So after the recent weather and dipping out of the fest, etc, I'm wondering if anyone else finds that commuting on a bike spoils the joy a bit? I regularly get soaked, or frozen to the bone, on my daily commute (about 70 miles round trip). And now I find that I can only be arsed to get out on the bike if it's dry and at least a little blue sky showing. Before I got this current job I didn't have to commute and I'd get out on the bike all the time. On the plus side - caring much less about the joyrides makes it much easier to make the decision to track my daytona. I won't do it fully this year, but I think next year I should be all sorted!
I liked commuting on my bike didn't spoil it for me as its all experience. Don't commute now and only go out when dry but I have amazing roads literally on my doorstep so not bothered as loads of my riding time before was getting out of London to good roads.
I love commuting on mine, it's far better than sitting in a can.: I can arrive at work happy, rather than frustrated from crawling in with the rest of the tragic. I also look forward to the journey home, and if it's really nice I'll take a "scenic route". I pick & choose when I commute on my bike, and so if it's looking cr*p I just don't bother with it. Although sometimes it's still more fun to arrive with freezing fingers & toes, and a big grin on my face. Also makes you appreciate a roaring fire all the more. A friend of mine only passed his car test last spring, after riding a motorbike as his only transport for 16 years. He was so fed up of being on a bike that he's not been back on one since he got his car. So I guess you can spoil it for yourself, if that's all you do. If I could only have either a car or a bike, I suspect I'd choose a bike,,,, I think. :?
It's all dual carriageway for me. There isn't really a scenic route I don't own a car - but I do much prefer the bike (I occasionally have the use of a car) when the weather is good. If I invested in some good quality kit for poor weather I'm sure it'd be much better. I'd just rather spend the cash on shiny bits
Well, it's A63 (M62) for me too mate. Boring straight, 7 squared off tyres. But IMO there's usually an alternative. You just have to think of the destination as being secondary. I have to set off North, when my desination is due East/West (to/from) if I want to enjoy any fun roads. Not a logical route, over twice as far (18 miles becomes 30+) but also over twice the fun. Having said that I do also enjoy a Red675 style high speed "uber filter-fest" through lines of frustrated & jeleous car drivers. As for the better kit LOL. Mine is usually old & manked. IMHO you should just make yourself learn to enjoy the positives (like the fire being even more welcoming etc..) "Stars", not "Bars" mate.!
Ive just bought a str to commute on and have the d675SE which i still love and ride at weekends when im about far better than sitting on a crowded train or tube being squished like a sardine and yes i get wet and cold but when i leave work its a smile for me as i know i getting on ma bike to get home.
I ride come rain or shine yes it's not always fun when you're frozen to the bone like I was for most of Jan and Feb this year but a bike is the only way to travel it really is and I love commuting on the Daytona gives you something to look forward to getting out of bed in the morning doesn't spoil it for me at all.
I can get that. I have to be very self-disciplined to ride the er6 instead of the daytona. Otherwise I'd end up going through 4 or 5 pairs of tyres a year. When I eventually get to chop the er6 in for something more poweful then I reckon id like it more.
IMHO if you commute a long way each week it DOES take the shine of biking for fun. It doesn't totally ruin it but it makes it noticeably less "special". I commuted daily on a VFR into and out of central London from Bucks - 80 mile round trip for 5 years (only snow stopped me from taking the bike). That's 400 miles per week......and.....3 hours or so in the saddle EACH DAY! I didn't used to mind the riding itself and I did still go out on the bike socially. What I found was that come Friday I was frazzled. Physically it was tiring as it was a mix of M40 / A40 and central London madness. Mentally it was also exhausting due to the level of concentration I had to maintain - a horrid mix of sleepy car drivers, pedestrians, busses and horses (round Buckingham palace generally) demanded sustained high levels of concentration to make sure I got there and back in one piece I gave that up 12 months ago due to changing job and having to take the train instead. Whilst catching a train is a hassle it meant I was sleeping (well, snoozing) 2 hours a day instead of riding. That in turn meant that I wasn't completely knackered come the weekends (significantly less mentally frazzled too) and was far more likely to get up early and get out on the bike at the slightest hint of dry weather. I bought my Daytona as soon as I moved jobs and have LOVED every single mile since. I enjoy the rides more as I'm less tired and I find myself planning rides for the coming weekend :mrgreen: . Would I commute on a bike again? 100% I would. On the right day / week there is nothing better than being on a bike vs. any other way of commuting but it does have its understandable downsides
I did a number of years based in north London and travelling daily all over Greater London and the M25 area. Hardly ever the same route for more than a week or so. In the end I'd been tired, wet, cold too often and gave up. I had to wear a formal suit so gear was always a compromise. So it can spoil it-but I had lots of fun too and for years had the benefit of knowing my journey times in advance which (compared with car commuting or public transport) gave me many hours of time for myself rather than stuck in traffic or waiting for buses and trains.
I commute on my Sprint ST in all weathers and I don't find it ruins my enjoyment of motorcycling at all. In fact I look forward to the journey in and out of work! I hated using the train and a car would just be frustrating given the traffic.
i commute every day surrey to London. 350 miles a week 45 mins in the saddle each way. I would argue there is no fun alternative than the A3 which is functional. But I do enjoy commuting on the bike. There is no better way to travel ... ever. I still use the bike in snow, rain, wind, whatever. It doesn't put me off riding for fun because that's on better roads with good company. There is no excuse for being cold or wet on a bike - just buy better kit.
I don't own a car so always commute by bike, but I do have a little cb500 for my communting. Paid £375 for it and it only costs £30 to add it to my insurance, so it makes a great litle cheap commuter. That way when you are on your nice bike, it's more fun So my top tip, get yourself a commuter bike instead
This. The only thing that spoils my weekend enjoyment from commuting on my 675 is the bloody cost of it all. Tyres, servicing, fuel, speeding tickets..... Does my head in sometimes.
I'm pretty sure that's the key. Even some wind guards on the handlebars would make a world of difference. It's just all so expensive :s I live 5 mins from the train station and work 10 mins from the other end., and I can pretty much rock up to work whenever I like, so off peak it's cheaper to get the train. My fixed rate mortgage at 6.2%! has just finished though, so I could save a bit each month if I decide not to reduce the term. I reckon I should at least long enough to get some decent gear
Seriously somrething like a CB500 is cheap as chips to run. Its a commuter so you put cheap tyres on, part worns even and the bike has no power so the tyres last thousands of miles. The engines are bullet proof, I have had one of these for almost 10 years now, all I have ever had to do to them is service and replace the odd battery, oh and a generator went on one once. the worst thing is is riding through the winter in the salt. No bike lasts that long, so i always buy cheap knackered looking ones, but honestly they just keep going and surprisingly fun riding something with no power, suspension or brakes to speak off, they become a challenge to ride quick
70 miles round trip a day/1400 miles per month (just work alone) = £50+/week petrol £200 - £550 every 6000 miles service £300 new tyres every 6-8000 miles not sure what you earn mate, but thats a big wedge out of my wages, especially as i live on my own with mortgage etc i wouldnt swap my commute to and from work for anything - it makes work bearable but the cost is something you need to consider if like me, youre not earning big bucks
I commute 700 miles a week all weather on the Daytona, I love it and still ride for fun at the weekend and over to Europe for holidays. All weather riding is an excellent way to increase your skills but it is very tiring, but I always start the day with a smile and have forgotten the stress of the day by the time i get home. If I had to go by car or train I'd be a proper miserable b**tard Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
