How Much of a Toll does Commuting Take?

[raginmund]

On the clutch, gearbox, engine, etc?

I ask because my 1150 has had an easy life, being used for long journeys and tours. But a possible change of job could mean I need a daily commuter, and I'm not 100% convinced the GS is suited for the role.

The last time I used a heavy bike as a year-rounder I got quite frustrated, and the new job would be less pay, so I'd be in a bad spot if anything major failed on the GS.

I'm looking at something like a DL650, Versys, even F800S and thinking it would be better suited and less costly.

Opinions? Thanks in advance.

 

[Wberesford]

Hello Chap,

If it helps I have a GSA on a 10 plate........one of the anniverasy edition ones and it was purchased specifically for the commute to work. 160miles a day round trip.....

Wouldn't consider doing it on anything else to be honest. The only thing I am not happy about it the fast accumulation of the miles.....oh, and the amount of time out of my life.......all for work...

Good luck

WB

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

4 dollars to go south over the bridge

 

[hodge1150]

Ive commuted most days inc winter on the gs 1150 since I bought it in 2002 (now 102,000 miles).
Also long, fully loaded trips abroad. I find its great never had a real problem. I have more confidence in heavy traffic inc motorway filtering on the GS cos of the great balance of the bike. Imposing too, so cars generally move out of the way.
Hodge

 

[raginmund]

Hello Chap,

If it helps I have a GSA on a 10 plate........one of the anniverasy edition ones and it was purchased specifically for the commute to work. 160miles a day round trip.....

Wouldn't consider doing it on anything else to be honest. The only thing I am not happy about it the fast accumulation of the miles.....oh, and the amount of time out of my life.......all for work...

Good luck

WB

My journey would only be 30-miles a day round-trip, plus the odd 4-5 mile run between offices. When I did this on a Blackbird a few years ago, it got 98 miles to a tank and the weight really started to piss me off

I hear bad things about town-work on these bikes, just as I do for something like the 955 Tiger. I think my GS is worth £3000-£3200, and I don't want to wreck it and get mounting repair bills I can't pay. That would leave me taking the bus to work..

OTOH, I put 8k on the GS this year and loved it. I don't want to let it go, tbh, but everytime I go 'heart' rather than 'head' I get mullered..

 

[raginmund]

Ive commuted most days inc winter on the gs 1150 since I bought it in 2002 (now 102,000 miles).
Also long, fully loaded trips abroad. I find its great never had a real problem. I have more confidence in heavy traffic inc motorway filtering on the GS cos of the great balance of the bike. Imposing too, so cars generally move out of the way.
Hodge

Good to know Hodge; I might be stuck in internet-paranoia land, but I dread making a mess of things because the consequence is that I'll be off the road. I can't afford a second bike or car right now (I dislike cars generally, but will use one if I need to).

It was only a few years ago that I was an all-weather rider on a CB500 that cost £800. So the GS, even with 61k on the clock, is actually the most valuable bike I've ever owned. Being a BMW brings with it some extra nervousness that the jap bikes don't. I don't have a value judgement on that, it's just how it is.

 

[chad]

My journey would only be 30-miles a day round-trip, plus the odd 4-5 mile run between offices. When I did this on a Blackbird a few years ago, it got 98 miles to a tank and the weight really started to piss me off

I hear bad things about town-work on these bikes, just as I do for something like the 955 Tiger. I think my GS is worth £3000-£3200, and I don't want to wreck it and get mounting repair bills I can't pay. That would leave me taking the bus to work..

OTOH, I put 8k on the GS this year and loved it. I don't want to let it go, tbh, but everytime I go 'heart' rather than 'head' I get mullered..

MOUNTING REPAIR BILLS

nah mate your 1150 will be cheaper to repair than any honda triumph yamaha etc out of any bike ive owned ive found the GS the easiest to work on and cheapest to service and repair#


just do it the ole girl will keep on carrying you faithfully

 

[Wberesford]

My journey would only be 30-miles a day round-trip, plus the odd 4-5 mile run between offices.

Fekin Ell chap, I thought you were being serious when you said commute.......for that distance I would suggest a different machine......say something like a 'mountain bike with road tyres'. That way, you don't have to worry about the cost of fuel or indeed mounting repair bills confused.....oh, and you can use it a excersie.....

Only pulling yer leg.......

TBH - your GS will lap this sort of journey up without missin a beat.....oh and it will probably be bloomin enjoyable too - better than on a Blackbird anyway...

Good luck

WB

 

[Littledumptruck]

My journey would only be 30-miles a day round-trip, plus the odd 4-5 mile run between offices. When I did this on a Blackbird a few years ago, it got 98 miles to a tank and the weight really started to piss me off

I hear bad things about town-work on these bikes, just as I do for something like the 955 Tiger. I think my GS is worth £3000-£3200, and I don't want to wreck it and get mounting repair bills I can't pay. That would leave me taking the bus to work..

OTOH, I put 8k on the GS this year and loved it. I don't want to let it go, tbh, but everytime I go 'heart' rather than 'head' I get mullered..

Jeez, only 98 miles out a Bird tank, what were you doing, 150mph each way? I mean I'm heavy handed with my Bird, always pay the most in any group to fill her up, but still get at least 140 to a tank. What do you mean by heavy? Birds are known to be hard on the wrist if doing lots of slow stuff in town, the GS is way better for that kind of riding.

Another thing you need to consider is how much you'll loose to sell your Gs and then have to pay to buy something else, that sum would cover a lot of servicing. Its not like your GS is a low mileage one to start with, adding another 30K over the next 3 or 4 years is hardly going to make any diference. You own it already, just use it. Better the devil you know as they say. You need to change the way you think about it, at the moment its your toy, it needs to be a tool of your job with the ability to use at other times, that way you don't worry so much over keeping it spotless, or how the miles build up.

As for reliability, at the price range you'll be looking at it would be a real lottery as to whether you find anything that can definately be any more reliable than what you've got.

And I suppose a final comment would be, 'Try it'

 

[Littledumptruck]

DL650, Versys, even F800S

Hmm, well the DL will fall apart after the first winter, all suzuki's do.
I wouldn't gaurentee the versys would be any better either.
The F800!! Possible, maybe. But if your's is worth £3k ish, will you get a F800 for that? How much would you have to add to get one in reality?

For only 15 miles each way, why not look for a 125 scooter, for all but the sunniest of days, to have with the GS. Dirt cheap to run, cheap tax, and most insurers wouldn't even charge any more for it on the same policy.

Don't laugh too much. Bikes are bikes, all can be fun in there own way. just like my R850GS is more fun than the 1150 I used to own, but also more fun, but in a different way to my Blackbird.

 

[L]

you'll find the GS is a piece of cake in town. most car wing mirrors fit under the handlebars and even with the heads its not much wider than your but anyway. 30miles is nothing, regardless of the conditions you're riding in so I wouldn't worry about it.

If you're worried about costs - DIY is the way to go, or get something very very cheap which you won't worry about - like a mountain bike (as mentioned before) or a scooter!

 

[JonF]

A GS is a brilliant commuter. I live thirty miles South of London and commute into the centre of the city every day. The balance of the bike is brilliant in traffic and the torquey engine minimises the need for constant gear changing.

Also, in my opinion, daily use through commuting doesn't knacker bikes, it makes them last longer. Running good and hot every day prevents internal corrosion setting in, whereas riding the thing for a couple of major tours each year is actually worse for the bike. I did 117,000 on a CB500 without a single breakdown, and I expect my GS to do twice that at least. When I bought it, it had been 'pampered', ie, under-used, and I had a few little niggles with it. Now I've added forty odd thousand miles to it, it runs like a dream.

So I say go for it!

 

[davegs]

Commuting

If it involves heavy traffic fit a bevel box from an 1100 this will lower the very high botton gear and belive me traffic is a pleasure and it will not mean continuous clutch use in traffic which of course will save the clutch and the dreaded gear box splines from cracking up. I've done it and you can soon swap it back for tours etc.

 

[wessie]

I use the GS for a 33 mile commute to Cardiff. It is excellent for this trip, a mixture of rural roads and urban dual carriageways. There's a short bit of town/city street at either end of the trip.

I'm not worried about the wear on the engine etc. The road salt is affecting the appearance of the bike. As the bike was 9 years old before I started commuting on it this cosmetic patina is not of a worry to me.

However, if my commute involved more miles in a city centre then I would be tempted to follow Littledumptruck's advice and get a scooter - 125 or 250cc. The GS is great for filtering on motorways as the high riding position is an advantage. Once in town the bulk of the GS becomes less helpful as it can't squeeze through narrower gaps and the weight begins to show itself. My relatively short legs don't help here as I have to be careful with gutters and steeply cambered streets.

 

[Wrigsby1]

Just do it! Gs's should be no probs on any commute above walking distance. They are pretty good on the mpg, good on running gear and good on the bumps and for anything but the tightest traffic splitting.

I have commuted varying distances over the years and have had no probs. The only accellerated wear would be on the clutch mechanics if you stop at lights for periods and keep it in gear with the clutch in, and if you are a real numpty with the gears.

And you can get tons of shopping in the boxes!

 

[raginmund]

Thank you for those very constructive replies, sincerely

Went to look at a DL650 and a Versys today and couldn't bring myself to sit on them, at least not as a replacement for the GS.

A 'winter hack' might be the way to go, or I hold the g/f's head in a vice until she agrees to pass her car licence and drive me to work

I'm going to give it some more thought/research.

Cheers.

 

[chad]

Thank you for those very constructive replies, sincerely

Went to look at a DL650 and a Versys today and couldn't bring myself to sit on them, at least not as a replacement for the GS.

A 'winter hack' might be the way to go, or I hold the g/f's head in a vice until she agrees to pass her car licence and drive me to work

I'm going to give it some more thought/research.

Cheers.

GOOD MAN

 

[raginmund]

Just do it! Gs's should be no probs on any commute above walking distance. They are pretty good on the mpg, good on running gear and good on the bumps and for anything but the tightest traffic splitting.

I have commuted varying distances over the years and have had no probs. The only accellerated wear would be on the clutch mechanics if you stop at lights for periods and keep it in gear with the clutch in, and if you are a real numpty with the gears.

And you can get tons of shopping in the boxes!

Clutch wear was one of the issues I didn't want to have

 

[Dazlove]

GS Commuting

Hi

I commute daily on my 02 GS on a round trip of 140 miles all year round.

To be honest I wouldn't want to do it on anything else, I love the riding position, which is ideal for our busy roads, and the luggage that can be thrown on in an instant hold all I ever have to carry.

I used my 'Busa last year for about 8 months while the GS gearbox was being repaired. Whilst fun, this became a pain as it would not do anywhere near the 140 miles required on a tankful, so had to fill up at both ends and since I was getting 2000 miles to rear tyre it meant having a new rear BT56 every 15 days!

Originally the GS was my 'special' going away bike, but having to commute by bike (I don't like using cars either) meant that its role has change. I must admit it does mean getting your brain round the idea as if you are going to use all year round it will start to look tatty.

I am just about on 100K and she does look a bit sorry for herself, but does clean up, when I have time.

As someone has posted already, if you do your own servicing, and I also fit my own tyres, it is actually quite economical to use.

My thoughts now are, use her until she becomes terminally ill, then pick up another 'molly coddled' one (from this site.........) then continue on for another 100+ K miles.

I wish you well, whatever you choose, and ride safe, there are some real idiots out there during rush hour.

Regards

Dazlove

 

[raginmund]

Jeez, only 98 miles out a Bird tank, what were you doing, 150mph each way? I mean I'm heavy handed with my Bird, always pay the most in any group to fill her up, but still get at least 140 to a tank. What do you mean by heavy? Birds are known to be hard on the wrist if doing lots of slow stuff in town, the GS is way better for that kind of riding.

Another thing you need to consider is how much you'll loose to sell your Gs and then have to pay to buy something else, that sum would cover a lot of servicing. Its not like your GS is a low mileage one to start with, adding another 30K over the next 3 or 4 years is hardly going to make any diference. You own it already, just use it. Better the devil you know as they say. You need to change the way you think about it, at the moment its your toy, it needs to be a tool of your job with the ability to use at other times, that way you don't worry so much over keeping it spotless, or how the miles build up.

As for reliability, at the price range you'll be looking at it would be a real lottery as to whether you find anything that can definately be any more reliable than what you've got.

And I suppose a final comment would be, 'Try it'

I did a lot of very short trips on the 'bird; this time it's mainly the commute. Two winters on the CBR didn't do much for the fork legs or top yoke either

You may be right about cost; it would be hard to get an F800 for less than £3500-£4000. The S was/is under consideration due to belt-drive, running costs, and reasonable torque/bhp for when I get to ride it for leisure.

Also weight; I'm lucky right now in that I have a decent garage, but if I had to lug a bike out of a shed the 40-50kg weight difference might become an issue.