Commuting scooter / motorcycle

Or you lend your commuter hack (Honda Spada) to someone else, and end up
commuting on the high maintenance Ducati Monster anyway...

Not that I'd know anybody who's doing that <looks around nonchalantly>

big

 

If your referring to the CTX it was originally an Opal.

 

In the UK, running a second, ssmaller, bike as a commuter (or winter)
hack *definitely* makes economic sense.

Factor in the higher tyre, chain, brake and fuel costs (petro is way,
way more expensive than in the US, remember) and the fact that our foul
winters knock hell out of expensive all-alloy superbikes, and ou'll see
it's true.

Simple example - my daiy commute is about 40 miles each way. My bigger
bikes (see sig) do 36-44mpg, according to type. Call it a gallon of fuel
each way, average. That's about £4, or over $7.

Recently, I've been pottering to work on the 125. That does 100mpg,
giving me a daily saving of about £5, round trip, or £25/week, or over
£1000/year. And that's fuel alone, without the far higher tyre and other
consumable costs of the big machines. And I haven't even mentioned
depreciation.

ITYF that even with the cheaper fuel in the US, there'll be a saving.

 

A jewel among cars, eh?

Hint: Opel and Vauxhall are the same. Trim level varies occasionally
with country, but no more than within a single brand.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

The throttle turns both ways. Try riding the larger bike at the same
speed and acceleration as the 125 and see what the costs are like
for fuel, tyres etc.

 

No way you'll ever get close. Just think about the weight.

As an example, my gixxer, which is phenomenally good on fuel, can do
as little as 35mpg[1] if I'm pushing it, or as much as 50mpg if I'm
just cruising. I could probably coax it up to 60 if I _really_ tried.
Tyres might increase their life from 3500 miles to 4500, perhaps, but
no more. Most other costs are simply mileage related.

But more to the point, you just wouldn't, couldn't, do it.


[1] We're talking UK gallons here, not US ones, of course.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Indeed. I think the variation is much less now than it used to be,
though.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

I've been arrested there!

 

Well I don't see why a 125 would get "Run over", but I tend to agree
that it would not be the most suitable vehicle for that ride.

Your maths (math) must be pretty strange then. It would cost you about
$9 per week, saving you $13.50, i.e. about 650 dollars a year.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom)
\`\ | /`/ GSX-R1000K3
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2
`\|/`
`

 

Daylight robbery, mate. You want to have a word about that.

 

I guess I won't suggest the Big Ruckus from Honda then.
--
Bob Mann

Before you critisize someone,
you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you critisize them,
you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

 

Yeah, I know. I can't imagine what would happen if those robber barons in the
oil companies started charging more for gas. Why, we might have another
revolution on our hands!

Luckily, installing the low restriction dual exhaust system on my 7.4 liter
pick-up truck caused my fuel mileage to increase from 9.5 mpg to 10.0 mpg - more
than a 5% improvement.

Leaps and bounds... leaps and bounds!

--
Tim Morrow, Herndon, Virginia
'04 FLTRI Road Glide
'99 Speed Triple
'72 TR6RV Tiger
DoD#2244 RCOS#7
http://users.erols.com/tomorrow
http://www.reeky.org/gallery/Tim

 

You wouldn't have to worry about it, if you paid what I pay for gas.

 

Mark Olson says...

Holden have a factory there.

 

Ben Blaney says...

I really don't give a **** how much my bike costs to run, as long as
I'm enjoying it.

 

The Catera was an Opal Omega (according to GM), and eventually developed into
the CTX.

 

Here's what else you apparently don't know:

http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/promotions/hi_unitedkingdom/index.jhtml?adId=
unitedkingdom,redirect,21

Watch out for the line wrap!

 

Used SV650?

--

Andrew
00 Daytona
00 Speed Triple
RCOS #7

 

Don't be so silly. What *is* the point of buying a 750 and riding it at
50mph? And as someone else said, think of the weight.

 

Yeah, fair point - like I said, fuel is way, way more expensive here.
There are other issues, like consumables, and of course servicing -
fettling a 125 takes about half an hour. Fettling my Triumph or Ducati
is rather more time-consuming (and/or expensive), but fuel costs are the
real issue.