How Much of a Toll does Commuting Take?

raginmund said:
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.
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I have a 1150adv that has now done 118000 miles over a three year period. Of which 100000 of those are commuter miles.
My commuting profile was a weekly return trip to London, then a daily run in and out of the city,
The bike has had no major failures other than a new clutch at 98k.
I reckon the GS is one of, if not the best commuter bike there is.
It has a massive road presence and the high riding position gives you a grand view over the tops of the other vehicles.
It’s surprisingly nimble in and out of the traffic and there’s only a few gaps that are too narrow for the beast to get through.
I reckon you already have the best commuter bike.
Getting to work will be easy. Going directly home every night will be a lot more difficult. :thumb
 
On the subject of winter commuting, cover the bolt heads in grease, spray the bike regularly with WD or that ACF50 stuff or whatever its called on the engine, gearbox, fork tops etc. Give it the occasional wash. One of my 11's was used every day, left outside and treated that way and i couldn't believe the way it cleaned up! It was an 11 though:D

I even waxoyled the orig Akront wheels!

My bikes have deteriorated the most during periods or inactivity, hence the reason for only having one of 'em again!

PS I sold several C1's and did a few miles on them. They were very funny, quirky but effective bikes. Trying to top speed test a 125 on the A38 once (downhill!), I found myself with my chin on the bars and then remembered I have an f'ing great screen doing it for me! How I laughed:D Pillion discriminatory though:augie
 
Littledumptruck said:
Hmm, well the DL will fall apart after the first winter, all suzuki's do.
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used plenty of japs through the winter, none have fallen apart, they are as good as the newer bm,s, all suzuki,s do? rubbish
id prefer a lighter bike than the 1150 if it was bad traffic, also a thinner one,
repairs being cheaper? that depends on what you buy really,
sorry but i still find jap parts on the whole, cheaper,
an 1150 will be a good reliable commutor if you can put up with the weight and bulk in the traffic
 
davegs said:
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.
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How much of a bugger/cost is the bevel box mod? Any other side-effects besides the changed gearing?

Istr Paul Young has done this with the GS he runs round the IoM.
 
D6 said:
used plenty of japs through the winter, none have fallen apart, they are as good as the newer bm,s, all suzuki,s do? rubbish
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We'll have to disagree about Suzuki's then.

I didn't say anything about Jap bikes on the whole. Honda's are well ahead, or at least they were when the finishes were solvent based, but now that they all have to use water based finishes most are struggling to find one that works.

Yamaha seem to do reasonably well, but Kwaks are almost as bad as Suzuki. My mates ZZr1400 has just had a new tank under warranty cos it was rusting!! And he really pampers his bikes, always washed after every ride.

No, I'll stick with what I said, I've never met anyone that uses a suzuki in all weathers that doesn't complain of how easily they rust. One winter is all it takes as a rule.

A little birdy told me that BMW now export there parts to the eastern block countrys to have them painted were there are no restrictions on using solvents, and that the latest 1200GS's are much better for it. No idea how true that is though, only hearsay really.
 
If your doing short journeys a lot, you need to change the oils every 3000 miles. Mine smells burnt after that anyway. I love mine in city traffic.
 
It may be that you are looking for a reason to have a 2nd bike...........??:augie

If it comes to finish, Honda's are pretty good, BM's are pretty good, Yams are OK, Kwaks and Suzuk's purepy average. Italians.....as tempremental as their residents:)

I worked on bikes for years, all year round, heavy useage and ended up at a dealer. BM's of the 11/1150 era "can" still look good after repeated winter use depending on the owner. Preperation is the key, winter prep in Oct/Nov, keep it oily, greasy thru March, then wash for summer. Alternatively don't bother with the summer bit!

As for "residuals" it used to be 650's 11/1150GS/RT/R were good for 6 to 8 k miles per year, probably the same with the likes of Pan's etc. All the rest, not a f'ing chance! How many 100k mile sporties do you see or Harley types:augie

Also what price C&S kits and all the rest.

Oh, and GS/RT's are about the safest winter bike around. Telelever/ABS/warm hands. You may even enjoy it...

Next.....
 
raginmund said:
How much of a bugger/cost is the bevel box mod? Any other side-effects besides the changed gearing?

Istr Paul Young has done this with the GS he runs round the IoM.
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Not much hassel about an hours work, s/h bevel box from an 1100,
ratio 33/11. Motor works, or see Mr S. of this parish. don't forget if you've got abs to get one with the hole in it, if you havent an the abs one is the same but you'll need to fit a plug in the hole to keep oil in. If you don't like it you can soon flog it.
 
davegs said:
Not much hassel about an hours work, s/h bevel box from an 1100,
ratio 33/11. Motor works, or see Mr S. of this parish. don't forget if you've got abs to get one with the hole in it, if you havent an the abs one is the same but you'll need to fit a plug in the hole to keep oil in. If you don't like it you can soon flog it.
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I had to flog my old K11 bevel as it didn't have the hole! Still got the UJ though:D
 
Wrigsby1 said:
If it comes to finish, Honda's are pretty good, BM's are pretty good, Yams are OK, Kwaks and Suzuk's purepy average. Italians.....as tempremental as their residents:)
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Very succinct and to the point:thumb

Now why didn't I say it like that :blast
 
I'd find £500 for a really cheap little hatchback car. That way, when the weather is really foul and the roads are covered in salt and / or ice you can take the car and be warm.

Consequently you'll enjoy the commute in decent weather on your bike and you'll get to reduce the worst of the winter ravages as well :thumb
 
Mutley said:
I'd find £500 for a really cheap little hatchback car. That way, when the weather is really foul and the roads are covered in salt and / or ice you can take the car and be warm.

Consequently you'll enjoy the commute in decent weather on your bike and you'll get to reduce the worst of the winter ravages as well :thumb
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Apart from the ice bit i couldn't of think of anything worse! Shows we are all different s'pose:D

PS There are many ways to stay warm and dry on the winter commute, it just takes some decent clothing selection...
 
I have used my 1150GS for commuting for the last four years with no real problems. However you really need to keep on top of the corrosion in Winter. You only need one trip on salted roads, without a subsequent wash, and it'll be badly affected (look under the cylinders, fork brace etc). You need to spend a lot of time spraying it with corrosion treatment and WD40 as often as possible. Otherwise no problems. I change all the oils every 3000 miles, just for piece of mind.:thumb2
 
Mutley said:
True. I used to commute by bike but it made my riding something that I had to do rather than something I wanted to do. :nenau
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Good point but most of my "learning" has been done in the winter and it make summer seem all the more better:D

I suffer from no bike ride depression. I recently had to be away in France without the bike as me and girlie had a van full of stuff and our 4 dogs to cart ower. Nearly went bonkers. We went to a harley ralley and I nearly wanted one of them. Must have been bad:D
 
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