raginmund
Registered user
Y'know, I might just take a huge dose of fcukitol (tm) and buy a K1200R..
And a scooter.
And a scooter.
How Much of a Toll does Commuting Take?
- Thread starter raginmund
- Start date
Stewart H
Registered user
Slather the thing in ACF50, keep it serviced yourself and ride the it, maybe buy something you wouldnt mind picking up 20 times for the most vile stuff, or a cheap motor for the worst of it.
Stewart
Stewart
"keep it serviced yourself"
The magic words or find a decent independent to help you keep it going. All the money you save from not getting fleeced for oil and "sundries"
+ the hourly rate you can buy a scooter in about 12/18 months time!
"After working for a dealer I now do all my own work".
"Backorder, sir", "parts in Germany sir", "model characteristic sir", "more coffee sir", "enter your pin sir"
The magic words or find a decent independent to help you keep it going. All the money you save from not getting fleeced for oil and "sundries"
+ the hourly rate you can buy a scooter in about 12/18 months time! "After working for a dealer I now do all my own work".
"Backorder, sir", "parts in Germany sir", "model characteristic sir", "more coffee sir", "enter your pin sir"
david vaughan-birch
Registered user
My commute is 100 miles a day and my 1150 manages fine-I cant think of a better bike to do it on-but putting an HID on it made the trip a hell of a lot safer now other road users cant avoid seeing me. Mind you, I've noticed it can make car and van drivers quite aggressive when you're behind them (perhaps thats just Nottingham though). The only downside is when I get stuck in stationary traffic; it can get blinking hot and I've had to turn the engine off a couple of times to let it cool down again.
Aussie
Registered user
IMHO using a a bike does less damage than having it sit.
raginmund
Registered user
Update; I'm glad to report that I secured the new job. Less pay but much, much less stress.
So the car is going at the end of the month, and it's back to year-round on the bike.
And after adding an ACF50 treatment, a pair of muffs, and switchable migsels, it's the 1150 that will be doing the job.
So the car is going at the end of the month, and it's back to year-round on the bike.
And after adding an ACF50 treatment, a pair of muffs, and switchable migsels, it's the 1150 that will be doing the job.
Update; I'm glad to report that I secured the new job. Less pay but much, much less stress.
So the car is going at the end of the month, and it's back to year-round on the bike.
And after adding an ACF50 treatment, a pair of muffs, and switchable migsels, it's the 1150 that will be doing the job.
Nice one.............my 1150 has done the all year round commuter thing after i had to seel my car in the summer as we couldnt justify running 2 and a ped for the 16 year old.
Helps to have a local independant bike mechanic who is BMW trained and rides a GS himself
............. got to know him when i was still on my jap sports bike a couple of years ago and its reaped dividends now as he looks after me well on time and costs for anything i need doing which tbh has been next to nothing in 10,000 miles 
although will be popping in for a service soon
raginmund
Registered user
Helps to have a local independant bike mechanic who is BMW trained and rides a GS himself
That wouldn't be Jaws would it?
Or do you mean Steptoe?
Neither mate, i am in Norfolk so neil is a bit far way for me .......... lad called Deano who is built like a brick shit house and has worked for most main dealers at one point or another round here. He occasionally helps out the motorrad place when they are short handed
rudiemoto
Registered user
get good oil like putoline
i do 9 miles a day 7 days 3000miles is a long time for me
but i think the water crossing is the worst bit of the 9 miles
I do 50 miles a day commuting on mine on Motorway, A-roads and then London traffic.
I have had clutch issues on both of my GSs (2 clutch slave cylinders on one and a new clutch kit on the other).
I love it and still think it's the ideal bike for me, but you can't ignore the clutch problems.
That said, on all my other bikes, though I never had clutch issues I also only used to have a 7 mile commute.
I have had clutch issues on both of my GSs (2 clutch slave cylinders on one and a new clutch kit on the other).
I love it and still think it's the ideal bike for me, but you can't ignore the clutch problems.
That said, on all my other bikes, though I never had clutch issues I also only used to have a 7 mile commute.
chad
Registered user
nigh on 40k in the last 21months lots of commuting fair bit of off roading and a few good trips , with no issues at all some do some dont
some do some dontbmdavis
Registered user
How Much Of A Toll Does Commuting Take?
A lot of interesting points, here's my two pennies worth-
I have been commuting on my recently acquired1150 and alternate with a R1100RT during the recent cold spell.
I use my old R100/7 [+RS fairing] for horrible icy conditions winter commuting-only a replecement gearbox and a couple of clutches in 102,000miles-but its difficult to start below 0c degrees.I've commuted for over 35 years on bm's all through the year. Love it.
Use your bikes and wash them weekly!
A lot of interesting points, here's my two pennies worth-
I have been commuting on my recently acquired1150 and alternate with a R1100RT during the recent cold spell.
I use my old R100/7 [+RS fairing] for horrible icy conditions winter commuting-only a replecement gearbox and a couple of clutches in 102,000miles-but its difficult to start below 0c degrees.I've commuted for over 35 years on bm's all through the year. Love it.
Use your bikes and wash them weekly!
raginmund
Registered user
The last time I did year-round riding (2004-2008) the only other bikes I saw on the roads were older Hondas or BMWs (older K bikes seemed popular), except for the odd nutty kid on a supermoto.
The camaraderie of winter riding, nodding to the other bikers as the sleet hits you in the neck, is almost heart-warming
.
I use the 1150ADV for my 60 mile round trip commute every day, yes even on sever winter days like today when it dipped below 15C
No problems with the clutch so far after 120,000kms or 75k miles. Doesn't get washed more than once every couple of years these days, but they don't salt the roads here.
Enjoy../Rob
I use the 1150ADV for my 60 mile round trip commute every day, yes even on sever winter days like today when it dipped below 15C
No problems with the clutch so far after 120,000kms or 75k miles. Doesn't get washed more than once every couple of years these days, but they don't salt the roads here.
Enjoy../Rob
Jap bikes do not fall apart, I have commuted on several, all bikes suffer from winter riding.
IMHO I think the finish on the GS look better than my ZZR's was, the tanks do rust because of the lack of protection in one area, I know people who use these year round and they do look pretty rough after two winters, but they don't fall apart.
If looking for cheaper bikes go for unloved models, I once bought a Thundercat for peanuts as a track bike, then commuted on it as it was not worth much to start with, a mate has one of these with over 50k of year round use, it looks reasonable, considering it has been crashed twice and seen about 5 winters.
There are a lot of cheap bikes out there, those GS things that look like teapots - bulletproof and cheap to run / maintain.
I always think from a cost perspective two bikes that need tax / mot / servicing and depreciate are not going to cost less than one bike, unless the one bike is a mint superbike that is not expected to do any miles or look anything other than like new at sale time.
IMHO I think the finish on the GS look better than my ZZR's was, the tanks do rust because of the lack of protection in one area, I know people who use these year round and they do look pretty rough after two winters, but they don't fall apart.
If looking for cheaper bikes go for unloved models, I once bought a Thundercat for peanuts as a track bike, then commuted on it as it was not worth much to start with, a mate has one of these with over 50k of year round use, it looks reasonable, considering it has been crashed twice and seen about 5 winters.
There are a lot of cheap bikes out there, those GS things that look like teapots - bulletproof and cheap to run / maintain.
I always think from a cost perspective two bikes that need tax / mot / servicing and depreciate are not going to cost less than one bike, unless the one bike is a mint superbike that is not expected to do any miles or look anything other than like new at sale time.
I was on holiday in Greece once and came across a bloke who lived there and owned a 1150GS - it was a 2001 and had about 65K on it, but it was immaculate - he basically hosed it down every other week, but because of the warm weather and no salt on the roads it had remained spotless.
When couriering in London many years ago I sometimes saw an older bloke courier on an immaculate Airhead RT. I asked him how the hell he kept it like that and he said "the wife cleans it every night"... and i think he meant it!
raginmund
Registered user
Only 3 weeks in (600 miles or so) but the AYB AC-50 treatment is working well, and I'm hosing the bike off every night.
Bolts/nuts/fasteners on discs and brakes are fooked though, all KTM orange. I'll have to get a stainless set next year.
I fitted Pyramind hugger and fender xtender. Tbh the extender (£16) seems to do a better job than the hugger (£90). The migsels have come in useful; I know the car in front has seen me when the driver covers the rear-view mirror (out of politeness, I then switch the migsels off..).
I'm waiting on a pair of Bernie's 'city koffer' panniers (about £500) as I have to transport work clothes and audio/video gear for my job, but all in all I am very pleased to be making my way on 2-wheels.
I had so forgotten the joys of filtering, and my commute has been cut from an hour/hour-20 minutes to about 25 minutes.
Bolts/nuts/fasteners on discs and brakes are fooked though, all KTM orange. I'll have to get a stainless set next year.
I fitted Pyramind hugger and fender xtender. Tbh the extender (£16) seems to do a better job than the hugger (£90). The migsels have come in useful; I know the car in front has seen me when the driver covers the rear-view mirror (out of politeness, I then switch the migsels off..).
I'm waiting on a pair of Bernie's 'city koffer' panniers (about £500) as I have to transport work clothes and audio/video gear for my job, but all in all I am very pleased to be making my way on 2-wheels.
I had so forgotten the joys of filtering, and my commute has been cut from an hour/hour-20 minutes to about 25 minutes.
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