29 hrs, 4 countries, 1000 miles

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

Nai · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Karma :

Good Sir I demand you hand your job over to me right now. Beats snot out of what I do for a living.... Thumbs Up

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

A lot of people like the idea of it but in practice most would bottle it.

Ask someone to ride 100 miles a lot wouldn't, turn that into 1000 miles a lot less would even think about it.

Add that 1000 miles to most of the mileage being abroad and nearly everyone has switched off and then tell them the money they will get for it will be in their bank in 6-8 weeks and it leaves very few people willing to go for it.

Me, I love it and with a bit of luck i'll get something similar come in today but I expect it'll be nothing or a usual 'local' 200 mile round trip to London and back that i get most days
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

james1988 · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 May 2010 Karma :

What do you do for a living if you don't mind me asking. I'd love to do something like this Smile

Nai · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Karma :

I have always been of the opinion that some people are meant to live certain life styles. For example we used to have a driver at my company who had driven his whole life. He got a cushy little job at our place, part driving part warehouse work. He was paid well and didn't need to do much while he was in the warehouse. His driving bit was a doddle too.

When he was in the warehouse though he was like a caged rat. He was bored snot less. Couldn't stay still. Give him some driving and he was out and loving it. Got back, and he was bored again.

He left an easy peasy well paid job, because it just wasn't for him. I am guessing your the same, you wouldn't trade your current job for anything? Some people are born to travel / ride / drive. Even if its in a 7.5 ton lorry around London, or a sofa on wheels around Europe Smile

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

UnspeedySam · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Karma :

It does sound like a good lifestyle. I'm doing my utmost to not end up doing a 9-5 London office job when I finish uni as I'd much rather be outside, regardless of the weather. That said, I imagine your job is a little more tough in the winter months...
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Riding: BMW R1150RT `02 bought mildly crashed
Fixing: Also the BMW as I get less broken bits
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01, Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :

I've been asked about the work by pm.

Thought i'd post my reply here as it could be useful to others.
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Hi XXXXX

Courier work has gone to shit.
15 years ago i'd collect a few jobs, head to London and deliver them all before heading back to pick up more.
These days I may or may not get one to take, 2 might happen but it's damn rare and the pence per mile rates have changed sod all, maybe 10-30p per mile in last 15 years.

If you are interested in doing it bear in mind courier insurance for a bike, clean licence, 35yo rider will do you for about £1000 -£1500 a year

Goods in transit (git) if you can get it will be £200 - £300

You could try contacting local companies offering your services but as a subby they'll be wanting to pay you 80p - £1 per mile 1 way.

So trip to Netherlands like i did this week you'll get £374 ish plus tunnel costs.

my bike stats are that it costs me 0.279p per mile to run plus the annual insurance costs so it cost me £280.60 plus ins to do that trip, add to that £40 for hotel, extra costs of food away from home etc and it leaves you with about £50 in your pocket.

If you can get an economical bike and a decent paying company it can be worth doing but it is getting rarer.

Have a nosy at www.codforum.org.uk and you'll see the general state of things
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

So what makes you do it for £50 profit for effectively 2 days work? How do you afford to live on that considering most trips won't be anywhere near as long.

Back in around 2004 maybe beginning of '05 I was offered a job subcontracting as a motorcycle courier for City Link, the deal was paid per miles and you cover all your own expenses. I did a very rough and generous calculation and decided that you'd be better off financially doing any other job in existence and you were also less likely to be maimed and have any enjoyment of biking you once had totally killed by it. Needless to say I decided to drive a van instead, paid more, stayed dry, no costs or risks out of my pocket and fixed working hours.

Marmalade · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Apr 2009 Karma :