Commuter Bike - MPG
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm after some advice and want to do my research early, I've been driving to work in North London for over 16 years with a passenger who pays for all my fuel but He's potentially going to be leaving the company next year because he's reaching an age where he wants to be Reducing his workload.
That leaves me with having to drive to work three days a week, covering the fuel With increasing traffic which is a nightmare coming out of Southend now and all the joys of the London traffic, The North Circular, The M25. The M11 (All the best roads) Yesterday was a bad day - 2 hours 15 to do 46 miles
I'm Seriously thinking about learning to ride a motorbike.
I'll be coming up to 49 years old next year and I'm thinking about aiming for a commuter bike, my Son is also coming up to 17 and we're thinking maybe to do the CBT test together, from what I understand that would be a great way to find out how we get on before we make any further plans. I'm also very fortunate that my father-in-law is a biker so supportive of the idea. My plan would be to use the A13 when I can, Which would take me all the way through to the North Circular avoiding motorways, It's also a 50 mile now speed limit the whole way. Which makes for a bit more of a relaxing ride. Big Question which is with miles per gallon and comfort in mind, What would make a first good commuter bike? And what could I expect to get with economy being the goal?
Thanks
I'm after some advice and want to do my research early, I've been driving to work in North London for over 16 years with a passenger who pays for all my fuel but He's potentially going to be leaving the company next year because he's reaching an age where he wants to be Reducing his workload.
That leaves me with having to drive to work three days a week, covering the fuel With increasing traffic which is a nightmare coming out of Southend now and all the joys of the London traffic, The North Circular, The M25. The M11 (All the best roads) Yesterday was a bad day - 2 hours 15 to do 46 miles
I'm Seriously thinking about learning to ride a motorbike.I'll be coming up to 49 years old next year and I'm thinking about aiming for a commuter bike, my Son is also coming up to 17 and we're thinking maybe to do the CBT test together, from what I understand that would be a great way to find out how we get on before we make any further plans. I'm also very fortunate that my father-in-law is a biker so supportive of the idea. My plan would be to use the A13 when I can, Which would take me all the way through to the North Circular avoiding motorways, It's also a 50 mile now speed limit the whole way. Which makes for a bit more of a relaxing ride. Big Question which is with miles per gallon and comfort in mind, What would make a first good commuter bike? And what could I expect to get with economy being the goal?
Thanks
From your description you could do the commute on a 125 for a bit to work out if it's worth the expense of a full licence and bigger bike etc. You could even keep it simple and get a scooter.
It also sounds like you keep open the car option for the bad weather days, which is a big plus.
In general though, if you are intending to get a bigger bike of some kind, I would look at it as saving time, not money.
It also sounds like you keep open the car option for the bad weather days, which is a big plus.
In general though, if you are intending to get a bigger bike of some kind, I would look at it as saving time, not money.
As above, this is 125 territory all day long really. 100+mpg and the ability to nip through nearly every gap will make a huge difference, and you can take your pick from scooters with weather protection, to little commuter type bikes and even physically larger "adventure" style bikes with luggage etc.
You’ve just described the usage case for a maxi-scooter to a tee. A 300cc something would be ideal. Bit more power than a 125 so you’re not at the top end of its abilities at 60mph, but still will do 100mpg and has the scooter body for weather protection plus stowing your gear.
If you want a “proper” bike, a Honda NC750. Brilliant fuel economy, bulletproof and a relaxed ride.
If you want a “proper” bike, a Honda NC750. Brilliant fuel economy, bulletproof and a relaxed ride.
Something like a Suzuki V-Strom 650 can achieve 60mpg, a Honda NC750X more like 70+ both in reasonable comfort and with decent performance.
In my mind you have to be really quite dedicated to commute all year round though and I'm not sure I would have been ready straight after passing my test to commuting around London either, but that's me!
I did my CBT at 49 btw.
In my mind you have to be really quite dedicated to commute all year round though and I'm not sure I would have been ready straight after passing my test to commuting around London either, but that's me!
I did my CBT at 49 btw.
i would want to get through cbt as fast as you can, a 125 is still quite a small bike and you'll feel bullied on faster roads like the A13.
I run a VFR800 to commute from St Albans into Central london (the roads you use will have a big bearing on consumption) and i get around 45mpg. (27 miles each way when i do it)
I run a VFR800 to commute from St Albans into Central london (the roads you use will have a big bearing on consumption) and i get around 45mpg. (27 miles each way when i do it)
I've been commuting from Kent in to central London (Moorgate) for about twenty years. 26miles each way which takes about an hour. I can't really comment on mpg as it's never really been something that's important to me but there are loads of 600-800cc bikes that would do the job for you and I'd expect 60+mpg is pretty realistic. I ride a BMW R1300GS which a big heavy bike and my ride is a combo of c15 miles on big fast roads (the M25 and A20) and 10ish on slower and congested urban/city roads. Even my big heavy bike returns c45mpg+.
What I would say is this: I commute through choice. Bikes are in my blood and I'll ride a bike given any opportunity. I have good kit and I like doing my own thing. If you're thinking of commuting those roads because you have to or at least because it makes financial sense you may regret it! It's obviously dangerous so there's that. If you ride a bike enough you ARE coming to come off at some point. But, more pointedly, it can be awful! When it's wet and cold and the water begins to creep in it can be miserable. You don't really appreciate how cold you can get until you've ridden a bike through winter. Now we have hotter summers it can also be pretty awful in summer 30+ degrees in armoured kit sitting in traffic is no fun. So, my advice; only do this if you really want to otherwise, you'll find you have a bike in the garage and lots of kit in the house while you still drive to work!
If you do it, consider a maxi-scooter (easier to ride, good weather protection) and in any case get a bike with good weather protection that ideally can be manipulated to maximise air flow when you want it, heated grips and ideally heated seat and for me a shaft drive was also non-negotiable as high miles will require frequent chain adjustment and if you care about the bike (perhaps not) generate lots of mess which will need cleaning. Top box is essential.
What I would say is this: I commute through choice. Bikes are in my blood and I'll ride a bike given any opportunity. I have good kit and I like doing my own thing. If you're thinking of commuting those roads because you have to or at least because it makes financial sense you may regret it! It's obviously dangerous so there's that. If you ride a bike enough you ARE coming to come off at some point. But, more pointedly, it can be awful! When it's wet and cold and the water begins to creep in it can be miserable. You don't really appreciate how cold you can get until you've ridden a bike through winter. Now we have hotter summers it can also be pretty awful in summer 30+ degrees in armoured kit sitting in traffic is no fun. So, my advice; only do this if you really want to otherwise, you'll find you have a bike in the garage and lots of kit in the house while you still drive to work!
If you do it, consider a maxi-scooter (easier to ride, good weather protection) and in any case get a bike with good weather protection that ideally can be manipulated to maximise air flow when you want it, heated grips and ideally heated seat and for me a shaft drive was also non-negotiable as high miles will require frequent chain adjustment and if you care about the bike (perhaps not) generate lots of mess which will need cleaning. Top box is essential.
itcaptainslow said:
You ve just described the usage case for a maxi-scooter to a tee. A 300cc something would be ideal. Bit more power than a 125 so you re not at the top end of its abilities at 60mph, but still will do 100mpg and has the scooter body for weather protection plus stowing your gear.
If you want a proper bike, a Honda NC750. Brilliant fuel economy, bulletproof and a relaxed ride.
I'd agree with this. A Maxi scooter will have a bit more power than a 125 so will be more relaxed when cruising. It also has much better weather protection (screen and bodywork) and you can get waterproof "aprons" that cover your legs up to properly keep you warm and dry. If you want a proper bike, a Honda NC750. Brilliant fuel economy, bulletproof and a relaxed ride.
If you are going through winter, I'd also add in a pair of bar muffs to keep the wind off your hands.
Alternatively, if you want a "big bike" to commute but that can also be used for longer trips and stuff, then any of the BMW F800 (S, ST, R, GT or GS) will give you 60-70mpg in mixed use, more on a long steady run.
JaseB said:
Something like a Suzuki V-Strom 650 can achieve 60mpg, a Honda NC750X more like 70+ both in reasonable comfort and with decent performance.
In my mind you have to be really quite dedicated to commute all year round though and I'm not sure I would have been ready straight after passing my test to commuting around London either, but that's me!
I did my CBT at 49 btw.
The Honda is what I was thinking. In my mind you have to be really quite dedicated to commute all year round though and I'm not sure I would have been ready straight after passing my test to commuting around London either, but that's me!
I did my CBT at 49 btw.
270 miles a week feels a bit punchy for a 125 for me and having a reserve of torque I've always found makes for a more relaxing ride.
That said if fuel economy and cost was a higher priority than time saved I'd be getting an EV and I say that as a biker.
gavsdavs said:
i would want to get through cbt as fast as you can, a 125 is still quite a small bike and you'll feel bullied on faster roads like the A13.
I run a VFR800 to commute from St Albans into Central london (the roads you use will have a big bearing on consumption) and i get around 45mpg. (27 miles each way when i do it)
I would go a Honda V4 as well... but in the form of a Pan European..I run a VFR800 to commute from St Albans into Central london (the roads you use will have a big bearing on consumption) and i get around 45mpg. (27 miles each way when i do it)
I'm not sure id be that comfortable riding the m25 and m11 on a 125, they dont quite have the power or presence to make it a comfortable journey. That said a lot of the time traffic is slow moving and you are filtering so having a lighter nimble bike is not a bad thing. If traffic is moving I always felt i couldnt get clear of trouble on the lower capacity bikes.. I ride fairly enthusiastically and im seeing 35mpg out of a litre bike ( 130miles daily - I'm 105kg so not a featherweight)
One thing no one has dived in on yet is cost. You may get a bike that is more economical than a car, but the other costs of bikes are far greater than cars. Costs of insurance, road tax etc. are generally higher. Servicing costs are higher as normally service intervals are shorter. Tyres are generally more expensive and last less mileage. Then you need to factor in your gear, you can get cheap gear but if you are commuting that distance it would get annoying pretty quickly. It is easy to spend over £1,000 even on relatively cheap boots, textiles (doubt you'll want leathers on a daily commute), helmet and gloves that are made to survive a commute. You may well look to spend double to move up a tier to better stuff but I would prove you want to do it with the cheaper stuff first and then you also have spares. Most of us that commute even have summer gear and winter gear as the needs are so different (and as summers heat up there is a third hot weather gear outfit too). Not taking into account depreciation or gear costs, I find my bike costs a little more than my car overall with both being fairly average.
You will save time probably, but even there not as much as you might think as there is bike garaging/security and gear changing at both ends. If you don't use extra security on your bike it won't last long in all probability (assuming you have a Company car park.. if not investigate it's chances of not getting stolen wherever you might park it). You'll be doing 2-3 times the fuel stops too in all likelihood. Your commute sounds long enough that you should save time. My commute is about 60-75 minutes by car and 45-50 minutes by bike so I'm roughly even. What you do gain is certainty as you rarely get a 60 minute tail back on a bike.
Having said all that doom and gloom. I do enjoy the commute by bike. I purposely don't use intercoms/headsets so I am sealed off from the world. Having to concentrate on riding means a complete shut off from the normal stresses of life, and separates work from home. But when the weather turns bad I very quickly revert to the car. I guess the question is do you really want a bike?
If you do go ahead then NC750 has already been mentioned but I'd also consider a CB500X. I would suggest buying something lowish mileage (20k-ish) about 5 years old whilst you work out needs, so someone has taken the depreciation hit but it's still new enough to be reliable.
You will save time probably, but even there not as much as you might think as there is bike garaging/security and gear changing at both ends. If you don't use extra security on your bike it won't last long in all probability (assuming you have a Company car park.. if not investigate it's chances of not getting stolen wherever you might park it). You'll be doing 2-3 times the fuel stops too in all likelihood. Your commute sounds long enough that you should save time. My commute is about 60-75 minutes by car and 45-50 minutes by bike so I'm roughly even. What you do gain is certainty as you rarely get a 60 minute tail back on a bike.
Having said all that doom and gloom. I do enjoy the commute by bike. I purposely don't use intercoms/headsets so I am sealed off from the world. Having to concentrate on riding means a complete shut off from the normal stresses of life, and separates work from home. But when the weather turns bad I very quickly revert to the car. I guess the question is do you really want a bike?
If you do go ahead then NC750 has already been mentioned but I'd also consider a CB500X. I would suggest buying something lowish mileage (20k-ish) about 5 years old whilst you work out needs, so someone has taken the depreciation hit but it's still new enough to be reliable.
I tax and insure two litre+ bikes for less than one three litre car, a sub-600 like a CB500 would cost buttons to keep on the road.
Given the mileage fuel is going to be the biggest concern so EV would be ideal. Not sure a Zero would be up to the task, cheap EV car would pay for itself.
Given the mileage fuel is going to be the biggest concern so EV would be ideal. Not sure a Zero would be up to the task, cheap EV car would pay for itself.
A mate of mine has a commute from Herts ( north of Enfield ) to Gravesend daily and public transport just doesn't work for him on that route
He bought a maxi scooter 500 or 600 I can't recall the model, to do the trip on
He loves it, gets him through the traffic and I don't think it's expensive to run and has been doing it a few years now
He bought a maxi scooter 500 or 600 I can't recall the model, to do the trip on
He loves it, gets him through the traffic and I don't think it's expensive to run and has been doing it a few years now
..and this is the reason I love Pistonheads! some great responses already.
Hearing from experienced riders who have commuted on bikes is great, the weather is always a consideration - I do have the car to fall back on in extreme cases.
I will look into the bikes you have mentioned and get a list together - I love a good bit of research.
Thanks for the info so far.
Hearing from experienced riders who have commuted on bikes is great, the weather is always a consideration - I do have the car to fall back on in extreme cases.
I will look into the bikes you have mentioned and get a list together - I love a good bit of research.
Thanks for the info so far.
Scooters will be your best friend. Easier to use day to day. A 125 will give you a taste, but a 300 is probably a less stressful experience, and has more storage on. They're larger though so go shopping and see what's around.
Servicing, insurance, MOT and parts costs are generally cheaper than a car. I don't live in or around London so your mileage on some of those may vary.
Start with your CBT and see if you even like riding full stop. If you do, get a bit of experience on a 125 and step up to a full licence, you'll need it on Motorways regardless. Be prepared that it is a compromise. Unforeseen rain showers and high winds are barely worth talking about in a car but they can blow you around on a bike or make the road slippery. Being drenched when you arrive is not fun in the icy cold. Don't forget to factor in the large outlay to get you going (Gear, bike, legalities etc) as well as the time to get changed at each end. Door to door will almost certainly be faster, but you can't take a Zoom call with your helmet on.
Also be prepared that you might really like it and choose it over your car. It can really get under your skin. This results in the redistribution of wealth to numerous cafes, and the necessity for larger clothes.
Servicing, insurance, MOT and parts costs are generally cheaper than a car. I don't live in or around London so your mileage on some of those may vary.
Start with your CBT and see if you even like riding full stop. If you do, get a bit of experience on a 125 and step up to a full licence, you'll need it on Motorways regardless. Be prepared that it is a compromise. Unforeseen rain showers and high winds are barely worth talking about in a car but they can blow you around on a bike or make the road slippery. Being drenched when you arrive is not fun in the icy cold. Don't forget to factor in the large outlay to get you going (Gear, bike, legalities etc) as well as the time to get changed at each end. Door to door will almost certainly be faster, but you can't take a Zoom call with your helmet on.
Also be prepared that you might really like it and choose it over your car. It can really get under your skin. This results in the redistribution of wealth to numerous cafes, and the necessity for larger clothes.
A lot of what I was going to say has been said. I've commuted by bike (sv650 now) from Herts into the city for 30+ years, to be honest it's the only thing that keeps me sane.
It is far cheaper than public transport, I put about £30 of petrol into my bike a week, the return from WGC to Moorgate is about £24 a day. My man maths allows me to pay for a new basic bike over 4 years or so when you take everything into account. I'm doing maybe 10-12k miles per year?? Someone will shoot my maths apart, but the real advantage is that you are in charge of your own journey. I occasionally get the train, just to remind myself why I don't get the train!
There is no perfect bike, I've used everything from a 125 to a 1300, they are all better than sitting in a car in traffic for 2+ hours each way
It is far cheaper than public transport, I put about £30 of petrol into my bike a week, the return from WGC to Moorgate is about £24 a day. My man maths allows me to pay for a new basic bike over 4 years or so when you take everything into account. I'm doing maybe 10-12k miles per year?? Someone will shoot my maths apart, but the real advantage is that you are in charge of your own journey. I occasionally get the train, just to remind myself why I don't get the train!
There is no perfect bike, I've used everything from a 125 to a 1300, they are all better than sitting in a car in traffic for 2+ hours each way
I did my CBT in Jan, did 1000 miles on a 125 then in July took my test and have done 2500 miles since on a Kawazaki Z650.
The bigger bikes are so much better to ride, if I was doing it again I would not bother with the 125 and go straight for a big bike.
I've done a lot of work miles which have been great, I love knowing I can get through or around the traffic. I had one miserable experience travelling to Stoke on Trent where it pissed it down and I didn't have waterproofs so spent the whole day wet.
Overall, definitely recommend it, just get the right gear!
The bigger bikes are so much better to ride, if I was doing it again I would not bother with the 125 and go straight for a big bike.
I've done a lot of work miles which have been great, I love knowing I can get through or around the traffic. I had one miserable experience travelling to Stoke on Trent where it pissed it down and I didn't have waterproofs so spent the whole day wet.
Overall, definitely recommend it, just get the right gear!
boyse7en said:
I'd agree with this. A Maxi scooter will have a bit more power than a 125 so will be more relaxed when cruising. It also has much better weather protection (screen and bodywork) and you can get waterproof "aprons" that cover your legs up to properly keep you warm and dry.
If you are going through winter, I'd also add in a pair of bar muffs to keep the wind off your hands.
Alternatively, if you want a "big bike" to commute but that can also be used for longer trips and stuff, then any of the BMW F800 (S, ST, R, GT or GS) will give you 60-70mpg in mixed use, more on a long steady run.
I used to commute all year round before retirement, and for the last 10 years used a BMW F800ST, before it was written of when I was hit by a car, and then a F800GT for the last few. Great bike, smooth engine, light and great handling with good weather protection including heated hand grips (only used a couple of times a year, this is Western Australia) belt drive so quiet and clean, and averaged 80mpg over 60k km. I didn't thrash it, but I wasn't riding for economy either.If you are going through winter, I'd also add in a pair of bar muffs to keep the wind off your hands.
Alternatively, if you want a "big bike" to commute but that can also be used for longer trips and stuff, then any of the BMW F800 (S, ST, R, GT or GS) will give you 60-70mpg in mixed use, more on a long steady run.
I agree with the earlier poster about having a top box. The BMW top box for the 800 would just hold my helmet and gloves, but where I worked I had secure parking so I would walk across the yard to my office and take off the gear there. This had another advantage. It does sometimes rain here, and if it was raining at knock off time, I would put on my boots and rain pants over my office trousers and coat, walk outside and the lads would be on the verandah waiting for a break in the rain. They would mock me and laugh and say 'you're going to get wet going home today ha ha'. I'd just laugh and say 'No I'm not. Why do you think I am wearing this gear. You're going to get wetter walking to your car'. Then I could put my helmet on and walk across the yard to my bike, perfectly dry.
Decent gear doesn't need to cost too much. My jacket is a cheap Dririder which was less than AU200 over here. Came with extra cold insulator, which I might have used once, but has zips to open in the hot weather. We get 45c plus here, but I never had any real problems with that. These jackets are only waterproof for a few years, but when they start to leak, you pop down to your camping store, and buy a spray can of seam sealer, spray it on the jacket and gloves, and Roberts you're parent's sibling.
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