Portsmouth to London daily

kaostheory · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Karma :

Hi All,

New to the forum as you can see, I have been riding a 125 for 8 years ( leisurely ) although i do have a full license acquired whilst in the army.

I am looking at taking a contract in central london ( london bridge area ) and would like to buy a bike <£2000 for the journey. Now I know that riding the chinese skyjet thing i have been plodding around on for the last 2 years is not going to be fun for a 160 mile round trip so looking for something 500+ i guess.

Firstly could anyone give any recommendations on that? Main criteria is reliability.

Secondly I am a bit of a london virgin having been there a total of 5 times in my life, can anyone tell me the overall deal with riding into/in london and parking with regards to congestion charging and particularly parking areas around london bridge, i dont mind a short walk.

Also does anyone do this trip and have any experience to share?

Thanks in advance.

Rhys

DrDonnyBrago · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

cb500, gs500, cbf600, cb600f

cbr600f
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

You don't have to pay congestion charge, parking is free in marked bays except in westminster, but these fill up quickly especially in the summer. Check with your employer there maybe somewhere you can park on there property.

Personally if I was doing that journey every day (for starters I wouldn't you are looking at a good 4 hours travelling time every day and well over £100 in petrol a week) I would choose a TDM 850, tall confortable, reliable and which is most important IMO, it has the tank range to only need filling up once a day.
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Clanger · Stirrer Joined: 27 May 2004 Karma :

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=192855

Maybe you could find some answers to your questions in this post?
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

Honda NTV's tend to be choosen for london couriers, absolutely bullet proof engine (mine has survived over 6 months of me and my bike's survival rate has been almost 0% Laughing

) Really skinny bikes too which makes filtering a doddle. And assuming you don't go for a bros they are shaft drive so maintanance is seriously reduced.

c_dug
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27cows · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 Nov 2009 Karma :

kaostheory · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Karma :

chris-red: Its a 2.5 - 3 hour train ride which costs 35 a day so £20 a day and 2 hours each way isnt really an issue as im already travelling a round trip of 250 miles a day costing me £150 - £180 a week in diesel.

As you say 2 hours each way i take it most of this time is taken up within the internals of london? I can get to Guildford in less than 45 mins which is 70% of the distance.

Do you know if there are any specific parking areas near to london bridge?

Excuse my ignorance but would not many "big bikes" manage 160 miles on a tank?

swampy · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

Hey mate, I go into London from Havant twice a week and only takes 1hour 20 on the fast train (every half hour at least). You'll be paying more than 35 qid a day though, I pay that at peak times with my student card which is a third off.

I have considered riding too and reckon on an hour and 45 to Elephant and Castle which isnt too far from London Bridge. To be honest, I cant be assed to carry my gear and my books around all day though, and I get to do some work on the train.

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instigator · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Karma :

Is there any particular reason why you don't rent a place in London instead? You can get places for £90-100 per week easily enough and cycle in. I'd hate to waste that much of my life looking at tarmac unless I was being paid to do it. (As in pence per mile not higher wage)

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

MonkeyKnuckle · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Karma :

swampy · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Aug 2004 Karma :

T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

CBR600F will do 160 miles to a tank though you might have to dip into the reserve if you don't ride economically.

GPZ500 is very economical ridden sensibly, I can't remember the tank size but I'm sure I got 200 miles out of mine? Good wind protection and quite thin for filtering too, probably ideal for you although maybe not as reliable as an NTV.

Do you JUST want the bike for commuting or for weekend fun too?

As said previously though, with the cost of servicing and fuel and depreciation you'd be better off renting a weekday place in London wouldn't you?
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kaostheory · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Karma :

Let me explain a little around my circumstances.

I have a wife who works in QA hospital ( 10 miles away for non locals )and a 2 year old daughter who is nicely settled in nursery hence not moving closer.

I am a contractor - the original contract is for 120 days so at present not cutting into winter, again no point in moving.

To get to work on time i would have to catch the 5:29 train from Fareham and i have to get to the station and park or walk 20 - 25 mins to get there. The train journey is 2hrs 23 mins with 3 changes. If one of those changes or one of the trains is late that jeopardises my relationship with the client. The quoted cost for a return is actually more than i imagined at £56.90. And then that gets me home at 7.30pm

If i buy a 3 month season ticket ( which is taking a big gamble on Purchase orders and such like with being a contractor ) It works at £29 per day which is good but like i say a big risk to take.

For a work horse such as I am considering this bike to be wouldnt servicing my self be sufficient and cheaper as I am not looking at resale value?

I have a day off on thursday so am thinking about attempting the journey on the 125 to get a grasp of it. I do Fareham to Guildford in 45 Mins in rush hour everyday by car of course there are exceptions when hindhead is a nightmare but there is always filtering through that small part which would only add 5 - 10 mins and guildford is 50 of the 80 miles covered.

Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

For that journey and especially if you need frugality I'd find something with a big old engine and 2 valves per cylinder.

Thinking 900 diversion or similar. Low maintenance, nice friendly torque, shaft drive and a bout 80-90hp. Should be pretty good on juice too.
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Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

Don't forget, you have to factor-in the cost of buying the bike and putting it on the road if you're going to compare it to train fares. Fuel is only one small cost. You don't have to put tyres on the train.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good Very Happy

T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

I'm not suggesting you move your whole family life to London, just rent a bedsit for midweek and spend weekends at home.
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

kaostheory · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Karma :

I don't like staying away from home even during the week, I left the army for that reason so as not to be away from my daughter.

Reference not comparing the bike cost to train fares : The bike is an asset which is there at the end of the term for future use. As an analogy i see it as comparing renting to mortgage.

I'm looking at using the bike as providing a level of flexibility and freedom on my part. I dont see the point in staying in town in a bedsit to save my time on the road if that time isnt beneficial to me i.e no family quality time and either spending more money going out in town or sitting alone?

robbieguy2003 · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 Mar 2007 Karma :

If your contract stays for 3 months it might not be that bad. I hear what you mean with the train. I've done Hastings > London a lot (~140 mile round trip) and loved it in the summer.

Winter/Windy days were a bastard but still possible.

Personally, i hated trains, before driving/riding i'd been let down far too many times and hated it being out of my control.

I've had things go shitshaped on the road for me (accidents where i've had to detour etc), however I still know I can get home and thats that.

I'd definatly invest in an AA membership or something if you do this though, even if your bike is bulletproof, your tyres can still get punctures etc.

I'd tend to agree with some of the suggestions above, however I like the one from Chris for a TDM based on the tank range doing your trip, it can be depressing filling up several times a day. You can also get decent luggage for them.
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T0MMY · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Jun 2008 Karma :

What sort of fuel economy can you get out of a TDM 850? I thought the TRX was pretty bad on fuel?

I reckon GPZ500S or CB500S is your best bet. I know the former can get over 70 mpg ridden carefully, that's going to make a big difference with this kind of mileage. I think Diversion 600s are meant to be very good on fuel too.
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Pete. · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

kaostheory · L Plate Warrior Joined: 19 Apr 2010 Karma :

I have to admit valve checks are a bit above my knowledge I underestimated that angle. I just assumed spark plugs oil/fuel/filter chain grease tightening etc

I have full AA membership already. I guess the main thing i need to figure out is what bike, I am looking at all the suggestions so far thanks everyone for your replies.

Whilst i don't agree with some of the suggestions i guess my issues with them are also of personal preference aswell as a financial one but all have been objective.

Pete: I completely agree and likewise for commuting i never spend more than £1.5k on a car because of the milage i rack up. but 3 months of 160 a day x 5 days = 19200 miles I would still imagine serviceability after that and a 6 month season ticket amounts to £2796 but still the backing factor for this is freedom/control and flexibility. With all my vehicles i dont resell i run them into the ground. Like i said to me its a work horse so my assett is not so much a financial assett as a functional assett for future use.