Commuting

I am thinking of buying a bike, in order to commute the 12 miles to work.
But I have a few small questions / difficulties:

1. I have no garage, will a bike be OK left permanently on the roadside? -
would I need a cover?

2. Thinking of protective clothing; is there clothing which fits over (and
doesn't crumple) work clothing? - would it take ages to get in and out of?
(I can get away with wearing jeans to work, but leathers I doubt!)

3. Living in the UK might it just get too cold and wet during the winter
months, and would extra waterproof clothing be needed?

 

I wear a leather jacket over my shirts and tshirts for work and it
doesn't cause any problem (a Belstaff, in case you're looking at
brands), as well as gloves. There are manufacturers who do boots that
look dressy enough for work. You could look at Draggin jeans, since
regular jeans give next to no protection.

I'm in Wellington, New Zealand. The winter's not as bad as the UK (no
snow or ice), but for wet weather most of the commuter riders I know
just have rain clothes that pull over their leathers; that ranges from
the cheap (yellow PVC gear that's a size or two too big) to the
expensive (specialist gear).

Or you could get armoured synthetics, which are waterproof and warmer
than leathers.

 

I commuted to work for 5 years on a Suzuki GN250 (please hold that laughter
back) She was a good bike, never let me down once in all that time, never
needed anything but a oil change every 5000km, she started every morning
even in the coldest weather, but then she did sleep in a garage. Cheap as to
run, NZ$5 (about 1.5 sterling) of gas would last a week.

I live in New Zealand, and would never leave my current ride outside unless
it was chained to a pack of pit bull terriers. But the GN, well...., in all
honesty who would want to steel a GN? You may get away with it, make sure
you have it well chained though. If she is going to sleep outside in winter,
make sure your battery is always in top order. Don't know if it snows in
your part of the UK. The GN shares its crankcase oil with the gearbox, if it
got too cold over night the oil could get real thick (in any bike) which
would be bad news for you ride.

Most leather jackets these days have a second zip to allow you to fit extra
clothing underneath, essential for winter, as is wet weather gear. You might
like some of this new "Armor" clothing available now, it is some sort of
canvas like material with kevlar inserts, it's waterproof and as protection
where it is needed, just doesn't look as cool as leather. Make sure you get
some really warm gloves for winter, your fingers are going to freeze.

 

Firstly, accept its a commuter machine, its not going to be an GSXR or a
Ducati. Something reliable, cheap to run, easy to maintain (even if you
get a man in, it'll be cheaper on labour). Kwak GT 550, CG 125, MZ 250,
whatever... I'm sure others will have advice on this.

As to no garage, the bike itself should be ok, there are many winter tips
to prevent corrosion and starting problems [1], but a good cover is a
must.

For security, as it hides how good your bike is [2] and how poor your
chain/lock is and keeps the weather out, to an extent.

Don't get the plastic type as they (a) melt on the exhaust (b) melt in
the sun and damage the paintwork. I use the heavy green canvas ones for
my bikes

There may be insurance implications to consider, many won't touch
machines kept on the road or be prohibitively expensive. If you can put
it on a bit of hardstand on the front of your house or in the backyard
you should be ok, as that doesn't count as 'on the road'. Still need a
cover and a FOAD lock though.

Either change at work, waterproof leggings over jeans, or a one piece
Rukka type suit or Belstaff waxed cotton over trousers. Waterproof, wind
resistant and good in a spill.

A good codura type jacket, my winter one is Bering and *excellent*.

Decent overgear should minimise this, waterproofs aren't going to be
optional. If you're hard up thermals from the army surplus are the way
to go[3].

A set of heated grips are said to be a good investment. I have a set of
Oxford bar muffs, ugly but effective and VFM.

HTH


[1] Maintenance, lubrication, regular washing and waxing *during* the
winter months. Paint nearly everything with waxoyl. Prevents rust,
alloy corrosion and disperses water, prevents moisture attacking
electrics. Looks ugly mind. But comes off for the summer with white
spirit if you can be bothered.

[2] I must admit this has never been a problem for me.

[3] Still use mine, nice shade of olive green too..

 

Can you get it onto the pavement at the boundary of your property and chain
it to something very permanent?. It -must- be chained to summat else it
will go walkies.

As for a cover, your call. One of my esteemed colleagues has had two bike
covers nicked. I advised him to buy a cheapo tarp from B+Q, still got it.

I leave my jeans at work and change when I get there. I bring them home each
week to wash them ( I do have more than one pair of jeans, not -that- pikey
)

It never gets too cold to ride a bike. Never gets too wet either, but snow
and freezing fog may make you want to either work from home, or get the
train in.

Good oversuit is an investment, and/or fabric jacket.

I have got through many winters like that.

HTH

 

I commute on a Ducati

 

It's better out there than in a garage with a tumble dryer, believe
me, I know. A cover is a good idea.

Yes, plenty, can't gaurantee that crumple 'though, My work clothes
consist of teeshirt & jeans. I have Alpinstars gear with a bit of
padding in places. I used to carry my trainers in a rucksack but since
bought another pair and leave them under my desk at work. The guy
opposite me farts a lot so he wouldn't notice the smell

Not with practice

Last time I rode in the winter, snow an' all, I had some lined
waterproofs over my jeans (comfortably toasty) and a waterproof jacket
over my leather jacket, I only once put the lining into the waterproof
jacket when it was -5C, I was bloody boiling in it, hands and feet
froze but my torso was roasting. Being a smoker I'd stop for a fag and
warm my hands up on the exhaust pipes, melted a few inner gloves that
way.

I didn't get to try any "Thinsulate" branded stuff back then but have
since spent a winter in Kazakhstan where temps dropped to -32C
(ambient, much less with windchill) and that stuff rocks (wasn't
biking there though). That's a place where if you wash your hair and
go out, make sure you dry it first or wear a hat, otherwise it snaps
off.

 

You must have been touching cloth if you couldn't wait until you gave the
place a once over.

 

This will be of little help, but it is just my opinion.

.. I don't think anyone can assess whether your new
bike would be OK if parked on the road side.
I've never been to your area, and no one but you
or the local police to estimate your risks.

.. Although not a bad idea, I never wear any protective
clothing for commuting on a street bike, other than a
helmet. I think that anything worn over your street
clothing is certainly likely to disturb the freshness of
your dress. Although you mention wearing jeans, if
you are required to appear crisp, even a MC comm-
ute will wilt that crispness, with or without, protect-
ive gear.

.. Again, I certainly know nothing of UK weather, but
I would suggest that a MC not be ridden intention-
ally in inclement weather. I know there are many
who do ride in bad weather, as I have been forced
to do. However, given the choice, I would have
done otherwise.

Perhaps some other UK residents will have answers
with greater value.


Thanks - Gary - US(Dallas, Texas)

 

Many years ago I had to ride from Llanelli to Milton Keynes for a
training course. It wasn't too bad when I set off - cold, but nothing
too unusual for South Wales.

By the time I reached Port Talbot, I was riding through a blizzard. Got
to Cardiff West services and had to get off the bike to warm up - went
to the gents to do the usual 'gloves under the dryer' thing, and I could
peel a layer of ice off my armoured winter suit.

It was only when I put the telly on in the hotel at MK that I found out
they closed the M1 due to the snow only minutes after I reached the
Severn Bridge.

Never, ever will I do that kind of thing again.

 

Trevor Best
Told the rest
"I'm a Ducati pratti"

Sorry, just popped into my head and I couldn't resist.

--
John

SV650
Black it is
and naked

 

And it was serveral counties of blizzard conditions.

M4 closed from Llanelli all the way through to the bridge.

January 1996, ISTR.

I don't mind cold, but when the snow is so heavy you're riding through
several inches of it at 20mph on the M4, you really do wonder why you
only have a bike.

 

When I lived in N.E Derbyshire, the local scrotes tried to nick my MZ a
couple of times. Only when one of them was discouraged with the application
of a tyre iron did the little bastards give up on it.

As you rightly say, it depends on the area.

Again, area dependant.

TBH, the cold doesn't really bother me that much. I'm well padded, which
helps . I also learned a valuable lesson from an ex-army dude which is to
keep the body core temperature up and not to allow wind penetration ( not
the same as farting ) through the layers as this carries heat away.

Lowest temperature I know I've ridden in is -12c according to one of those
combined clock/thermometer thingies. 85mph at night, on the motorway, in
-12c. Fingertips and toes were a bit cold and I had a bit of ice form at
the lower edge of my visor, but the worst part was the draught on my face.
Made my sinuses ache and kept drying my eyes out beyond normal blinkage
duties ability to keep 'em moist.

 

True. I have never had anyone attempt to steal my bike, to my knowledge.
<runs off to touch wood>
That's one reason my present bike isn't alarmed. I paid good money to
have an alarm in the last one and it never did a second's useful work.

Okay. It very, very rarely gets too cold in this country to ride a
bike. Wusses excepted.

--
John

SV650
Black it is
and naked

 

But you run the risk of tiny-minded freaks here and elsewhere accusing
you of not being a "real" biker. Not that that's a real worry.

fwiw, I'm an all-weather biker, because I gave my car to my sister. I
hate being cold and wet, but it's outweighed by the fact that I know
I've made my sister's life a lot easier.

At some point I'll probably buy a SOC for the winter.

 

You can ride a bike unintentionally?


--
John

SV650
Black it is
and naked

 

Ben Blaney fascinated us all by saying...

Are you after the respect of your peers too.

Nice FR profile btw

 

<snip>

ROFLMAO

Fucking Classic

 

From whence to where? I'd hazard a guess you're talking suburbs into
central London...

Depends where you live, doesn't it? I mean, you might live in a little
Cotswold village where the most traffic you get is the weekly bus, or, you
might live here http://makeashorterlink.com/?X19A52FB5 ...

If it's gonna be kept in the street, you'd likely want to get a cover
'cause a) it's going to get covered in crap and b) if you do live in
Thamesmead, it'll extend the time before it gets nicked by at least a day.

Hell, I manage to crumple work clothing before I've even left the house!

If you have to wear a suit at work (like I do) then consider an additional
suit specifically for work. What I mean is, I keep one (and a pair of
shoes) at work and then only need bring a fresh shirt for those days I'm
office-bound.

I can then do my reverse Mr.Benn impression [1] by entering the changing
room as an armour-clad gladiator lookalike (or Robocop as someone recently
pointed out) and emerge looking like the brainwashed, unmotivated
corporate dullard I actually am.

To better answer your original question, I know a good few people that
ride to work in collar and tie with either a combination of decent
all-weather gear in the form of jacket and jeans, i.e. Weise, Rukka,
Hein-Gericke stuff and one or two people I know have the Aerostitch
oversuits.

Note: all those people ride BMWs ('cept one who rides a Honda Dullville).

It's never too wet, but it can get pretty cold. Ultimately, it's a
personal thing and each person has a different threshold for cold (read:
"pain"). In fact, didn't Hunter S. Thompson write "Cold on a motorcycle"?
<Googles>
No, it was Dave Karlotski. Here http://www.f6rider.com/WhyRide.htm

Buy /decent/ kit and it'll make it easier; Goretex is good, Goretex is
your friend. Get Goretex /everything/. Ok, a Goretex crash-helmet would
be pretty dumb, but Jacket, Jeans, Gloves, Boots. Oh, and an extra set of
thermals, too.

Possibly the best bike for all-year round riding in the UK would be the
R1100/R1150GS from BMW. Set of heated grips and handguards, the
aforementioned quality Goretex kit and away you go.

Personally, I ride my bike all year round, only wussing-out when it snows
-- I don't do snow on two wheels. I might, however if I had a GS...

Anyhoo, HTH.

[1] http://www.mrbenn.co.uk/ for the septics.

 

I spent all weekend thinking up a witty retort and .... nope, can't
think of anything.