Options for biking - thinking of long commute…
Discussion
Hi all. Hopefully you won’t all roll your eyes simultaneously as I’d genuinely like some help. I moved to Sussex recently and I’m about to start a new job which will mean I need to be in London (London Bridge) at least once per week.
Traditional option is drive to station (Frant) which is twenty mins, pay for parking then fork out c.£40 for a return train fare. Long story short, takes bloody ages and probably costs £55 a day all in with petrol and parking.
I’ve always wanted a motorcycle, I trust myself and have ridden off-road plenty in the past. All of the usual commuter based info seems to be predicated on the commuter being within 10 miles of their office and in a city. My ride will incorporate countryside A roads, the A21, a short stint on the M25 then a hack up through south London.
With the majority, by miles if not time, being spent at higher speeds, I’m not sure a Royal Enfield (for example) will fit the bill. Would welcome suggestions please!
Thanks
G
Traditional option is drive to station (Frant) which is twenty mins, pay for parking then fork out c.£40 for a return train fare. Long story short, takes bloody ages and probably costs £55 a day all in with petrol and parking.
I’ve always wanted a motorcycle, I trust myself and have ridden off-road plenty in the past. All of the usual commuter based info seems to be predicated on the commuter being within 10 miles of their office and in a city. My ride will incorporate countryside A roads, the A21, a short stint on the M25 then a hack up through south London.
With the majority, by miles if not time, being spent at higher speeds, I’m not sure a Royal Enfield (for example) will fit the bill. Would welcome suggestions please!
Thanks
G
Edited by GTiTCR on Tuesday 11th July 23:27
Edited by GTiTCR on Tuesday 11th July 23:28
KTMsm said:
Do you mean after you've passed your test ?
Budget / any other requirements ?
I do yes, plan would be DAS. I’m 33 so would do the whole lot for options if nothing else. Budget probably £5k but not averse to finance at c.£150p/m as it’s still a saving on the drive/train commute! Budget / any other requirements ?
Commuting on a bike is quite good fun. That being said, I've only done it a handful of times through spring/summer/autumn and the worst I've had to deal with is rain, unlike some proper hard cores I know. I'd be after comfort, luggage space, ease of use.
You could do a lot worse than a Honda NC750X DCT.
Used ones are available for well under £5k.
You could do a lot worse than a Honda NC750X DCT.
Used ones are available for well under £5k.
Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 12th July 05:34
Another vote for the NC750X.
I commuted on one for 2 years. Comfortable, quick enough and economical. Also ignore the motorcycle purists who roll their eyes at the DCT gearbox, it’s a brilliant system and really takes the sting out of commuting without having to keep going up and down the gears all the time.
I commuted on one for 2 years. Comfortable, quick enough and economical. Also ignore the motorcycle purists who roll their eyes at the DCT gearbox, it’s a brilliant system and really takes the sting out of commuting without having to keep going up and down the gears all the time.
Unless you are man mathsing a reason to get a bike, for one day a week I’d just get the train.
By the time you’ve paid all the costs you won’t save anything.
If you fancy a bike just buy one. Pretty much anything will do what you want commuting wise so just get what you fancy for the rest of the time.
By the time you’ve paid all the costs you won’t save anything.
If you fancy a bike just buy one. Pretty much anything will do what you want commuting wise so just get what you fancy for the rest of the time.
As above, it's not really possible to justify a bike for commuting one day a week when you inlude depreciation, servicing, insurance, tax, kit etc. but don't let that stop you getting a bike
Pre Covid I did 7 years commuting from Suffolk to Waterloo Station, 5 days a week, 7 months of the year. 75 miles each way. It wasn't noticeably quicker than the train option when I included the kit on/off time but I could leave exactly when I wanted to and the ride was always a great way to unwind from the day.
Any bike you enjoy riding is ideal. I used a BMW 1300S then my Kawasaki H2 SX. Neither were cheap options but both were bikes I rode because I enjoyed them.
Pre Covid I did 7 years commuting from Suffolk to Waterloo Station, 5 days a week, 7 months of the year. 75 miles each way. It wasn't noticeably quicker than the train option when I included the kit on/off time but I could leave exactly when I wanted to and the ride was always a great way to unwind from the day.
Any bike you enjoy riding is ideal. I used a BMW 1300S then my Kawasaki H2 SX. Neither were cheap options but both were bikes I rode because I enjoyed them.
Agree with the above, only do it if you're justifying a bike.
I live on the Sussex coast and worked in London Bridge for eight years. I love bikes but never seriously considered commuting by anything other than train. You've got it easier than it used to be too (you're South Eastern but I was Southern, London Bridge refurb has been finished, the really bad Southern strikes have gone, quieter trains after Covid, one day a week, etc.), so I'd just take the train. In the winter you'll be looking out of the train windows glad you're not on a bike.
If you really want a bike then anything not too sporty would do the job - sporty will do it but less comfortably and less vision around traffic makes things harder so not ideal for a novice.
The Company you're going to work for does have a secure car park I assume? There's no way I'd leave a bike on the streets around London Bridge, I doubt it'd be long before you were getting the train home.....
I live on the Sussex coast and worked in London Bridge for eight years. I love bikes but never seriously considered commuting by anything other than train. You've got it easier than it used to be too (you're South Eastern but I was Southern, London Bridge refurb has been finished, the really bad Southern strikes have gone, quieter trains after Covid, one day a week, etc.), so I'd just take the train. In the winter you'll be looking out of the train windows glad you're not on a bike.
If you really want a bike then anything not too sporty would do the job - sporty will do it but less comfortably and less vision around traffic makes things harder so not ideal for a novice.
The Company you're going to work for does have a secure car park I assume? There's no way I'd leave a bike on the streets around London Bridge, I doubt it'd be long before you were getting the train home.....
Three hours on a bike each day is going to be either torture or BLISS! First two bikes springing to mind are NC750 and SV650 AL7, both of which are well within budget and easy on the fuel; the storage on the Honda might swing it. You'll want some decent kit, that's easily another £1-1.5k.
hiccy18 said:
You'll want some decent kit, that's easily another £1-1.5k.
Where do you get this figure? Not bashing you, just interested. Quality touring type kit from the decent midrange brands like Oxford, Richa or RST will likely only be £300-£400 combined jacket and trousers, another £50 for boots, maybe the same for gloves. Helmet maybe £250 for something pricey from Shark or HJC.
I'd struggle to get the cost above £750 unless I was going full Alpinestars and Arai for everything. I recently got full touring garb at my local place for £350 all in (minus helmet) You could save even more with some decent used stuff.
Edited by Pebbles167 on Wednesday 12th July 09:24
black-k1 said:
As above, it's not really possible to justify a bike for commuting one day a week when you inlude depreciation, servicing, insurance, tax, kit etc. but don't let that stop you getting a bike
I commute every day, so my numbers are a bit different but:Purchase of BMW F800 = £1400 (should last 4-5 years without major issue, going by the previous one. Got £500 for scrapping it) so £250 depreciation PA.
Tax = £111
Insurance = £80
Assuming the OP is doing about 50 miles each way once a week, fuel = £13 per week, £624 per year.
Service per year = £100 for parts. DIY fitment.
Pair of tyres = £250
Annual total roughly £1115, or about £22 per week.
On top of that you have to add in cost of kit, which can vary from a few hundred to a few thousand, and the cost of any repairs.
So the OP could make it work out, but it is a bit marginal. Break something expensive on the bike and you will quickly be in negative territory.
Thanks all for the replies!
There’s a bit of man maths I’ll admit, but one day a week would be the minimum (can’t do less!) with the potential for it being three or even four days some weeks. Hence the idea that, in the round, I’d be saving money. Plus, as mundane as a commuter bike may be I could ride at weekends for pleasure. Something I wouldn’t do with the train 😂
Like the idea of DCT actually, especially for the slower parts in stop start traffic. One potential issue with those bigger bikes is my terribly short legs - im 5”10 but have an inseam of only 28 inches… so my body is long but my legs are little lol
Secure parking yes, so that’s fine!
There’s a bit of man maths I’ll admit, but one day a week would be the minimum (can’t do less!) with the potential for it being three or even four days some weeks. Hence the idea that, in the round, I’d be saving money. Plus, as mundane as a commuter bike may be I could ride at weekends for pleasure. Something I wouldn’t do with the train 😂
Like the idea of DCT actually, especially for the slower parts in stop start traffic. One potential issue with those bigger bikes is my terribly short legs - im 5”10 but have an inseam of only 28 inches… so my body is long but my legs are little lol
Secure parking yes, so that’s fine!
GTiTCR said:
Hi all. Hopefully you won’t all roll your eyes simultaneously as I’d genuinely like some help.
No rolling of eyes, you just need to have yours very open.I know the area/route very well as I grew up in South London, moved to Kent, now in Surrey Hills. A mate lived in Crowborough before taking very early retirement and ended up on the Sussex coast. I have family/friends that way, so often back that side
When I lived in London, I used to commute by scooter/bike, and when I moved out, changed job, I used to leave just outside Maidstone and commuted to Kingston by bike (100 miles a day), probably 35k a year on a bike all in with other rides. Now just work at home post covid.
Frant to London Bridge is only going to be 50 minutes or similar by train. You missed out the A2, that's also a pig of a road, there are other options, but much slower, and junction 4/5 of the M25 to Junction 2 is always s
t. As others have mentioned, you're not going to save any money, and I think any time or that total route is unlikely. The A21 is a mixture of single/dual carriageway, so your progress will be hampered.
When it's cold & wet in a few months time, you also going to need some good quality winter gear, some heated. Laminated textile or preferably laminated Goretex. I used to use Rukka, but it's not cheap! Other brands are available.
Don't underestimate what cold & wet can do to your senses, especially cold hands - stick some ice in a bowl of water, add hand, and see what you can still think off after a minute or two. As a novice rider, that route is quite a bit to take on going into Winter, as the B roads and A21 will be covered in detritus soon.
Personally, I'd get the DAS out the way, do some more riding and have a look again next year. You'll want a bike with fairing, larger engines cope with mileage. I started with a 600 Fazer, put over 100k on one of them. Then moved to a Yamaha FJR 1300, which was a great tool for the job.
Edited by bigdom on Wednesday 12th July 12:30
GTiTCR said:
Thanks all for the replies!
There’s a bit of man maths I’ll admit, but one day a week would be the minimum (can’t do less!) with the potential for it being three or even four days some weeks. Hence the idea that, in the round, I’d be saving money. Plus, as mundane as a commuter bike may be I could ride at weekends for pleasure. Something I wouldn’t do with the train ??
Like the idea of DCT actually, especially for the slower parts in stop start traffic. One potential issue with those bigger bikes is my terribly short legs - im 5”10 but have an inseam of only 28 inches… so my body is long but my legs are little lol
Secure parking yes, so that’s fine!
They do the NC700/750 in a longer and lower form that should be managable for your legs. A PHer before suggested the NC700/750 rather than the taller X soft roader variant before. It's available with DCT too.There’s a bit of man maths I’ll admit, but one day a week would be the minimum (can’t do less!) with the potential for it being three or even four days some weeks. Hence the idea that, in the round, I’d be saving money. Plus, as mundane as a commuter bike may be I could ride at weekends for pleasure. Something I wouldn’t do with the train ??
Like the idea of DCT actually, especially for the slower parts in stop start traffic. One potential issue with those bigger bikes is my terribly short legs - im 5”10 but have an inseam of only 28 inches… so my body is long but my legs are little lol
Secure parking yes, so that’s fine!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-details/20230512...
Your post mentioned Royal Enfield. I've ridden a Meteor 350 loaner. It's low. It was so easily manhandled I got it sideways across a single garage. It was restricted to 70 or 75 but it was merrily buzzing along an NSL dual carriageway in the wake of a current model Yaris. I don't commute and for much of what I use a motorcycle for a Hunter 350 would probably suffice.
Edited by carinaman on Wednesday 12th July 12:20
I've just clocked up a year of year-round commuting, for what it's worth here's what I've learned.
Bike-wise I reckon some sort of mid-side adventure-style thing is ideal. Screen and bodywork to keep the weather at bay, comfortable upright seating position for visibility. I use a 750GS, the NC750 is probably not a bad shout, Versys 650 et al would be fine. The Moto Morini X-Cape is decent enough. Nothing that you mind getting scratched or covered in road salt. 50bhp isn't really enough, look in the 70+ range. Definitely a top box.
You need several outfits to deal with weather conditions. Assuming you'll ride in all weathers apart from snow and ice, for summer you need from a mesh jacket, vented gloves and the thinnest trousers you can find. Maybe even riding chinos and presentable boots so you don't need to get changed when you get to work. In winter you'll need heated gloves, heated jerkin, properly waterproof jacket and trousers, waterproof boots and a helmet with an effective pinlock.
Your commute certainly looks as complicated as it gets, with a combination fast roads/motorway and lots of congestion/filtering. If you've not passed your test yet it's a bit frying pan to fire to be honest. I'd respectfully suggest a period of leisure riding, preferably with some advanced training mixed in, before you'd be ready for the challenge of that commute on a regular basis. And even then you'd need your wits about you.
As others have suggested, I think the best approach here is to get into biking because you want to get into biking, see how you go, and start the commute when you feel your skills are up to it. If the commute doesn't work out, at least your investment in gear and training still leaves you with leisure riding to show for it.
Bike-wise I reckon some sort of mid-side adventure-style thing is ideal. Screen and bodywork to keep the weather at bay, comfortable upright seating position for visibility. I use a 750GS, the NC750 is probably not a bad shout, Versys 650 et al would be fine. The Moto Morini X-Cape is decent enough. Nothing that you mind getting scratched or covered in road salt. 50bhp isn't really enough, look in the 70+ range. Definitely a top box.
You need several outfits to deal with weather conditions. Assuming you'll ride in all weathers apart from snow and ice, for summer you need from a mesh jacket, vented gloves and the thinnest trousers you can find. Maybe even riding chinos and presentable boots so you don't need to get changed when you get to work. In winter you'll need heated gloves, heated jerkin, properly waterproof jacket and trousers, waterproof boots and a helmet with an effective pinlock.
Your commute certainly looks as complicated as it gets, with a combination fast roads/motorway and lots of congestion/filtering. If you've not passed your test yet it's a bit frying pan to fire to be honest. I'd respectfully suggest a period of leisure riding, preferably with some advanced training mixed in, before you'd be ready for the challenge of that commute on a regular basis. And even then you'd need your wits about you.
As others have suggested, I think the best approach here is to get into biking because you want to get into biking, see how you go, and start the commute when you feel your skills are up to it. If the commute doesn't work out, at least your investment in gear and training still leaves you with leisure riding to show for it.
As others have said you just need a good plodder and a NC750, SV650 or similar would be the answer. I've been commuting into London for the last 30 odd years very similar mix of bit of motorway and urban. You really don't need a huge bike and to be honest you probably don't need anything over a 125 within the M25, you do need something that you can filter easy on and throw around. I'm on my 3rd SV and to tell the truth they are ideal in that they are narrow and above all cheap and decent on petrol. I did do it for a while on a 125, it was great on petrol but that last bit on the A1 just became a pain after a while. I go in 4-5 days a week, live 30 miles outside the city and probably put about £25-28 per week in the tank.
modellista said:
I've just clocked up a year of year-round commuting, for what it's worth here's what I've learned.
Bike-wise I reckon some sort of mid-side adventure-style thing is ideal. Screen and bodywork to keep the weather at bay, comfortable upright seating position for visibility. I use a 750GS, the NC750 is probably not a bad shout, Versys 650 et al would be fine. The Moto Morini X-Cape is decent enough. Nothing that you mind getting scratched or covered in road salt. 50bhp isn't really enough, look in the 70+ range. Definitely a top box.
You need several outfits to deal with weather conditions. Assuming you'll ride in all weathers apart from snow and ice, for summer you need from a mesh jacket, vented gloves and the thinnest trousers you can find. Maybe even riding chinos and presentable boots so you don't need to get changed when you get to work. In winter you'll need heated gloves, heated jerkin, properly waterproof jacket and trousers, waterproof boots and a helmet with an effective pinlock.
Your commute certainly looks as complicated as it gets, with a combination fast roads/motorway and lots of congestion/filtering. If you've not passed your test yet it's a bit frying pan to fire to be honest. I'd respectfully suggest a period of leisure riding, preferably with some advanced training mixed in, before you'd be ready for the challenge of that commute on a regular basis. And even then you'd need your wits about you.
As others have suggested, I think the best approach here is to get into biking because you want to get into biking, see how you go, and start the commute when you feel your skills are up to it. If the commute doesn't work out, at least your investment in gear and training still leaves you with leisure riding to show for it.
I agree with the top-box bit, but not so much with the clothing bit. I commute all year in a Dane Gore-Tex Pro jacket which is fine until temps are more than 25-ish C, with jeans + base layer leggings in winter and overtrousers if it is wet. One pair summer gloves, one pair winter gloves + bar muffs if it is really cold. Never needed heated clothing yet and I ride in sub-zero temps every year. Bike-wise I reckon some sort of mid-side adventure-style thing is ideal. Screen and bodywork to keep the weather at bay, comfortable upright seating position for visibility. I use a 750GS, the NC750 is probably not a bad shout, Versys 650 et al would be fine. The Moto Morini X-Cape is decent enough. Nothing that you mind getting scratched or covered in road salt. 50bhp isn't really enough, look in the 70+ range. Definitely a top box.
You need several outfits to deal with weather conditions. Assuming you'll ride in all weathers apart from snow and ice, for summer you need from a mesh jacket, vented gloves and the thinnest trousers you can find. Maybe even riding chinos and presentable boots so you don't need to get changed when you get to work. In winter you'll need heated gloves, heated jerkin, properly waterproof jacket and trousers, waterproof boots and a helmet with an effective pinlock.
Your commute certainly looks as complicated as it gets, with a combination fast roads/motorway and lots of congestion/filtering. If you've not passed your test yet it's a bit frying pan to fire to be honest. I'd respectfully suggest a period of leisure riding, preferably with some advanced training mixed in, before you'd be ready for the challenge of that commute on a regular basis. And even then you'd need your wits about you.
As others have suggested, I think the best approach here is to get into biking because you want to get into biking, see how you go, and start the commute when you feel your skills are up to it. If the commute doesn't work out, at least your investment in gear and training still leaves you with leisure riding to show for it.
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