Hi all, new member here, loving this site! Currently bike-less but considering getting back into it for my daily commute…I got my big bike license years ago and used to ride around on an 600 Fazer in london c/ 2004-2006. hence my question: I’m considering commuting from Weybridge to Liverpool Street and would love to hear from people who do the same / similar.
Commute: how long does it take, what is the best route, heard horror stories about the A3! I need to get into work between 8 and 8:30, and usually leave around 7pm.
Bike: I need to buy one - bike or scooter. Any recommendations for something that can do A3 as well as SW london/city? I work in a suit and carry a laptop bag / gym kit around so scooter may be best option though would love to have a bike. so not restricted in that sense.
that’s not my route but I do travel roughly 20 miles from Dagenham straight through the centre to Chelsea…I ride a zx6r which is pretty fat as sports bikes go and I can get through more gaps than scooters and also have the extra power to get myself out of ant sticky situations. I have been stuck behind so many scooters and supermotos etc at a gap that I could have gotten through so I say sports bike is best
also it takes me 30-45 mins depending on my shift times getting there for 8/830 I wold imaging it would take you about 30 mins too
hmm, Weybridge to Liverpool St in 30 mins… that would mean averaging around 50mph all the way… maybe at 5am on a Sunday morning but I expect you can at least double that for a weekday morning commute.
instead of the A3, you could do M3, A316, then either go A4, or cut up through Chiswick and Acton to the A40. think it would most likely take you about 1hr - 1hr 10m (on a bad day)
Bike wise, anything will do it, if you don’t care but want cheap fuel bills go for a Honda NC700 or a KTM 690 Duke, both of which will do nearly 80mpg, but are kind of one trick ponies, if you want to get out at the weekend and have some fun too, get yourself a decent commuter like an SV650, and if the fun bit is top of your list get yourself an R6.
given you are likely in a suit with gym kit, if you want lots of weather protection then a maxi scooter is your best choice, but you sacrifice the filtering ability a little. best though to keep a couple of suits at work and get 5 shirts done per week at a local dry cleaners and get yerself some decent bike gear, and ride the bike you want.
Thanks for the welcome and the input so far - was a lot quicker than I expected!
From a bike perspective, was considering a more ‘upright’ bike with reasonable weather protection so perhaps similar to my old fazer - but some of the newer adventure/enduro inspired bikes look really interesting, eg the ducati hyperstrada, or honda NC750X… I’m 5’8 so not the tallest and hence seat height is a limiting factor…
Just looking for something that is a bit of fun, can handle both the motorway and city legs of the commute, and is comfortable enough not to leave me whacked by the end of the day as its a bit full on right now. I’m 40 and have a wife and 2 little ones so want to avoid something that encourages me to be a nutter - hence sports bikes are out!
The TMax does sound nice and am trying to get over my scooter prejudices as I’m sure they are well suited to communting… so thanks for the tip, will have a look!
My commute is currently 70/80 mins door to door, obviously subject to SW trains random acts of cancellation. So I’d really appreciate any feedback on realistic times from anyone who knows that commute…ideally i’d want to be able to do it in 50 mins but clearly without risking life and limb. Are there any bus lanes that can be used by motorbikes?
I commute from Hampton to Bloomsbury, via the route I suggested to you and it takes me 45 -50 mins at a leisurely and legal pace, in a particularly good mood with little traffic, a fair bit quicker.
the NC750X would be worth a test ride, it definitely wont be promoting any latent nutter tendencies you may have lingering.;) the hyperstrada on the other hand :w00t::w00t:
I guarantee you, you will beat the train it terms of time and money spent, even if you include servicing and insurance, tax and all the rest of it.
Just get yourself something you’re comfortable on with a decently sized top-box. When I need to go into London in a Suit, I just wear it under my Rukka trousers and Bikers Jacket. Completely waterproof and safe, and with a good quality suit it doesn’t crease. A top-box on the back which holds the boots, helmet and trousers while I’m at work, I hang the jacket up and you can’t really tell I came in on a bike.
the hyperstrada on the other hand :w00t::w00t: