Commute to London - Bike vs Train
Discussion
black-k1 said:
You need to be a little careful when comparing costs. When you include fuel, tyres, chain/sprockets, servicing, kit, insurance, depreciation etc. the cost difference is not as substantial as it might at first appear.
When I was commuting it was only slightly cheaper on the bike than using the train, including driving to the station and parking.
Yeh, I've often done the mental sums on the way to work and concluded there really isn't a lot in it. Commuting racks up those miles pretty quick.When I was commuting it was only slightly cheaper on the bike than using the train, including driving to the station and parking.
When I needed to financially justify it I concluded that effectively I got my weekend bike for free. But then I soon worked out a commute bike and weekend fun bike can't really be combined so I ended up with (at least) two bikes anyway.
Just being sat on a bike over a train is a no brainer in the end for me no matter what the weather.
Harry H said:
black-k1 said:
You need to be a little careful when comparing costs. When you include fuel, tyres, chain/sprockets, servicing, kit, insurance, depreciation etc. the cost difference is not as substantial as it might at first appear.
When I was commuting it was only slightly cheaper on the bike than using the train, including driving to the station and parking.
Yeh, I've often done the mental sums on the way to work and concluded there really isn't a lot in it. Commuting racks up those miles pretty quick.When I was commuting it was only slightly cheaper on the bike than using the train, including driving to the station and parking.
When I needed to financially justify it I concluded that effectively I got my weekend bike for free. But then I soon worked out a commute bike and weekend fun bike can't really be combined so I ended up with (at least) two bikes anyway.
Just being sat on a bike over a train is a no brainer in the end for me no matter what the weather.
Insurance £200
Servicing £150 (I do it all myself, so that includes an allowance for the odd worn part)
Fuel £1000
Depreciation £800 (bought new for £10k ten years ago, still worth maybe £2k)
Tyres £120 (£350 every three years)
Tax £117
Chain/sprockets £20 (fit them myself, so £100 about every 5 years)
Kit £300 (replace clothing every 3 years, helmet every 5)
Yearly total approx £2700 to commute a ~70 mile round trip from Tonbridge to City, on a 2013 Tiger Sport 1050.
Trains:
Train fares £4300 (£35.90 return, average 2.5 days a week for 48 weeks a year)
Parking £940 (£7.80 a day)
Yearly total would be approx £5230. I could save the parking if I walk, but that takes about 35 minutes each way. I've tried cycling it, but the bike got stolen on the second day, so I haven't bothered since. Also if I was to drive every day, we'd need a second car and all those running costs. The buses are infrequent and filled with schoolkids, and go the 'wrong' way to a station further out.
So for me, using the motorbike is over £2500 a year cheaper than the train, plus it goes from my garage to a car park five minutes from the office, whereas the train involves an hour and a half of walking every day. Timewise, without a lift to the station, the bike is much faster. It's about the same if I can get my wife to drop me off.
It's a no-brainer, really.
mikey_b said:
The bike is hugely cheaper for me. For an average of 2 or 3 days a week, my sums per year are:
Insurance £200
Servicing £150 (I do it all myself, so that includes an allowance for the odd worn part)
Fuel £1000
Depreciation £800 (bought new for £10k ten years ago, still worth maybe £2k)
Tyres £120 (£350 every three years)
Tax £117
Chain/sprockets £20 (fit them myself, so £100 about every 5 years)
Kit £300 (replace clothing every 3 years, helmet every 5)
Yearly total approx £2700 to commute a ~70 mile round trip from Tonbridge to City, on a 2013 Tiger Sport 1050.
.
Just a few pointsInsurance £200
Servicing £150 (I do it all myself, so that includes an allowance for the odd worn part)
Fuel £1000
Depreciation £800 (bought new for £10k ten years ago, still worth maybe £2k)
Tyres £120 (£350 every three years)
Tax £117
Chain/sprockets £20 (fit them myself, so £100 about every 5 years)
Kit £300 (replace clothing every 3 years, helmet every 5)
Yearly total approx £2700 to commute a ~70 mile round trip from Tonbridge to City, on a 2013 Tiger Sport 1050.
.
2.5 times a week at 70miles per trip x 48 weeks a year is 8,400 miles a year.
Your insurance is bloody cheap. Are you sure you ticked the "commuting" box and were accurate with the milage
your tyres last 25,000 miles. I'm pleased with 6k miles
Your tiger 1050 is doing 65mpg. My 1050 speed was down in the early 40's. Google says 38-41 mpg
Your chain and sprockets are lasting 42,000 miles and only cost £100. My experience says 18K miles and £250
You're doing very well on other consumables
Your bike has done 84,000 miles, appears to remain reliable with only "the odd worn part" and is still worth £2k
Excellent man maths
Edited by Harry H on Thursday 18th April 15:44
Harry H said:
mikey_b said:
The bike is hugely cheaper for me. For an average of 2 or 3 days a week, my sums per year are:
Insurance £200
Servicing £150 (I do it all myself, so that includes an allowance for the odd worn part)
Fuel £1000
Depreciation £800 (bought new for £10k ten years ago, still worth maybe £2k)
Tyres £120 (£350 every three years)
Tax £117
Chain/sprockets £20 (fit them myself, so £100 about every 5 years)
Kit £300 (replace clothing every 3 years, helmet every 5)
Yearly total approx £2700 to commute a ~70 mile round trip from Tonbridge to City, on a 2013 Tiger Sport 1050.
.
Just a few pointsInsurance £200
Servicing £150 (I do it all myself, so that includes an allowance for the odd worn part)
Fuel £1000
Depreciation £800 (bought new for £10k ten years ago, still worth maybe £2k)
Tyres £120 (£350 every three years)
Tax £117
Chain/sprockets £20 (fit them myself, so £100 about every 5 years)
Kit £300 (replace clothing every 3 years, helmet every 5)
Yearly total approx £2700 to commute a ~70 mile round trip from Tonbridge to City, on a 2013 Tiger Sport 1050.
.
2.5 times a week at 70miles per trip x 48 weeks a year is 8,400 miles a year.
Your insurance is bloody cheap. Are you sure you ticked the "commuting" box and were accurate with the milage
your tyres last 25,000 miles. I'm pleased with 6k miles
Your tiger 1050 is doing 65mpg. My 1050 speed was down in the early 40's. Google says 38-41 mpg
Your chain and sprockets are lasting 42,000 miles and only cost £100. My experience says 18K miles and £250
You're doing very well on other consumables
Your bike has done 84,000 miles, appears to remain reliable with only "the odd worn part" and is still worth £2k
Excellent man maths
Edited by Harry H on Thursday 18th April 15:44
That is some of the best man maths I think I've ever seen!
As I said, you need to be a little careful when comparing costs ... If you already know what you want the answer to show!!!
2ndclasscitizen said:
Gixer968CS said:
okgo said:
Gixer968CS said:
If you don't own/don't want to own a motorcycle you wouldn't understand
So you're telling me there is enjoyment to be had in that journey? I struggle to see it - I say that as someone who commuted by roadbike 15 miles into London each way for a long long time. On a motorbike it would be mentally exhausting I'd have thought.You mention mentally exhausting, in fact riding a motorcycle demands you to be on high alert most of the time. Being focussed on anything to that extent means your brain is often emptied of the other stuff that might be filling it. Just moving yourself out of other thoughts is a form of relaxation in itself. Obviously lots of activities can give you that (I imagine your cycle ride did) but imagine if something you had to do (your commute) could actually become a sort of therapy. Genuinely, a lot of motorcyclists, me included, will tell you that for them riding a bike has a positive impact on their mental health. For me, commuting by train is certainly more physically relaxing but it's certainly not good for my mental health. In fact it's hugely stressful - gotta get their on time, will I get a seat, will the train run on time, will I miss my meeting, will I end up sitting next to that hideous woman with personal hygene issues again. Could the oaf across from me eat those crisps in a more disgusting way, why does that woman think it's ok to conduct a phone call on a crowded train over the speaker on her phone etc.
Even on a dull journey motorcycling is good for you, a metaphor for freedom and personal choice. Unless you fall off.
Probably very controversial (and off topic) point - riders who go on about the mental health/therapy aspect of riding need to actually go to therapy. First thing you'll learn is avoiding and distracting yourself from stressful and anxious thoughts is not good for mental health. You need to learn the causes and factors behind them and address it properly and learn proper therapy techniques to cope with and analyze them when they occur.
"man maths" has so many variables when you compare public transport v car or bike that it's a useless argument (so the wife tells me!). I mean if you look at that cost of commuting in from Ashford on the high speed link at £8.5k per year against say a £10k CF Moto over 3-4 years then it's pretty obvious that you may save a bit, but if you go out and buy a loaded GS then it's not as clear. Nor is it as clear if you don't have huge public transport costs, owning a bike within the M25 is definitely a luxury.
For me it was quite a clear, I just hated the slog of getting on the train after doing it on and off over the years. I've worked in the city apart from a very short break for some 40 years, lucky to have secure parking and all the luxuries that make the bike that more bearable. If the train was a couple of grand cheaper a year I still wouldn't go back to it now days.
For me it was quite a clear, I just hated the slog of getting on the train after doing it on and off over the years. I've worked in the city apart from a very short break for some 40 years, lucky to have secure parking and all the luxuries that make the bike that more bearable. If the train was a couple of grand cheaper a year I still wouldn't go back to it now days.
If it's cheap travel the NC750x is hard to beat. I'm getting 72mpg over last 2k miles commuting up the A3 into central London. Full wet oversuit £28 in a tailpack for rain as textiles take ages to dry. The Hondas are renowned for reliable high miles with no issues, 70k + is easy, that could be 10yrs travelling..
But they are boring..
But they are boring..
BigDaddyBiker said:
I commute into central London on my Honda VFR1200. My round trip is about 120 miles and I do it all year round, 2-3 times per week.
How do you get on with refuelling? I've had a VFR800 VTEC for 15yrs a my commuter and get about 180 miles to the tank. When the 1200 came out almost every article praised its great engine but puny tank size. Are you having to fill up every other day? Things have improved for me immeasurably since my local Tesco Express installed pay at pump, before that it was a ball-ache of having to take helmet off on every fill up.
PurpleTurtle said:
How do you get on with refuelling? I've had a VFR800 VTEC for 15yrs a my commuter and get about 180 miles to the tank. When the 1200 came out almost every article praised its great engine but puny tank size. Are you having to fill up every other day?
Things have improved for me immeasurably since my local Tesco Express installed pay at pump, before that it was a ball-ache of having to take helmet off on every fill up.
The light generally comes on on mine at 130 miles. Might push that to 160 in the extremely rare instance I do long stints on the motorway. Things have improved for me immeasurably since my local Tesco Express installed pay at pump, before that it was a ball-ache of having to take helmet off on every fill up.
Yes, pretty poor.
J50N WA said:
If it's cheap travel the NC750x is hard to beat. I'm getting 72mpg over last 2k miles commuting up the A3 into central London. Full wet oversuit £28 in a tailpack for rain as textiles take ages to dry. The Hondas are renowned for reliable high miles with no issues, 70k + is easy, that could be 10yrs travelling..
But they are boring..
Also commute on a NC750X, but fromBut they are boring..
South Croydon/Sanderstead. However I don't like commuting in the wet/cold/after beers or events so take the train on those days.
Depreciation at £250 a year
Insurance at £250 a year (TPFT)
Misc. servicing, repairs, tyres and MOT - £200
Kit is a mixture of my dads stuff and a helmet - £50 a year
Parking - free
Tax - £70
£820pa
Petrol is about £2.80 a day - 252 working days less 25 holiday is 227 and I commute for about 150 of them so petrol is £420.
Total bike cost £1,240.00 plus...77 days on the train at £14.60 a day is £1,142.20 - c£2,350pa
Taking the train every day would cost £2,920 (or £3,354.80 paying monthly)
Taking the bike saves me nearly an hour a day - extra time with the baby - every day (leave the house at 6am, normally home for 7:30pm), but I'm still considering stopping.
Safety - suicidal pedestrians (see my thread from February), the quality of driving from bredren in South London (Brixton, Streatham, Croydon) plus Uber drivers...and then the anxiety over the stupid 20mph speed cameras that I'm worried about forgetting to crawl through.
ChocolateFrog said:
I've done the filling up everyday malarkey, it's not much fun.
I usually have 40 miles left in a tank at the end of both runs so I quite like filling up near to home so I know I can do there and back on the next run. It also means i can ride how i want to with out trying to be economical and eaking out miles and it beats having that feeling of setting off in the morning and thinking bugger I need to find somewhere on the way in. 70ish miles each way for me.
Edited by MDUBZ on Friday 26th April 15:18
kiethton said:
J50N WA said:
If it's cheap travel the NC750x is hard to beat. I'm getting 72mpg over last 2k miles commuting up the A3 into central London. Full wet oversuit £28 in a tailpack for rain as textiles take ages to dry. The Hondas are renowned for reliable high miles with no issues, 70k + is easy, that could be 10yrs travelling..
But they are boring..
Also commute on a NC750X, but fromBut they are boring..
South Croydon/Sanderstead. However I don't like commuting in the wet/cold/after beers or events so take the train on those days.
Depreciation at £250 a year
Insurance at £250 a year (TPFT)
Misc. servicing, repairs, tyres and MOT - £200
Kit is a mixture of my dads stuff and a helmet - £50 a year
Parking - free
Tax - £70
£820pa
Petrol is about £2.80 a day - 252 working days less 25 holiday is 227 and I commute for about 150 of them so petrol is £420.
Total bike cost £1,240.00 plus...77 days on the train at £14.60 a day is £1,142.20 - c£2,350pa
Taking the train every day would cost £2,920 (or £3,354.80 paying monthly)
Taking the bike saves me nearly an hour a day - extra time with the baby - every day (leave the house at 6am, normally home for 7:30pm), but I'm still considering stopping.
Safety - suicidal pedestrians (see my thread from February), the quality of driving from bredren in South London (Brixton, Streatham, Croydon) plus Uber drivers...and then the anxiety over the stupid 20mph speed cameras that I'm worried about forgetting to crawl through.
I extensively did the sums and the spreadsheet ahead of buying the current 2-wheeled commuting tool - even factoring in finance costs, tax, insurance, servicing, tyres and fuel, for me it still works out a significant chunk cheaper (c.£1k/year) than getting the train for the equivalent number of days. And that even factors in quite a few days travelling by train anyway when the weather is gash, I'm out for beers, or whatever.
Please feel free to pick apart my numbers!
Please feel free to pick apart my numbers!
I had exactly this dilemma about 7 years ago....... I already had a number of nice bikes, so for my (IIRC £400 a month ridiculous cost on a s
t train service) I bought a Triumph Scrambler 900 for £116 pcm.......... including petrol, insurance and buying it, I was better off, in control of my destiny, didn't have to be stuck with a load of weird train users.
The trains were never on time, always going wrong and I had to walk 15 minutes at each end.
Here we are in 2024, and I have just restored the Triumph, and it's perfect (nearly) , paid for and I have a lovely bike
t train service) I bought a Triumph Scrambler 900 for £116 pcm.......... including petrol, insurance and buying it, I was better off, in control of my destiny, didn't have to be stuck with a load of weird train users.The trains were never on time, always going wrong and I had to walk 15 minutes at each end.
Here we are in 2024, and I have just restored the Triumph, and it's perfect (nearly) , paid for and I have a lovely bike
black-k1 said:
What is the bike? 72mpg is impressive and tyres and servicing seem pretty cheap for over 8,000 miles per year. Likewise, insurance for a commuter seems very cheap.
BMW C400x. 72mpg is per the readout on the long term trip on the bike. Inclusive service plan £510 for 3 years servicing. Tyres are pretty cheap compared to proper motorbike tyres and seem to last quite a long time. And insurance is cheap as I’ve added it to an existing multi bike policy. ccr32 said:
black-k1 said:
What is the bike? 72mpg is impressive and tyres and servicing seem pretty cheap for over 8,000 miles per year. Likewise, insurance for a commuter seems very cheap.
BMW C400x. 72mpg is per the readout on the long term trip on the bike. Inclusive service plan £510 for 3 years servicing. Tyres are pretty cheap compared to proper motorbike tyres and seem to last quite a long time. And insurance is cheap as I’ve added it to an existing multi bike policy. Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff