Anyone do a 100 mile or more daily commute to get to work?
Discussion
So I currently live in Maidenhead and commute on my bike to Battersea everyday. About 25 miles each way. Can do it in about 40-45 minutes. Not a biggie for me anymore and am used to it if it is a little boring. My hornet is fine for the motorway bit and great for the filtering thing.
We are currently saving for a house and looking at areas. We have friends in Basingstoke and been looking at places there. The thing is it would double my daily commute to 100 miles a day (50 miles each way). So I would need a new bike. Any bike have a 200 mile tank range? I would need a bike that could do motorways well but also filter well.
Am I stupid to even think about this. It is going to up the cost and time I spend (I guess adding about 20 minutes to the journey) on the road.
Does anyone here do that kind of mileage? Any advice?
We are currently saving for a house and looking at areas. We have friends in Basingstoke and been looking at places there. The thing is it would double my daily commute to 100 miles a day (50 miles each way). So I would need a new bike. Any bike have a 200 mile tank range? I would need a bike that could do motorways well but also filter well.
Am I stupid to even think about this. It is going to up the cost and time I spend (I guess adding about 20 minutes to the journey) on the road.
Does anyone here do that kind of mileage? Any advice?
I spent 3.5 years commuting from Aldershot to Sevenoaks at about 120 miles/day, and recently spent 3 months commuting to Warminster at 150 miles/day. I ended up using the car most of the time as I find motorways incredibly boring and unless there was a significant holdup somewhere it actually quicker in the car than on the bike by the time I'd got in and out of my bike kit and filled up with fuel both ends.
You'd pick up something like a TDM900 for a couple of grand which will do well over 200 miles to a tank at over 50mpg and are cheap to maintain, I know several people who do long distance commutes on them. If you want a really long tank range the GS Adventure can do over 300 but not as fuel efficient and a bit wide when it comes to filtering.
You'd pick up something like a TDM900 for a couple of grand which will do well over 200 miles to a tank at over 50mpg and are cheap to maintain, I know several people who do long distance commutes on them. If you want a really long tank range the GS Adventure can do over 300 but not as fuel efficient and a bit wide when it comes to filtering.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 5th October 11:30
Personally I wouldn't do it - quality of life, etc, etc.
I would have thought it's possible - you might be filling up every day/other day.
I wouldn't want to do a commute like that in the car everyday, especially going into Battersea from Basingstoke.
Would you be buying a "shed" to do this on, or using your current steed?
Soss
I would have thought it's possible - you might be filling up every day/other day.
I wouldn't want to do a commute like that in the car everyday, especially going into Battersea from Basingstoke.
Would you be buying a "shed" to do this on, or using your current steed?
Soss
Been doing long commutes for years... in fact i'm commuting from just north of Basingstoke to near Paddington and on average its about an hour door to door. Its a choice you make, for me having a larger house in the country makes it all worthwhile. The M3 is often quite busy in the mornings so you do end up filtering quite a bit but its normally plain sailing heading back. Bikewise having had Sportsbikes, Nakeds and learning the hard way you'll want a decent fairing and comfort to make the long rides, driving rain and all the other rubbish the british weather throws at you bearable - also budget for top notch kit & heated clothing if you plan to do winter riding too. Current weapon of choice is a VFR... yes its not as exciting as my old italia V's but it reliability is king (Honda do this well), and the headlights are amazing (key when its dark riding out and in) makes a nice noise and I just get 200 miles out a tank. TDM is an excellent choice too - borrowed one for a few weeks.
Edited by Toelink on Tuesday 5th October 11:50
Thanks for the comments.
I know it would be ideal, but to buy a house compromises have to be made. At the moment I can only afford a dive in Maidenhead as in Basingstoke I could get a nice 3 bed with garage and garden in a decent area. My current bike would go to the wife who would be commuting to Reading. I would have to do a large chunk of the journey on the M3 so would need a bike with good weather protection.
Its all hypothetical at the mo, just like to have enough information at my fingertips before we start seriously looking at places.
The TDM is a good call though!
I know it would be ideal, but to buy a house compromises have to be made. At the moment I can only afford a dive in Maidenhead as in Basingstoke I could get a nice 3 bed with garage and garden in a decent area. My current bike would go to the wife who would be commuting to Reading. I would have to do a large chunk of the journey on the M3 so would need a bike with good weather protection.
Its all hypothetical at the mo, just like to have enough information at my fingertips before we start seriously looking at places.
The TDM is a good call though!
Toelink said:
Been doing long commutes for years... in fact i'm commuting from just north of Basingstoke to near Paddington and on average its about an hour door to door. Its a choice you make, for me having a larger house in the country makes it all worthwhile. The M3 is often quite busy in the mornings so you do end up filtering quite a bit but its normally plain sailing heading back. Bikewise having had Sportsbikes, Nakeds and learning the hard way you'll want a decent fairing and comfort to make the long rides, driving rain and all the other rubbish the british weather throws at you bearable - also budget for top notch kit & heated clothing if you plan to do winter riding too. Current weapon of choice is a VFR... yes its not as exciting as my old italia V's but it reliability is king (Honda do this well), and the headlights are amazing (key when its dark riding out and in) makes a nice noise and I just get 200 miles out a tank. TDM is an excellent choice too - borrowed one for a few weeks.
A VFR was my first thought. Like you I would rather a nice house for the kids (which we want soon) and happy to sacrifice personal comfort for a decent place for the family.Edited by Toelink on Tuesday 5th October 11:50
Sonofabeesting said:
y2blade said:
have you spent any time in Basingstoke? it is a sh-thole
I wouldn't want to live there....some nice villages in the area though
Yeah we have friends in Beggerwood. I would be looking at Chineham, Hatch Warren, Lychpit type areas.I wouldn't want to live there....some nice villages in the area though
It's worth doing some calcs on how much the commute is going to cost you too, fuel/maintenance/depreciation all add up. An ex of mine moved further from work to get a nicer house and ended up spending more on the extra commute than the extra mortgage would have cost her to live closer. Obviously doing your own servicing makes sense if you're going to need to service the bike every coupld of months, so ease of maintenance is important.
As for areas I'm with you on that, I'd have had to pay probably £20k more to get a house the same as mine somewhere other than Aldershot
As for areas I'm with you on that, I'd have had to pay probably £20k more to get a house the same as mine somewhere other than Aldershot
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 5th October 11:59
Sonofabeesting said:
So I currently live in Maidenhead and commute on my bike to Battersea everyday. About 25 miles each way. Can do it in about 40-45 minutes. Not a biggie for me anymore and am used to it if it is a little boring. My hornet is fine for the motorway bit and great for the filtering thing.
We are currently saving for a house and looking at areas. We have friends in Basingstoke and been looking at places there. The thing is it would double my daily commute to 100 miles a day (50 miles each way). So I would need a new bike. Any bike have a 200 mile tank range? I would need a bike that could do motorways well but also filter well.
Am I stupid to even think about this. It is going to up the cost and time I spend (I guess adding about 20 minutes to the journey) on the road.
Does anyone here do that kind of mileage? Any advice?
Hi Andy,We are currently saving for a house and looking at areas. We have friends in Basingstoke and been looking at places there. The thing is it would double my daily commute to 100 miles a day (50 miles each way). So I would need a new bike. Any bike have a 200 mile tank range? I would need a bike that could do motorways well but also filter well.
Am I stupid to even think about this. It is going to up the cost and time I spend (I guess adding about 20 minutes to the journey) on the road.
Does anyone here do that kind of mileage? Any advice?
I do - from the other side of Henley to Farringdon. I use a TDM900 for the trip which is the perfect tool for the job. That said, I've also done it on a Honda Hornet, R1, Triumph Daytona T595, Aprilia Pegaso and a Yam DT200WR (with varying degrees of competence).
The TDM will do well in excess of 200 miles (probably about 240) meaning I fill up every other day. Perfect for filtering being nice and narrow and with mirrors that are at the right height to miss most cast/van mirrors.
Whilst I have looked in earnest at changing it a couple of times (purely out of the desire to have a change) I have yet to find a more capable bike for what I need.
Highly, highly recommended.
Basingstoke is a bit of a dive... but head north / south the villages are stunning, as are some of the houses one in my village with a moat (must be an MP ;-)
Oh and another tip is ABS... never had to use it in anger but with all the leaf mulch on the road its nice to know its there if i cock it up!
Oh and another tip is ABS... never had to use it in anger but with all the leaf mulch on the road its nice to know its there if i cock it up!
Sonofabeesting said:
Thanks for the comments.
I know it would be ideal, but to buy a house compromises have to be made. At the moment I can only afford a dive in Maidenhead as in Basingstoke I could get a nice 3 bed with garage and garden in a decent area. My current bike would go to the wife who would be commuting to Reading. I would have to do a large chunk of the journey on the M3 so would need a bike with good weather protection.
Its all hypothetical at the mo, just like to have enough information at my fingertips before we start seriously looking at places.
The TDM is a good call though!
Have you looked in Woodley or Lower Early, should get a lot more bang for your buck and it's not Basingstoke I know it would be ideal, but to buy a house compromises have to be made. At the moment I can only afford a dive in Maidenhead as in Basingstoke I could get a nice 3 bed with garage and garden in a decent area. My current bike would go to the wife who would be commuting to Reading. I would have to do a large chunk of the journey on the M3 so would need a bike with good weather protection.
Its all hypothetical at the mo, just like to have enough information at my fingertips before we start seriously looking at places.
The TDM is a good call though!
I am not sure what the roads/commute will be like for you - but distance is not really a problem. I currently have a 80 mile round commute, and previously have had 80, 90 and 100 mile commutes to/from differnt places.
All depends on the roads/routes - rather than the distance.
A bit like someone else who posted earlier, I prefer the hustle and bustle of city riding to the motorway slog. So even though I can make more time up on M'Ways - I prefer to use as little as possible as is so boring. With regards to bike - any cheap reliable bike will be ideal. I have a Bandit 650SA for precisely this role.
All depends on the roads/routes - rather than the distance.
A bit like someone else who posted earlier, I prefer the hustle and bustle of city riding to the motorway slog. So even though I can make more time up on M'Ways - I prefer to use as little as possible as is so boring. With regards to bike - any cheap reliable bike will be ideal. I have a Bandit 650SA for precisely this role.
Used to do 180ish mile a day commute for 2 years, weapon of choice was a 2006 R6, was not bad actually.
Now do 100 miles a day on my R1
ETA: Get an R1, gear it a bit different for motorway riding, so lower RPM at say 1.0 lepton. Fuel consumtion will be fine. any bike you buy your more then likely going to have to top it up with about 8 or 9 pound a day.
Now do 100 miles a day on my R1
ETA: Get an R1, gear it a bit different for motorway riding, so lower RPM at say 1.0 lepton. Fuel consumtion will be fine. any bike you buy your more then likely going to have to top it up with about 8 or 9 pound a day.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 5th October 12:56
Dr Jekyll said:
I'm surprise how many people are prepared to use a chain drive bike for serious commuting.
Do you really want to be adjusting your chain after a hard days work?
I look at my chain when I leave in morning and arrive in morning. I check my chain properly every weekend. I probably adjust it every 2 to 3 months (4000 - 6000 miles depending on how often I have worked from home/taken car). It does have a Scottoiler on it.Do you really want to be adjusting your chain after a hard days work?
If I did 10 miles a day, the checking would take the same amount of time. Adjusting 4 times a year I can cope with!
yammyfan said:
Used to do 180ish mile a day commute for 2 years, weapon of choice was a 2006 R6, was not bad actually.
Now do 100 miles a day on my R1
ETA: Get an R1, gear it a bit different for motorway riding, so lower RPM at say 1.0 lepton. Fuel consumtion will be fine.
I have used sportsbikes for commuting, and they are fine.Now do 100 miles a day on my R1
ETA: Get an R1, gear it a bit different for motorway riding, so lower RPM at say 1.0 lepton. Fuel consumtion will be fine.
Though doing big miles, I found doing more than 100 mph for extended periods on motorway runs would result in massively increased rear tyre and chain wear. Keeping it under that is a good compromise in progress/fuel economy/wear and tear.
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