Commuting on a motorbike?

jason589

Hi there, I have been considering getting myself a bike licence andcommuting on a motorbike instead of my expensive on fuel car.

I have a full ukcar licence but it does not cover me for a motorbike.

I was thinking of taking a DAS scheme to get a full motorbike licencealthough I am not too sure on what it entails, how long it would take to do andapproximate costs. Could anyone give me an idea on the following things (I know mileage will effect this but I am not sure onmileage yet)...

[*]Cost to get fully qualified to ride a bike
[*]Time it would take to get a full motorcycle licence
[*]Average cost for motorcycle insurance
[*]Average cost for yearly servicing (mot, tax, repairs)

I currently drive to work and use a couple of A-roads and a motorway. Iwould need a fairly powerful bike to get to work this way so a CBT would not dothe job, but I did think, if on not so nice days, I could always ride to thelocal train station and head into work that way also.

fivetide

Ok well - you should save a fair packet on fuel and insurance.

Road tax is a bit different if you have modern eco box you'll pay zero tax of course but bike road tax is much lower than cars.

As for servicing etc, it's a bit "how long is a piece of string" as it will depend on what the bike is and how you ride it.

Tyres aren't cheap and will need changing quicker than on a car generally but I have over 8000 miles out of mine and the moment and should easy see 10k before they need to be swapped out.

I can also service the bike myself (up to a point) but generally you should be able to do your own oil/filter/plug changes.

The pricy bit is buying the kit in the first place. If you are going then you need good quality waterproof kit and a well fitting lid. Don't skimp on that, it is the only thing protecting your head should the worse happen!

Beyond that, enjoy 40/50mpg and not getting stuck in traffic!

5t.

Trebor16

jason589 wrote: »

Hi there, I have been considering getting myself a bike licence andcommuting on a motorbike instead of my expensive on fuel car.

I have a full ukcar licence but it does not cover me for a motorbike.

I was thinking of taking a DAS scheme to get a full motorbike licencealthough I am not too sure on what it entails, how long it would take to do andapproximate costs. Could anyone give me an idea on the following things (I know mileage will effect this but I am not sure onmileage yet)...

• Cost to get fully qualified to ride a bike
• Time it would take to get a full motorcycle licence

The first stage to getting your bike licence is to complete your compulsory basic training (CBT). This will cost in the region of £100-150 depending. Once you have completed your CBT you will need to take your motorcycle theory test before you can book your module 1 and 2 practical tests.

The test fees for the tests are as follows:

Theory £29.50
Module 1 £15.50
Module 2 £75.00

Your training to get you ready for module 1 and two tests should be in the region of £500, which seems to be what most authorised training bodies (ATB's) will charge. It can be done as an intensive five day course or it can be spread out over a longer period to suit your own availability.

Just be careful of booking the module 1 and 2 tests very close to each other, because if you fail mod 1 you have to wait three working days before taking it again. If you have mod 2 booked within this time you will lose your mod 2 test fee.

Jason589 wrote:

• Average cost for motorcycle insurance
• Average cost for yearly servicing (mot, tax, repairs)

Insurance is a how long is a piece of string question. The best thing you can do is to go on to the comparison sites and enter a particular make and model of bike to see what it comes up with.

Servicing is mileage based with most bikes needing some form of service every 4-6 thousand miles or every year. Servicing costs can vary but to give you an idea I was quoted this for a Kawasaki ER-6 by the local dealer in Letchworth.

4k £150
8K £225
12k £150
16k £275

MOT test is about £30 for a bike and road tax is £36 for bikes between 151 and 400cc, £55 for 401-600 and £76 for bikes 601cc and above. This is the annual cost.

Factor in tyre replacements and the need for things like chain lube to look after the chain in between services. For a mid range bike a set of tyres is coming in at about £130-150 nowadays for a good premium brand.

Jason589 wrote:

I currently drive to work and use a couple of A-roads and a motorway. Iwould need a fairly powerful bike to get to work this way so a CBT would not dothe job, but I did think, if on not so nice days, I could always ride to thelocal train station and head into work that way also.

What bikes have you looked at to meet your criteria of "fairly powerful?

Mr_Thrifty

The problem with this idea, which I think is great in every regard except one, is if you need to look smart when you arrive at work (rather than looking like a courier). I just wish there were some way that it's possible to use a motorbike AND arrive at work wearing a presentable suit without needing changing facilities (especially if it's been raining).

fivetide

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

The problem with this idea, which I think is great in every regard except one, is if you need to look smart when you arrive at work (rather than looking like a courier). I just wish there were some way that it's possible to use a motorbike AND arrive at work wearing a presentable suit without needing changing facilities (especially if it's been raining).

Quite true. I'm lucky in that we have changing facilities at our office. If you are only needing to be smart casual/change into uniform/scrubs/overalls though then you should be fine.

If you need to carry these items a bike which can take a top box will be good so you don't have a rucksack to worry about and things are more likely to stay dry if the weather is bad.

5t.

scottishperson2

Stating the obvious, if saving money is the main priority, get a cheap £30 a year to tax diesel that does over 70 to the gallon. I used to use an fj1200 to commute and basically cost wise a diesel would have saved money (but not time).

mercmanricky

scottishperson2 wrote: »

Stating the obvious, if saving money is the main priority, get a cheap £30 a year to tax diesel that does over 70 to the gallon. I used to use an fj1200 to commute and basically cost wise a diesel would have saved money (but not time).

Summed up what i was going to say. I got a 600 Bandit for my 30 mile commute and didn't really save a penny compared to the car. But i did get soaking wet and saved about an hour every day...even more on some bad traffic days.

Servicing etc may be cheaper, but you will need to do everything much more regularly.

My car can go 15k+ between services. My bike gets done every 4k.

I save loads of money now as i moved only 2 miles from work and can cycle!

Mr_Thrifty

Well it would seem that if you don't get knocked off, you do get soaked. Just wish it was socially acceptable to turn up to work in jeans and a t-shirt. What use a tie and suit these days, anyway?

Constant_Gardener

So we have considerable capital outlay, questions over real £££ savings, the increased risk of accident and the clothing issue. And then there is winter...
Years ago I bought my motorbike 3 months old and real cheap with low mileage, from a car dealer in November. His customer had bought to commute on but part-exchanged it for a car as sooooon as the weather got bad!
It takes commitment, so make sure the decision is right for you. I commuted by m/c for years - but cursed it quite a few times!

Constant_Gardener

PS - it is most definitely quicker though!
...and much more fun than a car when the roads are dry

Mr_Thrifty

I agree with Constant Gardner. I would just love to be able to commute to work in London on a motorbike. But, I have an office job and just can't see a bike being practical. I love the idea of being able to skip traffic jams, ride from door to door, and the fun of it. But:

1. You can't ride a bike in a suit
2. Changing clothes is a real hassle, if even practical at all (what if you have to visit a customer/client? you can't just change in their toilets...)
3. Not viable for all weather
4. Dubious cost savings
5. Hassle of constant servicing, extra gear, etc
6. Discomfort (too hot in summer, too cold in winter)
7. Safety risk
8. Risk of getting soaked and looking like a dog's dinner
9. Probably can't park the thing all that easily in London anyway
10. Extra hassle with ironing (imagine how crumpled a suit gets if you stuff it in a rucksack)

It seems that riding a bike to work just has far too many substantial practical problems to make it viable.