Hi

[Robbs29]

Hi all,

I live in Essex and commute to London mon to fri. 40 miles each way up the A13.

I gave up with the trains after a decade and bought a new cbf125 in June, I clocked up 7000 miles by September and passed my full bike test and treated myself to a new cbr650f.

I have 1300 miles on the cbr and am loving it.

Rob

[stevo as b4]

How do you find the running costs for your commute by bike, compared to the train?

I'm seriously considering going back to commuting by train, as driving or riding in crap rush hour traffic full of wankers is taking years off my life.

I just want to fall asleep like a sack of spuds on the train after a days work, not battle for an hour&20min to drive 18miles.

[Robbs29]

Always open to advice, especially on good commuter gear.

I am also looking into an advanced riding test, are there any in particular I should look Into?

[Robbs29]

Don't get me wrong, train is far easier and more comfortable and cost 4000 a year plus 1000 to park my car plus minor fuel costs. I did take a push bike sometimes but had to go early as it wasn't a folding bike and you're not allowed on the train in rush hour.

With the 125 I was saving hundreds a month. With the 650 I am getting 60mpg so fuel cost has doubled, but it is still only about £25 a week. So I am saving a little, but mainly I have an asset to show for it.

If I was doing it purely for cost I would have bought a used bike, but I am a petrol head and I never get to drive my cars due to my job, so my bike is my hobbie and treat to myself. Yes there are idiots everyday but I just try to be as safe as possible.

I also prefer the independance and not waiting around, I go in work early and I quite often pop out after work so do miss the most of rush hour most days.

If you're not enjoying it, give it a break for a bit I guess.

[Robbs29]

My commute is 40 miles and during heavy rush hour takes anything between 50 - 70mins.

Outside of rush hour 35 - 45 mins.

Train is 45 mins plus 15 mins getting to train, plus waiting for train, plus not always getting a seat, plus 10 min walk the other end.

So time isn't much different apart from when I travel outside of rush hour.

[Snop Doog]

Welcome.

What's it like riding the CBR650F compared to your old CBF? (More power of course, lol) Anything about the CBF you miss?

[Rogerborg]

I make it that you can just throw the CBR650F away every two years and still be paying about the same.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Robbs29]

I miss riding the cbf125 flat out. It was good fun as you could flick it everywhere. The tyres still look new after 7000 miles and it was so god damn cheap to run.

The CBR feels safer as I don't get blown across lanes with a cross wind and when coaches over took me wasn't a pleasant experience.

CBR is really easy to ride and so smooth. I've got a top box and Touring screen on it, although the Touring screen is only 3.5cm taller, I don't think it does much, but it does enough to keep the wind off of my chest which I noticed a lot with the standard screen. I'm around 5.11 - 6ft.

CBR650F does everything I want with ease, and that's what I wanted for everyday riding.

I passed my test on an ER6 and when I got up to around 70 the mirrors vibrated so much I couldn't see out of them. The Honda was a bit more expensive, but in the scheme of things it doesn't work out much over a few years. Plus the Honda only needs servicing every 8000 miles.

My mechanic has a Honda CBR600F and I let him have a go of mine as I don't have much experience with bikes and he has been racinf some for 30 years. His view was that the new 650 is a totally different bike to the 600f. He said it feels lighter due to the low weight and it pulls from a lot lower in the rev range.

With a lot of london traffic and an A road all the way home for 20 miles after I get out of london I am averaging 60mpg.

70mph is 5k revs
80mph is 6k

I don't know what it revs to, somewhere between 12-13k I think.

It quite easily sits at 30-35mph in 6th gear through the traffic and has pull to accelerate up. So not too much gear changing.

I test rode the 500x and the 750x. The 750 felt boring but perfect for commuting, the 500 felt like a puppy dog and was egging me on to ride it fast. So I went with the 650 as it looks nicer and I respect it, so ride more within mine and the bikes limits.

I am 29 so still wanted something a little fun for the odd sunday ride to practice leaning the bike a bit more, most of my commute is straight...

[Evil Hans]

[Robbs29]