A little advice R.E courier work etc

[skylineonfire]

So after meeting with Eggs (Tony) Benedict today to discuss me possibly becoming a courier for his firm, I've been reflecting on it and I've decided I really do want to go for this, it's an opportunity I really love the sound of, all I do in my spare time is ride bikes anyway and I'm absolutely sick of my current job and it's far from stable.

So I've a few questions and I'm generally looking for any and all advice to make this work. I've got the right attitude towards it I think and I know I'll thrive at the work once I get settled and figure it all out etc, it's the logistics of getting there that concerns me.

Firstly, Bike. I've a haggard 650gs which is in the process of being sold, and a 125 I use for commuting which is obviously not something I'll consider. Budget, I'd say 2500. I've been looking at CBF600s mostly, thats my optimum bike and there are quite a few around for good prices etc. Any suggestions or recommendations otherwise? I'm guessing Deauvilles?

Secondly, Courier Insurance. Tony explained it to me but alas my memory isn't great, and I get the general idea but finding a quote is proving tough. It seems you can't get one through standard channels (go compare etc) I'll be ringing around tomorrow to inquire. But does anyone have any suggestions or ideas r.e this? Slightly concerned how much it'll cost me too at my age, 23.

This is a completely serious topic and I'm really looking for any sound advice. I know this will suit me but it'll be my first time self employed etc so it's a little confusing. Right now I'm an assistant manager of a store so it's a huge change.

Thanks very much everyone, much obliged

[Shaft]

It's been a while since I was a courier, but I don't suppose much has changed, so here's my tuppence.

Choice of bike would, for me, depend on the ratio of motorway to town work.

If this is a result of Egg's recent ad here, the suggestion was frequent trips to London and possibly abroad, so that sounds like plenty of motorway work and even MK to Brent Cross is getting on for a 100 mile round trip, so I would be looking for a mile muncher, as opposed to something light and nimble.

You don't have to go the whole nine yards and get a Pan or a big Beemer (not yet anyway) but you do want a bit of poke, shaft drive and some reasonable weather protection.

By all accounts, the Deauville is a good choice, others on my list would be a BM K75, or an older R80RT. I would even be tempted by one of the maxi scooters, depending on research into reliability.

Don't forget, this is going to be a working bike primarily, so form comes a long way behind function; if you want something stylish, save up and have a Duke in the garage for weekends.
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[P.]

Deauville or an XJ900.

If I was doing courier work, high mpg, cheap consumables and low amount of fixing... CB500.

[skylineonfire]

Thanks guys, the CB500 and the CBF600 are the two I'm leaning towards the most.

Insurance is proving the big issue currently, it seems to be impossible to get a quote online so it's going to be down to just calling around I think

[Imonster]

[_Troy_]

I'd have something like this:

https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/1995-yamaha-diversion-900cc/1014109365

XJ900 with very low miles and FSH.
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Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650

[BigDan1190]

Edgey's uncle works as a courier. Runs an NC30. Seems to do the job.

[Shaft]

[Marmalade]

[Shaft]

^^^ What about a good all round bike to use?
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

[skylineonfire]

[Ingah]

[sickpup]

So you want to be a courier, lets run through the costs.

We'll assume you have nothing but a crash helmet and go from there.

Prices for gear will be from Hein Gericke and the cheapest they do as its easy to get and decent quality.

GoreTex coat Torino £329.99

GoreTex Trousers Torino £229.99

Basic Rain 11 jacket £24.99

Basic Rain 11 trousers £19.99

GoreTex Tour LT gloves 2 pairs £159.98

Total = £764.94

Heated jacket £150.00 (BikeTec Ebay)

GoreTex Prabos GTX boots £80 (Ebay)

Heated Grips £40 (Ebay cheapies)

Tucano Urbano wooly muffs £50

Total = £320

GPS Garmin Nuvi 205W second hand UK only maps £40

Cigarette lighter socket and cabling £5.00

Givi S953 GPS holder £40

Good quality tank bag. £70

Total = £155.00

This is the absolute minimum in my mind to what you need to be a successful courier. Keep in mind your bike will now be your office and you will be on it for 10 hours a day and getting cold or wet is a nightmare. You can off course get cheaper gear but the better condition you are in the safer you are and the more you earn.

Total = £1239.94

Bikes

This is purely personal choice but I would recommend a Deauville. No need to lube or adjust the chain and easy on tyres but you won't get a decent one for less than £1500. You will require a big topbox as well.

Courier insurance

I live in Central London so courier insurance for me on a Deauville costs in the reqion of £700 a year. You live outside London so maybe cheaper.

So we are now looking at a total of £3439,94 and you haven't filled the bike up with petrol for two weeks before you first pay cheque comes in.

Being a courier has high start costs and high running costs but you can earn a small fortune doing it.

[Stalk]

Be wiser insurance did me a good deal on insurance, 600 Divvy, £350. Tony is a top bloke who pays on time, so no worries there. The only thing that I would add is as first time SE, do not screw up on tax, put away a bit each time you get paid (20% is good) and forget about it. Once you get behind with HRMC it is very hard to catch up. Don't forget NI.

Good Luck, really wish it was me but just a bit too much money in kitchens.

Cheers,
Stalk

[Marmalade]

[skylineonfire]

[P.]

This is something I would like to try, even for a week or 2 just to see why people rate it and hate it.

[Alpha-9]

I'm willing to bet there's more couriers wanting to be assistant managers than managers wanting to be couriers

I think it would be a hard life, but a fulfilling/rewarding one, so many sights and adventures, but constantly being on the road for hours at a time would soon grind on one

I'd think long and erect about whether you really want to do it before packing in your job!
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Fzr-600 1999

[skylineonfire]

[P.]

[skylineonfire]

[P.]

Sounds ideal to me also, but it would be the excessively long days that would bum me out.

I did 2 days of delivering round London on my Vara... not courier as such, just replacing some firewalls in schools. I left at 7am to be in Wandsworth for school opening times, rode around the rest of the day, through central london etc.

I enjoyed it, but I did get home about 7.30pm

I was thoroughly fucked after that

[Marmalade]

It can be very tiring, you can have bugger all work for a couple of days and do 2000 miles in the next 4.

It does kill the enjoyment of biking for the most huge of couriers but I'm not one of them.
I still like to get on bike when I'm not working and head off somewhere, or nowhere.

You can get long days, early starts, late finishes, not getting home at all some nights but you are your boss. If you've had enough just say so.

The worst of people you'll be dealing with other than other motorists are receptionists , these can be the most obnoxious twats you will ever wish to die a slow painful death who are there simply to make your life difficult with the minuscule amount of power they have.

try not to kill one. My biggest gripe, 'you need to remove your helmet and leave it here (in case you use it as a weapon)'
They don't realise that you may well have a gun or a knife but leaving your helmet behind will save the world.


As for you, your attitude matters loads in this job. Most people just 'don't get it', what 'it' is eludes us all but it is that certain something that makes you understand that job is king and it has to be done.

You are not royal mail, there is nothing to hide behind and people are often paying hundreds of pounds for their item to get from one place to the other, intact and quickly.
Planning fuel stops so to minimise down time, having food after you've dropped at 1pm and not thinking ooh midday, time to stop for an hour, it doesn't work like that and it won't be accepted.

If you do 'get it' it can be very rewarding in the wallet department, get paid to go to places you've always wanted to go along with loads you never, meet people and spend days on the bike and having a bag of chips on the seaside after delivering.

rambling now. This is what happens when you have a quiet day (though i had done 200 miles by 9:30am)
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[P.]

I'd still love to try it at some point.

If I find myself with fuck all to do... might just ride the length of the country stopping in mcdonalds every 300 miles.

[Marmalade]