Motorbike for communiting?

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
21

Got my 1st bike to use as a commuter back in 2000. I was living in Glossop and working as a bus driver in Stockport.
Those in the know will know why I decided on a bike - as will anyone who’s come over woodhead and come to a standstill.

Anyway, I got a little RXS100, lovely little bike, but then I got the bug, so went to a 500cc, then a 600cc, then a 955cc, a few 937cc’s (RF900’s :grimacing: ) a Ninja 750, a Virago 750… Just don’t, a Deuville 650 as a motorbike courier, a Pan Euro 1100, a 650 ‘dual purpose’, a 125 crosser, a 50cc moped, a 750cc GSX-F (teapot) and back to 937cc…

For commuting, none of the above, the roads are covered in diesel and road paint and morons, all of which will counter any savings at some point.

I started the motorbike bug for saving money and time in my work travels, now it’s ultra rare that I’d use a bike to get to work.

Now, if it’s power rather than engine size that’s the restrictor, I can thoroughly recommend the 650 dual purpose, I had a Suzuki Freewind XF650, but you can also get the Aprillia Pegaso or the BMW F650 and a few others that are the same, they’re brilliant, 650 single, no power, top speed of around 95mph +/-, 70 ish mpg, see over cars, very light and manoeuvrable (air cooled) etc

I’m currently looking for something like a DR-z 350 / 400 sorta size to use to get to work and back, but I doubt it’d happen for long, I’d just end up thrashing it on a green lane somewhere instead :smiling_imp:

22

voodoo1:
Looking at getting my Bike license for the Up to 350CC motorbikes, :question:

Beats traffic :smiley:

Anybody got a bike and what is the thoughts of this, i do intend on keeping a car.

Thoughts please. :neutral_face:

Why not do direct access? that way you don’t have to mess around with 33 B.H.P.

How far is your commute, how much do you want to spend, and are you going to ride all year round all these things have to be considered.
For example a ■■■■■ little bike with no fairing is not going to be pleasurable on a 50 mile winter commute.

The best bike pound for pound for commuting is the Honda Deauville, shaft drive built in panniers good fairing and capable of 100,000 miles.

23

1968kg:

Wheel Nut:

1968kg:

voodoo1:
Im 19

But i only want a 350cc sports bike

I will drive when its wet in car,

But is a 350 underpowered ?

I can’t think of any 350cc bikes off the top of my head, it’s not a common engine size, what specific bike do you have in mind?
At your age you can take the A2 test which means testing on a bike of at least 395cc and between 33 and 46.6bhp, then you can ride anything up to 46.6bhp (as long as it isn’t derived from something more than twice that)
I’m a bike instructor so happy to help with any info. Commuting by bike is great as long as it isn’t icy, don’t worry about a bit of rain!

350cc Stroker for you sir.

A nice JAWA Sport

Oh dear! I’d rather walk.

The words “nice” and “Jawa” should never be used in the same sentence.

24

mike68:

voodoo1:
Looking at getting my Bike license for the Up to 350CC motorbikes, :question:

Beats traffic :smiley:

Anybody got a bike and what is the thoughts of this, i do intend on keeping a car.

Thoughts please. :neutral_face:

Why not do direct access? that way you don’t have to mess around with 33 B.H.P.

How far is your commute, how much do you want to spend, and are you going to ride all year round all these things have to be considered.
For example a ■■■■■ little bike with no fairing is not going to be pleasurable on a 50 mile winter commute.

The best bike pound for pound for commuting is the Honda Deauville, shaft drive built in panniers good fairing and capable of 100,000 miles.

Not good for a newbie though IMHO, quite heavy, linked brakes (you’re taught to feather the back brake when u-turning etc…) not very good brakes too (although the 700 ones are supposed to be much better)

25

:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

26

mike68:

voodoo1:
Looking at getting my Bike license for the Up to 350CC motorbikes, :question:

Beats traffic :smiley:

Anybody got a bike and what is the thoughts of this, i do intend on keeping a car.

Thoughts please. :neutral_face:

Why not do direct access? that way you don’t have to mess around with 33 B.H.P.

.

See above the rules have changed, there is no 33bhp category anymore, at 19 it’s either A2 for up to 46.6bhp or A1 for 125cc bikes(pointless really as you can ride a 125 on Ls)
For DAS you have to be 24, or to have held an A2 for 2 years which obviously no-one has yet.

27

mike68:

voodoo1:
Looking at getting my Bike license for the Up to 350CC motorbikes, :question:

Beats traffic :smiley:

Anybody got a bike and what is the thoughts of this, i do intend on keeping a car.

Thoughts please. :neutral_face:

Why not do direct access? that way you don’t have to mess around with 33 B.H.P.

How far is your commute, how much do you want to spend, and are you going to ride all year round all these things have to be considered.
For example a ■■■■■ little bike with no fairing is not going to be pleasurable on a 50 mile winter commute.

The best bike pound for pound for commuting is the Honda Deauville, shaft drive built in panniers good fairing and capable of 100,000 miles.

I use to have a moped, i had provisional cbt but it’s expired.

Looking to spend £2000 ish, but currently takes 45-60 minutes for 7 mile commute to home,

Gona keep car but ride on good days…, looking at ninja 250 now :stuck_out_tongue:

Not sure on how to get license or what i have to do, but definately going to.

By direct access i guess you mean going directly to that license ?

28

1968kg:

mike68:

voodoo1:
Looking at getting my Bike license for the Up to 350CC motorbikes, :question:

Beats traffic :smiley:

Anybody got a bike and what is the thoughts of this, i do intend on keeping a car.

Thoughts please. :neutral_face:

Why not do direct access? that way you don’t have to mess around with 33 B.H.P.

.

See above the rules have changed, there is no 33bhp category anymore, at 19 it’s either A2 for up to 46.6bhp or A1 for 125cc bikes(pointless really as you can ride a 125 on Ls)
For DAS you have to be 24, or to have held an A2 for 2 years which obviously no-one has yet.

I did a figure of eight around the test center in Pill in Newport watched by a Bloke in a trenchcoat in the middle of winter on a Honda CB100 with no M.O.T
I guess I’m a little behind on the current test.

29

I had to pass my test twice. I never sent my pass cert back in the 2 year time slot. So I did the test again…Gutted. :blush:

30

voodoo1:
By direct access i guess you mean going directly to that license ?

direct access is what i did, cbt - direct access test = ride what i want. but they don’t do that any more.

looks like they still do but you’ve gotta be 24!

31

I got a ninja for my first big bike.it was a crap choice as i had a sore back from hunched over and very little all round vision.ill be going for a upright next

32

nearly there:
I got a ninja for my first big bike.it was a crap choice as i had a sore back from hunched over and very little all round vision.ill be going for a upright next

that’s what i got for my first bike. there’s nowt wrong with sports bikes, it just depends on what you want and are planning on doing on them

33

nearly there:
I got a ninja for my first big bike.it was a crap choice as i had a sore back from hunched over and very little all round vision.ill be going for a upright next

Very good point; Ninja’s and the like are immensely good fun but a bit uncompromising as a day-to-day bike.

I have to admit I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about Suzuki Bandits, though I’m not sure if even the 600cc version would be legal for the OP to ride even after he’s passed the test.

34

Sidevalve:

nearly there:
I got a ninja for my first big bike.it was a crap choice as i had a sore back from hunched over and very little all round vision.ill be going for a upright next

Very good point; Ninja’s and the like are immensely good fun but a bit uncompromising as a day-to-day bike.

I have to admit I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about Suzuki Bandits, though I’m not sure if even the 600cc version would be legal for the OP to ride even after he’s passed the test.

It’d be OK if restricted to 46.6bhp.

35

voodoo1:
Looking at getting my Bike license for the Up to 350CC motorbikes, :question:

Beats traffic :smiley:

Anybody got a bike and what is the thoughts of this, i do intend on keeping a car.

Thoughts please. :neutral_face:

I guess that if you REALLY wanted a bike you’d know exactly which one to go for. :smiley:

If it’s strictly for commuting & you want to stay under 350cc, then I’d go for a dual purpose or trail bike. 250/350 road bikes will mostly be small proportionally & the quick ones are very revvy.

The riding posture of a traillie puts your head above the cars & they’re a lot more controllable/flickable than the plastic fantastic “woad wace weplicas”, especially with those big front wheels & wide handlebars.

They also hold their values much better, if you spend £2k on a good 2nd hander then it really shouldn’t depreciate much in the next 2-3yrs. If you opt for something that’s semi-competition oriented like an Enduro model, then you’ll have more power than you’ll ever need on road.

36

Chas:

voodoo1:
Looking at getting my Bike license for the Up to 350CC motorbikes, :question:

Beats traffic :smiley:

Anybody got a bike and what is the thoughts of this, i do intend on keeping a car.

Thoughts please. :neutral_face:

I guess that if you REALLY wanted a bike you’d know exactly which one to go for. :smiley:

If it’s strictly for commuting & you want to stay under 350cc, then I’d go for a dual purpose or trail bike. 250/350 road bikes will mostly be small proportionally & the quick ones are very revvy.

The riding posture of a traillie puts your head above the cars & they’re a lot more controllable/flickable than the plastic fantastic “woad wace weplicas”, especially with those big front wheels & wide handlebars.

They also hold their values much better, if you spend £2k on a good 2nd hander then it really shouldn’t depreciate much in the next 2-3yrs. If you opt for something that’s semi-competition oriented like an Enduro model, then you’ll have more power than you’ll ever need on road.

The problem with off roaders around me is they tend to get nicked and trashed while road bikes get left behind. My mate has a BMW, a Triton, an Enfield and a Faser, he has lost 3 trail/enduro bikes in 6 years, the tealeaves don’t know what they are looking for.

But I agree with you, a trailie is a better bet than a pocket rocket. I had a Honda Dominator once, what a great bike for scratching around on. 650 single, loads of grunt, ugly as sin :laughing:

37

To the OP,
as a fellow rider and commuter,
just remember that you will be riding for yourself and everybody else, keep that in mind and it may save you from being an organ donor.
Think of it as riding a pushbike , only a little bit faster. :laughing:

Your eyes and ears and road sense will be what keep you on the straight and narrow.
Whatever you choose , stay safe and keep it shiny side up :wink:
Enjoy your new found freedom . :grimacing:

38

If you want a bike to commute, have fun on, not break your back and be able to carry some gear on you could do worse than a jap import Yamaha xjr 400. then when you hit 24 progress to a real mans bike, it`s big brother the xjr 1300! :smiley: :smiley:

39

I’d be looking at one of these, a really decent bike;

autotrader.co.uk/classified/ … ?logcode=p

Ross.

40

350cc is ok for A roads and a short distance but on fast duals or motorway you need something much bigger, when clocking larger mileages 50+mls a day you need the reliability of a bigger engine. I’ve used BMW K series for years doing 50 - 60 mls a day, with a good fairing there are only a few days in the year I’m not riding it.
Going from the M5 J1 up past the M6 split to Stafford on an afternoon is a journey I would rarely ever want to do sat in a car !