Commuting on a GS Adv

[talonfs]

I agree with all that GSMONKEY has said.

I commute everyday from Medway to Canary Wharf (about 32 miles) rain or shine, etc. I love it, but have to say i was worried when I went up to the 12GS from a ZZR600, the GS just looks huge.

I have since put renthal twinwalls on(for comfort) and these as well as getting used to the width of the GS enable me to filter just as quickly as b4.

My commute now takes me 45 mins, in the car it is 1hr45 mins, on the train it is 1hr20mins. the biggest time saving is the last 5 miles when filtering into the Blackwall Tunnel!!!

I hear what everyone says about residuals, etc, but remember the saving you are making by riding.

BTW i also liberally sprayed my with ACF50, the bike looks like a dirtracker at the moment, but hopefully the ACF50 will do it's sh1te.

 

[Pressurized]

Hi Mike, I'm getting the impression that BMW has a much better backup service, than say KTM.

All the times that I needed them, apart from the one with the gear position indicator fault (fixed by me with WD40 later), my dealer was never less than swish and professional. I got the feeling they were very well practised. My KTM dealer has actually been even better but has appeared surprised, even appalled, at my problems. I believe both BMW and KTM are good at dealing with warranty work - I think this is because the importers pay 100% of the costs so the dealers are generally helpful. I would expect that KTM dealers would be more variable in quality as they are presently less corporately controlled by the importers. If you are still think along orange lines, poll forums on opinions on your local dealer(s).

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.

Nice points.

I am not really able to comment on city riding - it's a long time since I suffered it. While I do commute, it's 15 miles of a wee bit of 30mph (warms up nicely), bumpy twisty B-road - Adventure bike heaven - a couple of miles of single track (past Chuck Yaeger's old airbase) then a few more miles of very well finished B-road. I have one traffic light, no roundabouts and, if there are more than two cars at those lights then I am upset.

If I had to work in the city I would probably commute and my choice of bike would probably be no different but I may consider things like the F650, Versys and 600 thumpers - they have much the same advantages of the adventures (mainly riding position, view) and aren't disadvantaged by their lack of top end. I suppose it depends on what your roads are like before you get to the urban hell.

 

[Frankers]

Going to have a ring round tomorrow to see if any dealer has an 07 demo bike to try.

 

[The smudger]

Weather permitting

I will do 600 mls a week, although not in London. I travel from Bath to Reading every day on a GS. I tried the ADV but found it a little top heavy when 'tanked up'. On reflection, i should have persevered with the ADV as the tank range on the GS is a lot less. I dont find the bike any problem at all, tyres seem to last forever, services are (reasonably), cheap, no chain to worry about, and the GS is suprisingly slim and lightweight when filtering.

Steve.

 

[Keith Mcclintock]

Commuting on GS adv

Its a good idea to use a motorbike to commute, however i would not want to do it on a GS adv. If i was you and you could afford it i would buy the Adv for leisure riding and purchase a second hand relaible trail bike (600cc) for the commute. That way if you did have a spill or get it nicked you would not be as hacked off as you would if had been the Adv

This is my personal oponion-either way enjoy

Happy New year

 

[Frankers]

GSA on it's way - nearly. Any tips on night riding?

Everyone has been very helpful - thanks to all.

I'm looking at a 2nd hand 07 GSA tomorrow and booked in to test ride it on Monday. If I like it, I'll buy it. Then it's just going to be about getting used to the bike and riding it in London.

Might have been better to wait until the clocks go forward as my night riding is very limited and I've been off a bike for nearly 5 years, but what the hell.

Any tips for night riding (I will of course turn the lights on!!!).

 

[Dave Ford]

Any tips for night riding (I will of course turn the lights on!!!)


Problem is, turning the lights on makes bugger all difference. The lights would disgrace any bike, let alone one costing in excess of £10,000. Am currently saving up to get mine HIDed (plenty of relevant posts on here), but then again I also need to do something about the seat....

 

[rudiemoto]

,i ride everyday since i got my gsa
dont ride a 600cc there 4 girls get a mans bike
gsa

 

[GSmonkey]

Any tips for night riding (I will of course turn the lights on!!!).

As you're heading towards London, you don't really have to worry too much about night riding as everything is lit once you get inside the M25. In fact, night riding in London gives you the advantage of knowing when people are going to pop out of side roads (you see their lights first). Biggest problem night riding in London is glare, lots of knobheads with mis-aligned lights, full beam or fogs.

Top tips for winter riding in London:
-Keep your visor clean inside and out
-Get an anti-fog visor e.g. fogcity or pinlock. Anti-fog coatings e.g. BMW, Schuberth are worth sod all in the real world.
-Make sure you're warm, not difficult on the GS with heated grips.
-Get waterproof kit e.g. Rukka. I used leathers/oversuit for years and its a pain in the arse trying to guess whether its going to rain or not.
-Consider getting a white lid for visibility (I personally think they make you more visible than anything else). Hi-Viz vests etc. optional. I use one myself, but I'm not convinced on their use.

 

[Magwych]

Everyone has been very helpful - thanks to all.

I'm looking at a 2nd hand 07 GSA tomorrow and booked in to test ride it on Monday. If I like it, I'll buy it. Then it's just going to be about getting used to the bike and riding it in London.

Might have been better to wait until the clocks go forward as my night riding is very limited and I've been off a bike for nearly 5 years, but what the hell.

Any tips for night riding (I will of course turn the lights on!!!).

Frankers, my 2p's worth ...
It seems this is new territory for you, both in terms of the bike itself and the commute. Once you take the plunge ( you know you will...) Take a trip up to yuor workplace on a Sunday, get familiar with your route and a few options too, before you embark on the commute. With an unfamiliar machine, hostile(ish) conditions and any other reservations you seem to riglhty have, you reduce your task loading a bit by being 100% confident with your route.
London traffic goes trough mood swings throughout the day, with the commute time being possibily the most assertive, without the aggresion you can get later in the evenings.
Once you get into the swing of it, filter at your own pace; if you get a ZX10 or whatever up your *rse giving it a throttle load of berries every second, let him pass, don't be pressured into going at his pace. The accident stats are a bit scary to start with, but you can help yourself by letting those who are pushing the boundaries get to their next accident as quickly as possible. If they have the accident then it is likely not going to be you.
Most of all enjoy it, once you get out of the traffic it is great way to unwind at the end of the day, and no more missed trains.

 

[bowser]

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, should be alright?

Tried that to and realized that I actualy had the bikes I REALLY wanted to ride, so why buy another I didnt. So I commute on both my GS and my Harley, still get a grin on my face riding either, even when it is cold and wet, I will say that Ice and Snow is not quite so nice, but I dont have the option of the car now anyway so I just put up with it.

 

[adrianrdaw]

Visors and commuting

I've been using the double glazed BMW visor for a few months, and found it a huge improvement on the fogcity ones. Even the freezing fog 2 weeks ago was made bearable, with misting at a minimum. And the price is equitable with a standard visor plus retail fogcity.

 

[GSmonkey]

Toptip from Citybum re. getting the route sorted on a weekend. Wish I'd done a similar thing when I started a few years ago. I'll admit to sh!tting myself the first few times. Going round Marble Arch at rush hour with a misted visor, misted glasses, pitch black, in the rain, not really knowing where I was going on a new bike having not really ridden a bike for a few years was not the best start.

I always think January is the worst time for commuting on a bike into London, so if you start now its only going to get better

Good luck

 

[Frankers]

I agree with Citybum. I rode to work a few times when I had my last bike and did take a trip up to London on a Sunday and it did make a difference - I'll aim to do that this time.

Deposit on a 07 GSA today - going to take it out for a ride in the next week or so and then bring it home.

Looks like I have enough to get a Gore-Tex 2 piece, so that will be a worthwhile buy. Will add/replace kit, replacement visor as I go along.

Like the idea of the heated grips and ABS will know doubt add confidence.

I'm expecting to a bit nervous and slow to start with, but really looking forward to it.

Cheers guys.

 

[Deleted Member I]

I agree with Citybum. I rode to work a few times when I had my last bike and did take a trip up to London on a Sunday and it did make a difference - I'll aim to do that this time.

Deposit on a 07 GSA today - going to take it out for a ride in the next week or so and then bring it home.

Looks like I have enough to get a Gore-Tex 2 piece, so that will be a worthwhile buy. Will add/replace kit, replacement visor as I go along.

Like the idea of the heated grips and ABS will know doubt add confidence.

I'm expecting to a bit nervous and slow to start with, but really looking forward to it.

Cheers guys.

I like your style .. even though I have been trying to put you off in all my posts .. you pretty much thought .. feck it let's do it

Did you goto Canons for the bike or some other place?

 

[GSmonkey]

Deposit on a 07 GSA today.....

Nice one

 

[Pressurized]

I feel another NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNooooooooooooooooooooooooo
coming on

 

[notpc]

Go for it

I commute from Oxford to London on an R1200GS -saves me about an hour each way compared with the dreadful train. I can usually find a parking slot too.

 

[david vaughan-birch]

Dont any of you city commuters have a problem with overheating? I took my GS down into London last year for a few days, and it was fine while i could move but when the traffic gridlocked and i couldnt filter the temperature gauge soon headed north into the scary section. The only thing I could do was stop and wait for it to cool down.

 

[Frankers]

Novice, you could never put me off - too keen. Besides, most of the post have been pro doing it. I did take a trip to Essex (why?) the 07 used ones have been shifting very fast. I now only know of two possible used ones in the country.