Is this commute a good idea on a bike?
Discussion
So, in a few months time I switch jobs and will be living away from home in the week.
The journey will be 130 miles on a Monday morning from Lincoln to High Wycombe and the reverse on a Friday afternoon/evening. I've done it before in a car and it sapped my will to live. It's a bit better now the A1 has been improved (fewer roundabouts and scameras) and I tend to keep away from the M1/A43/M40 route as, frankly, I loathe watching my life idle away on the M40!
I've done a CBT and been riding a 125 for about a year so I'm seriously considering getting a bigger bike and using that for the commute. I can't see a major issue except the journey will be a bit tedious and there could well be several Monday mornings in the dpeths of winter when I play the wimp card and jump in the car!
Firstly, I've never ridden for more than 30 mins or so at a stretch (current bike is a YBR125 so 30 mins is plenty!) and secondly I don't know if it will really save me that much time except those occasions when the roads are gridlocked.
Any thoughts? Also, thinking soemthing with a relatively upright seating position and at least some weather protection so Bandit 600s...any other bike suggestions? Ta!
The journey will be 130 miles on a Monday morning from Lincoln to High Wycombe and the reverse on a Friday afternoon/evening. I've done it before in a car and it sapped my will to live. It's a bit better now the A1 has been improved (fewer roundabouts and scameras) and I tend to keep away from the M1/A43/M40 route as, frankly, I loathe watching my life idle away on the M40!
I've done a CBT and been riding a 125 for about a year so I'm seriously considering getting a bigger bike and using that for the commute. I can't see a major issue except the journey will be a bit tedious and there could well be several Monday mornings in the dpeths of winter when I play the wimp card and jump in the car!
Firstly, I've never ridden for more than 30 mins or so at a stretch (current bike is a YBR125 so 30 mins is plenty!) and secondly I don't know if it will really save me that much time except those occasions when the roads are gridlocked.
Any thoughts? Also, thinking soemthing with a relatively upright seating position and at least some weather protection so Bandit 600s...any other bike suggestions? Ta!
Edited by LeeME3 on Wednesday 16th June 12:34
So it may be a bit chilly huh?!?! Heated grips go on the shopping list then...seriously though, decent cold weather gear is a given - any fool can be uncomfortable and all that!
Right, I'm def going to go for it - just need to get some training and my tests booked then start looking for a decent bike.
Good point on the panniers (or lack of) - it's just 'me' (no kit) that needs to be moved so I'll bear that point in mind.
Right, I'm def going to go for it - just need to get some training and my tests booked then start looking for a decent bike.
Good point on the panniers (or lack of) - it's just 'me' (no kit) that needs to be moved so I'll bear that point in mind.
G Man said:
According to Google its a 160 miles ... I would want to do that on 1 tank of fuel, so you need a bike with 200 miles range
I live just South of Lincoln and destination is just North of High Wycombe - exact distance is 135 miles so I reckon I need a tank range of 160+ to be safe. That said I'm guessing I'll have a 15 min break about half-way down anyway.Like the Aprilla suggestion - but are they a bit fragile? I need something pretty tank-like in build quality - even allwoing for holidays and wimping out to the car I'm looking at 40 weeks of 270 miles a week plus some weeks I'll 'pop home' mid-week so way over 10,000 miles pa...albeit mainly in a straight line! I'm thinking comy seating position / weather protection are going to be my main criteria!
£1000 for kit is exactly what I'd put in the budget so that's reassuring.
I'm 5'11 so no problem with being too tall (but DON'T call me short!).
I've done a fair bit of hill walking and open cockpit flying so getting wet/cold/windy is not exactly a new experience and I'm getting good at dressing to stay comfy!
I'm 5'11 so no problem with being too tall (but DON'T call me short!).
I've done a fair bit of hill walking and open cockpit flying so getting wet/cold/windy is not exactly a new experience and I'm getting good at dressing to stay comfy!
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