Commuting on a motorbike?

AlwaysPondering

I forgot that for a few years, I used to commute through the spring/summer/autumn, and come winter I'd buy a 400 quid car (with 6 months T&T).. run that over winter, 3rd party insurance, then sell it normal for spares or repairs in the spring..

Or on the days you really don't want to ride, use the train..

But as the last poster said, it's very very unlikely that you'll save by having a car and a bike, unless you are just wanting to save time.. or the bike is a 125..

Mr_Thrifty

About these 125's... tell me more. Which are the best ones to go for, for commuting to and from the train station in a suit?

samtheman1k

I have a Yamaha 125cc cygnus...great scooter for running around town and on my 15mile commute into central London. Much more versatile than a 'proper bike' as you can more easily filter through queueing traffic...but, top speed is around 60mph, so no motorways allowed, and you can't really overtake if a car is doing 40mph as you just don't have the power there...

Does around 100mph, £15pa tax, £200 insurance for my first year (FC, no bike no claims). First service was about £80, I think every 3000 miles.

Personally, I got rid of 1 of 'our' 2 cars & use the scooter exclusively for commuting, but have access to a car when she isn't using it.

Jo_F

I'm in the process of getting a Honda PCX 125cc, its costing around £2.5k on the road brand new, (Honda are doing a 0% finance on them at the moment) apparently has a great MPG figure (can't remember the numbers of the top of my head) Top speed is reported to be around 65.

I'm going to be using it for getting to and from work as I am sick of the buses and sick of having to run to catch them at night.

If you can stay away from motorways, then do your CBT and get a 125, you just need to either take your DAS within 2 years or renew your CBT.

Oh, and if getting a scooter, the general concensus is to stay away from the Chinese ones, they may be cheaper to buy, but most people say they are too unreliable. Plus the performance isn't as good.

mercmanricky

The S Wing 125 is the one to get if you're travelling in a suit...

http://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles/scooters/#!/swing/

Arfa__

I'm going through the same thought processes myself. Fed up of tube, want to try a bike for commuting into centre.

Doing theory test tonight, got CBT booked for Saturday, will hopefully do DAS next month. Bike choice wise, I've pretty much settled on a Honda CB500 or CB500F (same with mini faring).

Skipped over the scooters, mainly because I'd like to use it for the odd bit of touring/motorway trips (visiting family in Midlands etc). And because my wife used to be a proper biker chick, has always hankered after a big bike and wouldn't be seen dead on a hairdryer/bogseat scooter! :-)

Not really expecting it to be any cheaper than tube, especially with initial outlay of test, bike and kit. Maybe comparable in a few years. However I am hoping it'll cut my commute time down (which is worth a lot) and be more fun than stuck on a hot delayed tube.

martinthebandit

Don't tell my Mrs this, but overall a big bike is no cheaper for a commute than a car.

But it is one heck of a lot more enjoyable even though its either boiling, freezing, soaking or on some days a combination of all three

Arfa__

martinthebandit wrote: »

Don't tell my Mrs this, but overall a big bike is no cheaper for a commute than a car.

But it is one heck of a lot more enjoyable even though its either boiling, freezing, soaking or on some days a combination of all three

Yeah figured. And our car is a 1.6 Zafira on LPG, so dirt cheap to run...

That said, I don't use the car to commute, parking and congestion charge would cost a fortune, never mind the traffic. Currently paying almost £2K a year on tube pass, but could probably swap that for a Zone 2-5 pass for about £1200 a year if I put up with a 5-10min longer commute.

Figured, once I've covered test, bike and kit, £2K a year should easily cover running costs, especially once I've built up some no-claims.

mercmanricky

I was starting to question why I kept my motorcycle this year, but this last week has confirmed my decision to hold onto it :-)

jay213

Im thinking of doing what the OP was thinking of doing. I'm working and going to uni and I'm backwards and forwards with a hour to get between both places at least 5-6 times a week. I was wondering if scooters can park in any places that a normal car couldnt, e.g if they had any parking benefits other than being smaller? I know the answer to this is probably no but could you park for free where the pay and display meters are? another stupid question what about resident parking areas? I'm just asking.

I just started going back to uni 2 weeks ago. I took the tube for the 1st week and I found I was just getting to either place just on time with no delays, however at least I could eat my sandwich easily on the train and read up on work / metro lol.

2nd week I tried driving and go along the A406 , the actual journey times were not too bad, averagly taking about 30 minutes with no major delays, the problem came with parking. I had to park 15 minutes walk away from uni and 15 minutes walk away from work, arriving at each place again just on time, but not easily able to eat I bought fast food one time and didnt have time to eat it before getting to work.

The uni has no car parking for students and my work place has a few spaces that are first come first served so these are always gone by the time I start. They do have a little motorcycle parking bit though at my work place and I see scooters parked in the bike ramps at uni, not sure if these can be used, but looks like they are being used.