Commuting on a GS Adv

[GSmonkey]

That's another good point, they are droppable, pickeruppable and rideawayable. Been knocked off by a black cab and there was no noticeable damage (plastic head protectors) and just rode away.

Did unfortunately knacker the lower spark plug, as suggested by Pressurized - all sorted by the dealer (who I forgot to mention the 'incident' to ).

I did the train for about 5yrs into London and been on bikes for the last 10yrs. You'll never get me on a train again, end of.

 

[Frankers]

So what about the danger then? My wife who I have only just been able to persuade that riding in will make a difference of about 40 minutes each way, still thinks that I'll die or worse.

Without trying to put me off (cos' I'm gonna do it anyway), what's it like riding in to London every day?

 

[Deleted Member I]

It's really exciting ... in the filter lane you will have to keep up with all the veteran commuters and couriers who are going at about 50MPH. Then there are the motorist who see you in their mirror and then close the gap. Hence it is better to lead as it usually takes one or two to pass before they look in their mirror and realise there are more coming.

Then when are you in central london, people just cut you up as if you didn't exist. Finally park your bike in one of london's finest parking bays for the day .. only to find in the evening that someone has messed with your pride and joy. At best they have only moved it slightly to fit their bike in the bay .. .at worst some scote has tried to use your bike as a parts bin.

Communting by bike to London .. it's great and you don't have to pay the congestion charge .. yet

 

[Nick Marshall]

40 minutes saved

So what about the danger then? My wife who I have only just been able to persuade that riding in will make a difference of about 40 minutes each way, still thinks that I'll die or worse.

Without trying to put me off (cos' I'm gonna do it anyway), what's it like riding in to London every day?

are you sure, dont forget difference in time taken to..

get all your gear on

unlock bike

get it out of garage

lock garage

and then...

lock bike

remove clothing

change into something else.

then do the same again in reverse order on the way home.

 

[Frankers]

I travel on the train in jeans and change at work and back again any way +

I have to get from my house to the train station

Wait for the train and roll the dice for delays

Get off train and get to the bus stop (or walk for 25 minutes) which again is a game of chance and there's always road works

The short walk to work

Getting ready to ride and the bike started will be a breeze and something I'm in control of.

 

[Deleted Member I]

I travel on the train in jeans and change at work and back again any way +

I have to get from my house to the train station

Wait for the train and roll the dice for delays

Get off train and get to the bus stop (or walk for 25 minutes) which again is a game of chance and there's always road works

The short walk to work

Getting ready to ride and the bike started will be a breeze and something I'm in control of.

Beware the old adage .. the grass is greener on the other side

 

[Frankers]

Beware the old adage .. the grass is greener on the other side

There is always that, but hopefully it will go well and then if I ever think about the grass being greener on the other (train) side, I'll know that it might not be.

One of my mates who has ridden in for the past two years has told me that it can get a bit much and he takes the odd week off to go on the train.

My job see me going out on the road so there will be the odd days when I need to take the train, which will mix things up a bit.

I know what you are saying though and have thought about doing it for a couple of years - now's the time.

 

[Deleted Member I]

I was thinking of commuting into London with the bike. Tried it a few times and found that :

1. I couldn't ride at 50 in the filter lane. So mostly I let the experienced people pass
2. Had a few close ones when car/van drivers deliberately closed the gap. Wasn't brave enough to smash their mirrors off .. so felt crap as they laughed
3. Didn't like people messing with my bike and someone tried to nick the plastic rear mudguard once. Luckily Dean @ Battersea fixed it for me for free
4. If you do it you need to commit to it otherwise it will cost more. As you might end up buying one day train tickets etc ..

I might give it a go in Spring just for fun. Got two NCP car parks next to my office so I will use them rather than bays. Although they get packed too!

 

[spm0912]

I commute into London every day on a GSA and I love it. I too toyed with the idea of getting a cheap hack but I just don't get the same pleasure riding one, so here's how I tackle the problems.

1. Sargeant low seat (now able to get my feet firmly on the floor on those dodgy cambers)

2. ACF50, this stuff really is amazing and will protect against most corrosion

3. Aerostich roadcrafter suit, had mine for 6 years and still washes up like new, goes over my work clothes and I literally step out of it and am ready for work

4. Yes I have been knocked off (car pulled out in front of me) and my bike was trashed but it is rare to cause serious damage in a bike RTA in London. I work for London Ambulance and most of the bike related RTA's we get are minor injuries only. As opposed to when I worked in Wiltshire where most were fatal! Just ride within your capabilities, don't be tempted to keep up with the couriers and assume all car drivers are illegal imigrants without licences and you should be alright?

 

[Deleted Member I]

assume all car drivers are illegal imigrants without licences and you should be alright?

That's such a racist comment!

The ones that closes up the gap on me on the M4 are definitely WASPS.

I hope I don't have an accident in London with a WASP .. you will immediately blame me for it and probably leave me dying

 

[Frankers]

Thanks spm0912 - the GSA is big enough to hold it's own on the road - as opposed to my last bike (CBR600) or similar type.

I have a friend who rides in on a GSA - he's the one that has got me in to getting a GSA instead of a GSXR and I can meet him on route for a few guided runs in to town.

Pleased to hear most bike RTAs are minor. I was knocked down by a motorcyle courier in 1990 in London and he told me that that was is first off in 12 years.

I work for a barrister chambers and along with other areas of law we do PI, so I've seen plenty of bike RTAs. My wife is a solicitor and when she did PI acted for a guy who lost his right leg and arm in a spill, so she knows the dangers too.

I'll keep it sensible - at least I'll get plenty of practice. Might do a Bike Safe day too.

 

[APE]

Hi Frankers I have used my GS for the commute into Central London for the last 6 years had currently have a 50 mile round trip from Surrey. I never get tired of the journey and only use the trains if I'm out in the evening. I don't find other road users too bad but i think it does helps if you treat everyone as an idiot.

The GS is a good choice for the job. They crash really well and the shaft drive is good to have. Worth bearing in mind that the backup service is generally very good if you do have a problem and you can normally get back on the road quickly and most dealers can let you use a loan bike.

 

[Frankers]

Hi Mike, I'm getting the impression that BMW has a much better backup service, than say KTM. At the end of the day it's no surprise that there are many different views about commuting by bike. Most though have been positive about it. I really want to get back on a bike and ride again and not just looking for an alternative to the trains - that's gotta be a good start.

Next question I've got to answer is, can I wait until it is lighter in the evenings before I get a bike - I'm thinking that now the wheels are in motion, I can't wait!!

 

[Stujw70]

I have been commuting into Central London from Hertfordshire for about 9 years now. Started mainly to save the cost/ time of train & car journey's.

I have had a Suzuki bandit, Fazer, R1100RT, R850GS, R1150GSA and now a R1200GSA. Never really lost much money on the bikes and just make the effort to keep them in good condition.

Love the BM's for the road presence and very rarely get completly stuck in heavy traffic. I have only have 2 minor offs over the years and never had more than a few bruises. However you can be injured or killed (my dad was killed on his bike commute years ago). You can see where i work from the link below and see plenty of the results of bad bike rta's, but thankfully that is not the norm. I always weigh it up in my mind that we see loads of pedestrians and car driver etc as patients, so they all have risks.

One of my colleagues comes in from Bedford each day on his R1150GS and does very little to it apart from service it and it never lets him down even at over 80000 miles.

Good luck

PS
I cannot really complain about BMW assist as my 1200 has been off the road since last week with an EWS fault. Had a loan car to get me into work since then and will have it until wed night when hopefully SBW will be open again and fix the snag.

 

[brianmaslen]

Get used to the bike and then book yourself on an IAD course or similar, it'll teach you the best approach to safe riding and also tie you in with other riders. I tend to follow the couriers on my trips on the M6/M25 on the basis that they will get hit first when filtering, but as someone said sit back and don't try to keep up. Watch out for the car drivers reading papers, maps, shaving, applying makeup and generally dreaming! After a while you will start to reduce your journey time and relax a little more and hopefully enjoy the experience. Buy good warm waterproof gear and life is more enjoyable.

 

[Frankers]

Good advice.

London's Air Ambulance does a great job and will take a look at the site. Saw it land outside the Royal Courts of Justice a few years ago - think that was for a bike RTA.

You're right about other accidents - I see the PI claims from many other RTAs. Actually not that many bike related ones.

 

[spm0912]

That's such a racist comment!

No, not racist, just a tongue in cheek generalisation. But in certain areas of our capital city a lot more prevelent than you might think!

And of course I will treat you and your WASPs, should you have the misfortune to be injured on the mean streets of Lewisham. The local council would complain if we left you there as it would impede the progress of the bendy bus's.

 

[Stujw70]

Attending one of the Bikesafe days is good way of being assessed and learning about your weak points and making you a bit more aware. Definately worth the few quid it costs. http://www.bikesafe-london.co.uk/

 

[Frankers]

Have seen the Bikesafe days and looks very good value.

 

[GSmonkey]

As said above, most of the people that I know that commute into London have mainly small spills. I've had 3 in the last 10yrs - 1st one I was t-boned @ 30mph, 2nd a taxi hit me up the arse and 3rd was me coming off in the snow. Fatal accidents are generally the idiots getting their bikes out of the garage in May then going off on a fast sweeper on a country lane.

Training will be some help, but for London riding you really need to practise around town. I do things in London I wouldn't necessarily do elsewhere for self preservation. As with everything, the more you do it, the better you get.

Benefits of commuting by bike:
-You leave at a certain time, you get to work by a certain time, almost to the minute regardless of congestion, strikes, road closures etc. etc.
-Its cheaper / helps fund the purchase of the bike in the first place
-You get to ride a bike every day
-You get excellent bad weather riding skills
-You get excellent at slow control
-You can call fair weather riders "poofs"
-You develop a keen sense of self preservation or spend most of your time on your arse (like some of my friends!!)
-You avoid the coughs and colds obtained by travelling on public transport.

Downsides:
-Cold in January, hot and sweaty in July (although its your sweat and not somebody else's off the tube)
-Put high miles on your bikes knocking off thousands in residuals
-Pick up bad habits riding in London
-Occasionally you get stranded e.g. puncture, but 1000x less frequently than public transport breaks down.