Commuting by Motorcycle

[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.