Do you commute?

[monkey2003]

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Ello, Gonna get a Fazer or something with hard panniers to commute from Dorset to Heathrow/Gatwick around once or twice a week. As I am hacked off with using my crappie vectra to travel in. Anyone else out there do similar sort of distance i.e. 100 miles one way (couple of days a week)?? Or just do long commuting regular journeys? Just wanna get an idea of how bad your arses aches or do you get dumd nads and that sort of thing?? Because once I get the bike it's here to stay and dont really want to go changing my mind after a couple of journeys. Appreciate your replies!
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[Bendy]

I commute. About 4 miles

Bottom line is, during the good weather you'll probably love it and during the shit weather you'll probably hate it.

Are you keeping the car as well? Are the couple of days you come in flexible or fixed? (ie can you choose to come on the nicer days!)

[monkey2003]

Changing jobs you see. Giving back the crappie company vecta and getting my own transport. Could think about getting a budget banger for the winter then flog it off and have the bike from now to september?

[Bendy]

Might be a thought. Even if it's dry, the cold can be really wearing in December/January time.

Go for it now anyway, the weather's starting to get good, and you'll get there faster than you would by car. Do it over the spring/summer and then see how you're feeling come Septembertime, like you say.

[monkey2003]

Yeah cheers! What the hell I'll give it a go! I will only regret it if I dont. I have been in traffic loads of times and watching some guy/girl going past on a decent bike am me thinking got to get a bike got to get a bike!!

[JimboJ]

i can beat that bendy..i commute 700 metres! i can see college from my bedroom!
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[00:42] <NSR-Andy> which one's the missionary position
[00:42] <NSR-Andy> i've heard it's good
[9:42pm] <Shaun> you came first mike | <Shaun> yes gav, because I really want to fuck you

[monkey2003]

700 meters? Lazy Git!!

[JimboJ]

lol! so u can imagine that the goose isnt gonna hurt me over that distance!
____________________
[00:42] <NSR-Andy> which one's the missionary position
[00:42] <NSR-Andy> i've heard it's good
[9:42pm] <Shaun> you came first mike | <Shaun> yes gav, because I really want to fuck you

[Phoenix]

I do about 20miles commuting 5days a week on a ZXR400 (look it up in dictionary....it means uncomfortable) and I don't suffer any problems. Actually gets comfier the more i do it, I think i'm moulding to the riding position. Fazer will be nice and comfy but a bit windy/chilly in bad weather, otherwise I think u'll get on fine.

[Kickstart]

Hi

I commute about 27 miles each way. 100 each way is going to be a killer. I wouldnt like to do that in a car or on a bike (having spent 6 months commuting 160 miles a day)

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Ste]

i do 10 miles each way twice on a week

I think TiN is the one to talk to about commuting long ways each day.

My dads goes from here, (J11 M4) to centerl london and back each day

[Deano]

have you looked at the CBR600F that would be a good commuter and its got a cracking engine too and I know so does the Fazer, but just widening your options...
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Dean Stone #777
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[monkey2003]

Well I'm heading for the more sensible options really i.e. fazer / bandit + reliable!!
Blimey that Keith bloke must be some sort of wussie, Wouldnt travel 100 miles even in a car?? Well he better get back to his nest, boil the kettle for a cup of coco and lock all the doors and hide from the world!

[Bendy]

Howabout a nice VFR800?

[monkey2003]

would b nice!! oww suits you sir!

[Robby]

yeh you should really go for something faired for any distance, unfaired is just painful.

the sports 600s are just as reliable as the unfaired 600s. most of them share engines anyway.

Yamaha thundercat would prolly do the job nicely, altho i'm not sure about hard luggage. hornet with hard luggage and an aftermarket powebronze fairing would be ok, or VFR800, or a deuville.

i know i'll get shot for saying this, but any of the BMW twins or fours wold do the job nicely.

oh i commute 20 miles a day on a VFR400. Wrists ache sometimes.

[Kickstart]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Seriously, if you are only doing it once ro twice a week it is not too bad, but do it every day and that is 4000 miles a month. You are likely to need new bike tyres every other month. A service every month. A new chain and sprocket kit every 3~4 months (along with brake pads), etc, and within 2 years at the most have a bike that is worth its weight in scrap.

Over 2 years you would do 100000 miles, which is way beyond the life of many bikes. You would use 2200 gallons of petrol. About 7 chain kits and the same again for brake pads. Have 25+ oil changes. 10 sets of tyres. Cost would be:-
£4000 bike (not worth anything at the end of it)
£7500 in petrol
£550 in chains
£200 in brake pads
£1400 in tyres
£600 in oil and filters

That is over £14k even before any repairs, proper servicing, insurance, tax, etc

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[monkey2003]

Cheers for the calculations Keith but done some sums myself.
I know continually doing long distances is bloody irritating! I've been driving all over the bloody shop as a service engineer in a crap vectra! I now have a new job which limits my travelling only to heathrow/gatwick once or twice a week (200 mile round trip for me). Knowing I only have to do this rather than drive to bloody Scarborough at a drop of a hat is Bliss!

I will be getting petrol money anyway so if I spend say £1000 on fuel I will get around £2500 petrol money(doing some crude sums that is) So will help cover chain pads and all that sort of thing!

Well its down to the great british weather really. Rain pisses everyone off

[JimboJ]

if you go there every day then go on monday and stay in a hotel, get them to pay for it(or just use the petrol thing to pay for it)
____________________
[00:42] <NSR-Andy> which one's the missionary position
[00:42] <NSR-Andy> i've heard it's good
[9:42pm] <Shaun> you came first mike | <Shaun> yes gav, because I really want to fuck you

[monkey2003]

Could do JimboJ but I would gain about £150 then spend £300ish on hotel bills. DOH! Rather go home and see my wife & nipper anyway!

[PsychoHippy]

Monkey, I've been commuting over 1000 miles a month for the last 3 1/2 years (early mornings when it's bloody cold too). All I can suggest is to get a bike with good fairing. I've been riding a 1200 Bandit (unfaired) and it's been very reliable and quick, but you need to have some serious stamina to go any real distance at speed. If you find comfort a problem then you can have a custom seat made mine cost £200, and I can ride all day!
I would also suggest a 1000 Fazer (don't know about panniers ), a Blackbird (again the panniers), and the ZZR1200.
Obviously alot depends on your age and the amount you have available to spend.

[Rob]

Hello.

I commute 34 miles a day (17 each way) to work on an R6 and have no probs at all.. As long as you get yourself decent winter gear, even commuting on cold winter mornings is no problem...

Sometimes when trying to weave through stationary traffic its a pain being on a sports bike as you dont get the turning ability of a sit up and beg or, dare I say it.... a .... scooter (euch!)

And as Robby says - your wrists can suffer to start off with, but you get used to it...!
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Love is 1050cc

[PsychoHippy]

Oh, one other thing. If you are going to ride any distance through the winter, get heated hand grips. Mine cost me £50 and are the best thing I have ever bought for my bike!

[Kickstart]