The economics of commuting

That's the killer for me... I cannot not turn up for work, and turning
up more
about 15 minutes late or wet is almost as bad.

That's the downside of being ones own boss I guess :-/ [1]


G-S

[1] Doesn't mean I can't commute on the bike, but I keep it for non
rainy weather...

 

That's the killer for me... I cannot not turn up for work, and turning
up more
about 15 minutes late or wet is almost as bad.

That's the downside of being ones own boss I guess :-/ [1][/QUOTE]

I _can_ turn up late, but in the 6 years I've been commuting to this job
by bike every day (bar the one month licence suspension a few years
back), there's only been one time I've been late due to bike problems,
and that was a punctured tire (which is pretty much as likely to happen
to a car). Decent wet weather gear means even in downpours I only turn
up with wet boots and an occasional damp patch rather than wet as such.

You _can_ commute by bike. You don't have to if you don't want to, but
its really not that hard. (I guess if I wore haircuts worth more than my
jacket, or suits worth more than my helmet it'd be harder...)


big

 

If this is the same smack we're talking about, surely you mean a 60cc
Ducati?

big (and a somewhat less powerful 500cc single jap bike)

 

Buying a car negates what you got the bike for in the first place;
beating traffic, rendering parking at the other end a non-issue and
arriving at work in something other than a zonked-out,
drooling-down-the-front-of-your-shirt state.

In your position, I'd buy another, unregistered, and possibly
cosmetically damaged (for theftproofing) VTR. Commute on it during the
week, then swap the plate over to the other bike on the weekend.

 

Unless you happen to be right next to it, or it happens to be parked
next to, like, a small hatch, in which case you twig to the fact that
it's also three stories high.

 

**** off you commuting spamming bitch

Johno

Beer mate?

 

Don't get me wrong Bigi... I can do it, it's just that I can't wear a
suit or a sports jacket or a collar and tie under a bike jacket. And
sports pants don't go well under leather pants or draggin jeans either.

That means carrying clothes and getting changed at work, which given the
10 minute commute hardley seems worth it... whereas in summer I can
throw a light jacket over an open neck shirt.

G-S

 

I'm with these two loonies (maybe it's a Sydney thing)- I was bike only
in 2000 and commuted on the TRX daily, suit went in the top box with the
laptop and wets. No big deal (but then it doesn't rain as much in Sydney
<wink> )

JL
(not good for the suits but at that point I couldn't afford to be fussy)

 

I've done 200+ clicks each working day for the past two years, allowing
for leave and a broken collar bone. The four weeks I spent on my
brother's cramped, twitchy, exposed Zephyr in that wonderful washing
machine weather that is Melbourne were the worst I have experienced.
Brakes were OK, the damn thing jumped like a cat every time you
feathered the throttle, it was exposed and the lights ... well,
comparing them to shite would be unfair to shite.
A 35km commute one way will get you into the suburban fringes here, and
with no street lighting at night a cat, dog, fox or Elle Macpherson's
niece out jogging come up on you pretty suddenly.
I don't do the sort of work where I can interact with people with water
stains down my neck, in my groin or on my hip, or wherever the water
gets in despite my best efforts to keep it out. So I need a change of
clothes. Sometimes I need a complete change, other times just a change
of shirt or socks.
If you're going to commute exclusively on a bike, when the weather's not
going your way this is what you face. In summer, of course, it's brilliant.
As always, YMMV.
- sanbar

 

In your position, I'd buy another, unregistered, and possibly

Whaddaya think this is... Swizterland??

 

non powerful Jap 500cc single. The cylinder head and piston are in the back
of the ute at the moment

 

I sold that over a year ago on an enthusiast group, he came over from
Adelaide to buy it, I was happy to get rid of it for what ever he had as
rego was due.

Nice car, but dang she wasn't reliable and costly to repair and maintain.

 

Was it a Diesel? I thought they were top notch? Just worn out, or
something worse?

Cheers

Hammo

 

Nar, tis was the Mi16 model, which is basically like a HSV or something. had
one of the first vtec 4 cylinder sporty engines in it, high revs, uses a lot
of fuel and a lot of technology which was only new at the time.

she ws a 91 model, and findin part was had, various things were failing,
such as wiring, general wear and tear items.

car stopped a few times with little things, like fuel pump wiring, a little
clip that conects the clutch cable to the pedel, which took 6 weeks to get
here.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 13 Jul 2005 20:34:50 +1000

Hmm...

I don't, I admit, wear a collar and tie. I do sometimes wear collared
shirts, and they seem to manage OK under my jacket. The suitjacket
lives in the topbox and comes out when I get off the bike.

Being a clearly deranged openface helmet wearer, I don't wear armoured
pants either And my good trousers manage fine under the cordura wets
if needed.

Now, that I am willing to doesn't mean you are, I agree. Just that it's
not impossible, it's just not something you feel like doing.

Zebee

 

Seems sensible to me. Nameless Boy will be for sale Real Soon Now, for
a very reasonable price...


BTH

 

Oh Clem. That's just hurtful! :-(


BTH

 

I'm in the EXACT same boat. Such a difficult choice. If all I had to
do was 80kms of freeway a day with no traffic, parking, fuel or anything
to worry about, a car would be perfect.

But, I work in the city, split lanes all the way there and back, don't
want to pay lots of money for fuel and running costs and want an easy
way to park.

I also have a VTR. Great bike, but don't want to ruin it doing
25,000kms a year on it. I've done 4,000kms and already I feel it not
quite as sharp as it was when I first got it.

Commuter? Cheaps 80's air cooled twin or four, shaft drive, about
500cc, not 'cadillac' heavy, cheap to buy and run.

What is there? GT550's are damn hard to find in anything by falling
apart mode. GS500, no wind protection on the freeway. XJ650's are hard
again, and usually wasted by now. Honda Revere would be perfect, but
I've only found one for either 3,500 which was a rip off and totally
abused, or 2,000 with 114,000 on the clock!

VX800's are hard again, and a little more expensive but I've heard very
good things.

GS850's wouldn't be all that economical and a bit big and heavy.

Any ideas guys? My pride and joy is wearing away in the winter chill.

don't want to spend a whole lot. 3-4 is my max.

James
VTR1000 1997 - "Black Betty"
RGV 250 proddy race bike - "Suzy"
Honda Rebel 250 - Something for the Missus ;0)

 

In aus.motorcycles on Thu, 14 Jul 2005 05:59:24 GMT

Any cruiser shaft drives. Say various middleweight Viragos.

Zebee

 

What about a mid 90's xj600 seca (mine was a 94)... I did around the 200,000
on it before trading it, and it was still going fine. My commute was from
gosford to sydney and back everyday.. er from memory about 80k's each way.

I traded it on a BMW f650 and hated it... then after a year or so on the
bimmer moved up north so the commute thing wasnt an issue any more.

I also rode regardless of weather too as back then it was all i had.

these days my commute is a whole 5 minutes and peak hour lasts about as long
as it take to get around the roundabout.

The XJ was a bit heavy sometimes, but it never missed a beat - it fell over
3 times (fortunately without me being on it) and didnt sustain any major
damage apart from a crack in the little bikini fairing (red gaffa tape fixed
that) and i used to get around the 350 from a tank *reserve didnt work, so i
just started looking at around 300

Cheers
Al (aka emu,yellowcake or birdy - depending how far back you google it)

EL250 - XJ600 - BM F650 - GSX750F