Motorcycle Commuting Into London (Berners Street(
Discussion
Afternoon All
I am on the verge of a new job offer and it will be three days in in a London Office. After four years WFH, I am happy to be back in an office, but the commute will not be a welcome return...
At three days, if I buy daily and only pay for what I use it won't be too bad, but its still an unpredictable three hours of my day, so I am looking at alternatives and one being I bike into town on something like a Triumph Tiger or BMW GS.
I have had a peruse of https://www.motorbikeparking.london/ and there seems to be a lot of options within a mile of Berners Street,
Just interested to hear if my aspirations are realistic? I think its an hour door to door vs 1hr 30 on the train. Specifically after the views of people who do it who rely on Public parking options.
Yes, I do have a Motorcycle license. Been over ten years since I have ridden, but I am not phased with that. Prior to the pandemic, I was on my Brompton five days a week and 14 miles a day, so also familiar with the faff factor of two wheeled travel.
I know putting 8500 miles on a bike will be a couple of services and 1.5 tyres, but part of me still prefers that to the train.
As for bikes....well
2009 BMW GS1200 (Yes, I loved the LWR...cliche...blah blah blah)
Triumph Tiger 1200 or 800 (More practical, cheaper, new, but hearts not really in it)
I am on the verge of a new job offer and it will be three days in in a London Office. After four years WFH, I am happy to be back in an office, but the commute will not be a welcome return...
At three days, if I buy daily and only pay for what I use it won't be too bad, but its still an unpredictable three hours of my day, so I am looking at alternatives and one being I bike into town on something like a Triumph Tiger or BMW GS.
I have had a peruse of https://www.motorbikeparking.london/ and there seems to be a lot of options within a mile of Berners Street,
Just interested to hear if my aspirations are realistic? I think its an hour door to door vs 1hr 30 on the train. Specifically after the views of people who do it who rely on Public parking options.
Yes, I do have a Motorcycle license. Been over ten years since I have ridden, but I am not phased with that. Prior to the pandemic, I was on my Brompton five days a week and 14 miles a day, so also familiar with the faff factor of two wheeled travel.
I know putting 8500 miles on a bike will be a couple of services and 1.5 tyres, but part of me still prefers that to the train.
As for bikes....well
2009 BMW GS1200 (Yes, I loved the LWR...cliche...blah blah blah)
Triumph Tiger 1200 or 800 (More practical, cheaper, new, but hearts not really in it)
I have commuted c1hr each way in to central London (The City) from Kent for about 15 years. The last 6 on a GS1200, now a GS1300. My thoughts?
We had a similar thread a while back. I'd say if you're thinking of doing this as a financial gain then it's a risk because that'd see you riding in all weathers which can be unpleasant and dangerous (e.g. dark, wet and slippy) and you may find yourself using the train for periods having splashed out on a bike and all the kit you'll need to keep you safe/dry/warm etc.
Also, the route makes a difference, mine is mainly on the A20 and A2 (OKR) and so is quite wide and with bus lanes. Riding on narrow roads, especially if you can't use bus lanes really slows things down. You almost certainly will come off at some point, so just get head around that. I wouldn't park anything even vaguely decent on the street in London as it may/will get nicked. I'm lucky I have parking under the office and previously used an underground NCP (on London Wall) with a security box right near the motorbike bays (which were free to use). You'll also really lose any respect you may have for cyclists!
I personally commute because I prefer to. I love riding a motorcycle and will usually find any excuse to do so. I have a nice one for the commute and lots of decent kit which makes the whole thing easier and more pleasant. I have the radio on and I find it a relaxing experience. The train is marginally quicker but more expensive and, importantly full of people using their phones on speaker, sniffing, coughing etc but even I use it Dec-March and sometimes when I just can't be ar5ed to go through the faff of putting wets on.
Sounds like I'm trying to put you off even though I do it myself. Simply put, you'd have to want to do it! A GS would be a great commuter but get one with heated grips and ideally a heated seat.
We had a similar thread a while back. I'd say if you're thinking of doing this as a financial gain then it's a risk because that'd see you riding in all weathers which can be unpleasant and dangerous (e.g. dark, wet and slippy) and you may find yourself using the train for periods having splashed out on a bike and all the kit you'll need to keep you safe/dry/warm etc.
Also, the route makes a difference, mine is mainly on the A20 and A2 (OKR) and so is quite wide and with bus lanes. Riding on narrow roads, especially if you can't use bus lanes really slows things down. You almost certainly will come off at some point, so just get head around that. I wouldn't park anything even vaguely decent on the street in London as it may/will get nicked. I'm lucky I have parking under the office and previously used an underground NCP (on London Wall) with a security box right near the motorbike bays (which were free to use). You'll also really lose any respect you may have for cyclists!
I personally commute because I prefer to. I love riding a motorcycle and will usually find any excuse to do so. I have a nice one for the commute and lots of decent kit which makes the whole thing easier and more pleasant. I have the radio on and I find it a relaxing experience. The train is marginally quicker but more expensive and, importantly full of people using their phones on speaker, sniffing, coughing etc but even I use it Dec-March and sometimes when I just can't be ar5ed to go through the faff of putting wets on.
Sounds like I'm trying to put you off even though I do it myself. Simply put, you'd have to want to do it! A GS would be a great commuter but get one with heated grips and ideally a heated seat.
I'm not far from you in Wardour Street and if you want somewhere that is not on street parking, there is Cavendish Square car park which is free for motorcycles, underground obviously and better from a security standpoint (although it's not perfect). You can drive down the entrance and then there is an area full of bikes (sometimes very full). Several GS's and lots of people put a cover on as well. They may stay longer than a day, but it can be a little dusty and borderline manky at times. The walk to Berners Street is doable too so that would be my choice. There is also a car park in Clipstone Street/Mews which a friend uses, but I haven't tried that. It's a bit more of a stretch though to walk. On street parking is also available outside Fitzroy Place which some nice bikes use which suggests it might be less of a crime magnet than some others, but it's still not my first choice.
Gixer968CS said:
I have commuted c1hr each way in to central London (The City) from Kent for about 15 years. The last 6 on a GS1200, now a GS1300. My thoughts?
We had a similar thread a while back. I'd say if you're thinking of doing this as a financial gain then it's a risk because that'd see you riding in all weathers which can be unpleasant and dangerous (e.g. dark, wet and slippy) and you may find yourself using the train for periods having splashed out on a bike and all the kit you'll need to keep you safe/dry/warm etc.
Also, the route makes a difference, mine is mainly on the A20 and A2 (OKR) and so is quite wide and with bus lanes. Riding on narrow roads, especially if you can't use bus lanes really slows things down. You almost certainly will come off at some point, so just get head around that. I wouldn't park anything even vaguely decent on the street in London as it may/will get nicked. I'm lucky I have parking under the office and previously used an underground NCP (on London Wall) with a security box right near the motorbike bays (which were free to use). You'll also really lose any respect you may have for cyclists!
I personally commute because I prefer to. I love riding a motorcycle and will usually find any excuse to do so. I have a nice one for the commute and lots of decent kit which makes the whole thing easier and more pleasant. I have the radio on and I find it a relaxing experience. The train is marginally quicker but more expensive and, importantly full of people using their phones on speaker, sniffing, coughing etc but even I use it Dec-March and sometimes when I just can't be ar5ed to go through the faff of putting wets on.
Sounds like I'm trying to put you off even though I do it myself. Simply put, you'd have to want to do it! A GS would be a great commuter but get one with heated grips and ideally a heated seat.
Thanks for the detailed reply and yeah, riding in the depths of winter doesn't appeal. On the Brompton, I used to ride in all weathers regardless, but as I have got older, I have less desire to get cold and wet on a daily basis. Also, I have multiple versions of everything for cycling and that is of course cheaper than multiple of everything for motorcycles. We had a similar thread a while back. I'd say if you're thinking of doing this as a financial gain then it's a risk because that'd see you riding in all weathers which can be unpleasant and dangerous (e.g. dark, wet and slippy) and you may find yourself using the train for periods having splashed out on a bike and all the kit you'll need to keep you safe/dry/warm etc.
Also, the route makes a difference, mine is mainly on the A20 and A2 (OKR) and so is quite wide and with bus lanes. Riding on narrow roads, especially if you can't use bus lanes really slows things down. You almost certainly will come off at some point, so just get head around that. I wouldn't park anything even vaguely decent on the street in London as it may/will get nicked. I'm lucky I have parking under the office and previously used an underground NCP (on London Wall) with a security box right near the motorbike bays (which were free to use). You'll also really lose any respect you may have for cyclists!
I personally commute because I prefer to. I love riding a motorcycle and will usually find any excuse to do so. I have a nice one for the commute and lots of decent kit which makes the whole thing easier and more pleasant. I have the radio on and I find it a relaxing experience. The train is marginally quicker but more expensive and, importantly full of people using their phones on speaker, sniffing, coughing etc but even I use it Dec-March and sometimes when I just can't be ar5ed to go through the faff of putting wets on.
Sounds like I'm trying to put you off even though I do it myself. Simply put, you'd have to want to do it! A GS would be a great commuter but get one with heated grips and ideally a heated seat.
My route would be from Hemel Hempstead (M1) down into Berners Street so certainly not country roads. I know what you mean about Cyclists. I spent 6 years cycling in London and nearly came to blows with some cyclists over their behaviour.
I also hate the train for all the reasons you have mentioned. I was lucky when I did it before as I always got a seat, but I am not sure that would be possible now and the cost has also gone up a lot since I last did it.
Offices with bike stuff is also relatively easy. Motorcycle stuff is bigger, heavier and slightly more noticeable too.
Thanks for taking time to reply and all food for thought.
bakerstreet said:
....
I have had a peruse of https://www.motorbikeparking.london/ and there seems to be a lot of options within a mile of Berners Street,
....
I'd want parking much closer than a mile!I have had a peruse of https://www.motorbikeparking.london/ and there seems to be a lot of options within a mile of Berners Street,
....
Thanks for all the replies here.
I seem to have a fair few parking options, but in reality its just looking too hard at home. IE, this is 2.1m bike trying to go in a garage thats 2.5m wide with cars to navigate round and I just don't think there is enough space to do it without me moving a car out of the way every time I want to get the bike out. A slightly smaller a lighter bike might work, but I'd settled on a BMW R1200GS 2012 - Rally Special Edition, so not really interested in anything else.
I could come to terms with the financial side of it (Faster than train), but the I just don't think I will be able to even get it out the drive with out a 50 point turn.
I really hate this house. It was a massive mistake moving here. We have literally spent thousands and it still doesn't have everything the old house had. Think I will go and make myself a coffee and have a biscuit.
I seem to have a fair few parking options, but in reality its just looking too hard at home. IE, this is 2.1m bike trying to go in a garage thats 2.5m wide with cars to navigate round and I just don't think there is enough space to do it without me moving a car out of the way every time I want to get the bike out. A slightly smaller a lighter bike might work, but I'd settled on a BMW R1200GS 2012 - Rally Special Edition, so not really interested in anything else.
I could come to terms with the financial side of it (Faster than train), but the I just don't think I will be able to even get it out the drive with out a 50 point turn.
I really hate this house. It was a massive mistake moving here. We have literally spent thousands and it still doesn't have everything the old house had. Think I will go and make myself a coffee and have a biscuit.
bakerstreet said:
Thanks for all the replies here.
I seem to have a fair few parking options, but in reality its just looking too hard at home. IE, this is 2.1m bike trying to go in a garage thats 2.5m wide with cars to navigate round and I just don't think there is enough space to do it without me moving a car out of the way every time I want to get the bike out. A slightly smaller a lighter bike might work, but I'd settled on a BMW R1200GS 2012 - Rally Special Edition, so not really interested in anything else.
I could come to terms with the financial side of it (Faster than train), but the I just don't think I will be able to even get it out the drive with out a 50 point turn.
I really hate this house. It was a massive mistake moving here. We have literally spent thousands and it still doesn't have everything the old house had. Think I will go and make myself a coffee and have a biscuit.
I know how you feel about it. It can be a massive negative to taking the bike if you've got to arse around with getting it out of storage each time. Can you not leave a car out of the garage?I seem to have a fair few parking options, but in reality its just looking too hard at home. IE, this is 2.1m bike trying to go in a garage thats 2.5m wide with cars to navigate round and I just don't think there is enough space to do it without me moving a car out of the way every time I want to get the bike out. A slightly smaller a lighter bike might work, but I'd settled on a BMW R1200GS 2012 - Rally Special Edition, so not really interested in anything else.
I could come to terms with the financial side of it (Faster than train), but the I just don't think I will be able to even get it out the drive with out a 50 point turn.
I really hate this house. It was a massive mistake moving here. We have literally spent thousands and it still doesn't have everything the old house had. Think I will go and make myself a coffee and have a biscuit.
Biker9090 said:
I know how you feel about it. It can be a massive negative to taking the bike if you've got to arse around with getting it out of storage each time. Can you not leave a car out of the garage?
Yeah, I was thinking that but we live on quite a crowded road and most of time, we can park outside, its not always guaranteed. Our drive is on quite a slope, so there are many ways it can go wrong and even a smaller bike is 200kg, let alone a fueled up GS at 230 and if that goes over whilst I am inching it in during my 50pt turn, it could damage either car or me.
What I would really like is someone to come and have a go and get a GS in and out, but that is easier said than done. I know no one who owns one. I might try and make up a frame that represents its size just to completely eliminate the idea.
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