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Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
26,700 posts, read 41,753,896 times
Reputation: 41381
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I live in the DC area where Motorcycles are allowed to use the less crowded HOV lanes. I think this would drive the incentive to buy a motorcycle for commuting purposes.
I've also heard that motorcycles get great fuel mileage. This i think would help those who have long commutes.
So anyone using your bike primarily for commuting?
i commute on mine as much as weather and other conditions permit. i actually don't do as much recreational riding anymore, although that's not because of the commuting.
bikes generally do get better fuel mileage, but often the cost/benefit isn't necessarily there. by the time you buy the bike, the gear, insure it, and pay for tires that last about 1/2 (or less) the life of car tires, it often is only marginally cheaper.
still, i prefer to ride. it's relaxing for me and makes for something to look forward to at the end of a long day at work. like the old saying goes, you never see a motorcycle parked in front of a shrink's office!
I only use bicycles and motorcycles.
Im almost at the point I can be car-free !!!! *w00t*
The thing about a motorcycle is, if you lose your concentration
for a second, you are in danger of crashing. In 32 years of
riding, Ive crashed on the road twice, and each time my concentration
was not on the road.
I ride a bicycle and an old Suzuki GS500 currently, but have used
everything from scooters to Harleys. It all good !!!
The are good for commuting, but I wouldn't get a bike just to commute as you'd probably never see monetary savings.
If you get a decent used bike for $3k and gear for $1k, you are already at $4k, plus insurance and maintenance and tax on an additional vehicle. You may get 50 mpg on the motorcycle versus 20 in a car, but the motorcycle doesn't haul stuff, doesn't have a trunk, and doesn't protect you from the elements - heat, cold, rain, sun, traffic, pollution, etc.
If you have a bike already, its great to use it to commute, but as a pure commuter, I'd stick with a car.
I had no car for a year, only a motorcycle. It was fine when the weather was nice and I didn't have to carry very much. But those 20-degree days weren't too good.
Years after that, I commuted on my motorcycle when the weather was good (and I didn't have much to carry). It makes it more fun, although in Dallas it wasn't always so much fun.
I live in the DC area where Motorcycles are allowed to use the less crowded HOV lanes. I think this would drive the incentive to buy a motorcycle for commuting purposes.
I've also heard that motorcycles get great fuel mileage. This i think would help those who have long commutes.
So anyone using your bike primarily for commuting?
I have commuted on a bike but for me it's about 40 miles of uncrowded back roads.
The DC area would not be a good place to spend your first few years riding. Traffic is nuts and not many of them have their mind on driving.
When I am occasionally back there I do see guys on bikes, I think the main advantages are being able to park where a car won't fit, other manuverability issues, rather than gas savings.
I ride pretty often, I just did 119 miles today. I have a 2002 Ninja 250. Honestly I've never experienced anything less than 68 mpg. My last tank was 70.96 mpg. It's fun to ride.
I will say this and it just may be a bad omen with me and the bike.lol but it is dangerous out there. In the last nine days I've been in two accident's. I know it sounds like I'm making this up but let me explain. The first accident was a total loss to my bike, I kept it even though the insurance company totaled it. That accident was primarily a female drivers fault but she didn't stop and kept going.
My second accident was yesterday I was calmly waiting at a stop sign as their was oncoming traffic approaching and all of a sudden a girl rear ends me on the bike. I was so pissed, At this rate I'll be dead by the fourth of July. Does this keep me from riding? No, I love riding and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I use it mainly as a stress relief type thing.
It's funny when you ride a motorcycle you see things in a totally different perspective. The sights, sounds, scents. It's a real treat.
btw insurance and gear is cheap, 1000 for gear. Are you kidding me people? I spent $70 on a brand new helmet, $150 for a new jacket, very nice btw. Gloves were $30. Insurance is $32 a month and I'm only 20 so I get that nice bill.
Location: Huntersville/Charlotte, NC and Washington, DC
26,700 posts, read 41,753,896 times
Reputation: 41381
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Mitch
I have commuted on a bike but for me it's about 40 miles of uncrowded back roads.
The DC area would not be a good place to spend your first few years riding. Traffic is nuts and not many of them have their mind on driving.
When I am occasionally back there I do see guys on bikes, I think the main advantages are being able to park where a car won't fit, other manuverability issues, rather than gas savings.
Trust me, the traffic here isnt news to me. I wont be in the DC area but another year, thankfully. I'll either be in Louisville or Hampton Roads and both are much better than NoVA for ANY traffic.
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