz...The big issue for me for using public transport is that on a “duty day”, we’d start at 8am and be scheduled to finish at 6pm, but if there was a job in to deal with, it could easily be midnight or later before finishing, with the expectation we’d be in again the next morning at 8am to rinse and repeat. The last bus/train home was about 10pm. The ideal solution (other than motorbiking) would probably have been a cycle/train combo. We’ve got showers, locker rooms and a drying room at work, so changing isn’t an issue.
I’m at a different station and I’ve also moved further away. I’m able to drive a bit now and I get a car parking space in the garage when I’m in work, so for now, I’m using the car. Once I’m fully recovered I intend to go back to commuting by bike. Yes, it’s a bit grim in winter but the Explorer I rode had a heated seat and heated grips. I wasn’t that fussed about the heated seat until I started using it in the winter and quickly realised it was a godsend. I also got myself a Keis heated (sleeveless) jacket, which I could power direct from the bike or via a battery pack and that made a big difference to comfort.
My commute will be about 21 miles door to door on a mixture of A and B roads, with a stretch of dual carriageway (which has average speed cameras along it at 50mph). The amount of people who’ll sit alongside someone else doing about 47mph for mile after mile is a pain in the car, but on the bike, it’ll be easy enough to filter. Cruise on the bike is great f9r stuff like this, especially used with GPS to get a more accurate speed - 56 on the speedo was about 52, so enough to make a bit of progress, not enough to get a ticket.
I spent a lot of years working on contract jobs so it depended on the job and the route from home in Farnborough/Aldershot area really.
Bristol - Weekly commuted and the run up the M4 to get there was pretty boring but a bike's a lot easier to get around Bristol than a car, so used it quite often, particularly in the summer when it was nice to get out in the evenings on it.
Sevenoaks - Sometimes used the bike but the route was mostly motorway and traffic actually not too bad so it was boring and not a lot quicker. On the odd occasion there was a big accident on the M25 though it was well worth it.
Heathrow - 20 mins by bike, 45+ by car, no contest.
Warminster - Again boring motorway route with not much traffic so no quicker on the bike, used to often take it on a Friday though and go the long way home across Salisbury plane and backroads though Hampshire.
Portsmouth - Nice back road route was fun on the bike, and the heater matrix in the car started leaking so I commuted on the bike through the winter. Home made heated jacket did the job very well.
Camberley - 9 miles to the office, took longer on the bike by the time I'd put my gear on and taken it off a the other end.
Current job is close enough I cycle or walk to work, think I've only taken the car to work 2 or 3 times in 18 months and that was when I wanted to take stuff I couldn't carry on the bike
In summary - motorway journeys are boring an unless there's a lot of traffic the bike isn't much quicker. If the journey's fun however...
Bristol - Weekly commuted and the run up the M4 to get there was pretty boring but a bike's a lot easier to get around Bristol than a car, so used it quite often, particularly in the summer when it was nice to get out in the evenings on it.
Sevenoaks - Sometimes used the bike but the route was mostly motorway and traffic actually not too bad so it was boring and not a lot quicker. On the odd occasion there was a big accident on the M25 though it was well worth it.
Heathrow - 20 mins by bike, 45+ by car, no contest.
Warminster - Again boring motorway route with not much traffic so no quicker on the bike, used to often take it on a Friday though and go the long way home across Salisbury plane and backroads though Hampshire.
Portsmouth - Nice back road route was fun on the bike, and the heater matrix in the car started leaking so I commuted on the bike through the winter. Home made heated jacket did the job very well.
Camberley - 9 miles to the office, took longer on the bike by the time I'd put my gear on and taken it off a the other end.
Current job is close enough I cycle or walk to work, think I've only taken the car to work 2 or 3 times in 18 months and that was when I wanted to take stuff I couldn't carry on the bike
In summary - motorway journeys are boring an unless there's a lot of traffic the bike isn't much quicker. If the journey's fun however...
I finally bought a house - was fed up with living in London and sadiq 'part & parcel' cocking everything up so I moved about 100m into Kent.
However that meant my commute to Canary Wharf would be ~75-90min on the train (plus a 15minute walk to the station) or a 25min ride down the A2 and through the tunnel. So was an easy choice.
Subsequently moved jobs to the City so now it's about a fair 1hour irrespective of either option.
However I would totally agree with and echo the statements about the crowds, delays, costs, coughing and general ill-manners of having to take the train. I don't miss it one bit.
The cost difference means that the bike is paid back in 2 years (including cost of purchase, fuel, insurance, gear, etc.) versus the train. On the upside the train is still there for the event of a boozy work night or going out with mates - and that changes the experience from being tiresome on a daily level, to being an opportune convenience.
However that meant my commute to Canary Wharf would be ~75-90min on the train (plus a 15minute walk to the station) or a 25min ride down the A2 and through the tunnel. So was an easy choice.
Subsequently moved jobs to the City so now it's about a fair 1hour irrespective of either option.
However I would totally agree with and echo the statements about the crowds, delays, costs, coughing and general ill-manners of having to take the train. I don't miss it one bit.
The cost difference means that the bike is paid back in 2 years (including cost of purchase, fuel, insurance, gear, etc.) versus the train. On the upside the train is still there for the event of a boozy work night or going out with mates - and that changes the experience from being tiresome on a daily level, to being an opportune convenience.
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