Commuting by Motorcycle

[SWriverstone]

Being down to a single bike these days (my Wee-Strom)...I'm really conflicted about commuting on the bike.

On one hand...I love the excellent fuel efficiency, the ability to go as fast as I want (e.g. pass at will in any situation), and just how much fun it is to ride.

On the other hand...I can't stand putting (in my case) 60 miles per roundtrip commute on the bike and rapidly squaring off my tires in the process (it's all slab for me).

What do you think?
Scott

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I commute on the KLR. It's more fun than a car and the tires are (relatively) cheap. And I get twice the fuel mileage  

Hell, even without the better fuel mileage I'd take the bike. I really don't enjoy driving to work (and yes, my commute is 95% interstate too, but only about 15 miles worth)

[sammyseaman]

I commute as much as I can  

[SWriverstone]

Good!   If I hear a few more people say "Sure I don't mind the added miles and square tires" it'll help me feel better about commuting on the bike all the time.  

Scott

[kendenton]

I live in the flatlands of southern New Jersey, so I'm going to get square tires no matter what.

[Cablebandit]

My commute was about 50 miles round trip.  I rode it everyday.  I could take the highway (typical concrete job here in PA) that would cause flat spots in about week.  That route is very abrasive on tires.  The other way is all twisties and zero traffic.  Hmm tough choice.

Lets face it, You're going to flat spot your tires regardless of your commute.  You just spend too much time straight up and down because that's how 95% of the roads are.  Just think of all that fresh rubber on the edges for when you finally hit the twisites.  

The Wee is also pretty easy on tires.  You know I ride mine like a raped ape and can still get 8000 miles out of relatively sticky rubber.

Just ride.

[sleazy rider]

I commute the nearly 65 miles every chance I get, but my route is not all slab either.  The added benefit is my wife gets off 3 hours later than me, so I get to take the long way home when I feel like it.

[Cablebandit]

my wife gets off 3 hours later than me.

Sig worthy.  

[sammyseaman]

Good!   If I hear a few more people say "Sure I don't mind the added miles and square tires" it'll help me feel better about commuting on the bike all the time.  

Scott

  This is my commute: Total Travel Estimate: 11 minutes/ 3.90 miles. That's not round trip  

[Bryan217]

I commute as much as I can. A little over 15 miles each way, no highway. Even at the last place I lived, all slabbing, I commuted. It's a lot more fun than the car, especially with my current commute. There's not much in turns, but a little.

[bomber]

I like to ride.

Commuting is riding.

YAY motorcycles!

[Blue Bye You]

I'm retired, so I don't commute anymore. There have been times though, when I was younger, that I have had only a motorcyle for transportation. I had a 78 Suzuki GS1000 that I put most of those commuter miles on. I bought it new and just sold it last year. It had accumulated almost 250K mi. 200 of it without any work on the engine other than maintenance. I put a Yosh 1100 kit in it a 40K and ran the piss out of it, trouble free, for all the miles after that. I would say 30% of it was commuting to work. Alot of it was superslab and I did square off a few tires, but I can't say that it was neccessarily from the commute as I road it alot on trips accross the superslable as well.

I would say that if the old 78 Suzuki could hold up for all those miles, the newer bikes with better materials and water cooling should have no problem absorbing the miles. Assuming you maintain it well. Your going to be using up rubber no matter what you drive/ride. But you'll be saving gas and having more fun on the bike. I did make a point of hitting the twisties pretty hard and often on the days off to try and balance out the tire wear.  

[JReazor]

I like to ride.

Commuting is riding.

YAY motorcycles!

Yep

[SWriverstone]

You know I ride mine like a raped ape and can still get 8000 miles out of relatively sticky rubber.

 

Okay...I officially don't give sh*t about commuting wear-and-tear on the bike anymore.  

Scott

[Skee]

Only ride to work now when I'm leaving on a long ride after work, or when I'm trying to squeeze the last few miles off my tires before changing them out.

Used to enjoy commuting.  Had a great ride home.  Problem is my current commute is all 4-lane and it's a boring ride, so what's the point?

[Squareman357]

I like to ride.

Commuting is riding.

YAY motorcycles!

That...

[SWriverstone]

Well there's no doubt that on my 30-mile, all-slab commute, my one-way commute times are easily 10 minutes faster on the bike, because I don't put up with any crap from other drivers (going slow, camping in the left lane, etc.).

When I drive my SUV...I'm sorta stuck in the slow lane as it were (no get-up-and-go power to get out of those moving traffic jams...)

Scott

[Oxblood]

I commute daily. Its a short commute, 13km or so. But even if it is cold and raining, riding to work beats driving. So much so I sold my car.

[mugwump58]

My commute is 80 miles a day. I have poured over county maps and have developed a couple ways to get there and back. Suburban sprawl has killed some great roads, I'd rather be on the slab that putt at 35 for miles on end.

Changing tires is good therapy too, really.

Yay motorcycles

Winter  

[PirateT7]

  This is my commute: Total Travel Estimate: 11 minutes/ 3.90 miles. That's not round trip  

ditto, and that's if I don't take the direct route home. 3.5 if I do. So, especially when the wx is good, I don't. Take the direct route, that is. If it's over 35* and not pouring rain, and if I don't have a bunch of stuff to carry, I ride.

[black hills]

I have a company truck and they buy the gas, so no commuting for me. Although I do come home for lunch and ride back on those first nice spring days

[sammyseaman]

I have a company truck and they buy the gas, so no commuting for me. Although I do come home for lunch and ride back on those first nice spring days

My last job I had a service truck so I never commuted but a couple times a year I'd load the bike in the back of the van when I knew I was working in one place for any length of time (Traverse City, Boyne City, etc..). Those were the gool 'ol days.

[stevent]

I ride as much as I can, commuting is just part of that. I don't really care about miles and tires I just ride the SOB  

[M.Brane]

 I commute whenever the weather is dry, and above 45°F. It's only 10 miles to work so if it's raining or really cold I'll take the truck.

 I don't get square tires though since I take the nice twisty backroad when on the bike. It adds a few miles, but it's worth it.

[ANZAC]

I love to use my bike for commuting.  

My drive is 65 miles round trip with over half on the freeway.  On the return ride home I am blessed with using the carpool lane    which shaves off over 30 minutes.

Don't worry about the tires - just keep them properly inflated and ride on the sidewalks.  

We use less gas, take up less space, produce less pollution and get to enjoy our passion - sweet.

[Justin]

I work from home, so don't have to commute.. but I used to commute on the bike.

[mpl173]

I rarely commute on the bike, but squaring off the tires has nothing to do with it.  Moreso to do with tools, gear, construction sights, etc.

[Doug Just Doug]

I "sport-commute" often, year around (as much mileage on backroads as practical), which is no only more fun, but helps lessen (tho not eliminate) the dreaded square rear tire syndrome.

[mpl173]

I "sport-commute" often, year around (as much mileage on backroads as practical), which is no only more fun, but helps lessen (tho not eliminate) the dreaded square rear tire syndrome.

You do appreciate how lucky you are, I assume?  I do envy yourself and other folks who have that luxury.

[Mastros2]

I don't commute anymore and has nothing to do with squaring off tires.  During 2006-2009, I commuted quite a bit.  Kid came, and I adjusted my riding.  Mainly day and long weekend trips now.  Next year with kid #2 coming, it will be day trips and track days.  Going with the flow!  

[DL98VFR]

Riding anywhere for any reason is better than driving anywhere for any reason... the only real problem is that I double or more my commute time when I ride, which really isn't a problem until its time to explain to my wife what took so effing long to get home  

[SuperHans]

I commute the 9 miles of primarily backroads to work when the weather is above freezing.

[MK96xj]

I voted commute often But since I live in the mountains my tires are usually not squared

[stewm_21]

I use the bike to commute whenever I can.  Some days I have no choice but to take the car due to winter (come on global warming), carrying extra gear or waking up late and I don't have time to load the bike, put on the bike gear and move the car to roll the bike out.

If your worried about the square tires, look a the threads about using a car tire on the rear.  I know 1 guy at work who swears by it.  

[et]

Take the bike. So what if it's a straight line mostly interstate.
You'll be on a bike. And that's all that matters.  

BTW; my current commute is 130 miles round trip. Nearly all interstate. But I don't care. 'cause I'm on a bike !
In the past I've had 180 mile round trip; nearly all back roads. As much as 2-1/2 hours each way. But I didn't care. 'Cause I was on a bike !

--ET

[coho]

I commute about 15 minutes each way by bike every day.
1040 weeks (20 years) plus six days and counting.

[peacemaker24]

I live 1.6 miles from work, and have a bunch of crap to tote back and forth.  Add in that I only make one round trip per week, and it's a lot easier to just chuck everything in the buick than it is to gear up and gear down, have to break everything into the bags, etc.

~~~Jesse

[jeepinbanditrider]

This was my commute for over a year until  moved to Saginaw which is just north west of Fort Worth.  It was a 100 mile a day round trip commute now it's more along the lines of 30 or 40 miles round trip.  Much better honestly.  I mean I love to ride but I was spending 10 hours or more depending on traffic a week just trying to get home and to work.  That left about 3 hours or so a day to do what I wanted to do before I needed to get to bed for work the next day.


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[Doug Just Doug]

You do appreciate how lucky you are, I assume?

Yup. Plus I usually don't have a specific start-time, so it's no problem when I "make a wrong turn".    On the down side, my work makes it's difficult to get away for longer tours.

[jsanford]

I ride as much as possible, 35 degrees and above. I like that I make a statement commuting on the bike. Besides, when I was driving some yahoo snapped my photo and sold it as advertising:



Seriously...I'm less road-ragey when I'm on the bike bike than behind the wheel.

[Moto4Life]

I never commute.

I don't even have the opportunity, as I perform property inspections for mortgage companies.  
I drive about 25-30,000 (local) miles per year in my car.

[coho]

I drive about 25-30,000 (local) miles per year in my car.

My condolences.  Nobody should spend that much time in a cage unless they've killed someone.

[Grizz]

 My ride to work is 39 or 49 miles each way. The shorter route takes the same amount of time but is much more fun.  The only problem is I leave my house at 4:30am and the critter facter is very high. But getting off work at 2:00pm on a nice day and having your bike waiting for you..........
  They even made a motorcycle only parking area. Their are 2 of us that ride year round. One of the perks of living in the south.

[mjrfd99]

120 mi R/T every workday.  Only work 2 days a week though. 2   24's in FD. Except for less than 38 degrees then I 4 wheel

[lakota]

40 miles each way every day unless it's raining or snowing at 0530 when I leave home.  Temperatures do not deter the ride.  Prefer the bike to the cage so added miles and maintenance costs are not a concern.

[Mr.Black]

I live 6 miles from work. It takes 10 minutes to get there and up to 4 hours to get home.

[Fourstring]

I commute a lot less by bike now that I have day care pick-up duties.  I work close enough that I can pedal there on a decent day.

Chicago's lovely weather has made the question moot.  

[stealth1]

I commuted fairly often from the time I bought my first motorcycle in 1971 until I retired in 2007.
When money and time were limited sometimes that was all the riding I could afford.
Favorite commuting bike was my ZRX1200. It ate traffic well   but also received the most awards.
I used lots of different routes to try to keep things interesting. It was basically a 20 mile one way urban commute.

[Lawn Dart]

Heck, I work from a home office.  The 17 FOOT commute is a killer...

Actually, when I was commuting 90 miles a day I LOVED it.  Lane Splitting downtown LA traffic > Coffee any day of the week.

[2wTraveler]

I only drive the cage 5-6 days a year. Really a waste of money to keep it insured.

[Hotbrakes]

120 mi R/T every workday.  Only work 2 days a week though. 2   24's in FD. Except for less than 38 degrees then I 4 wheel

I've got the same schedule, but since becoming a medic I always get shipped out to other stations and though I could easily carry my gear on the bike, we aren't allowed to "ride" on duty.  Plus the OT factor makes it worth driving...almost.  That pretty much squashed those dreams.  At my old station it was 30 miles of interstate and 30 miles of badass backroads that are part of some Sunday rides.  Knee draggable roads at that.  17 degrees in the morning going in never bothered me cause I knew when I returned the next day the sun would be up and the temps would be in the 40's.

Once upon a time I was a young squidly rider.  One particular nice Saturday I decided to man up and ride to work.  Go figure, we ran a motorcycle fatality.  I didn't want to ride home the next day to say the least.  But I learned a lesson from it, never go in 100%, ever.  Not worth the risk although my 100% now compared to then has about tripled.

[BlueRidgeKat]

I live 6 miles from work. It takes 10 minutes to get there and up to 4 hours to get home.

20 mintues for me to get there and 4 hours to get home.

About 8 years ago I was on 2nd shift (evenings for about a year....... then it was just the opposite, 4 hours to get there and 20 mintues to get home.

Ride. Period!!  This poll is closed  

[garry]

Little/no commuting for me. 75 miles of slab (roundtrip) to do it efficiently. Sure, I could take the twisty back way, but that doubles the commute time from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours and (usually) I'm not willing to do that unless I plan on taking the really long way home after work (several hour ride home). I don't enjoy the commute, it wears out/squares off the tires and just racks up miles (more maintenance to do).

[JimUnderwood]

I love it

[mugwump58]

The rear shock for the 500 is on the way back from it's annual freshening. I await the first rain to wash away the sand. The 250 patiently waits to try out the new jets and exhaust. The FJR sleeps in a heated garage. I wait........

[wiseguy]

Daily. No car for the last 5 years. 30 miles round trip of mostly slab but still a lot of fun. I usually end up with a total of about a week in a year of car pooling with my wife. The Michelin PR2s have very little squaring even after 14K miles on it.

[LostBrit]

I take a classic European view ... the bike is primary transport. My daughter has been dropped off and/or picked up at school for ~9 months each year since she was 6 - she is now 12. She has clicked up around 20-25k backseat miles so far.

The cage is used only if there is snow, a need to take 2 passengers, or something that is bigger than a top box / pannier and that cannot be strapped to the back seat.

If you enjoy you bike why would you only ride it at the weekend?

-- Mark

[naustin]

I live less than 1/2 a mile from my office.  So, I typically don't take the bike as I feel like it is hard on it to drive it such a short distance, and it isn't really worth it to leave it in the sun all day.

[MULLETHEAD774]

I'm fortunate enough to have twisties & mountain roads on my 80 mile round trip.  As long as there isn't ice on the road, I'm on 2 wheels.

[BlueRidgeKat]

I take a classic European view ... the bike is primary transport.

Love this line..... think I'll make it my new signiture.

If everyone in the states had this mindset we would get all the good bikes that Europe gets. Unfortunately you are only in the 1% or less of motorcycle owners in this country who feel this way.

[napper]

I commute on the bike most days.  Weather here isn't a problem and now that the kids are all old enough that I don't have to check them out or pick them up at school, there are very few days that I "need" a car.

My commute is 22 miles one way, mostly surface streets and takes about 40 minutes.

I just finished a three-month stretch were I didn't have a running bike in the garage, so I had been driving the van to/from work daily.  Since I got the bike back on the road this week, my mood and attitude at work and at home has been infinitely improved.  Sitting at my desk, humming a happy tune (literally), my mood is so good, I'm sure people think I got laid last night.  Nope, but riding is certainly a close second.

Given the choice, I would prefer to have a dedicated commuter and second (or third or fourth) bike dedicated to weekend/vacation riding.  I do get the feeling that I'm burning recreational rubber and miles commuting.  I'm on an older Ninja presently and love the quickness of it but I think a dual sport may be better just because of how high you sit and can see what's going on ahead of all but the tallest vehicles.  

[Papa Lazarou]

I commute on the bike when it's working-been probs this winter-except when there's snow on the road. Round trip of 60 miles.

With the new job, it'll be a round trip of 24 miles. So I've bought a CG125.  Because:
A) it will always work
&
B) it does over 100 mpg.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I commute on the bike when it's working-been probs this winter-except when there's snow on the road. Round trip of 60 miles.

With the new job, it'll be a round trip of 24 miles. So I've bought a CG125.  Because:
A) it will always work
&
B) it does over 100 mpg.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

 

I have DD approval (tm)!!!


 

[Kaneto]

I'm ashamed to say I don't ride the bike when commuting to work.

But that's only because I work out of my home and my wife wont let me ride in the family room.  What can you do?

[LostBrit]

Love this line..... think I'll make it my new signiture.

If everyone in the states had this mindset we would get all the good bikes that Europe gets. Unfortunately you are only in the 1% or less of motorcycle owners in this country who feel this way.

Have at it !

It is possible to ride 12 months of year even in Colorado, though I haven ridden for about 2 weeks.

I was out riding today, picked my daughter up from school. This week is looking like a ride every day, hopefully will stay above 40'F cos that's about her limit.

Should be time to put the Subaru on the battery tender soon. If you have your bike on the battery tender, you're doing it wrong!

[JReazor]

If you have your bike on the battery tender, you're doing it wrong!

QFT!

[Windblown]

I commuted a lot more when my commute was not as short as it is now. I work about 14 miles from my house with no traffic to have to filter through. It takes as long to get geared up and take the gear back off as it does to get to work.

[robertemcclellan]

I commute 38 miles round trip 5 days a week.  My only criteria is that it is 30 degrees or higher at 5:00am when I start out and the weather folks agree that the chance of precipitation is below 50%.  I have a backup car for those other days.  All interstate and very boring in the car, but not on the motorcycle.

[aj7840]

In Michigan we have the ridding season, When the snow is gone and we wait for a good rain to wash the salt off the roads it's ridding time. The last two years from April 15 until Halloween I commute to work on a bike. Total car time to work was 26 days in the last two years, mostly because I had to drive to the airport to fly ot a customers site.

[g8rdude]

I commute on my Stratoliner as often as I can. Not only is it more fun than a cage but it's nice knowing I'm on one of the biggest baddest cruisers on the road.

[cb919er]

thanks to the Michelin Pilot Road 2 tires, I don't have much problem commuting on my bike.

[SoCal STrider]

70+ miles a day 5 days a week all year. I couldn't imagine driving in SoCal traffic every day. 99+% of the folks on the road are rider friendly allowing for safe lane sharing... why drive when you can ride???

[BamaBiker]

If I didn't comute I would not get to ride as much. The choice is get on the bike or drive the truck? No contest. The truck gets very little use.

[TonyKZ1]

If I didn't comute I would not get to ride as much. The choice is get on the bike or drive the truck? No contest. The truck gets very little use.

+1. That's where I get most of my riding too, on the way to work and then back home. I live about 30 miles away from work and ride most all year around. That might have something to do with my bike having 62k+ miles on it.  
Tony

[hpc800]

+1. That's where I get most of my riding too, on the way to work and then back home. I live about 30 miles away from work and ride most all year around. That might have something to do with my bike having 62k+ miles on it.  
Tony

+2. I live about 40 miles from work, 95% interstate for me. I can get maybe 9 months of riding in and that is pushing it up here in Maine. Seeing we just got 12-14 inches of snow today. They are also calling for more on Tues...

[Cincinnatus]

I ride my K12R to work every day, work is ten miles away.  The wife works late, so my evening ride home is long and twisty.  

Every Weds or Thurs I go on a group lunch ride, I've let my boss know that it'll be a 2-hour lunch.  No problem, he knows my work ethic.  

Group rides about once a month or so, but the wife will get her breakfast in bed during the weekends.    I calls it 'bonding'...  

[mmdrake]

2 to 4 days a week depending on the work activites.

Being in SO CAl means 360 days of riding.

Burned through 3 bikes at 80 k each...

[Mrs. DantesDame]

2 to 4 days a week depending on the work activites.

Being in SO CAl means 360 days of riding.

Burned through 3 bikes at 80 k each...

Why'd you get rid of the bikes with such low mileage?  

[RobbieB]

I commute as much as possible.  I live in Colorado so the tires don't get "square" and what point is there in having a bike if you don't ride it?  Any time on a bike better than time in a car, even if it is commuting.  

[V-Strom E-man]

7 miles each way for me.  Nothing even close to a 'straight' road in Pittsburgh so Iam always gonna be riding leaning...But I work shifts and it sucks riding home at 11pm if the deer are out, or the drunks.  RIding in to work at 6:30 am isnt bad if its decent temps out but I need better gear.

[ManWorkingHere]

I commute 38 miles round trip 5 days a week.  My only criteria is that it is 30 degrees or higher at 5:00am when I start out and the weather folks agree that the chance of precipitation is below 50%.  I have a backup car for those other days.  All interstate and very boring in the car, but not on the motorcycle.

+1 on all above, but in Wisconsin, 30 F is the high temp only in April - November.  And then, there is that Snow thing to watch out for.

BUT, on my 38 mile interstate commute to or from work, I sometimes 'get lost' onto country highways and have to take 'the long way' to my destination.  There are a few times where I am really happy to be at work because 'I got lost' getting there.

my two cents..

[ceilingcat]

38.6 mile round trip all HOV in DC.  I will never, ever drive my car on 395; for those who do not know - 395 is a parking lot from Springfield to the 14th street bridge.  I either take the 1.3hr metro at a cost of $16.00 / day ( $5.00/day parking, $5.50 each way on the train which gets me to $80.00/week or $320.00/month - got to love that super cheap mass transit BS) or I pay about $17.00 a week to fill up the tank on my C14 and my commute is a whopping 15-30 min depending on how stupid people in their cages decide to drive and the number of hybrids clogging up the HOV lane.  Normally roll in the HOV at 80mph listening to XM radio.

Bike for me 10 months out of the year unless its excessively cold or snowing.

[xamper]

i commute everyday on my ninja 250.  it doesn't get that cold here in houston.  62 miles round trip.  i love every moment!

[tdeboeser]

38.6 mile round trip all HOV in DC.  I will never, ever drive my car on 395; for those who do not know - 395 is a parking lot from Springfield to the 14th street bridge.  I either take the 1.3hr metro at a cost of $16.00 / day ( $5.00/day parking, $5.50 each way on the train which gets me to $80.00/week or $320.00/month - got to love that super cheap mass transit BS) or I pay about $17.00 a week to fill up the tank on my C14 and my commute is a whopping 15-30 min depending on how stupid people in their cages decide to drive and the number of hybrids clogging up the HOV lane.  Normally roll in the HOV at 80mph listening to XM radio.

Bike for me 10 months out of the year unless its excessively cold or snowing.

I have a similar commute.  Not the most entertaining ride, but riding like a asshole/squid helps ...  

[Goat]

Do 32 miles RT each day, mostly slab.  I find the squaring off thing a good reason to explain to the wife why I have to go riding in the beautiful TX Hill Country, saves money in the long run you know!!  

[vaio]

I live in Queens, NYC but work in Midtown Manhattan... totally conflicted about taking the cycle. There are not too many places to park to begin with.. and then to top it off I have to take a toll for the roundtrip.. other alternative is the 59th st. bridge about 20 blocks away which is always jammed because it is free.. I find myself buying the monthly train pass, which basically nullifies the point of riding the cycle to work to save money. If I lived in another area, man I would commute everyday on my SV.

[Poustman]

95kms / 120 min round trip commute along country roads a few times a week.  I look forward to the commute now, since it's on a motorcycle!

[Malks]

I commute on my motorcycle as often as possible.  Only torrential downpours will make me drive my truck.  The riding season up here is far too short, which means I ride as much as I can, when I can.  My round trip commute is 180km (~110 miles), so using the bike saves me a ton on fuel.  In addition, motorcycle parking on city streets in Toronto is FREE at pay-and-display meters, which adds to the overall cost savings.  Since more than half of my commute involves nice country roads I have a good opportunity to round off those square corners on my tires.

[Dan]

I commute 60 miles per day.  I have no car so I have to ride!  I have found that the recent-ish Dual Compound tyres don't square off anywhere near as much as the older ones used to.  About a third of my commute is twisty which helps.

As for adding miles to the bikes.... that's what they are for, isn't it?

[MilleArp]

56 mile round trip commuting to/from work, 95% freeway.

I help keep the tires from getting squared off by counter-balancing thru curves whenever I can... hey, it works!!

.

[Kamzilla]

I live in Queens, NYC but work in Midtown Manhattan... totally conflicted about taking the cycle. There are not too many places to park to begin with.. and then to top it off I have to take a toll for the roundtrip.. other alternative is the 59th st. bridge about 20 blocks away which is always jammed because it is free.. I find myself buying the monthly train pass, which basically nullifies the point of riding the cycle to work to save money. If I lived in another area, man I would commute everyday on my SV.

I'm in Queens too, and didn't ride all that much when I worked in Manhattan.  At the end of the day, the risk of having the bike ticketed or knocked over didn't appeal to me.  When I got a job on Randalls Island, the moto was my primary way of getting to work.  It saved money and was the difference between an hour long train ride, or a 20 minute ride.  Now I work in Queens, and since it's a 4 mile ride to work, I got a scooter.  Gotta say, it's a blast to commute on it.  

[darty411]

I commute as much as possible..60 mile round trip.....

[sas mayhem]

I do 62 round trip to and from work.  I love to ride and very rarely use the car.  On Memorial day 2010 I picked up my 06 Concurs with only 17,400 on the clock. today she has 42,985. And not going to slow her down.

Cheers
Ron

[Hambonee]

I do 62 round trip to and from work.  I love to ride and very rarely use the car.  On Memorial day 2010 I picked up my 06 Concurs with only 17,400 on the clock. today she has 42,985. And not going to slow her down.

Cheers
Ron

Commute about 50 miles daily. The bike allows me to use the commuter lane and zip past everyone else balled up on the 405.

An hour to hour and a half becomes like 30 minutes!

[blackjaxx]

I commute 46 miles round trip and although I commuted frequently with my V Star, I have not driven my car to work once since I bought my FJR in July!!

[djacobsen5116]

Mercer Island to Redmond almost every day.  I drive when it drops below 38F.  HOV lanes on 405 Northbound and on the 520 into Redmond are almost fun sometimes.  ~20 minutes unless the 40r South are jammed going up the hill towards I90 in the afternoon.  A couple of ramps for entertainment.

Dennis

[boroop]

I work so I can ride... and I ride so I can work.

But for some reason my 15 mile commute in turns into a 45 mile ride home?  

[919]

As often as I can but my commute varies by day.  I may be going one town over or 2.5 hours away, and sometimes I just can't take the bike due to the size and amount of stuff I need to bring with me.

I am working on devising a rack system for luggage and getting some better gear that will allow me to ride in colder / wetter weather, it needs to be quickly removal because I can make up to 15 stops in one day and I need to be in a shirt and tie and look presentable.

I wouldn't say I mind the squaring of my rear tire, but it is something I notice every time I look at my bike........

[Grainbelt]

I would need a really cheap bike that gets great mileage, with long-lasting cheap tires, for it to make any sense to leave my little Focus at home when commuting or running errands.

I get a little rammy and commute on the bike anyway in the spring when I want any excuse to ride, but by the time the heat of July and August hits I'm a bit more rational about it.

[MDHCO]

It's the ride, not the destination.  

[TwoWhldTerror]

My commute used to be 50 miles, one-way, by Interstate. No way to do it via backroads.

Sorry guys, I love riding, finally back into it, but not all riding is "riding" and schlepping it back and forth to work does not do it for me, especially that is the maelstrom of death, destruction, and chaos that is Atlanta traffic.

[sfalexi]

5 miles each way for me.  Ride every time.  Rain or shine, cold or warm.  I think you need to have a bike that's commute "worthy".  My bike's got a radio, heated seats and grips, and makes every trip damned comfortable.  Whether it's my 5 mile commute every day, or my weekly 160 mile round trip to a few towns over for professional studies (aka - music lessons)

[Mrs. DantesDame]

5 miles each way for me.  Ride every time.  Rain or shine, cold or warm.  I think you need to have a bike that's commute "worthy".  My bike's got a radio, heated seats and grips, and makes every trip damned comfortable.  

So... you drive a car?

[Desmo Demon]

I commute whenever I can, but I absolutely hate the squared off tires. I even try to take longer routes with more curves just to minimize the squaring. When I'm lucky, I'll shoot up in the mountain twisties to round the tires back off. I don't mind the additional mileage put on the bike, but I do dislike the added idiocy I have to deal with while on the Interstate. Had a jackass from Georgia weaving in and out of traffic at 20+ the speed of everyone else, not using his turn signals and nearly hit me last week.

[Dan K]

Beats the car.

-Dan

[cruisin]

Being down to a single bike these days (my Wee-Strom)...I'm really conflicted about commuting on the bike.

On one hand...I love the excellent fuel efficiency, . . . . On the other hand...I can't stand putting (in my case) 60 miles per roundtrip commute on the bike and rapidly squaring off my tires in the process (it's all slab for me).

What do you think?
Scott

I ride every day that the weather allows me to do so safely.  I won't ride when there is  a high probability of freezing moisture or severe thunderstorms.  And I don't ride if I have to haul something to big for the bike.  Average is about 180 days per year.

As for square tires; have you seen the Texas Panhandle?  Fortunately, about 2/3 of my 66 mile round trip is rolling hills and gentle curves; so it's not totally boring, but also not enough to keep tires round.

[sfalexi]

So... you drive a car?

With two less wheels.  If the goldwing is the accord of biking, I've got the civic(?) I guess.

[Fastenloose]

Plenty of twisties on my short commute. Just wish they's fill the potholes faster!

[BudCAD]

Been commuting 80 miles round trip most of the year for something like 12 years now. I get to work happier and get to ring out the day's stress on the hour ride home. Commute is part country roads, some highway, some city. Love it!

[OU812]

I commute when I feel like taking my life into my own hands.
10 miles (one way) of constant idiots doing make up, texting and just not paying attention. I picked up a GoPro camera and the next time I feel like living large I post it up here.

[NoGear]

Well lets see. Last year, 4k on the Jeep, 16k on FJR..... I'd say I commute. That mileage is really only over 6months of drive time because the rest of it I was traveling. Over 2k on the Jeep was in one trip.  I had a 10 mile trip to work all of it back road twisties..  

[PatM]

I'd love to, but I can't. Job related restrictions. Need to carry stuff...  
If I could, I'd get a small scoot. Something like a 250cc for around town and keep the FJR for long runs.

[cultureslayer]

The ninja 250 is the perfect commute bike.  Cheap tires, good gas mileage, and I don't care how many miles are on it because I bought it for $500.  

[Kendoo]

I have a 50 mile r/t commute and I ride nearly every day that doesn't have >40% chance of rain.  Bought some heated gear last fall, and that was been great this year with no snow in NY.  The added bonus to commuting by bike is a nice little ride at lunch....always puts me in a better mood to deal with the afternoon.

[R Doug]

I wear a suit to the office and it wrinkles under my stitch (tried it) and it limits mobility.  My commute is 12 miles each way and nearly straight as an arrow in bumper to bumper stop-n-go traffic.  

I drive the car.

[photojojo]

Everyday in all weather minus ice and snow for me. The bets part is I don't ride to work, sit in the office and then ride home. When i get to work i have to go out and do things all day so I get to ride and do that.

[JReazor]

Everyday in all weather minus ice and snow for me. The bets part is I don't ride to work, sit in the office and then ride home. When i get to work i have to go out and do things all day so I get to ride and do that.

Sorry for the thread-jack but is this Amit Gupta?

[expatbrit]

Telecommute, OR end up working in another state. Neither is terribly practical with the bike (I don't even think they have motorbike parking at the airport...)

[X1Glider]

Every day.  Only 8 miles each way but the ride, no matter how short, keeps me sane and pleasant for my wife when I get home.

As for square tires...everything within 50 miles of me is flat and straight.  The only turns I see are the parking lot at work and through my subdivision.  Shame to square off the Dunlop Q2s but I value the added factor of safety of awesome traction when I need it over much lower traction high mileage donuts.  

[Cablebandit]

Perhaps you could try a dual compound tire.  The hard center deals well with straight commuting miles while the side are nice and sticky for the weekend.

[ambientboy]

I don't have a normal job, so I my "commuting" is never the same route...sometimes it's city traffic and sometimes highway.  Either way, riding makes my commutes a blast.

[jesse v]

I have 2 part time jobs, both of which are within 5 minutes of my home on city streets.  Putting on the gear and then changing into wingtips when I get to either workplace becomes a hassle.

Although, I do still "commute" the long way whenever I can  

[timin57]

I live in Colorado and I commute about seven monthes a year, when the ice melts. I do about 50 miles a day on a 1983 honda magna 750. I love it there is no better stress relefer in the world. Well there is one better, but its hard to have sex on your commute home, so i guess i'll just ride.

[Mortech]

My commute ...1 mile ...Since getting my bike in Dec I've put $10 of gas in  my car ...it has sat for so long that the rear brake shoes were stuck , I had to gun it and rock the car back and forth to break them free when I had to drive it last night,,, . The only time I don't ride is when its a total down pour or its cold enough for ice to form on the road , I don't have rain gear for cycling so I used the rain gear I wear when working on the bay ...

[Shell4747]

I put over 30K on my last cycle in 3 years, mostly commute miles, and when it's yr only bike it's absolutely hair-raising how fast they stack up.   I def want to keep the VFR as a commuter and not put the miles on the "new" (2000) Sprint.   Really, I'm not wealthy, but it doesn't cost that much to keep a cheap older Honda on the road for the purpose.

I used to have a positively spectacular 30-mile commute through back roads west of Ann Arbor; decent roads, and truly lovely countryside. I miss it, kind of, although now I'm in Texas and can commute basically year-round; my current commute is 20 miles, all highway/urban, and I find it...uninspiring. But--I'd rather ride it than drive it, so long as it's at least 40F and not pissing rain.

[rgbeard]

My GL-1200 is my default commuter vehicle.

Dunlop Elite 3s handle the job quite well and maintain their profile longer than sport-touring tires do.