Hi - I currenly slog in and out of Canary Wharf from Herts and it is killing me, so I’ve done a refresher course (not been on a bike for 10yrs) bought all the gear and am ready to buy a bike.
I was planning to hire a bike for a week to try the route out but that unfortunately isn’t looking doable so I was hoping someone else who does a similar route could answer some questions…it’s going to be a costly mistake if I buy a big bike and then can’t save any time over the crappy train journey I had today!
What is traffic like M25/M11/A13 early mornings ? I plan to be on the M25 by 6am so hopefully it should be nice and quiet.
What is traffic like around 5pm ? I guess the A13 is snarled up by then but hopefully a bike can make good progress through ?
I’m going to be doing about 55 miles each way so reckon a big BMW tourer is the way to go but they are big buggers - going to be a problem filtering on one of those ? Hopefully it should be ok as it’s dual carriageway all the way and I’m expecting the traffic to either be flowing or at a standstill - still worried about getting the best part of 1m wide of bike between lines of cars. If I get into the outside lane I should be ok to get past the snarl ups at junctions.
I get on to the A406 at Ilford at around 7.45am. Its averaging 40-50mph up to the A13. Thats running the same sort of speed and the traffic starts to backup properly in the Lime House Tunnel, but you’d have turned off by then!:w00t:
The only tip I’d offer is that you stay out my way! Just teasing! I have given riding in a break for a while now any way, I got bored. Its my 2nd week on the train:)
You won’t have any problems at that time of the morning! The route you mention is all pretty wide and filtering isn’t a problem, even for a big bike, so although the evening traffic will be heavier, you should make good progress. Only thing I’d say is be careful - filtering well is a matter of experience, so take it easy and don’t be forced into any speed with which you are uncomfortable - see plenty of other forums on subject of filtering!
I use the A13 every day at different times and it can get very busy but as said you will only be on it between becton and the billingsgate plus you could go around past the city airport - get a good run and it can be fun around the roundabouts.
I ride a pan in everyday and never have a problem, it’s normally ok and i rarely get held up.
if i was you m8 as your a bit worried about it i would suffer this sh1te weather on the train and maybe wait for till the new yr till jumping on a bike again etc…
depends how bad the trains are, lol
Chop you fairweather fairy you !
Get yourself a nice tourer with grunt, Tiger or a BMW GS.
Get high viz and loads of warm kit and you’ll be fine!
That route at that time should be a apleasure to ride and unless you have probs with bike malfunctions, you will beat the trains EVERY time…
Did this route for 4 years on a ZX9R. As someone has already said at that time of the morning it will not be a issue, and even if there was traffic you will be able to filer and make good progress.
I found the A13 from the A406 too be the most hairy bit, so be carefull there.
The M25 to M11 junction is the only “fun” bit. I always pushed it and pushed it… faster and faster, think the best I did was about 75 through there
Time wise I came on the M25 at junc 23 and the journey to CW took me about 40mins on average, best I think was about 30 (but that was a bit stupid!) either way saved me about 20 mins each way as compared to the trains, and was more reliable!
Down side, it’s a boring as watching paint dry… seriously, and if I rememeber correctly about 10-11 speed cameras.
Sometimes I used the A10 to change the journey a bit, but it did take longer and was more dangerous…
Just teasing!
I have given riding in a break for a while now any way, I got bored. Its my 2nd week on the train:)