for commuting to work when I don't cycle.
My commute is 20 miles each way, 4 days a week. My car does on average 35mpg.
A Honda PCX125 will do (according to reviews) about 100mpg. Insurance is £200 approx. The bike will cost around £2500. Honda have a 3 years 0% deal on at present. Even taking in the finance costs and insurance I will still be quids in right from the start.
An I missing something?
(never owned a motorbike/moped before by the way)
You'll be killed. Horribly.
Buy a car.
WINTER
Spend the extra money on a more efficient car.Everyone on the road is out to kill you.
yeah - thanks for that. Any more likely than on a bicycle?
Causing your mother untold worry
Rain and you'll die riding it. Two reasons for the price of one
yeah - thanks for that. Any more likely than on a bicycle?
The solution is a car.*
*I've commuted by motorbike.
I would say that 35mpg for a petrol people carrier is quite good - and being as this is necessary this isn't an option.
I may be moving jobs from a location which is straight through motorway trip to a city centre commute of the same distance which is one of the big drivers for this.
I will still have the car to fall back on when the weather is truly awful
Go for the bike! They rock.
Also, in city centre traffic, is a motorbike actually much quicker?
Get a crosser and off road it to work.
Factor in unlocking the bike/getting it out of the garage, getting kitted up. Locking it up, getting the kit off. Add rain, sleet, snow (or driving during). Don't forget to add the cost of helmet, gortex, heated grips, locks. Add in the chance of death.
As sensible means of transport go bikes struggle to make sense. Better than a bicycle obviously, but crap compared to a car.
As a toy they're great.
Depends on the type of roads on your 20 miles, as a 125cc might be economical but a bit of a drag on that distance + you need to factor in the cost of helmet, boots, protective gear etc. Also, I found it a right pain getting all the gear on (and off) compared to just jumping in the car.
Great in the summer, often very miserable in the winter and you need to be very aware of idiots to avoid coming to grief.
An I missing something?
No, get a bike. I miss mine desperately.
You will have too much fun, do your full test and buy something with a bit more grunt... thus negating much of the cost saving.
But you will be smiling 
Seen too many dead motorcyclists.
Loddrik. In one shift in Sydney in 1985 I helped fix 4 pretty like those.
it's funny isn't it - had I asked "give me a reason not to cycle to work', the responses would have been far more moderated with no gory photo's.
Seriously, for a 125 on <40mph roads, is it that much more dangerous?
Seriously, for a 125 on <40mph roads, is it that much more dangerous?
A car is still better though. The clue is all the other cars. People choose them over bikes for a reason.
How about this, i was a naughty boy wen I was younger and had to go on a course for driving offenders. One of the scare tactic they used was to show you still of accidents, each book had about 40 still of each accident. The Policeman had 5 books and as he gave out the last one, I got a serious shiver! It contained detailed photos of one of my best mates who'd killed himself 10 months earlier smashing his bike into a sandstone wall at 60mph. His head and helmet were smashed to pieces and the only way he was identifiable was by his scars. The Officer said in 20 years of doing it he'd never had that happen before and I was excused from the course and offered councelling.
Scary stuff indeed!!
You'll die, loose limbs, wailing and gnashing of teeth will follow you wherever you go.
B*llix.
The faff of unlocking / locking, donning / removing gear etc is a fair point, but for distances too far too cycle (every day at least) a motorised 2 wheeeler makes perfect sense. Cars are sh!te for commuting, unless it's rural.
Ignore the predictable naysayers, get appropriate training, buy decent protective gear, and go for it.
I can see that changing as the fuel prices increase. I can see lots in my situation who need a car for the family, but will choose to commute by moped/motor bike.
A 60% reduction in petrol cost isn't to be sniffed at.
The faff of unlocking / locking, donning / removing gear etc is a fair point
I wouldn't look at a bike unless the commute was over an hour. Even then I'd need someone else to pick up the bill (assuming I was keeping the car as well).
Having had a couple of bikes, the main reason is the cold. Think of the coldest you've been on a bike, then imagine being that cold and sitting in a cold bath as well.
It's cold on a motorbike.
Disagree. I had a 13 mile commute a few years ago.
Cycle: 45 mins.
Motorbike: 20 mins.
Car: Up to 90 mins plus nowhere to park.
Hence I cycled in 3 days, used the motorbike 2 days a week.
Disagree. I had a 13 mile commute a few years ago.Cycle: 45 mins.
Motorbike: 20 mins.
Car: Up to 90 mins plus nowhere to park.Hence I cycled in 3 days, used the motorbike 2 days a week.
Yeah, I'd use a motorbike in that scenario too.
Actually I'd move.
crikey - Member It's cold on a motorbike.
Yes, but there's plenty of good kit, and heated kit. Not cheap admittedly, but riding all year round is perfectly feasible with the right clothing.
currently I get changed at work anyway as I keep all of my work clothes at work in case I cycle in - so that won't change.
As for the duration, the 20 mile commute by car could well be an hour if the new job happens - commute from near Kidderminster to north of Wolverhampton at peak time (coming home). Currently I commute to east Birmingham which isn't too bad especially as I finish at 4.
5thElefant - MemberYou live somewhere strange and alien.
Yeah, I'd use a motorbike in that scenario too.
Actually I'd move.
Get a monkey bike. I had one, and they are the bestest thing ever.
Yes, but there's plenty of good kit, and heated kit. Not cheap admittedly, but riding all year round is perfectly feasible with the right clothing.
If the main aim is saving money on a (trivial) 20mile commute and you're not selling the car I don't think it makes any sense. At best it'll be cost neutral. Which is OK if you want to justify buying a toy, but if you really want to save money? Nah. Crap idea.
As for the duration, the 20 mile commute by car could well be an hour if the new job happens
It cost serious money to get trained properly, decent kit cost many hundreds, most motorcycles are not that much more efficeint than a car.
However its great fun ( unless the weather is horrid) its far quicker than a car, did i say its great fun?
i would have a scooter rather than a small bike tho
The pcx 125 is a scooter.
3 times more efficient than my car.
The clothing and other kit is noted though and needs factoring in. I had considered a helmet and decent jacket
You could always cycle 5 days per week, perhaps with the occasional public transport when you want some recovery. Yes, I've done that. It depends on how many hours you work and if (like teachers...) you work a million hours after work too.
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