Bmw k1200gt and a 180 mile commute
Discussion
OK I live in west oxfordshire and have been asked to go to Canary Wharf most of the year. The train commute is 50 min to drive to Didcot ( include parking and walking ) 45 mins train to Paddingdon 40 Mins Tube and change over Total Commute 2hrs 15min Cost £70 per day as I travel 1st class to get a seat and space because I am a grumpy commuter.
Now my company will buy me a nice new shiny BMW K1200GT SE for the trip, It takes me 1 hrs to get to Slough on the M4, but will I be able to cut through the traffic and make it a 2 hrs to the Wharf
Would you train it or bike it ?
Would you choose another bike ?, it must have ABS, luggage and full fairing
Now my company will buy me a nice new shiny BMW K1200GT SE for the trip, It takes me 1 hrs to get to Slough on the M4, but will I be able to cut through the traffic and make it a 2 hrs to the Wharf
Would you train it or bike it ?
Would you choose another bike ?, it must have ABS, luggage and full fairing
Edited by G Man on Friday 4th January 10:32
G Man said:
must have ABS, luggage and full fairing
The luggage bit is going to restrict your filtering style going through London, and slow you down a bit.Normally takes me about an hour and a half to get from Greenwich (right next door to Canary Wharf, if you ignore the river
) to Slough/Reading etc. Most of that is fighting through London itself. Its not the queues, its the monstrous amounts of traffic lights.I've tried going round the M25, but its an extra 70 odd miles and just as busy during rush hour (and I dont get to pootle back through the West End and stop for a coffee.
As above, see if a friendly BMW dealer will let you have an extended test ride, and try the commute for real before committing to it.
The problem bit will be from the end of the M4 bus lane at the start of the elevated M4 through to Earls Court and turning right onto the embankment and then through the Limehouse link tunnel to Docklands....which I would think would be best route to Canary Wharf from M4....???
What about M40/A40 route...?
Or A34/A41/M25/M11/A406.....?
What about M40/A40 route...?
Or A34/A41/M25/M11/A406.....?
Edited by aeropilot on Friday 4th January 12:45
The bike will certainly do the job without problem and I commute on mine most days up here.
I filter with my panniers on but, depending upon how much stuff you need to take with you, you could always remove the panniers and use a top box.
Remember though that the bars are probably as wide as the panniers.
The GT is heavy though in slow traffic and to push around but it's a great mile eater and came out well in the recent Bike article on tourers - joint 1st with the RT.
I'm selling mine if you want a good s/h one! 9 months old, Company owned and fsh. In classified section!
I filter with my panniers on but, depending upon how much stuff you need to take with you, you could always remove the panniers and use a top box.
Remember though that the bars are probably as wide as the panniers.
The GT is heavy though in slow traffic and to push around but it's a great mile eater and came out well in the recent Bike article on tourers - joint 1st with the RT.
I'm selling mine if you want a good s/h one! 9 months old, Company owned and fsh. In classified section!
Buy a small flat close to your job, get company to pay mortgage while you are there, work 12 hrs and come home early on Friday.
Then either keep the flat on renting it out or sell up hopefully making a few quid.
Other than that cant help, only you will know if its viable by trying it out.
Will you own the bike? Bare in mind it will be worth bugger all after a year of 180 miles a day. Will they pay for the insurance, petrol, servicing, tyres etc too.
Then either keep the flat on renting it out or sell up hopefully making a few quid.
Other than that cant help, only you will know if its viable by trying it out.
Will you own the bike? Bare in mind it will be worth bugger all after a year of 180 miles a day. Will they pay for the insurance, petrol, servicing, tyres etc too.
What time of day do you have to be at Canary Wharf from? I find the real difference is the time of morning you commute.
It's certainly possible to make that journey within two hours. I would take the A4130 through Henley and on at junction 9b of the M4, then all the way through to the embankment.
Also ask yourself if you really need those panniers every day, as they will hinder your progress through trafic. Appart from that, crackin bike, enjoy!
You'll certainly be smiling every time there's a train strike!
It's certainly possible to make that journey within two hours. I would take the A4130 through Henley and on at junction 9b of the M4, then all the way through to the embankment.
Also ask yourself if you really need those panniers every day, as they will hinder your progress through trafic. Appart from that, crackin bike, enjoy!
You'll certainly be smiling every time there's a train strike!
How about getting a job near where you live!
I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
Edited by Rubin215 on Friday 4th January 22:44
Rubin215 said:
How about getting a job near where you live!
I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
Perhaps he doesn't just work for one company I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
Edited by Rubin215 on Friday 4th January 22:44
As for a tourer and filtering, it's do-able but it's slow compared to a sportsbike or anything of that ilk.
Rubin215 said:
How about getting a job near where you live!
I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
I fortunatly now live 8 mins from work and it makes a big different, i used to work 90 miles from my home and stayed in a flat 3 days and cam home 2 days. Its hard work 180 mile round trip. I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
Edited by Rubin215 on Friday 4th January 22:44
On another tack how about a big scooter 500cc+ probably make a more relaxing journey with no gears plenty of space under the seat and top box and definatly more than fast enough, probably better on fuel too.
Gareth - I do NW of Henley to the West End every day, it takes about an hour and 15mins almost irrespective of traffic.
It will depend on how brave/confident/safe you are as far as filtering goes and the Beemer is a big old bike to filter with.
As said above, you should try it before committing, but it saves a huge amount of money and stress over public transport.
It will depend on how brave/confident/safe you are as far as filtering goes and the Beemer is a big old bike to filter with.
As said above, you should try it before committing, but it saves a huge amount of money and stress over public transport.
I wouldn't ever contemplate a route like that by public transport, far too stressful and tiring, the journey isn't supposed to be worse than the job !
Can't offer any advice about which bike to use but I'd be far more tempted to get an older bike then run it in to the ground, why ruin a new bike with a commute ?
Can't offer any advice about which bike to use but I'd be far more tempted to get an older bike then run it in to the ground, why ruin a new bike with a commute ?
Silent1 said:
As for a tourer and filtering, it's do-able but it's slow compared to a sportsbike or anything of that ilk.
Interesting comment.I would have thought a tourer would be better. You're up a bit higher so you can see better. Less body weight on your wrists/arms and less back ache, plus easier lifesaver checks et al.
You'd definitely be hindered by panniers though. Big top box a must.
I'm not sure I'd want to do that sort of commute on any bike though to be honest. I commute 35+35 motorway miles and that's quite enough thanks very much. I stop at J1a of the M40 coming from Oxford and I wouldn't want to go any further. Commuting through London is an art and the people who do it have my utmost respect. I've done it a few times for meetings in the city and arrived exhausted from the sheer level of concentration needed.
Silent1 said:
Rubin215 said:
How about getting a job near where you live!
I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
Perhaps he doesn't just work for one company I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
Edited by Rubin215 on Friday 4th January 22:44
As for a tourer and filtering, it's do-able but it's slow compared to a sportsbike or anything of that ilk.
Silent1 said:
Rubin215 said:
How about getting a job near where you live!
I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
Perhaps he doesn't just work for one company I only commute fifteen minutes, have a massively rewarding job and still get paid what I think is a decent wage.
The extra time away from work whether it is in bed, at home, with my family or using my bike for what it's meant (i.e. playing) more than makes up for any extra money you could offer me to spend hours commuting.
Work to live, not live to work.
Edited by Rubin215 on Friday 4th January 22:44
As for a tourer and filtering, it's do-able but it's slow compared to a sportsbike or anything of that ilk.
tfm said:
As for a tourer and filtering, it's do-able but it's slow compared to a sportsbike or anything of that ilk.
Rubbish. I do about 180 miles a day on my R1200RT. It is massively comfy and I've never had any situation where other bikes have been able to filter and I haven't. Yes, I'm sure a blade or something may do the journey 5 mins or so quicker than me but I would take the comfort everytime.To the O/P consider the R1200 as well as the K1200. I tried both and felt that the R engine and bike was much better, this may be because I'm used to boxer engines. Either way the journey is easily doable. I do reading to Barking every day, either M4-M25-M11 or M40-M25-M11. I guess you would so about the same, I see the wharf as I come off at Barking. I would reckon 2 hours is about on the button, I do my run in about 1 and a half on an average day. Once you are used to it its fine!
Edited by Twit on Thursday 10th January 21:39
Twit said:
tfm said:
As for a tourer and filtering, it's do-able but it's slow compared to a sportsbike or anything of that ilk.
Rubbish. I do about 180 miles a day on my R1200RT. It is massively comfy and I've never had any situation where other bikes have been able to filter and I haven't. Yes, I'm sure a blade or something may do the journey 5 mins or so quicker than me but I would take the comfort everytime.To the O/P consider the R1200 as well as the K1200. I tried both and felt that the R engine and bike was much better, this may be because I'm used to boxer engines. Either way the journey is easily doable. I do reading to Barking every day, either M4-M25-M11 or M40-M25-M11. I guess you would so about the same, I see the wharf as I come off at Barking. I would reckon 2 hours is about on the button, I do my run in about 1 and a half on an average day. Once you are used to it its fine!
Edited by Twit on Thursday 10th January 21:39
Take places like apex corner, there's not much space between cars there in rush hour and i'm sure there's going to be times you can't fit through
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