Cost of having a Motorbike?

Shielder

Strange. Have a look at your contract. I would have thought that working at a location further away than your normal place of work will bring some benefits for you, expenses being one of them.

Every company I've worked for offers expenses. Maybe it's different in aerospace.

Andy

macman

As above: your journey time and costs have doubled, so they should adjust your salary or pay you some expenses to cover this. Why have you not queried this?

Zukkini

macman wrote: »

As above: your journey time and costs have doubled, so they should adjust your salary or pay you some expenses to cover this. Why have you not queried this?

Trust me, I have. However, they only pay out if it is outside of London. LHR (even though it is borderline London) still is technically London, thus they don't accommodate further expenses. I have tried fighting for it but nothing sadly.

jaydeeuk1

Can't you claim the tax back from hmrc? 20% of 45p for first 10k, if basic tp theres a form you can use, name escapes me. Can claim back a few years too.

Zukkini

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Can't you claim the tax back from hmrc? 20% of 45p for first 10k, if basic tp theres a form you can use, name escapes me. Can claim back a few years too.

Yeah I heard about this claim thing? For people that are in a temporary work location, you can claim miles back. The only thing is, how do I prove it? Or do they have a set amount I can claim back? Then technically I could reclaim back like 3-4k?

Richard53

RichardD1970 wrote: »

Just one point to pick up on. If anything motorcycling is more stressful.

You have to be 100% alert at all times and concentrate a lot more than when you are safely cocooned in a car.

You have to pay constant attention to the road surface in front of you, as well as everything else around you, assume you are invisible and be ready to take evasive action at every junction.

Then there are the idiots who think filtering is "cheating and queue jumping" and will try to block your progress and rant and rave at you.

You will sweat like a pig in summer and freeze in winter.

Apart from that it is great, but i only do a short commute and don't know if I would want to do a lengthy one.

I agree that riding a bike needs more concentration than driving a car, but that is part of the appeal. OK, I am a lot more tired after riding 200 miles than driving the same distance, but I find riding the exact reverse of stressful. I go out on the bike if I need to unwind, and it's not often I get off at the far end without a broad smile on my face.


Sometimes, focusing 100% on something is very involving and satisfying, but paying attention isn't necessarily stressful.


Agreed about other drivers, the heat and the cold. Riding in rain is fun, however.

RichardD1970

Richard53 wrote: »

I agree that riding a bike needs more concentration than driving a car, but that is part of the appeal. OK, I am a lot more tired after riding 200 miles than driving the same distance, but I find riding the exact reverse of stressful. I go out on the bike if I need to unwind, and it's not often I get off at the far end without a broad smile on my face.


Sometimes, focusing 100% on something is very involving and satisfying, but paying attention isn't necessarily stressful.


Agreed about other drivers, the heat and the cold. Riding in rain is fun, however.

Well, yes, if you are off on a nice ride out, but I was thinking more of the daily grind of a commute through heavy London rush hour traffic.

Arfa__

RichardD1970 wrote: »

Well, yes, if you are off on a nice ride out, but I was thinking more of the daily grind of a commute through heavy London rush hour traffic.

From personal experience, I'd certainly say it's not relaxing, you do need to be 100% alert. If I'm ever feeling very tired or unwell, I just don't feel safe riding through London.

But, since you generally keep moving and cut through the traffic, it's oddly satisfying. Compared to being stuck in a car in a jam, crawling along at 10mph for an hour, or stuck in a super crowded tube, face in some ones armpit, sat waiting at station yet again for an indeterminate length of time as they 'regulate the service', and more stupid idiots keep trying to fling themselves into an already full carriage; I can honestly say biking is far less stressful. Riding in the wet is a bit miserable, but tolerable once geared up and in London winters are rarely that bad (I've only left bike on drive one day in 2 years).

You always get a seat, you rarely get held up, you fly past everyone else, a quick blip of the throttle, if even for a 200m dash within speed limts is immensely satisfying, you get to ride past all the great sights you don't see on the tube (I commute over Tower Bridge everyday), it's actually fun just riding around London for the hell of it, there's a huge comradery between fellow bikers, a massive social scene (which in London is not fat chaps with huge beards on Harley's, but sensible office types on sports bikes), and when we're bored of commuting, we all just blitz down to South coast after work, soak up the countryside and have a Chippie tea overlooking the sea and then back before everyone else staggers to find last tube home. But best of all, you get to wear a one piece leather gimp suit and no one looks at funny...

westwood68

Arfa__ wrote: »

there's a huge comradery between fellow bikers, a massive social scene (which in London is not fat chaps with huge beards on Harley's, but sensible office types on sports bikes),

Sorry but sensible office types on sports bikes??? They might be on sports bikes but I wish they'd be sensible enough to get out of my way when I'm trying to filter and they are wobbling like a drunk because they only get the bike out for 3 months of the year...

I shall now run for cover

bigjl

Zukkini wrote: »

Before you insult, relax and think “he may have had a reason”. Do not dare throw words around with ignorance.

Let me put it into perspective, as there are many reasons:

One of the reasons was that I was trying to get my No Claims Bonus as I never had any. I live in a high-crime area (according to statistics – personally, it's very safe). The insurance alone was going to cost me £5k+. At the time, I was developing Apps for Android and was travelling around spending a lot of money on travelling. VW had an offer which they give the first year of insurance free and it counts as a No Claims Bonus. So I instinctively took it because with 1 year NCB the insurance would make my subsequent insurance come down to 1.2k (much more affordable – not the best, but every year re-occurring would lower it substantially i.e. year after was £800 etc..).

Another reason: at the time, I was unaware that I will be part of an airline close to Heathrow. As I am contractor for this company, my actual company is situated in Victoria (which is just 45 minutes from where I live). When I joined the company, I was told that I would be in central London, however, as a few people got re-positioned from Heathrow, I was put there. Now, obviously, I knew that the mileage would be disappointingly high, however, I was already passed my cool-off period and well underway with the 3 year contract.

Another reason: My sister couldn’t afford a car and thought as she works on weekends as well as weekdays, that her having the car on weekends would’ve been great as I am only using the car till Central London. So this was another motivator to get the car.

Again, don’t judge nor insult. It’s very disrespectful.



There is no penalty for an early settlement, even if the mileage is in excess of the contract. This applies to PCP contracts, I’m not sure about HP or Business Lease. There is a clause that allows you to VT (Voluntarily Terminate) the PCP contract if you have paid on time each month for 50% value of the car. Which I will do by November this year. Which gives me the option to hand the car back in, even in excessive mileage with no penalties or hits to my credit rating (Confirmed by VW Finance in writing). It is the law apparently to allow people to have options. So this is something I am looking favourably towards. I will be saving £200 a month on finance, £180 on fuel, £100 on insurance (a month) and general wear and tear. Which around £400-500 will be saved, which I could possibly put towards a decent shared rental nearer to work.



I can do this but a motorbike has always appealed to me. Granted, a car allows me more opportunity to lug around any equipment, be safer and allow flexibility generally. But a motorbike offers less stress, manoeuvrability in traffic, less fuel cost, use of bus lanes and generally quicker to get around. I am in two worlds here. Should I move out, close enough to bike/walk/public transport or move out and have a motorbike to get to gym, work, home? I can rely on public transport but to get home (in East London) or go to gym it will become rather difficult to maintain.



Thank you for your concern. It is horrible. I feel depressed, angry and very negative most of the time. It is a very tedious, time-consuming and a frustrating commute. I stay because I want to gain as much experience as possible because the growth opportunity here is outstanding. Just the commute drains me out. Completely sucks the life out of me (I think people only understand once they sit in the passenger seat with me to see how it is actually like). It’s complete gridlock for 2 hours. A motorbike would probably reduce the commute by an hour or so (dependant on which route I take either through Central London, North Circular A406 or M25). Do you think getting a bike wouldn’t help? I thought it’ll be able to save at least 45-60 minutes because most the time I’m gridlocked in areas were motorbikes are completely filtering through no problem.



As I am a contractor “flexitime” isn’t really an option. However, the timings on when we come in and leave are very flexible. Even taking time off is quite relaxed, so this comes really handy.



Public transport is an option but not an ideal option. I’ll have to make 4 changes which sums upto about 2 hours and it is very expensive as I am travelling from the last stop in Zone 3 to the last stop in Zone 6, which I have to pay for a monthly Zone 1-6 card. On top of this, it takes 10 minutes walk to get to the first train station near my house. Then when I reach the other end of Zone 6, I have to take a shuttle bus to the office (which takes around 15 minutes). All in all, it is expensive, tedious and tiresome.



Thank you for a very informative post. This was very helpful. I think getting a smaller bike and working my way up would be a good option. It’s nice to know that you have been in a similar situation (albeit not the financed car). I was in two minds, either look at the Honda NC700 or the BMW G650 GS. BMW had a more off-road appeal, which seemed like an interesting bike to take out on on weekends. However, they are both great bikes (according to reviews and a friend).

Thank you for also understanding about moving out. I am very comfortable where I am, albeit, I’m not entirely fussed about going to a new area. However, I do enjoy living with my family as my siblings are fantasticly good friends that I have a good laugh with. On top of that, I have a very lively social life in East London, which really helps when work and the commuting is taking a toll on me.
How about the three-wheeler Piaggio MP3 300 lt? Don’t need a motorbike licence, has an extra wheel for stability, enough power to tackle a motorway, comfortable and storage space? However, filtering might not be as good but from what I’ve witnessed on the road, many people with these Piaggio’s 3-wheelers are filtering perfectly fine. What are your thoughts on this? Stick to a car or bike?

So, away from the negative and unconstructive posts. All of your inputs are extremely helpful in making my decision. Taking into account that I would like to save for a property aswell as work, as there is no point of working if I cannot be saving (my views anyway).

Thank you.

I test drove a three wheeled Scoot.

It was smooth but felt clumsy.

I had a 250cc Scooter for a year back in 2012.

Had ideas of doing the KoL!

I personally felt a small capacity motorbike like the CBF125 would be safer.

I felt the Scooter was less stable amd the foot forward riding position felt alien.

As you have no exp of bikes that will likely not affect you.

As far as 125 or 250 Scooters go they are all fairly similar.

I would be biased towards a Honda as they are better built.

I had a 250 XMax and it returned just over 70mpg.

The 125 would probably.be better.

With anused CBF125 you could easily run it with just regualr oil changes.

And if you bought a manual for it, Haynes do one i believe then somebody with an engineering background could maintain ir for buttons.